Rating: 
Summary: An excellent guide for oursourcing
Review: "Strategic Outsourcing" is the finest outsourcing book that I have read. It covers a complex subject in a comprehensive manner. One of the book's unique aspects is that Maurice Greaver has made this complex subject easy to understand. The examples are many and interesting, and his writing style makes it actually a fun read. I encourage those wrestling with an outsourcing decision or project to read this book-it's well worth the investment.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide for oursourcing
Review: "Strategic Outsourcing" is the finest outsourcing book that I have read. It covers a complex subject in a comprehensive manner. One of the book's unique aspects is that Maurice Greaver has made this complex subject easy to understand. The examples are many and interesting, and his writing style makes it actually a fun read. I encourage those wrestling with an outsourcing decision or project to read this book-it's well worth the investment.
Rating: 
Summary: A sound guide for those who do the work of outsourcing
Review: A detailed 'when, why and how to do it' coverage of outsourcing, including a seven step methodology. The book is in eight parts. The first sets out an overview and the methodology. The remaining seven parts cover the seven identified steps:Planning initiatives Exploring strategic implications Analyzing costs/performance Selecting providers Negotiating terms Transitioning resources Managing relationships As you would expect of a book that is set up as a manual, there are plenty of tables, check lists and examples included to illustrate each process and sub-process. 'Outsourcing ... becomes strategic when it is aligned with the organisation's long-term strategies, and when the typical outsourcing benefits will emerge over several years, and when the results, either positive or negative, will be significant to the organization.' While this definition and the subsequent detail distinguishes 'strategic' outsourcing from tactical moves driven simply by cost-cutting or problem solving, it is still a fairly long way from Doz and Hamel's definition of strategic alliances in terms of the 'race for the future' (technology) and 'race for the world' (globalisation). Outsourcing implies that the outsourcer is in control - this is not an equal partnership - even though the distinction from an alliance becomes somewhat blurred in the series of boxes throughout the text that go beyond traditional reasons for outsourcing to provide "Another Reason to Outsource". These wider reasons are mentioned, but there is little discussion of the relative advantages of outsourcing compared with other sorts of partnering arrangements. Compare with Lendrum, Tony: The Strategic Partnering Handbook
Rating:
Summary: Packed With Knowledge!
Review: Books on corporate outsourcing generally reflect one of two themes: Outsourcing is either the ultimate answer to all your strategic worries or it's the ultimate evil. Maurice F. Greaver II leaves little doubt about which camp he belongs to in his boosterish review of the outsourcing process. The fact that the author is an unabashed outsourcing proponent takes nothing away from this comprehensive overview of an important business trend. Greaver achieves a feat that most strategists-turned-writers do not even strive for: He quickly disposes of the why and gets right to the how. Outsourcing can be a complex, controversial and sometimes painful practice. This book will tell you how to approach it, how to implement it, and how to proceed once it's in place. The book does have a couple of shortcomings: It's heavy with jargon and it doesn't provide enough detail about how managers should address employees dissatisfaction, which is arguably the biggest hurdle an outsourcing company must clear. Despite these weaknesses, the book is an impressive work, which we at getAbstract.com recommend to executives, managers, employees and students.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Framework but no Systems Integration
Review: Given the great reviews from other readers, you aren't wasting your money to follow Greaver's framework and advice in outsourcing. However, I was very disappointed that he omitted systems integration. Where is EDI, e-Procurement, auctions, ASP's in the outsourcing initiative? For a book written in 1999, one would expect these to be included (ala supply chain management). If you are going to outsource, do you want a manual system of operation in your procurement in this new economy? Get real! Maurice, it's time for a second edition.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Framework but no Systems Integration
Review: Given the great reviews from other readers, you aren't wasting your money to follow Greaver's framework and advice in outsourcing. However, I was very disappointed that he omitted systems integration. Where is EDI, e-Procurement, auctions, ASP's in the outsourcing initiative? For a book written in 1999, one would expect these to be included (ala supply chain management). If you are going to outsource, do you want a manual system of operation in your procurement in this new economy? Get real! Maurice, it's time for a second edition.
Rating:
Summary: Strategic Outsourcing
Review: I am the regional CIO of a Fortune 500 company. We have many projects undertaken in a given year, many of which involve new knowledge and skill sets required in completing them effectively and efficiently. I wish that each of them had a book like Strategic Outsourcing to use in bringing executives and staff up to speed on every facet of the project. Maurice Greaver's consultative approach to discussing the issues is quite effective in delivering this wealth of information. By constantly referring to his book during our outsourcing initiatives, I felt he had his hand on my shoulder, guiding us through each step of the initiatives. One of the special bonuses of this book is the thoughtful application of sound business principles, quotations and common sense to this admittedly sophisticated sourcing concept. Accordingly, I learned valuable lessons as well as outsourcing techniques. "Strategic Outsourcing" is a much needed book for executives - CIO's should buy it and pass it along to their superiors, to help them understand the complexities involved in outsourcing initiatives.
Rating:
Summary: Strategic Outsourcing
Review: I am the regional CIO of a Fortune 500 company. We have many projects undertaken in a given year, many of which involve new knowledge and skill sets required in completing them effectively and efficiently. I wish that each of them had a book like Strategic Outsourcing to use in bringing executives and staff up to speed on every facet of the project. Maurice Greaver's consultative approach to discussing the issues is quite effective in delivering this wealth of information. By constantly referring to his book during our outsourcing initiatives, I felt he had his hand on my shoulder, guiding us through each step of the initiatives. One of the special bonuses of this book is the thoughtful application of sound business principles, quotations and common sense to this admittedly sophisticated sourcing concept. Accordingly, I learned valuable lessons as well as outsourcing techniques. "Strategic Outsourcing" is a much needed book for executives - CIO's should buy it and pass it along to their superiors, to help them understand the complexities involved in outsourcing initiatives.
Rating:
Summary: For the Student and the Old Pro
Review: I approached this book with some skepticism.
From experience I have seen too many CPA and consultant
types write books purely for the benefit of their career
and pocketbook. These books have often been academic or superficial. This book is full of what, after many years
and many deals, I know to be sound thinking. The book is
also quite thorough. It is not a quick read. It is easy
enough to read but there is a great deal of information contained. For the busy executive it should be acquired
for reference as you need it. Although you should try
to read all of Part One if you can. The beginner or the
student should read often and take notes. One previous reviewer noted that the book provides
little guidance regarding employee reactions. This
is true. You will need another book in that area.
But what is here is very good.
Mr Greaver has done the business community a genuine service.
Rating:
Summary: For the Student and the Old Pro
Review: I approached this book with some skepticism.
From experience I have seen too many CPA and consultant
types write books purely for the benefit of their career
and pocketbook. These books have often been academic or superficial. This book is full of what, after many years
and many deals, I know to be sound thinking. The book is
also quite thorough. It is not a quick read. It is easy
enough to read but there is a great deal of information contained. For the busy executive it should be acquired
for reference as you need it. Although you should try
to read all of Part One if you can. The beginner or the
student should read often and take notes. One previous reviewer noted that the book provides
little guidance regarding employee reactions. This
is true. You will need another book in that area.
But what is here is very good.
Mr Greaver has done the business community a genuine service.
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