Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Book
Review: I found that "Strategic Outsourcing: A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives" was extremely helpful to us in our outsourcing initiatives. Of particular note was the usefulness of the sections on: the reasons to outsource, case studies of actual transactions, and project forms. He shows how cost reduction is only one of many good reasons to outsource.Maurice Greaver brings real value in the discussions of outsourcing as it relates to the organization's vision, strategies, core competencies, and other transformaton tools. As the president, I now better understand how the outsourcing tool fits into the bigger picture. Finally, the step by step guidance is especially helpful to the project team as they move through the initiative. He offers many tips that only a wealth of experience could have generated. You can significantly cut your outsourcing learning curve with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book
Review: I found that "Strategic Outsourcing: A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives" was extremely helpful to us in our outsourcing initiatives. Of particular note was the usefulness of the sections on: the reasons to outsource, case studies of actual transactions, and project forms. He shows how cost reduction is only one of many good reasons to outsource. Maurice Greaver brings real value in the discussions of outsourcing as it relates to the organization's vision, strategies, core competencies, and other transformaton tools. As the president, I now better understand how the outsourcing tool fits into the bigger picture. Finally, the step by step guidance is especially helpful to the project team as they move through the initiative. He offers many tips that only a wealth of experience could have generated. You can significantly cut your outsourcing learning curve with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Strategic Outsourcing
Review: I found the book to be well-written and easy to follow. The references are well-documented. Outsourcing is going to be a strategic weapon for the balance of this decade and into the next. This book delivers on the practical aspects to make such a transition successful. I would recommend this for both parties as a means of preparation. Outsourcing is only a scary concept when you aren't prepared for it. This book helps everyone to know about the events and sequences which will take place. Strategic Outsourcing should be mandatory reading for every manager.
Rating:
Summary: Strategic Outsourcing
Review: I found the book to be well-written and easy to follow. The references are well-documented. Outsourcing is going to be a strategic weapon for the balance of this decade and into the next. This book delivers on the practical aspects to make such a transition successful. I would recommend this for both parties as a means of preparation. Outsourcing is only a scary concept when you aren't prepared for it. This book helps everyone to know about the events and sequences which will take place. Strategic Outsourcing should be mandatory reading for every manager.
Rating:
Summary: OUTSOURCING ELIMINATES STALLS
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by STRATEGIC OUTCOURCING which deals not only with what to outsource but how to make the outsourcing decision using key two questions: Is this a core or strategic area? and What do I save and gain by outsourcing this activity? Peter Drucker believes that the reason to outsource is to free up critical management time to work on important things. If you happen to save some money in the process, that is an added benefit, but not the outsourcing driver. STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING also deals with the people and transitional issues, and how to manage the business and the employees once the activity is outsourced. If you have not outsourced anything except payroll and tax before, you must read this book. Another process that you must pursue primarily because of the time saved for management is described in THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION, by Mitchell, Coles and Metz. They describe a unique approach to achieve your goals in 1/20th the time by identifying and eliminating the stalls to progress and focusing on the best possible ways to reach your objective. Outsourcing may be one of them! I highly recommend both books.
Rating:
Summary: Outsourcing In My Case Was A Business Error
Review: I work in an outsourced accounting department. I learned today that my company is giving kickbacks to various client individuals, in order to glean higher ratings from those individuals -- such that the client company will pay us more this year. However, the client company always finds a reason NOT to pay that extra amount, they always come up with some deficiency in our performance to avoid paying us more money. It's unsavory and dishonorable, and those of us who do all the real work pretty much just get defecated upon. Outsourcing is, in a word, bad -- and all honest, productive people should do their best to avoid any connection therewith.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I have read on outsourcing...
Review: Maurice Greaver has written a comprehensive and practical guide for any senior executive considering or currently undertaking an outsourcing initiative within their organization. The book clearly outlines and defines the issues to be considered when making outsourcing decisions along with the pitfalls to be avoided. Maurice Greaver has done this by developing a well defined process along with case studies, examples, and graphics to illustrate his process. These also make the book far more interesting to read than most other outsourcing books on the market. This book is a must read for every organization's senior management team or for anyone interested in contemporary business issues and solutions.
Rating:
Summary: Excellence
Review: Strategic Outsourcing is a tremendous source of outsourcing knowledge delivered in a direct, easy to read style. It's a book that has the value of an encyclopedia, but the reading enjoyment of a hard-hitting novel. We discovered many pearls of wisdom, and enjoyed the experience. I found the section on "Exploring Strategic Implications" (Chapters 6-9) to be particularly interesting, as the author explains why it is so important to see how outsourcing fits into the organization's strategy, to make its implementation much more effective. I also particularly enjoyed the many examples of outsourcing transactions, showing how fast outsourcing is growing. For those looking for the all-encompassing outsourcing book - not just about information technology, the narrow focus of so many outsourcing books - I heartily recommend Strategic Outsourcing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellence
Review: Strategic Outsourcing is a tremendous source of outsourcing knowledge delivered in a direct, easy to read style. It's a book that has the value of an encyclopedia, but the reading enjoyment of a hard-hitting novel. We discovered many pearls of wisdom, and enjoyed the experience. I found the section on "Exploring Strategic Implications" (Chapters 6-9) to be particularly interesting, as the author explains why it is so important to see how outsourcing fits into the organization's strategy, to make its implementation much more effective. I also particularly enjoyed the many examples of outsourcing transactions, showing how fast outsourcing is growing. For those looking for the all-encompassing outsourcing book - not just about information technology, the narrow focus of so many outsourcing books - I heartily recommend Strategic Outsourcing.
Rating:
Summary: Focused on the essentials
Review: This book is both very informative and interesting, one that brings outsourcing theory to life. Its pragmatic approach offers frequent insights into actions to take and, more importantly, what mistakes to avoid. The chapter on Outside Advisors was of great value. So often, as was our case, we didn't know what we didn't know. Using an outside advisor, such as Maurice Greaver, allows the project team to quickly identify and cut through the jungle of issues, and to focus on the path to success! This book is the next best thing to having his expertise in the room, as part of the team. Another area was most valuable - Mr. Greaver's discussion of the complex "make or buy" financial decision. There were a number of elements for consideration that I hadn't thought about. This could have been a costly mistake, and one I would have made if not for the thorough explanation provided in Strategic Outsourcing.
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