There is an additional but often overlooked consideration. This guidance is most effective when practiced in a non-adversarial, partnering environment. Available under-foot expertise can contribute to this type of environment. The outsourcing process should be applied with the understanding that it is an exercise to determine how to best source a function or service under scrutiny. The best solution may be to outsource the service, insource it, or a combination of both.
Outsourced functions require a different management approach.
Once services are sourced externally, their integration with internal functions requires a higher level of attention. This article was reprinted from Office Journal, volume 12, published by Haworth. The author, Robert D. Vrancken, Ph.D., CFM, has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in facilities management from The Union Institute. He has worked as a facilities planner, designer and manager for more than 20 years. In 1982, Vrancken joined Grand Valley State University to start the first degree program in facilities management in a business school.