Is Outsourcing a Silver Bullet?
Second, measuring cost reductions is especially difficult, because organizations often have no idea what they pay for the service now. This can be particularly true with printing where desktop printers, office copiers and multi-function devices (MFDs) compete with centralized production.
Outsourcing is promoted as a way for organizations to minimize costs and focus on core business competencies, but a growing body of research suggests that many of the advantages hyped by outsourcing proponents simply are not there.
Ray Chambers, CGCM, MBA, has invested over 30 years managing and directing printing plants, copy centers, mail centers and award-winning document management facilities in higher education and government.
Most recently, Chambers served as vice president and chief information officer at Juniata College. Chambers is currently a doctoral candidate studying Higher Education Administration at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU). His research interests include outsourcing in higher education and its impact on support services in higher education and managing support services. He also consults (Chambers Management Group) with leaders in both the public and private sectors to help them understand and improve in-plant printing and document services operations.
