Is Outsourcing a Silver Bullet?
Beware the Darker Motives
We contend that other, more insidious motives are often at play. Outsourcing is frequently used to address problems that management lacks the skill to address head on. For example, if the in-plant has a history of poor performance or high costs, management may opt to contract for the service in hopes that outsourcing will make the problem go away.
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.
