Managing by the Numbers
We see very few shops that are closed for financial reasons, although that is frequently the excuse given. In my doctoral research, I've noticed that cost savings is the most frequently cited reason for closing an in-plant in higher education; however, I've yet to find a college or university that can actually document any savings at all. In fact, I've yet to find any study that meets academic standards for research design (meaning that it was not produced by a special interest group or outsourcing/facilities management vendor) showing that outsourcing a non-academic service in a college or university delivers savings in any amount.
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.
