Multisourcing: Moving Beyond Outsourcing to Achieve Growth and Agility

by Linda Cohen and Allie Young

Book Overview

Over the last decade, the number of services that can be outsourced has grown exponentially. Yet, research suggests that 50% of outsourcing contracts signed during the last three years will fail to meet expectations. Gartner sourcing experts Linda Cohen and Allie Young argue that this is because most organizations are utilizing ad-hoc approaches to outsourcing that are both shortsighted and ineffective. Based on extensive, multiyear research, this...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591397979
• ISBN13: 9781591397977
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
• Length: 243 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Very Useful

I was excited to see this book come out and am sad to see unmerited poor reviews. This book is filled with practical examples and is well written. The book is definately worth the $ and will be a useful reference for those interested in multisourcing.

Worth Buying

This book's practical approach and no nonsense style go a long way to making the sourcing problem manageable. The assessment tools and frameworks were especially useful. Definitely worth buying.

Strange reviews -- Very practical book

Not sure where some of these other reviewers are coming from. Basically the entire book is composed of frameworks, decision models, examples (from well-known companies like DuPont and Nike), etc. that can be lifted directly from the book and put into practice right away. This is by far the best outsourcing book I've seen (and I've seen a lot). I wouldn't necessarily have given it 5 stars if these other reviewers weren't slamming it with ludicrous criticism but this is at least a 4 star book. (You might also note that the only people using "real names" are giving positive reviews)

Very useful, full of frameworks and decision guides

Relatively quick and breezy for a business book, but chock full of useful frameworks and decision guides. The book is light on theory but who needs theory at this point of the outsourcing game? The book delivers what I think most of us need which is useful information on making decisions about outsourcing and managing our outsourcers to deliver results.

If sourcing is the future, then this is a roadmap to tomorrow

Multisourcing is such a new concept that it is a welcome surprise that Cohen and Young have been able to define a playbook for how companies source their capabilities intelligently. Cohen and Young point out that simple outsourcing of functions like IT is giving way to a more sophisticated approach to gain the efficiencies of sourcing while maintaining an ability to create competitive advantage. They call this approach "multisourcing" and it is a strong answer to critics who believe that sourcing is a lowest common denominator game. Now it's easy to say that you can source strategically, it is a different thing to go through and show people how to do it. This book breaks down the strategy, selection and operation processes into seven readily accessible chapters. Chapter 1 lays out the case for multisourcing and places it in a context that you can take to the CEO and Board as to why your company's approach to sourcing needs to change. Chapter 2 discusses how to multisource strategically and link sourcing and strategy implementation. This is something everyone says they do, but few do it well. Cohen and Young provide several tools to help do this clearly and accurately. Chapter 3 builds a sourcing strategy up from the business strategy with a focus on the business outcomes and expectations executives should have. Chapter 4 addresses the issue of managing a multisourcing environment in terms of the governance and management techniques. As companies become more sourced, these are issues that will have to become core executive management competencies. Chapter 5 provides guidance on how to evaluate and select service providers and discusses an approach the authors' call "Fast Track" that is very practical and results oriented. Chapter 6 covers the issues of negotiation and financial modeling including frameworks for how to handle this situation specific activity. Chapter 7 completes the cycle by covering measurement and management in a multisourcing environment. Here the focus is on actionable and practical techniques and tools. On the down side, some of the advice found in this book you will already know. However, having a comprehensive guide that covers this diverse topic is a definate plus. Overall this is a book for people considering using multisourcing as a tool for business strategy and improvement. It is an implementer's handbook and carries a focus on what you do and why you do it. For those looking for a grand strategy, you will need to look elsewhere and recognize that deciding to source is one thing, doing it well is quite another. For those who have to get down to business and make multisourcing work, this book should be always in easy reach.