| Before you decide to do any outsourcing at all, you | | | | During this stage you also need to consider the human |
| need to identify which areas of your business might | | | | resources that will be required. Think of your |
| benefit from outsourcing. Then consider the benefits to | | | | outsourcing provider as a partner. You will be working |
| your organization when outsourcing a particular task. If | | | | closely with them and need to be able to communicate |
| you already have excellent in-house skills in a particular | | | | very clearly. This is an important factor when learning |
| field, you may decide that that role should remain at | | | | how to outsource. Depending on the outsourced |
| home. However, some financial aspects of the | | | | project, a certain amount of flexibility may also be |
| business, such as payroll operation, can be done just | | | | required. Will the service provider be able to cope with |
| as effectively and often cheaper by an outside | | | | additional short-term pressures? |
| organisation. Other common tasks that are outsourced | | | | Project Management |
| are customer service, technical support and software | | | | Project management is an equally important step |
| development. Once you get started you can learn | | | | when you are planning how to outsource a role. You |
| how to outsource almost anything. | | | | need to decide how to organise and manage your |
| An equally important thing to consider is how much | | | | resources. If you have not planned for every |
| training you would need to provide in order for the | | | | eventuality, things may not run smoothly and mistakes |
| project to be a success. If the task requires intensive | | | | may be made. This is where your skills as a good |
| training, is it really worth the expense? | | | | communicator really come forward. Be prepared to be |
| If I was asked how to outsource successfully, I would | | | | patient and when mistakes are made, be ready to |
| say that there are three vitally important things to take | | | | correct them in a way that does not upset the |
| into consideration. | | | | working relationships that you have with your |
| - Project Planning | | | | outsourcing contractor. |
| - Project Management | | | | An important lesson in learning how to outsource is |
| - Communication | | | | always be constructive with your criticism and take |
| Project Planning | | | | the time to ensure that the provider understands |
| You would not start a new in-house project without | | | | exactly what is expected of them. Try and work out |
| careful planning and the same applies when you think | | | | why things went wrong in the first place; was it a case |
| about outsourcing your work. | | | | of the provider simply misunderstanding your |
| The project planning stage is where you set the goals | | | | instructions? Or was the root of the problem based |
| and objectives for the project. You should also set | | | | around a communication problem? |
| time lines and consider all the different scenarios that | | | | Once you have mastered the golden rules of planning, |
| could cause the project to be delayed. Project planning | | | | management and communication you are well on you |
| is basically the foundation around which the project will | | | | way to learning how to outsource successfully! |
| grow. | | | | |