Thesis (M.Hous.M.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Traditional methods of IT recruitment in tertiary institutions need to be reviewed and more modern approaches analysed. A lot of successes and failures have been reported for each type of sourcing strategy in the IT sector. Many organizations have been liquidated due to poorly planned mergers, takeovers, and total outsourcing strategic shifts. The primary objective is to review the current IT sourcing strategies in tertiary institutions and to analyse and discuss the benefits and limitations of employing permanent IT staff, contract workers or outsourced staff.

Call centres have been described as an enabling resource for enhanced customer service, as a cost saving strategy, and a combination of both. Call centres are people intensive, resource demanding environments with complex management challenges. The call centre industry is growing rapidly and South Africa is fast becoming a desired destination for outsourced call centres. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of outsourced call centre management specifically regarding their roles and challenges experienced when executing their daily activities. This study contributes to the understanding of the challenges outsourced call centre managers encounter and provide suggestions to help address major challenges faced in relation to effective call centre management. The methodology used was of a qualitative nature as data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. Inductive reasoning was applied in this study. The call centre managers were purposively selected for the study based on their experience within the industry. The data gathered was transcribed, coded and organised into themes, categories and sub-categories. The study had five objectives and once analysed the following results were obtained: profiles of call centre management was determined, people management surfaced as a major challenge for call centre managers, numerous strategies are in place to deal with challenges, however they are limited due to company policies, cost efficiency was not the main reason organisations outsource their call centres and finally call centre managers perceive their roles to be the overall responsibility of the call centre, its employees and performance. The results revealed that scientific management principles and continuous improvement are major focus areas within the call centre environment. This is mainly driven by the fact that outsourced call centres have contractual obligations that need to be met otherwise they face financial penalties. The findings also revealed that being a manager in an outsourced call centre today is a dynamic and challenging task with many pressures both internally and externally. The study recommends that outsourced call centre managers be empowered and supported by the relevant support divisions as they assume a great responsibility while operating in a dynamic environment and they play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of outsourced call centres. The main limitation of this study is that it relies on outsourced contact centres situated in the Gauteng area that only services one telecommunication organisations customer queries limiting the ability to generalise to other populations. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study project focuses on the relevance of outsourcing in the facilities management industry, and will be conducted in the field of facilities management, for it is closely related to outsourcing and business process outsourcing. The primary aim of this study is to review and summarise some of the more important literature on outsourcing, published in various sources during the past decade. Similar literature related to facilities management will also be studied in order to relate the most generic articles on outsourcing to the field of facilities management. A number of general conclusions will be drawn on the basis of similarities encountered in the various published works. The research is divided into the following sections: • An introduction, explaining the various forms of outsourcing and the relationship between outsourcing and facilities management. • The definition of facilities management. This entails a description of facilities management, typical facilities services and the facilities management company structure. The international facilities management market is also discussed together with facilities management decisions. • The definition of outsourcing, to enable the reader to comprehend this research report. The different types of outsourcing, business processes outsourcing and the shared-services methodology is explained. Drivers of the outsourcing process are identified and supported with comments from top executives. • The strategic impact of outsourcing is outlined, identifying the market value of outsourcing, defining core competencies, establishing core and non-core activities and investigating the formulation and implementation of a successful outsourcing strategy. • Approaches to outsourcing are then investigated. This involves establishing an outsourcing context, selection of service providers, managing an outsourcing relationship, building strategic alliances and the South African legislation impacting on outsourcing, together with advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing. • The Sanlam LTD (Pty) case study captures the outsourcing theory in the South African context, and identifies a local success story with international recognition. In conclusion, emphasis is placed on the fact that outsourcing trends throughout the world is booming through strategic alliances with facilities management companies, with greater emphasis and effort in establishing a successful relationship to sustain and enhance the enormous value-add that outsourcing offers to both parties. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studieprojek fokus op die relevansie van uitkontraktering in die fasiliteitebestuursbedryf en is op die gebied van fasiliteitebestuur gedoen, aangesien dit noue verband hou met uitkontraktering en besigheidsprosesuitkontrakterings-elemente. Die primêre doel van hierdie studieprojek is om sommige van die belangrikste literatuur oor uitkontrak-tering, wat gedurende die afgelope dekade in verskeie bronne gepubliseer is, na te gaan en op te som. Soortgelyke literatuur met betrekking tot fasiliteitebestuur is ook bestudeer ten einde die mees generiese artikels oor uitkontraktering in die gebied van fasiliteitebestuur in verband te bring. 'n Aantal algemene gevolgtrekkings sal gedoen word op grond van ooreenkomste wat in die onderskeie publikasies aangetref is. Die navorsing is in die volgende afdelings opgedeel: • 'n Inleiding wat die onderskeie vorms van uitkontraktering en die verband tussen uitkontraktering en fasiliteitebestuur verduidelik. • Die definisie van fasiliteitebestuur. Dit behels 'n beskrywing van fasiliteitebestuur, tipiese fasiliteitedienste en die fasiliteitebestuur-maatskappystruktuur. Die internasionale fasiliteitebestuursmark word ook bespreek en dit sluit af met fasiliteitebestuursbesluite en maatskappy-ondervinding. • Die definisie van uitkontraktering, om die leser in staat te stel om hierdie studieprojek te begryp. Die verskillende tipes uitkontraktering, besigheidsprosesuitkontrak-tering, en die gedeeldedienstemetodologie word verduidelik. Drywers van die uitkontrakteringsproses word geïdentifiseer en daar word afgesluit met kommentaar deur top uitvoerende amptenare. • Die strategiese impak van uitkontraktering word geskets om die markwaarde van uitkontraktering te identifiseer, kernbevoegdhede te definieer, kern- en nie-kernaktiwiteite vas te stel en die formulering en implementering van 'n suksesvolle uitkontrakteringstrategie te ondersoek. • Benaderings tot uitkontraktering word dan ondersoek. Dit behels die vasstelling van 'n uitkontrakteringskonteks, selektering van diensverskaffers, die bestuur van 'n uitkontrak- teringsverbintenis, die bou van strategiese alliansies, en Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing wat 'n impak op uitkontraktering het, tesame met die voordele en nadele. • Die Sanlam Bpk. (Edms.)-gevallestudie ondervang die uitkontrakteringsteorie in die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks, en identifiseer 'n plaaslike suksesverhaal met internasionale erkenning. • Ten slotte word nadruk geplaas op die feit dat uitkontrakteringstendense wêreldwyd 'n bloeitydperk beleef as gevolg van strategiese alliansies met fasiliteitebestuursmaatskappye, met groter beklemtoning van en moeite om 'n suksesvolle verbintenis te skep om die enorme toevoeging van waarde, wat uitkontraktering aan beide partye bied, te handhaaf en te versterk.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study project examines the concept of information technology (IT) outsourcing to external service providers. It is a relatively new concept in the South African scenario and there are many risks associated with the process that can cause a company to loose large amounts of money if outsourcing is not done right. The study project will aim to examine the most important aspects regarding IT outsourcing in order to reduce the risks associated with the process. The definition of IT outsourcing is the practice of transferring an organisation's computer centre operations, telecommunications networks, or applications development to external vendors of these services. There are different variations of outsourcing applicable to IT, for example: contracting out, outsourcing, in sourcing and co-sourcing. Companies have different reasons for outsourcing and the risks associated with the process have to be taken into account when embarking on an outsourcing initiative. With IT outsourcing there are different services that can be outsourced, for example: mainframe services, desktop computer services, security services and different application services. The decision to outsource a specific area of IT is a strategic issue and the risks, costs, and selection of the service provider are all very important factors to take into account. One of the main factors that any company should take into account when embarking on a big initiative is of course costs. The aim is the reduction of costs of the specific outsourced area. Therefore the necessary measures need to be in place to measure costs before and after the outsourcing process. It could happen that the outsourcing process do not provide the reduced cost benefits envisaged initially. This could be due to hidden costs that were not taken into account when the outsourcing initiative was planned. Normally the outsourcing process is driven by a structured project and numerous important factors need to be taken into account when managing the whole process. The factors include: the vendor evaluation process, setup of the service level agreement, the request for proposal, relationship with the supplier, communication of the whole process inside the company, the contract between the two parties, and the transition period with the measuring of results thereafter. The current IT skills shortage in South Africa is causing companies to rethink their IT strategies and make use of external service providers to supply them with the necessary skills to get the job done. The research illustrates this fact that IT consulting has one of the highest adoption rates currently and with regard to the future. Full blown outsourcing is still a relatively new concept in South Africa and companies will only adopt the concept as soon as it has proved to be successful and cost effective. As mentioned it is important that a structured methodology should be used to drive an outsourcing process. It is important that the approach is structured around proven project management principles with the correct measures in place to support and sustain the whole process. Outsourcing of IT services is a strategic decision that a company must take and the risks associated with the process mean that it must be planned and executed very carefully. Outsourcing has various risks associated with it like the appointment of the wrong service provider. However, the outsourcing process can also have its merits and the most important of these are most probably lower costs, new IT skills, and better service. The shortage of IT skills in South Africa makes the idea of outsourcing more and more attractive because of the fact that companies can now "buy" the skills without having to commit to long term permanent employment contracts for permanent staff. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingsverslag handel oor die konsep van uitkontraktering van inligtingstegnologie(IT) dienste aan eksterne diensverskaffers. Aangesien dit 'n relatiewe nuwe tendens in Suid Afrika se IT bedryf is, en die risiko bestaan dat 'n maatskappy groot geldelike verliese kan ly indien dit nie reg aangepak word nie, word daar gepoog om na die belangrikste aspekte van uitkontraktering te kyk om die risikos daaraan verbonde so laag as moontlik te hou. Die definisie van IT uitkontraktering is die oordrag van 'n organisasie se rekenaar sentrum operasies, telekommunikasie netwerk, of toepassing ontwikkeling na 'n eksterne verskaffer van hierdie dienste. Daar is verskillende variasies van uitkontraktering van toepassing op IT soos byvoorbeeld: uitkontraktering, inkontraktering, en gesamentlike kontraktering. Maatskappye het verskillende redes om 'n diens uit te kontrakteer en die risikos verbonde aan die proses moet sorgvuldig in gedagte gehou word wanneer die uitkontrakteringsproses aangepak word. Met IT uitkontraktering is daar verskillende dienste wat uitgekontrakteer kan word soos byvoorbeeld: hoofraam dienste, persoonlike rekenaar dienste, sekuriteitsdienste en verskeie rekenaar applikasie dienste. Die besluit om 'n spesifieke area van IT uit te kontrakteer is 'n strategiese kwessie vir die maatskappy en die risikos, kostes en keuse van eksterne diensverskaffer is almal baie belangrike faktore wat in gedagte gehou moet word. Een van die vernaamste faktore wat enige maatskappy in ag behoort te neem wanneer 'n groot inisiatief aangepak word, is natuurlik kostes. Die doel van uitkontraktering is om die kostes van die spesifieke area te verlaag. Daarom moet die nodige maatreëls in plek wees om die kostes vooraf en na die uitkontrakteringsproses te meet. Die uitkontraktering inisiatief kan die maatskappy egter baie duur te staan kom en glad nie die koste voordele bied wat aanvanklik beplan is nie. Dit kan wees as gevolg van verskuilde kostes wat nie met die beplanning van die proses in ag geneem is nie. Gewoonlik word die uitkontrakteringsproses gedryf deur 'n gestruktureerde projek en verskeie belangrike faktore moet in ag geneem word vir die hele proses. Die faktore sluit in: die evaluasieproses om die regte diensverskaffer aan te stel, die opstel van die regte dokumentasie in terme van die diensvoorstel voorlegging, verhouding met die diensverskaffer, die opstel van die diensvlak ooreenkoms, kommunikasie oor die hele proses binne die maatskappy, die kontrak tussen die twee partye, oorgangstadium en die meting van voordele daarna. Die huidige tekort aan IT vaardighede in Suid Afrika veroorsaak dat maatskappye hul IT strategie moet herdink en die opsie van eksterna diensverskaffers wat die nodige vaardighede kan verskaf, oorweeg word. Die studie illustreer hierdie feit dat IT konsultasie een van die hoogste vlakke van ingebruikneming tans en vir die toekoms het. Volledige IT funksie uitkontraktering is nog 'n relatiewe nuwe konsep in Suid Afrika en maatskappye sal slegs die idee aanneem sodra uitkontraktering as suksesvol en koste effektief bewys is. Soos reeds genoem is dit belangrik dat 'n gestruktureerde metodologie gebruik word om 'n uitkontrakteringsinisiatief te dryf. Dit is belangrik dat die aanslag geskoei is rondom bewese projekbestuursbeginsels en dat die regte maatreëls getref is om die proses te ondersteun. Uitkontraktering van IT dienste is 'n strategiese besluit wat 'n maatskappy moet neem. Die risikos daaraan verbonde veroorsaak dat die beplanning en aanpak van die proses baie deeglik en noukeurig gedoen moet word. Uitkontraktering het verskeie risikos soos om die verkeerde eksterne diensverskaffer te kies, maar kan ook voordelig vir die maatskappy wees en die grootste voordele wat 'n maatskappy kan verwag is verlaagde kostes en nuwe IT vaardighede. Die probleem van 'n tekort aan goed opgeleide IT personeel in Suid Afrika maak die idee van uitkontraktering al meer aanlokliker omdat dit 'n goeie manier is om goeie vaardighede in te "koop".

Privatization has become a central feature of the economic policies of nations in the developed and developing world. Eritrea has also embarked on a privatisation program for the state-owned enterprises. It privatised 39 manufacturing enterprises from 1997-2001 in the hope that the enterprises might be restructured into more efficient, profitable, competent and value creating private enterprises. This thesis assessed the impact of privatisation on the operating efficiency, profitability, employment, wages and tax payment of the Eritrean newly privatised manufacturing enterprises.

This research paper investigated whether there are any limitations or restraints in the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, which possible keeps an employer from outsourcing functions or parts of a business to a third party.

Managing the movement of components and products from suppliers to customers and ultimately to end-users is undergoing rapid changes. Supply chain management has increasingly gained attention as companies have sought to reduce costs and improve service performance in a quest for gaining an advantage on the competition.

IS outsourcing, especially large-scale IS outsourcing, is a comparatively recent and rapidly growing IS phenomenon, but it is also an inherently risky activity. In an IS outsourcing arrangement, the outsourcing vendor accepts responsibility for IS resources and functions formerly controlled directly by the firm. This research examines IS outsourcing from two perspectives. (1) From an IS perspective, it examines the risk perceptions of IS managers of fourteen Fortune-500 firms who had recently conducted an outsourcing evaluation. (2) From a financial perspective, it examines the theoretical relationship of IS outsourcing with financial performance, and investigates the empirical effects of IS outsourcing on the firm's market value and market risk. This research views IS outsourcing as an independent variable whose effects on the firm may be measured as changes in security returns, changes in asset risk, changes in capital structure, and long-term changes in profitability. To accomplish this, it characterizes IS outsourcing as a sale-and-leaseback transaction.

Outsourcing has become a significant factor in the U.S. economy over the past two decades. Annual report disclosures made by a firm related to outsourcing are voluntary disclosures. Understanding the determinants and firm performance implications of initial outsourcing annual report disclosures is important to capital market providers, standards developers, and to the firms themselves. I identify and study firms making initial voluntary disclosures of outsourcing in their annual reports on Form 10-K between 1993 and 2003 after they make non-annual report related public disclosures. Specifically, I investigate if determinants of the initial annual report disclosure decision and subsequent performance are associated with the initial disclosure. This study contends managers disclose information related to outsourcing in their annual reports to reduce information asymmetry and to minimize agency costs. I hypothesize and develop a firm-related variable commonly used in agency theory to test this assertion. Signaling theory and voluntary disclosure theory also explain the determinants for firm voluntary outsourcing annual report disclosures. I develop several hypotheses defining determinants potentially associated with the likelihood of initial annual report outsourcing disclosure decisions, and test these determinants using a conditional logistic regression model and a matched-pair group of firms making public outsourcing disclosures but not making annual report disclosure. Using signaling theory, I also develop hypotheses testing if the initial outsourcing annual report disclosure sends a signal regarding future firm performance--specifically testing firm performance measures related to profitability and cash flow. I test these hypotheses using OLS models and the same matched-pair group of firms. I find firms with high levels of debt, high total cost ratios, and high returns on assets are more likely to make initial annual report outsourcing disclosure. / I also find firms may signal improvements in future levels of profitability when making the initial annual report outsourcing disclosure. / by Ronald F. Premuroso. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, FL : 2008 Mode of access: World Wide Web.