Outsourcing: decision-making methods and criteria during design and engineering

Shishank, S. and Dekkers, R. (2013) Outsourcing: decision-making methods and criteria during design and engineering. Production Planning & Control, 24(4-5), pp. 318-336. (doi: 10.1080/09537287.2011.648544)

Abstract

Research to date for decision-making on outsourcing has almost exclusively focussed on strategic and operational levels. Consequently, we know relatively little about decision-making on outsourcing during design and engineering, i.e. the tactical level; that also means that the characteristics of design and engineering – incomplete and inaccurate information and progressive availability of data – are not incorporated in existing frameworks and methods at that level. To fill this gap, a first-of-its-kind framework, based on an extensive appraisal of the literature, is validated; to that purpose, a Delphi survey was undertaken gauging the opinions of two homogeneous groups of academic and industry experts. The analysis of the survey affirms the assumptions made about the role of the progressive availability of data during decision-making on outsourcing. The results from this study should not only inform further research into decision-making during design and engineering but potentially the framework might also have validity for purchasing at the tactical level and strategic decision-making on outsourcing.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dekkers, Dr Rob
• Authors: Shishank, S., and Dekkers, R.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Journal Name: Production Planning & Control
• ISSN: 0953-7287
• ISSN (Online): 1366-5871