The List

Don't get suckered in by "one-size-fits-all" contracts. Frankly, there is no such thing as one size fits all. There are as many different kinds of business partnerships—and outsourcing relationships—as there are business objectives. Be sure your business objectives fit the appropriate "collaborative" outsourcing relationship you enter into. It isn't always about costs. When you hand over your business processes to an outsourcing firm, you are handing over assets. You are handing over activities, people, processes and systems that have value—and assets are potential sources of innovation. You need to make sure the types of relationships you're forming are relevant over time.