Virtual Assistant Business Outsourcing

When you bring up the topic of outsourcing these days, it is a lot like discussing politics or religion; heated opinions are sure to follow.  Like many controversial topics, the facts about outsourcing often get lost in emotion and rhetoric.

There are several great books out there that provide excellent information and refute many of the misconceptions associated with globalization and outsourcing.  In previous blogs we have discussed highly acclaimed outsourcing books such as Thomas Friedman’s “The World Is Flat” and Timothy Ferriss’ “The 4-Hour Workweek.”

Let’s take a look at 4 additional books that are helpful outsourcing resources.  These books tackle a variety of issues and offer valuable insight into the world of outsourcing.

“The Black Book Of Outsourcing – How To Manage The Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities,”

This book, authored by Douglas Brown and Scott Wilson, is high on the list of authoritative outsourcing information.

“The Black Book Of Outsourcing” is a comprehensive guide for the emerging outsourcing industry.  The book describes in detail the organizational and industrial changes that outsourcing is causing in this century.  The book examines the controversy and emotion that arises out of outsourcing between the global business community and the workers who are affected by this practice.

Authors Brown and Wilson examine the entire world of outsourcing; from advice to businesses about managing outsourcing to showing those who have lost their jobs to outsourcing how they can find new opportunities created by outsourcing.

“The Outsourcing Handbook: How To Implement A Successful Outsourcing Process”

The second book on our list, "The Outsourcing Handbook," is by Mark J. Power, Kevin Desoliza and Carlo Bonifazi.

Their book is a comprehensive, well-organized guide for business managers considering outsourcing. The authors provide an in-depth, hands-on approach that takes the reader through each stage of the outsourcing process. They fully explain all of the issues, processes and potential pitfalls associated with outsourcing.

“Business Process Outsourcing: Process, Strategies and Contracts”

This is another useful outsourcing resource, from authors John K. Halvey and Barbara Murphy Melby.  The focus of their book is business process outsourcing (BPO), one of the fastest growing segments of the outsourcing industry. The book examines how businesses can become more cost effective and competitive by outsourcing many of their business processes. The authors also explain how to request proposals, negotiate terms and create an effective outsourcing strategy.

“Offshore Outsourcing Of IT Work: Client And Supplier Perspectives”

The final book on our list is by Mary C. Lacity and Joseph W. Rottman.

This excellent book offers real life experience and research from two internationally recognized experts in this field.  It includes detailed case studies and 159 face-to-face interviews with advisors, clients and suppliers.  The book deals with important topics like managing knowledge transfer, protection of intellectual property and offshore outsourcing at the project level.  This book is a valuable resource for those seeking real life outsourcing experiences.

If you are considering outsourcing some of your business processes or thinking of becoming a virtual assistant yourself, reading these books will educate you on a phenomenon that is here to stay.