Lower costs, greater efficiency… The promises of outsourcing are many, and industry giants like Boeing are even externalizing strategic tasks like innovation. But what happens when companies become too dependent on external service providers? Boeing had a bitter outsourcing experience with its latest full-size aircraft, the Dreamliner, launched three years late at double the foreseenRead more…

What do Apple, Dell, P&G, RIM, and Amazon, the five champions of operational excellence according to Gartner’s 2011 rankings, all have in common? These companies do not approach the issue as an isolated department-by-department problem. Flexibility, interoperability, and value chain networks contribute to their profitability and guarantees they stay ahead of their competitors. Companies thatRead more…