Embarking on Outsourcing: An Introductory Overview

This chapter will cover the history and background of outsourcing. Outsourcing has a long history, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 17th century when the British East India Company contracted work to local artisans. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, outsourcing experienced a significant surge with the advent of technology and the growth of the global economy. This led to the outsourcing of various tasks, including manufacturing, customer service, and information technology services, to countries with lower labor costs, such as India and China. This chapter centers on the current state of outsourcing, offering a thorough examination of the history and definition, as well as the significant distinctions between outsourcing and strategic partnerships.