Making an Outsourcing Partnership Successful: Who is Responsible – Part 1

While outsourcing offers tons of benefits, those benefits do not come automatically. They have to be worked out consciously and deliberately. Now, who is responsible for making an outsourcing partnership produce the desired result – the client or the outsourcing partner? Keep reading to find out.

Obviously, both parties are responsible for the successful outcome of an outsourcing contract. And, when each party plays its own role well, outsourcing would certainly yield the intended outcome.

The Role of the Employer/Client

Often, employers or clients (company or business owners) who leverage outsourcing tend to go to sleep after outsourcing a business task. They feel that the rest of the responsibilities lie in the hand of the outsourcing vendor. But, this is not so as client also has a role to play from start to finish of an outsourcing contract.

Therefore, the role of the employer in an outsourcing contractual relationship includes the following;

Making clear description of the task to be done. A client should ensure there’s no ambiguity in describing the outsourced task. The client should actually ask questions that would help in determining whether or not the outsourcing partner understands the details of the task.

Providing the necessary tools or materials (where applicable): Providing the required materials or tools for the task would help ensure that the independent contractor starts and completes the task on time.

Negotiate fair payment. Yes, it has been said that outsourcing is intended to save cost. But, it doesn’t mean the client should negotiate to the point of offering peanut. Whatever quality you desire from an outsourced task, you should also offer commensurate or at least reasonable payment in return.

Monitor outsourced task. Getting into a relaxed mode is not the right thing to do after outsourcing a business task. In fact, it’s the time to get to work and monitor the assigned task from start to finish. This will help minimize error and promote excellent completion of the task.

Make payment on time. The client should also keep to his side of the bargain in terms of making payments as at when due. Whether the payment is split across different stages of the task or left till the completion of the task, a client should make payment as at when due.

Motivate the contractor. It doesn’t have to be money. There are different ways to motivate your outsource partner to exceed your expectation.Simple gestures such as commending the successful completion of an aspect or stage of the task can spur an employee on to do better. Indeed, the client has a lot to do in ensuring that an outsourced task is completed according to the desired standard.

Daven Michaels is a New York Times Best Selling Author and CEO of premiere global outsourcing company, 123Employee. The company employs hundreds of young bright individuals on three continents. His International event, Beyond Marketing Live! Inspires entrepreneurs build & grow their business with revolutionary new theories and systems allowing them to design the business and personal lifestyle of their dreams.