outsourcing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outsourcing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business context to refer to the practice of obtaining goods or services from an external source, often to reduce costs or improve efficiency. Example: "The company decided to focus on its core competencies and began outsourcing its customer service operations to a third-party provider."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Oh, and not "outsourcing our foreign policy to the UN".

The Guardian

Still, working with a corporation can be fine, too, if you've got a built in support system, as Courtney Higham does at her New York human resources outsourcing company.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The outsourcing of essential services such as campus security and student counselling may mean there are fewer qualified people to listen to students who are victimised.

The Guardian

Turnbull said the outsourcing of program production was not part of the Lewis review.

The Guardian

'When the poor cannot afford good lawyers, good lawyers must be able to afford the poor.' In 16 years at the bar, I have seen our system subjected to innumerable cuts, disastrous outsourcing, and a vast expansion of the scope and complexity of the law.

The Guardian - Opinion

But a spokesman for Turnbull told Guardian Australia the distinction between programs and production had been misinterpreted and the Lewis report did not suggest outsourcing all ABC TV programs such as Play School and the Movie Show to the private sector.

The Guardian

Unemployment has been slashed, while social security, free health and education have been rapidly expanded – including free higher education, now a constitutional right – while outsourcing has been outlawed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Agnew, who was privately educated at Rugby school, and previously ran a cleaning company in Australia which mainly cleaned flats "used as brothels", made his fortune in insurance, private equity and management consultancy, where he pioneered outsourcing of labour to India.

The Guardian

According to him, it's this trend that could lead to insourcing instead of outsourcing.

The Guardian

Also companies should look to outsourcing more technology and services.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And three big European operators—France Telecom, KPN and Vodafone (again)—have recently decided to outsource the running of their networks in some countries to equipment-makers: Nokia Siemens Networks, Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson respectively.Neither network-sharing nor outsourcing is new.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "outsourcing", clearly specify the function or process being outsourced to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "IT outsourcing" or "manufacturing outsourcing".

Common error

Avoid broad statements about "outsourcing" without considering the specific context and industry. The effects of "outsourcing" can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of work outsourced, the location of the outsourcing provider, and the management practices in place.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outsourcing" is as a noun, referring to the practice of contracting out business processes to third-party providers. It can also function as a verb, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outsourcing" is a commonly used term, primarily functioning as a noun, to describe the business practice of contracting out tasks or functions to external providers. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, particularly in news, business, and economics. Alternatives include "contracting out" and "external sourcing". The term's frequent use underscores its importance in modern business discussions. When writing about "outsourcing", it's essential to specify the function being outsourced and avoid overgeneralizations about its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contracting out

Refers to engaging external parties for specific tasks or services.

External sourcing

Highlights the act of acquiring resources or services from outside the organization.

Subcontracting

Focuses on delegating part of an existing contract to another party.

Offshoring

Specifies outsourcing to a foreign country, typically for cost savings.

Business process outsourcing

Emphasizes the outsourcing of specific business functions or processes.

Service level agreement

Highlights the agreement made to procure services from external suppliers.

Vendor management

Focuses on overseeing and coordinating relationships with external vendors.

Third-party provision

Emphasizes the involvement of a separate entity in providing services.

Managed services

Refers to the ongoing management of specific functions by an external provider.

Resource augmentation

Focuses on supplementing existing resources with external personnel or capabilities.

FAQs

How can I use "outsourcing" in a sentence?

You can use "outsourcing" to describe the practice of a company contracting work to an external organization. For instance, "The company decided on "outsourcing" its customer service to a third-party provider".

What are some alternatives to saying "outsourcing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "contracting out", "external sourcing", or "subcontracting".

Is there a difference between "outsourcing" and "offshoring"?

"Outsourcing" refers to contracting work to an external organization, while "offshoring" specifically means outsourcing to a company located in another country, often to reduce costs.

What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of "outsourcing"?

The benefits of ""outsourcing"" include cost savings, increased efficiency, and access to specialized expertise. However, potential drawbacks can include communication challenges, loss of control, and potential risks to data security.