Outsourced solutions are some of the simplest for the business improvement analyst and the biggest nightmares for the process improvement analyst. They are simple for the business improvement analyst because, on the surface, outsourcing expertise proves to be a cost-effective way to improve upon a business’s tertiary skills and performance in arenas where the business isn’t an expert and doesn’t want to be. They are nightmarish for process improvement analysts because a business doesn’t control an outsourced process.

See if this story sounds familiar. A medium-sized business is growing in a healthy way, and the “ins and outs” of customers, orders, services, and shipments have outgrown the effectiveness of the homegrown database. Rather than hiring more experts to build a more capable database, the business decides to license an already existing system.

A leader in the business is tasked with identifying a good solution for the right price and goes shopping. Naturally, the mode settles into one of looking for the greatest capability for the price, and of course considering long-term support. A widely distributed solution is identified, presented to the business leaders, and selected.

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