Outsourcing is the subcontracting of services or labor to a third party, whether overseas—commonly known as offshoring—or to a domestic company or contractor. RAND's outsourcing research focuses primarily on Department of Defense decisions to outsource projects to civilian contractors and subcontractors, but the question of science and technology competitiveness and offshoring is increasingly relevant.
Research conducted by:
RAND National Security Research Division;
RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment;
RAND Project AIR FORCE;
RAND Arroyo Center
All Items (12)
Commentary
The way forward is not for the government to say no to outsourcing of sensitive functions, but to think carefully about which efficiency savings are real and which are, instead, a result of introducing a far greater degree of risk, writes James Gilbert.
Research Brief
To design a new naval submarine domestically, Australia's industry and Government will need about 1,000 skilled draftsmen and engineers. Cultivating this workforce could take 15-20 years; partnering with foreign designers could expedite the process.
Report
The Royal Australian Navy intends to acquire 12 new submarines to replace its Collins-class vessels. RAND assessed the domestic engineering and design skills that Australian industry and government will need to design the new submarine, identified the skills they currently possess, and evaluated how to fill any gaps between the two.
Report
Moore et al. provide a first-order analysis of Marine Corps purchases and Defense Logistics Agency purchases on behalf of the Marine Corps, revealing many indicators of opportunities and challenges for purchasing and supply management initiatives.
Report
Advises how the United Kingdom should best use modern outsourcing and outfitting practices for shipbuilding in the years to come.
Commentary
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Report
This dissertation discusses the benefits and risks of outsourcing and presents a model for estimating overhead savings resulting from outsourcing such activities.
Report
Collaboration, Technology, and Outsourcing Initiatives in Higher Education: A Literature Review
Report
Develop recommendations for improving the productivity of the civil service workforce (making it more competitive in outsourcing cost-comparison studies) and making the cost-comparison process fairer to government employees.
Research Brief
What factors affect the competitiveness of civil service employees in the cost-comparison process used to evaluate outsourcing possibilities; and what are the impacts of past and future outsourcings on civil service employees?
Report
Considered whether the Department of Defense (DoD) should contract out — outsource — support services that DoD now produces in-house and, if so, (1) which services DoD should outsource and (2) what DoD can do to make outsourcing more cost-effective.
People
Senior Economist; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Ph.D. in economic analysis, Stanford University Graduate School of Business; B.A. in mathematical methods in the social sciences and economics, Northwestern University
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