Offshoring Solutions

BackResources

17th October 2019

Lead institution:
The University of Manchester

Author:
Dr Silvia Massini, Manchester Business School

Company:
A global pharmaceutical company

Summary:

Advising on the feasibility of offshoring technical work to low cost countries outside the UK

Objective

To advise on the feasibility of offshoring technical work to low cost countries outside the UK

Project

As part of an international Offshoring Research Network, Dr Massini looked at how and why UK companies are increasingly moving functions such as product design, research and development (R&D) and IT development to offshore locations like India and China. A global pharmaceutical company contacted her for advice on whether or not to offshore some of its non-core R&D processes to free up capital to invest in essential product and service innovation. The assignment involved in-depth interviews with UK and US managers and researchers about their offshoring activity.

Results

The company accepted the advice in Dr Massini’s report to offshore its R&D processes. The report recommended looking at different locations to avoid popular ‘hotspots’ with potentially high wage inflations, and advised the company to appoint an experienced Global Offshoring Manager to oversee the operations.


Explore more Resources View all

Should we spend more time talking about methods?

This blog by the Methods for Change team, illustrated by Jack Brougham, asks if we should spend more time talking about the methods we use as researchers. Drawing on a recent paper, we suggest that researchers need to articulate why methods matter in creating change to global challenges. We share three creative techniques that we have experimented with across the Methods for Change project that can encourage playful, reflective conversation about methods and their role in galvanising change.

Collaborative Zine Making Method

This ‘How-To’ Guide outlines the Collaborative Zine Making Method used by Professor Sarah Marie Hall from the University of Manchester and developed in collaboration with Inspire Women Oldham. The zine was also created in collaboration with Inspire Women Oldham.

Oral Histories of Sensory Memories

This ‘How-To’ Guide outlines the Oral Histories of Sensory Memories method used by Associate Professor Roisin Higgins from Maynooth University, Republic of Ireland. The poster was created in collaboration with Maddy Vian, Maddy Vian Illustrations.

Pop-up Stall Method

This ‘How-To’ Guide outlines the Pop-up Stall method used by Dr Robert Meckin and Dr Andrew Balmer from the University of Manchester. The poster was created in collaboration with Maddy Vian, Maddy Vian Illustrations.