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Outsourcing Strategy and Sustainability
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Outsourcing Strategy and Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 16246

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Tomás Espino-Rodríguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics and Business, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: outsourcing; service operations; tourism management; hospitality management; supply chain management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Outsourcing involves both service and industrial companies acquiring services or components from external companies instead of carrying them out in-house. The literature has researched the factors that determine that a firm outsources but has not been related to sustainability or analyzed the impact it can have on aspects related to sustainability. For this Special Issue, we welcome conceptual and empirical contributions that explore different aspects of outsourcing related to the concept of sustainability, that is, aspects that include not only performance but also social, environmental, cultural, and sustainable employment aspects. Papers are also welcome to examine relationships with suppliers. Relationships with suppliers are the basis for outsourcing to achieve its objectives and especially sustainability. This will allow firms to be managed efficiently. It is also necessary to know the impact that outsourcing has on the sustainable performance of organizations. Studies that analyze a new concept of outsourcing related to sustainability are necessary in these modern times. For this reason, this Special Issue will be launched, dedicated to examining outsourcing. The papers included in this Special Issue can help us to determine the new directions being addressed in the research on outsourcing.

Prof. Dr. Tomás F. Espino-Rodríguez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable outsourcing
  • outsourcing and its impact on culture
  • social aspects of outsourcing
  • environmental perspective of outsourcing
  • outsourcing and employment
  • perceived value of outsourcing
  • outsourcing and performance
  • outsourcing and sustainable performance
  • satisfaction with suppliers
  • sustainable interorganizational relationships

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 506 KiB  
Article
Outsourcing for Sustainable Performance: Insights from Two Studies on Achieving Innovation through Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing
by Ezekiel Leo, Quang “Neo” Bui and Olayele Adelakun
Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042102 - 12 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3103
Abstract
(1) Background: To obtain sustainable performance through outsourcing, organizations must balance the inherent tension between pursuing cost-saving initiatives (i.e., efficiency) and pursuing innovative initiatives (e.g., developing new products). This study aims to explore this tension by exploring different ways that organizations can pursue [...] Read more.
(1) Background: To obtain sustainable performance through outsourcing, organizations must balance the inherent tension between pursuing cost-saving initiatives (i.e., efficiency) and pursuing innovative initiatives (e.g., developing new products). This study aims to explore this tension by exploring different ways that organizations can pursue both efficiency and innovativeness, through their IT outsourcing (ITO) and business process outsourcing (BPO). (2) Methods: This study utilizes a configurational approach in two inductive studies, both using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). The first study qualitatively compares 27 firms currently doing ITO, while the second study compares 60 firms doing either ITO or BPO. (3) Results: Our findings suggest three configurations, or combination of conditions, that enable efficiency and innovation through ITO and BPO. For ITO, firms can use a best-of-breed or a mediated multi-outsourcing configuration to enable innovation; however, firms can only use a direct multi-outsourcing configuration to enable innovation through BPO. (4) Conclusions: The study is among the first to explore both ITO and BPO practices that enable innovation and efficiency simultaneously (sustainable performance). In contrast with prior studies, all three aforementioned configurations suggest that having detailed outsourcing contracts is a necessary but not sufficient condition for innovation through outsourcing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outsourcing Strategy and Sustainability)
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25 pages, 1724 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the Organizational Culture on Hotel Outsourcing and Sustainable Performance an Empirical Application in the Egyptian Hotel Sector
by Mahmoud Gebril Taha and Tomás F. Espino-Rodríguez
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9687; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229687 - 20 Nov 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7393
Abstract
In recent years, the concept of an organizational culture in hotels has held an important position on both a theoretical and practical level because this culture significantly affects organizational performance and the strategies adopted by hotels. Therefore, it is considered one of the [...] Read more.
In recent years, the concept of an organizational culture in hotels has held an important position on both a theoretical and practical level because this culture significantly affects organizational performance and the strategies adopted by hotels. Therefore, it is considered one of the key factors in determining hotels’ tendency towards outsourcing and sustainable performance. In this study, we aim to analyze the impact of the organizational culture on the level of outsourcing and sustainable performance. To do so, we will use the Competing Values Framework (CVF), which divides organizational culture into four typologies: hierarchical, group, rational, and development cultures. A personal questionnaire was administered to the directors or managers of 114 hotels located in two Egyptian cities: Hurgada and Sharm El Sheikh. The results of the structural model suggest the negative impact of the hierarchical and development cultures on the level of outsourcing. The results show a positive influence of the four types of organizational culture on sustainable performance, suggesting that these hotels have a strong interest in sustainability and the environment. The findings reveal a negative relationship between the level of outsourcing and sustainable performance. Finally, this study presents academic and practical implications, as well as recommendations for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outsourcing Strategy and Sustainability)
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15 pages, 714 KiB  
Article
Efficiency Analysis of Public Library Services Based on Establishing Entity and Outsourcing
by Changhee Kim, Hyunjung Kim and Kanghwa Choi
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9205; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219205 - 05 Nov 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2417
Abstract
This study investigates the difference in service efficiency based on establishing entity and outsourcing in 847 public libraries in Korea. The public libraries were categorized into three types based on establishing entity and outsourcing, where Type 1 libraries are those established and directly [...] Read more.
This study investigates the difference in service efficiency based on establishing entity and outsourcing in 847 public libraries in Korea. The public libraries were categorized into three types based on establishing entity and outsourcing, where Type 1 libraries are those established and directly managed by the Office of Education under the central government, Type 2 libraries are established and directly managed by local governments, and Type 3 libraries are established by local governments and their operations are outsourced. Each library type was analyzed and compared using data envelopment analysis (DEA), and results found that public libraries established by local governments are more efficient than those established by the central government, while outsourcing operations improved the efficiency of public libraries. Further analysis of the projection point and excess quantity of input showed that the main cause of inefficiency for Type 1 libraries is the library area, and for Types 2 and 3, the number of periodicals. This study provides guidelines for the sustainable performance of public library services based on the factors of foundation and operational patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outsourcing Strategy and Sustainability)
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16 pages, 437 KiB  
Article
Organizational Resource and Innovativeness to Sustainable Design Outsourcing Service
by Kunyoung Hong and Boyoung Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5288; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135288 - 30 Jun 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Design firms have been changing to become innovation consulting agencies, while business companies are improving their use of design innovation capacity for innovative problem-solving approaches. This study aims to identify how the organizational resource components of design firms affect the competitiveness of design [...] Read more.
Design firms have been changing to become innovation consulting agencies, while business companies are improving their use of design innovation capacity for innovative problem-solving approaches. This study aims to identify how the organizational resource components of design firms affect the competitiveness of design outsourcing through the medium of absorptive capacity, innovation capacity, and design innovativeness. To do this, a total of 389 surveys from employees of design firms of seven regions in Korea were collected and analyzed. The analysis results show that tangible and human resource have a significant impact on absorptive capacity and innovation capacity, and intangible resource do the same on absorptive capacity. It was found that intangible resource would not have a significant impact on innovation capacity. This indicates that design firms should also prioritize fostering creative talent and strengthening financial and physical support for organizational activities. In addition, this study confirmed that enhanced absorptive capacity within the organization has a positive effect on the design innovativeness, and that the resource and capacity management of design firms are important to improve design innovativeness and outsourcing competitiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outsourcing Strategy and Sustainability)
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