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America - Outsourcing Jobs to Foreign Countries

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Abstract International business is required for a company to be most profitable. However manufacturing should be brought back to the U.S. Manufacturing overseas reduces job availability in the U.S. It also slows down American economy. It's most profitable for the company, but detrimental to the U.S as a whole. Companies are drawn to outsourcing because it's cheap labor. They cut costs of production, with little to no quality difference. Outsourcing is a competitive advantage, but at what cost? Unemployment rates increase and the American economy suffers. Introduction There are many different and unique views on outsourcing as to whether it benefits or hurts the United States. International business is required for a company to be most profitable (Kakumanu, 2006). However manufacturing needs to be returned back to the U.S. Outsourcing manufacturing isn't something new. It's been around since the industrial revolution, but recently has become a very popular practice. Outsourcing is defined as having work performed by an external organization that was formerly done inside the organization (Beaumont, 2004). Outsourcing can range from a partnership to out-tasking. Out-tasking is where a company hires another to do something specifically. Company A hires Company B to do a task. Company B has no input because Company A retains full control over the operation. In a partnership Company B has input. A partnership between companies implies that both companies are of equal importance, and maintains equal control over the operation. Of course there are other ways of outsourcing. Smart sourcing is strategic outsourcing. Business process outsourcing is defined as outsourcing the responsibility of a single business process. While back sourcing is when something outsourced is taken back (Beaumont, 2004). It's seen to have a huge competitive advantage. Although, outsourcing isn't just for big companies. Now outsourcing poses a threat to many different areas of business such as computer engineers, IT specialists, call-center workers, paralegals, technical writers, accountants, tax professionals, and even public service workers (Gussert, 2005). Large corporations may benefit by saving millions since labor and other costs are much lower than in the United States. The migration of jobs overseas is causing a slow job growth in the United States and not helping the economy, which is why the outsourcing issue is becoming a major issue in the United States. America should continue to sell overseas, but should keep manufacturing within its own borders. Pros Many Americans believe outsourcing is the way to go. They see it as a way to get what they want for only a percentage of the price. Outsourcing leads to cheaper items because they have to pay less for labor costs. The main drive for outsourcing is cost reduction (Kakumanu, 2006). Cost reduction is a huge thing. Labor costs are just too good to pass up. Smaller companies are even starting to try it. With well-trained talent right there, it seems like the best alternative. With an equally skilled labor force that will work for less money and quality remaining the same it's so much cheaper to make it out of the states. By paying other companies, the ones in the U.S are reducing staffs, costs, and increasing efficiency (Kakumanu, 2006). Companies outsource for many re

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