Match Don’t Build

Examine outsourcing tasks first and only apply internal resources if no alternatives can be found.

It is easy for groups within an organization to take the approach that we can do it better ourselves and not consider outsourcing tasks.  In many cases, that approach may be true, but in equally many cases, that approach neglects the true opportunity costs associated with the task.  While a group is doing X, they cannot do Y.  It is important to change the entire organization’s mindset from planning to do work internally to first exploring how some external organization could do the work.  Only when no practical external approach can be found should the tasks be performed internally.