With a growing market currently in excess of $150 billion, outsourcing has become a critical boardroom agenda. Meeting this challenge, Andrew and Nada Kakabadse answers key boardroom questions: Q What will be the key areas of outsourcing in the future? A IT and HR! Q What supplier relationships work best: partnerships, joint ventures? A No, the preferred single supplier still provides best service! Q Does well-managed outsourcing make a difference? A Substantially, both strategic and operational! As one of the largest international surveys on outsourcing, Smart Sourcing highlights what it takes to be "outsource ready" and thus become a high performing company. The message is focus on your strengths and know how to use others in order to clearly differentiate!

ANDREW KAKABADSE is Professor of Management Development, Director of the Cranfield Centre for International Management Development and Chairman of its Management Development board. He has consulted and lectured in the UK, Europe, the USA, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Georgia, the Gulf states and Australia. His areas of interest focus on improving the performance of top executives and top executive teams, excellence in consultancy practice, corporate governance, and conflict resolution and international relations.

NADA KAKABADSE is a Senior Research Fellow at the Cranfield School of Management. She was previously employed as a Senior Information Technology Officer with the Australian Public Service Department of Employment, Education and Training. She has worked for international organisations in Scandinavia, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as for the Canadian Federal Government.