Outsourcing is subcontracting a process, such as product design or manufacturing, to a third-party company. Outsourcing became part of the business lexicon during the 1980s, as project management developed as a field. It became more visible in technical communication after the 1990s, when salaries in the field rose significantly, encouraging employers to attempt to lower costs for documentation/user assistance (often regarded by business models as a 'cost center'). It is sometimes considered related to offshoring, the relocation of business processes from one country to another.
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In support of the IEEE Professional Communication Society's 50th anniversary conference, this paper suggests ways in which the technical communication profession can ensure its sustainability throughout the next 50 years of business evolution. This paper seeks to present a compelling argument directed at conventionally-employed technical communicators that a paradigm shift towards consulting employment is in their best interest - and in the technical communication profession's best interest. Because of exposure to many and varied companies and methodologies, technical communication consultants tend to have more wide-ranging and current skills that they can offer to companies over their peers who work in conventional employment arrangements. For this argument, this paper will look at how technical communicator consultants can make significant contributions to business by comparing the attributes of technical communication consultants to the attributes of the untouchables defined and discussed in The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, the maverick analysis of the globalization phenomenon by Thomas L. Friedman.
Davy, D. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication (2007). Careers>Consulting>Outsourcing>Offshoring
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Benchmarking Translation Agencies 
Whether you are new at the translation business or a veteran of many globalization projects, a benchmarking study of your translation supplier(s) is a worthwhile endeavor. In benchmarking, you compare suppliers against one another based on specific criteria. The suppliers’ performance in the study can reassure you that your current relationship is a good one, or can lead to you a more compatible agency.
Finan, Jill. STC International TC SIG (2001). Articles>Language>Outsourcing>Translation
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There is no single factor that will determine your best choice of a translation agency. It should not be based on price alone, because as the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for”. Nor should it be based solely on the company’s size, number of employees, or any similar strictly objective measurement factor. Although such information may be important, and should be considered, it is just part of the total picture you need to adequately evaluate an agency.
Nagy, Charlene. STC International TC SIG (2001). Articles>Language>Outsourcing>Translation
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What Type of Translation Agency Staff is Right for You?
When you have materials that need to be translated into a foreign language, how do you decide where to send them? Your basic choice is between an agency that uses only freelance translators or one that has employee translators in-house. Your decision on which to use should depend on the type of final product you are looking for and the subject matter of the material to be translated. This article describes the two types of agencies in more detail, to help you make an informed decision regarding the type of agency that will work best for you. We have tried to maintain an impartial view of both types while making potential clients aware of the industry and its various practices and levels of quality.
Nagy, Charlene. STC International TC SIG (2001). Articles>Language>Outsourcing>Translation
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Outsourcing vs. Offshoring, and How U.S.-Based Technical Writers Can Stay Competitive
A reluctance to learn new skills holds you back and complaining about potential employers raising the bar hurts us all.
Your Writing Dept Blog (2009). Careers>Management>Outsourcing>Offshoring
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Social Media Outsourcing Can Be Risky
Hosting a company's content and services on 3rd-party social networking sites involves both tactical risks (lower usability) and strategic risks (less user loyalty).
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2009). Articles>Web Design>Outsourcing>Social Networking
