Understanding Outsourcing Contexts Through Information Asymmetry and Capability Fit

Abstract

Outsourcing is a strategic activity that has long been central to operations management research and practice. Yet, there are still many outsourcing management challenges that remain. In this article, we explore two of the outsourcing challenges that motivated this special issue and are central to the 10 articles included. To do this, we develop a theoretical model that examines how variations in capability fit and information asymmetry combine to present firms with four different outsourcing contexts. We then explain how each of the articles included in this special issue relate to our theoretical model and explore several avenues for future research.

Keywords: outsourcing; information asymmetry; capabilities; typology; operations management; operations strategy

JEL Classification: L10, L20, M10, M20, N10