Outsourcing, particularly to overseas companies, is a hot-button topic that has garnered much attention in the academic, national, and local business media.

Required;

1. Conduct an Internet search for articles about outsourcing. What are some of the major reasons that companies decide to outsource? What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing from the perspective of the company and its stockholders, managers, employees, and local community?

2. Search for a recent article on outsourcing in a national business publication such as Fortune, BusinessWeek, or The Wall Street Journal. Briefly summarize the article’s main points, including any outsourcing trends, companies making outsourcing decisions, or issues related to politics or the U.S. economy.

3. Search the archives of your local or regional newspaper for articles about outsourcing. Try to identify a specific company in your area that has outsourced part of its operations. Describe the part of the business that was outsourced. For example, did it outsource part of its manufacturing operation or a support function such as information technology or customer support? What likely factors came into play in making the decision? What impact, if any, will this decision have on customers, employees, and the local community?

4. Discuss whether you or someone you know has been personally affected by a company’s decision to outsource.