SOLICITING, NEGOTIATING and MANAGING OUTSOURCED PROJECTS
3 DAY COURSE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Outsource projects come in many different varieties. You can move an internal process from your team to a different team with the company. You can work with subcontractors instead of employees for internal work assignments. You can move a business function to a company within the US. Finally you can move a business function to a company outside the US.
Outsourced solutions have become a “cure all” for business challenges. What on paper looks like “cure all” can turn into financial and management disaster in execution. Success in outsourcing comes from the upfront work put into soliciting and negotiation the solution and the planning and initial execution of the project plan.
In Soliciting, Negotiating and Managing Outsource Projects 3-day course you will get the in-depth tools, techniques and best practices you need to succeed. This course is taught by PMP certified professionals with real-world Project Outsourcing experience.
You will learn from experienced Outsourcing Project Managers:
- How to determine what type of outsourcing solution meets your needs
- Solicitation techniques to find the vendor for your needs
- Negotiation tools and techniques to protect yourself from over runs
- Detailed and in-depth set of tools to manage the project from initiation to success
70% of this course is real-world hands-on work executing on Outsource Project case studies
Course Outline
- Key Concepts and Trends in Outsourcing
Why is outsourcing a consideration? Outsourcing has been in the business world for decades. There are many best practices that can be leveraged.
- Outsourcing Today and Tomorrow
- Alignment to Corporate Outsourcing Strategies
- Leverage Best Practices to Customize the Outsourcing Lifecycle
- Select the Outsourcing Provider
Making the right decision requires due diligence. Having the right approach is critical for stakeholder buy-in.
- Identify Potential Providers
- Manage the Solicitation Process
- Analyze Make or Buy Decision
- Get to a Buyer/Seller Agreement
Once the Vendor has been selected, the negotiation process will result in a formal agreement. There are several factors to consider as part of this process.
Course Outline Continued...
- Select the Appropriate Contract and Service Level Agreements
- Price
- Address Risks (Including Offshore)
- Plan and Execute the Outsourced Project
All projects have similarities, but the complexity of outsourced projects requires more upfront planning and more robust controls to ensure risks are mitigated.
- Working Virtually and Globally
- Get to the Right Project Structure
- Develop a Project Plan
- Appropriate Level of Controls (Communication, Risk and Quality)
- Manage Change and Expectations (Scope, Schedule and Cost)
- Transition and Close the Project
In the outsourced project, you must consider the impact that change has to the business organization and also consider how to work within the vendor or client organization. You can't consider the project closed unless this transition is complete and there is a clean break between the project close and ongoing support. Success Criteria are different for each.
- Transition to the Business and Vendor Outsourcing Structure
- Plan for a Smooth Knowledge and Procedure Transfer
- Realize Benefits and Analyze Financials
- Close the project
- Support and Manage During the Outsource Contract
Although the project may be officially closed, there may be an ongoing support contract with the outsource provider. Building a professional relationship requires trust on the part of both client and vendor. Monitoring and controlling during the support period is critical to building and sustaining trust between client and vendor.
- Process Improvement
- Nurture a Professional Relationship
- Evaluate (Multiple) Vendor Performance
- Resolve Disputes or Cease the Relationship
TARGET AUDIENCE
Who Should Attend:
- Project Managers
- Relationship Managers
- Vendor Managers
- Procurement Specialists
- Team Members on an outsourcing project
- Outsourcing Service Providers
- Business Analysts
- Those who provide requirements to outsourced vendors
- Business Managers
- Project Sponsors
- Those who are accountable for outsourced project success
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
You will learn how to:
- Manage the solicitation process
- Evaluation vendors fairly and objectively
- Apply make or buy analysis techniques
- Select the appropriate agreement
- Effectively use a warranty plan and service level agreement
- Manage (multiple) vendor/client relationships and associated risks
- Develop easy to implement outsourced project plans
- Use the right tools to manage stakeholder expectations
- Ensure a smooth knowledge transfer
- Leverage techniques to overcome resistance to change
- Mitigate outsourcing and offshore risks
- Increase the effectiveness of working virtually