Outsourcing

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/outsourcing

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the business practice?Contracting external providers for business processes, operational activities, or non-core functions
2. What is the origin of term?The term 'outsourcing' emerged from 'outside resourcing', gaining prominence around 1981
3. What does outsourcing mean for a company?Outsourcing means a company hires another company to do some work that it could do itself, like making parts or handling payroll, so it can focus on its main job.
4. Why do companies choose to outsource?Companies outsource to use special skills, new technology, or lower costs, and to help them do their main work better.

Service Level Agreement (SLA): A contract defining the level of service expected from a provider, including metrics and responsibilities.
Core Competencies: The primary strengths and unique capabilities that give a company its competitive advantage.
Reshoring: The practice of bringing manufacturing or business operations back to the company's home country.