The National Standards Body of the Netherlands (NEN) has submitted a proposal to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for a new standard on outsourcing. As the U.S. member body to ISO, the American National Standards Institute(ANSI) invites all interested stakeholders to submit comments on the proposal by April 30, 2010.
Outsourcing is a strategic business practice where an organization enters into a contract with an external party to perform a specific service or function.
This proposed standard would provide guidance for the outsourcing of any type of service and/or process and the corresponding resources. It would cover the entire life cycle of outsourcing and provide a description of the definitions, concepts, and processes that are considered good practices in outsourcing.
The proposal states that the document would improve the understanding of common practices and the life cycle of outsourcing for all parties involved. Technological, economic, societal, and environmental benefits of the proposed standard are also detailed.
All comments should be sent to Steven P. Cornish, ANSI senior director for international policy (scornish@ansi.org). Feedback received by the April 30 deadline will be reviewed and compiled for the recommended ANSI position and comments, which will then be presented to the ANSI ISO Council (AIC) for formal approval.
Click here to read the NEN proposal.