Outsourcing: in or out?(viewpoint)

The most controversial of CW's "10 Surprises for 2005" has been our prediction of the demise of business process outsourcing in the chemical industry (CW, Jan. 5/12, p. 5). Several individuals have challenged that premise, admittedly most of them from the consulting sector, the main purveyor of outsourcing services. They say outsourcing is on a rapid growth path, albeit one led by other industry sectors, but that chemicals will soon follow suit as companies are lured by promises of cost savings and other benefits.

CW's prediction is informed by the views of chemical CEOs, many of whom say they have been disappointed with outsourcing. Even in information technology …