ABSTRACT
Objectives are the lynchpin of strategic planning. Without them there can be no basis for guiding the design or measuring the progress and success of the outsourced service-associated contract. They are, in essence, a statement about what needs to be achieved and, by implication, what needs to change. The point to keep uppermost in your mind when considering out-
sourcing is to resist the impulse to act in haste. Avoid chasing lists of local suppliers within the records management industry. Resist the urge to approach line management with what is perceived to be an innovative solution. The sensible approach is to consider the aims and objectives of the outsourcing proposal in conjunction with an overall business improvement plan. Setting clear objectives is fundamental to strategic planning. Clear objectives avoid nugatory work in the short term and unnecessary expenditure in the longer term; for example:
A description of the activity or service to be provided. The expected result of the activity or service. A tool kit to measure the impact of the provided service
or product. The standards of success the project hopes to meet. The number of service recipients or individuals who will benefit.
