In the ever-evolving landscape of eLearning development, organizations must make critical decisions about how to manage their projects efficiently. One key decision is whether to adopt a strategic or tactical approach to outsourcing. In this blog series, we will explore the two perspectives and dive deep into the tactical perspective in this first installment.
Tactical Perspective: Navigating the Present
Tactical outsourcing in eLearning development is a short-term, project-focused approach that addresses immediate needs. Organizations often opt for this strategy due to several compelling reasons:
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Tactical Reason 1 – Demand and Supply Mismatch
The eLearning industry is marked by its cyclical nature. Sometimes, organizations experience sudden spikes in demand for eLearning content due to factors like regulatory changes, new product launches, or market trends. In such cases, the internal team may not have the capacity to handle the surge. Tactical outsourcing bridges this gap, ensuring that projects are delivered on time without overburdening the in-house team.
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Tactical Reason 2 – Client/Project Budgets + Timelines
Every project comes with its own budget and timeline constraints. Tactical outsourcing allows organizations to stay within these constraints by leveraging cost-effective offshore resources. Whether it’s a tight budget or a stringent project deadline, outsourcing helps ensure that the project remains economically viable and meets its delivery targets.
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Tactical Reason 3 – Scalability
Scalability is a crucial factor in eLearning development. Tactical outsourcing allows organizations to scale their development team up or down as needed. When there’s a need to expand rapidly for a large project, outsourcing provides access to a skilled workforce without the overhead of permanent hires. Conversely, it offers the flexibility to reduce resources when demand subsides.
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Tactical Reason 4 – Skill + Hiring Challenges
eLearning development requires a diverse set of skills, from instructional design to multimedia content creation. Locating and hiring talent with these specialized skills can be time-consuming and expensive. Tactical outsourcing provides access to a pool of skilled professionals who are experienced in eLearning development, eliminating the challenges of recruiting, onboarding, and training an in-house team.
What Tactical Outsourcing Looks Like
Tactical outsourcing involves making strategic choices to meet short-term objectives efficiently. Here are some key elements of tactical outsourcing:
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Multi-vendor strategy
Engaging with multiple outsourcing partners, each specialized in different aspects of eLearning development, allows organizations to tap into a diverse skill set while managing costs effectively.
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Trying to source locally
While offshore outsourcing is often cost-effective, organizations sometimes explore local outsourcing options to maintain better control over the project and communication due to geographical proximity.
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Reaching out or evaluating vendors when demand is high
Proactively seeking outsourcing partners or evaluating existing ones when the demand for eLearning projects is high ensures that organizations are prepared to meet sudden surges in workload.
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Narrow focus on evaluation (short term)
When taking a tactical approach, the evaluation process tends to focus on immediate project needs, such as cost, turnaround time, and skill match, rather than long-term strategic alignment.
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Vendor switching
Tactical outsourcing allows organizations to switch vendors easily based on project-specific requirements or changes in performance, ensuring the flexibility needed to adapt to evolving needs.
Tactical Outsourcing Outcomes
By adopting a tactical outsourcing approach in eLearning development, organizations can expect several outcomes:
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Cost efficiency
Reduced operational costs through access to cost-effective offshore resources.
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Timely project delivery
Meeting project deadlines and ensuring on-time delivery to clients or learners.
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Scalability
The ability to quickly adapt to changing project volumes and resource requirements.
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Skill augmentation
Leveraging specialized skills without the need for extensive in-house training or hiring efforts.
In the next installment of this series, we will explore the strategic perspective of offshore outsourcing in eLearning development. Stay tuned for a comprehensive analysis of how organizations can align their long-term goals with outsourcing strategies.
