aOpen University of the Netherlands, Faculty of Management Sciences, P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands;bNS, Business Development, Hoofdgebouw IV, Laan van Puntenburg 100, P.O. Box 2025, 3500 HA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Abstract:
Since the 1980s outsourcing has been a major topic in both economic and management literature. Economic literature tends to focus on the transaction cost perspective. In management literature the core competence approach prevails. An emerging alternative view on outsourcing is the power and dependence perspective. Aspects of power and dependence become visible in four case studies involving the maintenance of capital assets. In each instance both the buyer and supplier sides of the dyad are examined. The paper concludes with managerial implications and research opportunities.