This document discusses outsourcing trends and best practices. It provides an overview of why companies outsource functions, the historical background of outsourcing, factors to consider when determining what to outsource, and risks to be aware of. Key outsourcing trends include information technology, customer service, human resources, finance and accounting, and research and development functions being moved offshore to reduce costs. Companies must identify their core competencies and critical success factors to determine what is best to outsource versus keep in-house.