Supporting re-sourcing decisions: the case of maintenance in Uganda’s downstream oil industry

A re-sourcing decision is a sourcing decision subsequent to an outsourcing arrangement. Effective management of re-sourcing decisions is vital in ensuring the stability and continuity of organisational operations supported by outsourced critical activities. However, despite the importance of this stage in the outsourcing cycle, most outsourcing research has focused on outsourcing determinants and outsourcing process control stages. The study reported in this thesis set out to explore maintenance re-sourcing decisions in an asset-intensive service organisation operating in a capital constrained economy. The objectives of the study were to determine the factors that influence the management of maintenance re-sourcing decisions in asset intensive service organisations and to propose a management model for guiding maintenance re-sourcing decision making processes in such organisations. In order to achieve these objectives, a qualitative style oriented in-depth case study was adopted. Results from a thematic data analysis revealed that the management of re-sourcing decisions is impacted by factors that fall into three categories: the purchasing organisation s structural elements, external structural elements and boundary spanning elements. However, of the three categories, boundary spanning elements were found to have a greater bearing on the effectiveness of the most critical stages, incumbent supplier performance evaluation and incumbent to alternative supplier comparison. In addition to the recognised role that outsourcing models play in guiding sourcing decisions, this study has revealed the importance of three more key enablers. These include: recruiting qualified and experienced individuals into boundary spanning roles, developing and maintaining enabling environments for boundary spanners to engage in behaviour that supports the purchaser s goals and values, and, developing information management systems targeted at enhancing regular capturing of incumbent and alternative supplier capability and capacity before re-sourcing decision time. The results from this study will primarily benefit sourcing managers in asset-intensive service organisations operating in capital constrained economies that have outsourced or intend to outsource maintenance.