Outsourcing is one of the biggest businesses in the world and has put India on the map and saved costs for billions of consumers. The issue you raise about third parties not being involved has to do with the execution of outsouring. Companies need to make the 3rd parties feel intimately engaged and feel an ownership in what they are doing. Forget outsourcing-there are several companies where employees feel disengaged and the same poor standards crop up. Manufacturing outsourcing has been going on for eons-take Hindustan Unilever's soaps, Nokia's mobile phones or Nike's shoes, and more. Closer home, we outsource work to our house helps BUT make sure they feel part of the family, supervise them and exercise QC to ensure that a job is well done from the heart. If we don't, then slipshod work and disgruntled employees result. So let's be clear about what we are cribbing about - it is not outsourcing, but it is the execution.