The impact of insourcing processes on managers at the University of the Witwatersrand

Abstract

Outsourcing was adopted as a sourcing strategy by universities in South Africa for two decades to focus on core business, create efficiency and remain competitive in the global higher education market. In 2017 South African universities reversed their outsourcing decisions, subsequently implementing insourcing of labour, specifically in cleaning, landscaping, routine maintenance, security and, catering. Leveraging the rich body of literature based on the reasons to outsource as a starting point, this study investigates the challenges and opportunities of insourcing and the impact of insourcing on managers at The University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg. A structured framework used by researchers in the Middle East is adopted to categorise the impacts of insourcing on managers’ work and utilised in the study. The study employs the qualitative research strategy with a case study design to capture the experiences and perceptions of managers on insourcing. A semi-structured interview schedule is used in the study to collect data from participants in management. Findings from the researchers show that insourcing had a substantial impact on the work of managers, presenting a range of challenges and opportunities around effectiveness, efficiency, quality of service, departmental control, human resources, cultural integration, and skills advancement. The findings' recommendations provide a roadmap that can influence university policy in response to the insourcing challenges and expanding opportunities within higher education institutions.