Offshoring

Definition

The general term for having work performed in a different country from where the business sits, regardless of distance. Near-shore and far-shore are both forms of offshoring; the word says nothing about time zone, and nothing about whether the work goes to a supplier or to your own foreign office.

Why it matters

Because the word is so broad, it hides the decisions that actually matter: time-zone overlap, language, legal jurisdiction and whether you employ or buy. A board paper that says offshoring without naming those four has not made a decision yet, only chosen a direction.