Title: Rural sourcing in North Carolina: promoting economic sustainability

Authors: Donald L. Lester; Michael L. Menefee

Addresses: Jennings A. Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 75, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA ' Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, P.O. Box 1510, Pembroke, NC 28372-15190, USA

Abstract: Offshore outsourcing has become a primary tool to gain a competitive edge in almost every sector of the global environment, including for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises. An alternative to offshore outsourcing known as rural sourcing has begun to gain traction, particularly in the USA. This new model is chronicled in a non-profit, governmental arena, where the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has successfully transitioned its 100-employee call centre from a metropolitan area to a rural area.

Keywords: economic sustainability; rural sourcing; North Carolina; USA; sustainable development; call centres; rural areas.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSM.2014.064351

International Journal of Sustainable Strategic Management, 2014 Vol.4 No.3, pp.210 - 220

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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