Title: Offshore outsourcing as a business strategy: a qualitative study of the adoption of offshoring by the Portuguese footwear industry

Authors: Isabella Velasquez; Susana Costa e Silva; Valdenise Leziér Martyniuk; Alexandre Luzzi Las Casas

Addresses: Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal ' Católica Porto Business School and CEGE, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal ' Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Rua Monte Alegre, 984 Perdizes, 05014-901 São Paulo, Brasil ' Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Rua Monte Alegre, 984 Perdizes, 05014-901 São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract: This paper analyses the adoption of offshore outsourcing as a business strategy in the Portuguese footwear industry. Based on a review of the current literature, data was collected through interviews conducted with key Portuguese footwear players and shoe company managers. The main findings suggest that offshoring is more appreciated by managers who attribute their success and growth to the adoption of this strategy. However, these managers admit that they are confronted with local domestic limitations that motivate them to seek out foreign suppliers and to focus on their core activities which contribute to greater profitability. The main benefits they identified are operational flexibility, savings, new knowledge acquisition, risk reduction, and the possibility for growth. The strategy also has some risks such as loss of quality, and management of control over freight lead times.

Keywords: offshoring; outsourcing; footwear industry; Portugal.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2025.145159

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2025 Vol.35 No.4, pp.518 - 540

Received: 14 Apr 2021
Accepted: 29 Jun 2021
Published online: 24 Mar 2025 *

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