Impact from insourcing and outsourcing on the aerospace industry of Oklahoma, a mixed method study

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to address the perceptions of the impact from insourcing and outsourcing on the Aerospace Industry in Oklahoma. A triangulation mixed methods design was used. A broadly disseminated electronic survey coupled with executive interviews from the Oklahoma aerospace industry was conducted to gather data and social insight. These methods of gathering data were appropriate due to the nature of the study and the precise documentation required for identifying industry perceptions and trends. This study is significant in that it provides insight to Oklahoma aerospace company perceptions of insourcing and outsourcing strategies. It identifies attitudes and perceptions of both the company and aerospace workers understanding business strategies and the need for better communication throughout the organization and industry.

Findings and Conclusions: Consistent with the purpose of the study, the findings in this research provide a point of view of Oklahoma aerospace executives, managers, and nonmanagers related to their perceptions of insourcing and outsourcing within aerospace industry of Oklahoma. There is a significant disconnect between company senior leaders and the work force more closely associated with actual outsourcing perceptions. Generally senior leadership is aware of short term and long term strategies related to Oklahoma incentives and the benefits derived from quality business analysis related to insourcing and outsourcing. Awareness by the general workforce on both the negative and positive aspects are clearly not communicated and or understood throughout the organizations. It is clear that there are issues within the company's control that need to be addressed if continued business behavior includes an insourcing and outsourcing strategy. The study concludes that to significantly strengthen the aerospace industry in Oklahoma, improvements must be made in the following areas; internal communication plans, re-training programs, state transportation network, increase usage of state incentives, and address the diminishing resource issue within the aerospace industry. Continued research on the growing challenges is imperative to the aerospace industry of Oklahoma.