Identification and evaluation of factors influencing outsourcing of activities: A case study of gas company of Mazandaran Province

Outsourcing as a simple and economic executive instrument is increasingly being used by interested managers of business and industrial organizations. But, they encounter some conceptual problems in this process. Unfortunately, studies on service outsourcing are scarce while there is significant research on using outsourcing for hard product activities. Main goal of present study is to investigate and prioritize factors influencing outsourcing of activities. Six hypotheses are proposed. Main variables consist of quality promotion, cost, specialization, importance of activities and outsourcing. Present research is a descriptive-survey-causal and applied study. Gas Company of Mazandaran Province and Suburb was selected as statistical population. Data collected using questionnaires and research hypotheses were analyzed using structural equation model and LISREL software. Finally, some recommendations were provided based on research hypotheses