The murky waters of outsourcing: critical risks factors of outsourcing pharmaceutical outbound value chains

Despite the benefits in outsourcing, there are potential risks associated with it. In this study, the critical risk factors associated with the outsourcing of outbound value chains were investigated in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry. A sequential exploratory mixed method approach, with Delphi study preceding a quantitative survey was adopted. Data analysis of the Delphi panelists' responses shows some critical risks associated with the outsourcing of pharmaceutical outbound value chains in Nigeria. Exploratory factor analysis of the data extracted two main factors out of the risks named "organizational inadequacies" and "goals' under-realization". Valuable contributions from the Delphi panel of experts and this entire study to knowledge, research methodology and policies have been made from the results of this study. The findings will be useful for policy and decision makers in both public and private sectors of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria and other resource-poor countries. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.