Industrial cluster, Externality, SME, Exports, Networks, Internationalisation,

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If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/ authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how a business can create a high performing workforce that provides a competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate. It seeks to provide a brief history of outsourcing to demonstrate that HR is neither too sensitive nor complex to outsource as a function. It aims to suggest a common sense approach on how to determine which pieces of the HR function could be better delivered by third-party suppliers.Design/methodology/approach -The article is the result of Accenture's work in HR business process outsourcing and its research into the business benefits of outsourcing.Findings -HR functions are increasingly being asked to align HR with business strategy, support growth goals through a scalable infrastructure, and collect and provide data to support fact-based decision making, all while reducing the cost base. Outsourcing can play a strategic role in helping HR departments deliver these goals.Practical implications -The article introduces a framework to assist HR departments in understanding the value that should be created for both the business and the employee at each stage of the employee lifecycle.Originality/value -The article is based on original work conducted by Accenture with clients in many different sectors.

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