What is the purpose of the preliminary planning process?

The purpose of the preliminary planning process primarily focuses on assessing the feasibility of competitive sourcing. This involves conducting a thorough evaluation that aims to determine whether outsourcing certain functions or services would effectively meet organizational objectives while providing a cost-effective solution.

During this phase, organizations explore various aspects such as potential cost savings, service quality, and the ability to meet operational needs through external providers. By analyzing these factors, decision-makers can decide if it's practical to pursue competitive sourcing or if the current in-house capabilities should be retained.

Other aspects, like finalizing contracts, gathering vendor information, and analyzing current budget allocations, while important in their own right, typically occur after the preliminary planning. They are part of the broader procurement or sourcing processes that follow the feasibility assessment, ensuring that the organization is well-prepared to move forward based on the outcomes of the preliminary planning phase.