As the playing field for global sourcing is leveled, companies must shift their operational priorities to:     Build Loyalty through innovative products by focusing on the customer and outsourcing non critical sourcing activity Enhance competitiveness by identifying lowest cost solutions for core programs Benefit from country specific insights by collaborations with sourcing specialists for specific countries or region Control fixed sourcing overheads by building a flexible scalable model where costs are linked to value of goods purchased Identify significant business and operational risks in the global sourcing plan and define a back up plan