Shared Services


Shared services aim to promote efficiency and improved service for internal customers. The concept describes the many advantages and drawbacks of these organisational structures and process, as well as the conditions necessary for success.

Technique Overview

Shared Services Definition

“A shared service is a collaborative strategy in which a subset of existing business functions are concentrated into a new, semi-autonomous business unit that has a management structure designed to promote efficiency, value generation, cost savings and improved service for internal customers of the parent organisation, like a business competing in the open market” (Bergeron, 2003).

Shared Services Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Shared Services *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Shared Services *

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Professional Tools

Shared Services videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Shared Services web and print resources *

Shared Services references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Bangemann, T. O. (2005) Shared Services in Finance and Accounting, Gower, Aldershot, UK.
  • Bergeron, B. (2003) Essentials of Shared Services, Wiley, New York.
  • Berry, M. (2009) HR Shared Services: Interview with Richard Crouch, Head of HR at Somerset County Council on Southwest One, Personnel Today, July.
  • CIO (2010) Shared Services, [Online], available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100304104621/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/cio/shared_services.aspx.

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