Shared services

How it is used

Often used for payroll, purchasing or IT support; shared provision does not necessarily mean outsourcing.

Example sentences

1. Shared services now process expenses for all six business units.

   One service operation handles work previously spread across units.

2. The museum group introduced shared services while keeping local exhibition teams.

   Support can be pooled while the main local activities remain separate.

Common collocations

• shared services centre
• introduce shared services

Related terms

• restructuringA major change to how a company is organised, such as merging departments, removing management layers or reducing staff, usually to cut costs or support a new strategy.
• org chartA diagram that shows how an organisation is structured, with boxes for roles or people and lines showing who reports to whom.

More terms: Organisational Structure

• manager
• team leader
• report to
• direct report
• line manager
• senior management
• middle management
• hierarchy
• span of control
• matrix structure
• silo
• chain of command