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Functional Service / Functional Service Provider / Functional Service Partnership

What is Functional Service?

Functional Service or Functional Service Provision (FSP) recently evolved into Functional Service Partnership, is a sourcing model in the life science sector, which enables clients to increase their internal workforce on a temporary basis to meet the demands of their scope of work. Clients can cost effectively ramp up or ramp down highly skilled professionals to complete specific tasks or functions without the added expenses of permanent resources or infrastructure.

Simply put, you can invest in only the services that are needed without cumbersome timelines, processes, or rampant cost of permanent resources or infrastructure. FSP is a highly flexible, fluid, and nimble model, where high-caliber, experienced professionals are sourced to work in either a single functional area or across multiple functions as opposed to the sourcing of a full project or program. FSP enables clients to retain control of the project and/or program while removing the burden of resourcing and administrative tasks, thus streamlining your workload, increasing your focus on core competencies and increasing efficiencies, all while containing cost.

Major Components of an FSP Model

Highlighted features of an FSP Model include:

Flexibly Executed
 * An FSP model is simplistic in nature, allowing the functionality, capabilities, and implementation of the model to be Flexibly Executed consisting of flexibility, fluidity, and nimbleness - meaning customized to the way you want, in the timeline you need.

Rapid Resourcing
 * An FSP model allows the scaling of viable professional resources, in a fast and efficient manner, quickly addressing the peaks and valleys of resourcing needs which will contain cost and meet the continual changing business needs.

Control Focus
 * An FSP model allows the client to retain control and oversight of the program keeping you involved in the critical operational components and overall execution of the program. The client remains at the helm and gets to control as many aspects of their program as they would like.
 * With the sourcing of a specific function, an FSP model gives clients more time and resources to focus on their core competencies related to a specific protocol, project, program, or company goal. The Functional Service team is comprised of innovative and experienced professionals diligently work to assess risk, manage change and remove the everyday burdens allowing the client to give the needed attention and focus on delivering a high-quality program.

High-Caliber, Experienced, Innovative Professionals
 * The basis of FSP is the sourcing of a specific function. FSP model standards require the resource be a consummate professional with detailed experience in the specific function who understands cultural nuances, regional customs, regulatory and ethical policies, and effective business practices. High-caliber, experienced, innovative professionals are matched to fit into a client's corporate culture and become an extension of their team, contributing to efficient work processes, business continuity and cost savings.

Cost Savings
 * Cost savings occurs on many levels with an FSP model. To begin, clients will only be paying for the specific function they have resourced the FSP vendor to complete. This immediately decreases expenditure on permanent headcount and infrastructure. Several levels of cost savings occur throughout the strategic partnership beginning with the identification of professionals who will fit into the client's company culture. This leads to a symbiotic team where there is an increase in productivity, communication, quality, wellness, and retention meaning the client's program will run faster, smoother, and more efficient, leading to savings along the way.

The Evolution from Functional Service Provider to Functional Service Partnership

Functional Service Provider has recently transformed to Functional Service Partnership as FSP vendors have differentiated themselves from large Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) have purchased traditional FSP vendors and retrofit them into their full-service CRO model, losing the flexibility and true foundation of the FSP model - partnership.

The move to Functional Service Partnerships highlights the further separation from stands full-service CRO organizations and their way of running clinical trials. By utilizing the new evolution of FSP to the Functional Service Partnerships model, their is an emphasis on true partnership by removing the stigmas associated with typical customer relations and allows for transparent, honest and authentic conversations to emerge organically. This open dialogue and new level of trust allows Functional Service Partnerships teams, comprised of seasoned experts in their field who specialize in Operational Risk Assessment and Change Management giving them the knowledge to take a deeper dive into the strategy, processes, and the overall goal of the program.

The new evolution of the FSP model leverages all components of an organization inclusive of departments specializing in consulting, recruiting, client services and executive management. This gives the client's program the attention it needs to curtail any issues and keep the program on schedule and on or under budget.