Ben Willmott rightly identifies the need to involve HR from the outset of any offshoring initiative ("Ocean drive", 26 January). But the article understates HR's role and the impact it can have on success. Involving HR too late in the process or placing an insufficient focus on the human capital aspects of offshoring both dramatically increase the risk of failure.

While Willmott's article and the CIPD survey provide a view of the low levels of participation of the HR function in the early stages of offshoring, they do not fully explore those areas where HR can play a strategic role.

HR's contribution to the profitability of any offshoring business deal is often misunderstood or overlooked.

Involving HR in strategic decision making from the outset is absolutely essential to support the achievement of the desired benefits from offshoring.

Rohan de Rozario,  human capital, consulting, Deloitte