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The Appeal of Outsourcing to Today’s Managers

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:42:44 +0000

For over a decade American corporations have been outsourcing work to foreign countries and faced fiercely vocal opposition to the practice. The fact that outsourcing is a time-honored practice in the business world is irrelevant to critics. What matters is that the jobs are increasingly going to foreign countries, instead of American workers. With this much negative attention being paid to the issue, it’s a wonder that any company would continue to outsource services. They do so because the issue of outsourcing is much more complicated than simply moving jobs overseas.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) is one of the fastest growing areas of outsourcing. BPO involves handing over the mundane and labor-intensive business processes that can quickly overwhelm a large business. This includes things like accounting, billing, and customer service as well as human resources and legal services. Very few companies are built with the mission of having a great billing department. By streamlining and outsourcing these processes, they are able to put more time, energy and money to the reason they are in business: the products or services that are at the heart of their company. This focus allows them to improve their core business as well as expand into new products and service lines to meet the growing needs of their customers. This focus would not be possible without outsourcing.

A related benefit of outsourcing is an actual improvement in service. If Corporation X is known for creating the highest quality blue widgets in the world, they are going to do a pretty bad job at customer service and billing. However, outsource firms are experts at customer service and billing. They have spent years developing and improving the systems and procedures needed to make those processes as efficient and consumer-friendly as possible. A great many companies who turn over these types of services, along with communications and IT services, find that customer satisfaction actually increases after the initial transition period.

The main argument against outsourcing is the loss of jobs and income from American workers and states. Yes, there are some outsource companies operate within the US, so that when a company outsources the jobs are only moving from New York to Montana. Choosing to outsource within the US is a way to counter the argument. Another choice more and more businesses are making is to hire an outsource company that is based in the US. While they may have offices and workers in other countries, the profits of the company remain stateside. Many of these US-based companies are quite active in their local communities beyond paying taxes and reinvesting profits in expansion and growth. Just check out the press releases or twitter streams of these companies (for example, @Marlabs ) to see the money and manhours they donate to local charities.

It is no wonder that managers and executives continue to see outsourcing, local or overseas, as a valuable resource. It improves their bottom line and improves their customer experience. If they choose a US-based and US-operated firm, there really isn’t a downside at all.

photo courtesy of www.seniorliving.org.

The Appeal of Outsourcing to Today’s Managers is a post from: Edge Management

The Big Apple

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:11:20 +0000

New York City is home of the Great White Way and affectionately referred to as The Big Apple. While most people will recognize the Great White Way as reference to Broadway and the city’s famous theater tradition, The Big Apple is a somewhat more ambiguous reference. Residents of Manhattan and the surrounding burroughs are extremely familiar with the reference and tourists will often boast that they are headed to the Big Apple. Fine dinging, great theater, and the best hotels Manhattan are all associated to the grand red fruit.

What is commonly accepted about the term is that it first became popular in the 1920s by John J. Fitz Gerald. This is due to his references in the New York Morning Telegraph regarding horse racing. By 1924 he make a direct headline reference in his column, Around the Big Apple. Why this name was given to New York remains unclear, though this early source is a sound starting point for its usage. However, around the same time it was also used to describe Los Angeles, and there are theories that The Big Apple refers to any large city. However, its connection to New York became solidified in the early 1970s. At that time the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau began advertising the city as The Big Apple.

Perhaps the most significant association came about with the popular Harlem nightclub called The Big Apple Jazz Club. Many jazz musicians sought to perform at this club and it was often frequented by some of the greats in the industry. Around the nation they started referring to performing in New York as performing in the Big Apple, meaning the establishment. This eventually led to the inclusion of the greater New York area and the name became more generalized. These theories and bits of history are all interesting aspects of the mythology of New York. Whatever their origin or original significance, the name has remained and continues to be the chosen nickname of one of the greatest cities in the world.

The Big Apple is a post from: Edge Management

Chrome Accessories Make The Truck Cool

admin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:12:01 +0000

It is just about necessary to say that chrome accessories are a good investment for those looking to really transform their car into something unique and interesting. There are many ways that you can change up the look of your vehicle to make it something more special, or interesting. Chrome just speaks well to some people and definitely gives it that wow factor. The good news is that there are a number of different ways to really get that result.

Truck accessories come in all shapes and sizes. You will see that some are really over the top while others add that subtle difference to them. In all cases, they are a lot of fun and interesting to use on a variety of trucks. One particularly interesting choice is chrome door handles. These seem like they fit well on most cars, but what you will find is that they give the truck or car a real pop effect. They look great and well-made products are definitely worthwhile to invest in. They will last a long time, giving you that fantastic finished look. Add a tonneau cover, too. Definitely worth investing in for most people, chrome accessories are a good investment and a fantastic way to add class and character to your vehicle.

Chrome Accessories Make The Truck Cool is a post from: Edge Management

Tattoos Aren’t Just for Tough Guys Anymore

admin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:24:09 +0000

Wholesale supplies for tattoo have come a long way. And the people that get tattoos are not the same type of person as was imagined in the years past. I think of a biker-type of person and now almost every type of person has tattoos.

You can order supplies of the web and even pick out the design that you want. Search results show a lot of companies out there. In fact, even if you misspell a word, you will still end up with great results. “Tatoo guns,” and “tatto supply” both show great results.

Tattoos are not just for tough guys anymore.

Tattoos Aren’t Just for Tough Guys Anymore is a post from: Edge Management

Area Rugs Tie Rooms Together

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:17:28 +0000

My husband and I just signed the papers for a new house. I cannot wait to move but they have to build it first. So, in the meantime I decided to start collecting the new furnishings and decorations because the new place is a lot bigger than where we are now.

I don’t have tile floors now so I’m going to need new rugs for every room just about. I’ll need several kitchen throw rugs and maybe several contemporary area rugs.

The great thing about getting rugs is that they match all decorating color schemes and they really help to tie the entire room together. In fact, I can tie the kitchen and great room together through the use of rugs!

Area Rugs Tie Rooms Together is a post from: Edge Management

Wimbledon 2008 is a Must!

admin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:27:48 +0000

Anyone that loves tennis as much as me looks forward to this time of year. The third of the Grand Slam events is quickly coming up and Wimbledon 2008 is sure to be as intense as 2007.

Last year’s tennis tournament was wonderful to watch but what makes this year great is that I get to go to England for this grass-court event! I’ve never been to Europe and I can’t wait to see this historic event in person.

I read that after last year’s tournament, they built a roof over the court for this year but that after Wimbledon 2008, they will take it down and build a retractable roof. I’m not sure why but I’ll bring my sunscreen and a hat. I can’t wait to see the tournament in person.

Wimbledon 2008 is a Must! is a post from: Edge Management

Ron Paul Has Dedicated Followers

Frank — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:31:54 +0000

Ron Paul is a breath of fresh air to the republican party. His republican ideals are on par with those of the founding fathers, that the constitution should be a document of the people limiting the amount of control the government can have, not the other way around. His ideals have garnered quite a loyal following. So much in fact that ‘Paulites’ as they are called have funded a recount of the New Hampshire primary.

Supporters of Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul are helping to bankroll the re-count of votes in New Hampshire’s Jan. 8 Republican presidential primary.

GOP candidate Albert Howard of Ann Arbor, Michigan, requested the re-count, which began Wednesday and was continuing. Howard got 44 of the more 200,000 votes cast.

Because Howard wasn’t close to the leaders, he had to pay the nearly $60,000 cost of the hand re-count. Howard said a group of Paul supporters called the “grannywarriors” is paying for the re-count.

To read more about this story, click here.

Ron Paul Has Dedicated Followers is a post from: Edge Management

Success Without Leadership?

Frank — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:17:42 +0000

In tennis, a seemingly individual sport, the majority of players have a coach (or coaches) behind the scenes that help them with their training and conditioning, etc. These coaches act as a motivational catalyst that can drive the athlete along the path to success. Many of these athlete’s, while naturally skilled, would be lost without a professional coach. There is one player, however, who is the epitome of success, and he has continued to be even without a bevy of coaches. That man is Roger Federer who is currently playing towards winning his 13th Grand Slam event at the Australian Open. He exudes a kind of confidence and drive that has been unseen in the game.

Success Without Leadership? is a post from: Edge Management

eBay’s CEO Gets Ready to Step Down

Frank — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:17:15 +0000

In an expected leadership switch Meg Whitman, current CEO of eBay will be stepping down at the end of March. This move was expected as Whitman and voiced at her inauguration that she didn’t think a CEO should stay for more than 10 years at one company. It was the fact that eBay expects disappointing guidance in 2008 that made the stock fall 5 percent in after-hours trading.

EBay announced Wednesday that, as expected, CEO Meg Whitman will be stepping down on March 31st.

The company also reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street’s estimates but eBay issued disappointing guidance for the first quarter and all of 2008. The stock fell 5 percent after-hours on the news.

Whitman’s decision to step down was expected. This March will mark her ten-year anniversary at eBay, and she has said that a CEO should not stay in his or her post longer than ten years.

Click here to read more about this article.

eBay’s CEO Gets Ready to Step Down is a post from: Edge Management

Managing a Major Sporting Event is Tough Work

Frank — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:05:14 +0000

Managing people in general is a difficult task in and of itself. But there are certain managerial tasks that are even harder. One of these tasks is attempting to manage and organize a major sporting event, such as the Australian Open. There are many different companies involved and a manager needs to keep track of them all and when and where to deal with each vendor. Also, there are all the internal groups of people that need managing such as the recruiters, advertisers, maintenance crew, etc.

Managing a Major Sporting Event is Tough Work is a post from: Edge Management