accountability Archives

Outsourcing’s Little Dipper

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

Ancient navigators found their way by following the Little Dipper. The constellation’s polestar, Polaris, always conspicuous and very near the north celestial pole, was used as a guide in traveling the seas. Outsourcing, often undertaken by buyers who have no prior experience navigating the depths of this intricate business relationship model, can end up in a shipwreck. Ted Williams, Vice President of Business Development for Compass America, reminds companies considering embarking on an outsourcing journey to make sure they are well represented by a neutral third party. Outsourcers write a lot more contracts than buyers. They are better at it than you are, he says……..

Changes in Accountability for eBusiness and Internet Initiatives

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

To be held accountable means one is subject to certain obligations. In the world of outsourcing, both buyers and suppliers must take preventive measures to ensure an equitable and successful relationship. For the buyer, this means structuring an effective contract that details a broad range of ways in which the supplier will be held accountable. These include audit and benchmarking rights, user surveys and disaster recovery plans. There are termination rights and the right to sue afterward as well as service levels and their related credits or penalties. And, of course, the contract describes various legal remedies in the event of failure……

An Outsourcing Mutual Admiration Society

Outsourcing Center, Beth Ellyn Rosenthal, Senior Writer

Joe Szmadzinski is a connoisseur of outsourcing contracts. Szmadzinski has negotiated and lived through 25 outsourcing contracts in the last three years as president of System Advisory Group in Southfield, Michigan, a firm that provides interim CIOs for major corporations like Budget Rent A Car….. (outsourcing)

To Be Worth One’s Salt

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

Prisons are one of the most difficult areas to privatize and do it well and safely, says Adrian Moore, of the Reason Foundation. While the task of taking away an offender’s liberty rightly belongs to the government’s judges and juries, the task of making sure prisoners remain in cells and behave for set periods of time is not something that only a government can do. There is no reason why prisons should not be privatized . . . as long as there is accountability…..(outsourcing)

Accounting for Results

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

At first blush, Cornell Companies, Inc. appears to be just one among several private corporations whose enterprises generate revenue by building and operating prisons. Beyond the momentary glance, though, Cornell contrasts sharply with its competitors. Just like the background and professional experience of its Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Tom Jenkins, Cornell operates in all three segments of the corrections industry…(outsourcing)

Overcoming the Inherent Gridlock in Outsourcing

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

If you look at most traditional outsourcing contracts, says Ben Trowbridge of Ernst & Young, there are a number of built-in conflicts of interest in how they are priced and how they are structured. Trowbridge, who is responsible for the Services Market within Ernst & Young’s Operate Practice, says that equal sharing is not always possible in a typical outsourcing relationship.

Renewed Focus on Financial Performance

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

As the outsourcing industry heads into the final year of the century, growth will be driven by a blending of the traditional and newer segments of the industry, according to Donna Crane, vice president, marketing, Systems and Computer Technology Corp. (SCT).

Negotiating Effective BPO Contracts

Bill Deckelman

Negotiating Effective BPO Contracts: As the trend toward business process outsourcing (BPO) grows, companies are faced with a new learning curve. They need to understand the elements of establishing a successful BPO relationship, beginning with the proper contract vehicle, which can play a critical role in fostering the chances for success.

Lateral Leadership For Organizations That Are Outsourcing

Michael Useem, Professor of Management and Director Center for Leadership and Change Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

American firms continue their rapid expansion of service and product outsourcing. Companies signed major new contracts for information outsourcing alone in 1994 worth $11 billion; in 1995, $20 billion; and in 1996, $33 billion, and all signs point to vigorous growth ahead.

Research & Insight

accountability

Outsourcing’s Little Dipper

An Outsourcing Mutual Admiration Society

Accounting for Results

Renewed Focus on Financial Performance

Lateral Leadership For Organizations That Are Outsourcing

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