Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

Invasion of Privacy

The commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the president of the union representing IRS employees (NTEU) are on record as being opposed to outsourcing. Even Malcolm S. Forbes in the October 1995 edition of his magazine stated, This idea is a bad one. Sure, enforcers outside the federal government might be more ‘efficient’ and cheaper, but any such savings are not worth the price of this gross invasion of privacy. Negative Trust Flow Beliefs such as these gave birth to a nationwide study to determine if the public perceives a difference in trust where the collection of taxes is handled by a U.S. government official versus outsourcing the process to a private collector.

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……

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)

Raising Prison Bars

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

There are arguments both for and against outsourcing and privatization of prison facilities. Some say it allows prisons to be constructed and operated more efficiently and cost-effectively. Others say a supplier’s profit may interfere with inmates’ interests. One thing cannot be disputed: it makes government and private prisons compete. That, in turn, leads to 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)

How to Select an ASP Supplier

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

How to Select an ASP Supplier… The path a buyer should take in selecting an ASP depends on the buyer’s intent for use of the outsourced application. Adam Braunstein, Senior Research Analyst with the Robert Frances Group, explains that the buyer could use an ASP to host a full-blown integrated application set, or it could use an ASP as an automation tool for a simple application that doesn’t need to pull information from external systems. Despite the intended use of the application, Braunstein, suggests there are crucial characteristics to seek in an ASP supplier.

Anatomy of an Outsourcing Decision

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

Why do companies outsource today? Until the arrival of the Internet, the answer was clearly cost. But the new economy is making new demands. How has a world moving at Web speed altered the way companies decide to outsource? (outsourcing)

Should You Do What You’re Doing?

Outsourcing Center, Kathleen Goolsby, Senior Writer

Road guards are people who try to keep you from making changes. Some have root rot because they have been in place so long. But I like to change and improve things! states Jim Jones, head of reengineering at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (ALC). The Center’s personnel currently are working on 12 improvement projects, one of which is activities-based costing (ABC)…

Research & Insight

Author archives

Invasion of Privacy

Outsourcing’s Little Dipper

Raising Prison Bars

Accounting for Results

How to Select an ASP Supplier

Anatomy of an Outsourcing Decision

Should You Do What You’re Doing?

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