Outsourcing in the 21st century

During a recent business trip to India on a consulting engagement, I came across a news item in the local newspaper in Pune, India that is worth a mention for the benefit of my readers. In the September 26, 2011 issue of the Times of India (Pune edition), Kenneth Coleman, member of a special advisory group on US-India trade policy and a key figure in US President Barrack Obama's IT think tank was quoted “If Indian players can solve critical problems in the processes of their customers there is no question of 'lower cost' logic coming into play, because it is value that will drive businesses in the next 20 years."

Coleman added that markets such as China, the Philippines, Poland and Russia are coming ahead fast and will challenge India's cost advantage.

Coleman went on to say that many US companies have significant cash reserves and are looking at opportunities to pick up businesses that can help them grow. "Average to weak companies which thus far thrived on venture capital will no longer be relevant and only those with a strong growth promise will attract international strategic investors," Coleman underlined.

Outsourcing service providers should take a cue from Coleman’s remarks. Solving their customer’s business problems throwing human capital will no longer be acceptable. Solving critical problems in the processes is the value-add that customers are seeking and I may say willing to pay. BPO service providers should help transform their customer's processes and position their customers for the growth that will inevitably come. Outsourcing companies need to move their focus from transaction processing to process improvement to process transformation.

You may also read my earlier blog on a related subject “Predictions for 2011 in Shared Services & Outsourcing”.

Laws of Life

It's been a while since I last posted on my blog site. But I am back and expect to continue blogging for a long time. I received these Laws of Life from a friend of mine and I thought it might be a good way to re-engage myself with my readers with some humor. As you read these eighteen Laws of Life, I am sure you will relate to them as I certainly did. So here you go:

1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
3. Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
5. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
6. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
7. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
8. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
9. Law of Bio-mechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to reach.
10. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
11. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something, which will last until the coffee is cold.
12. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
13. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
14. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
15. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
16. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.
17. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
18. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.

Do you have your Laws of Life to share? If so, please leave them behind in the Comments section.