http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story07-22-04.html
Earth Institute News
Jobs Offshored for Cost Savings and Quality
Seventy percent of companies that outsource report increases in quality
of work, Columbia survey finds
NEW YORK -- Forty-five companies known for sending work outside of their
own employee base for completion, surveyed by the Earth Institute at
Columbia University, show that 82 percent are currently outsourcing
jobs, 79 percent to offshore businesses. The majority not only report
finding competitive prices but better work skills than at home. Seventy
percent of those who outsourced reported that the quality of outsourced
business processes had increased between 5 to 25 percent.
Companies, including offshore pioneers such as General Electric, Nortel
Networks and Citibank, found that actual cost savings, which remain the
primary reason for outsourcing, were achieved by 67 percent of the
companies to the tune of 5 to 50 percent.
This is an enormously important phenomenon that needs to be better
understood, says Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute. Im
very happy with my colleagues contributions.
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http://www.ais.columbia.edu/ais/html/body_improvedstaffservices.html
New and Improved Faculty Staff Services Starting in Fall 2004
A combined team from Human Resources, the Controllers Office, AIS, and
Accenture Consulting is working on a multi-phased PeopleSoft project to
implement new personnel, benefits, and payroll systems for Columbia.
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http://www.computerworld.com/managementtopics/management/story/0,10801,93965,00.html
Illinois moves to blacklist Accenture
The state comptroller cites the firm's offshore status
News Story by Dan Verton
JUNE 21, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Bermuda-based IT services vendor
Accenture Ltd. is taking heat from Illinois lawmakers who want to
prevent the company from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts. At issue
is the offshore location of Accenture's headquarters.
At least four contracts awarded to Accenture have come under fire in the
state, where legislators, local unions and the state's comptroller have
attempted in recent weeks to block all payments to the company.
State Comptroller Dan Hynes has asked the Illinois Procurement Policy
Board for guidance on his desire to block all payments on four Accenture
contracts totaling more than $2 million. The five-member board voted 3-2
on May 19 to send the issue to the board's legal adviser for review
before making a recommendation. There is no word on when the board will
make its decision.
However, Alan Henry, a spokesman for Hynes, said the comptroller
believes that he's in the right on the issue and that the policy board
doesn't have the power to force him to make payments to Accenture.
