outsourcing 101 - a beginners guide

good morning my name is all too human. i work in outsourcing.

*cue most people thinking: what the hell is outsourcing? sounds boring. just smile and nod. smile and nod. please don't let him talk more about is job*

and well... normally they are lucky, because i change the subject. but well... today dear unknown reader [the voyeur to my exhibitionist], today you are not so lucky. today i need not actually see the grimaces on your faces as you read. but then again perhaps you will smile [and nod], after all you chose to read a blog title the daily outsource.

alas, if you wish to know no more of the harsh realities of outsourcing i cannot force you to read on. but you will miss much, your understanding of the world will be severly maimed. it would be like eve refusing the fruit from the tree of knowledge.

famous all too human words of wisdom #32 - "Too understand the concept, one must first understand the word". The American Heritage Dictionary defines outsourcing as, "To send out (work, for example) to an outside provider or manufacturer in order to cut costs. "

which is why you often get a foreign sounding human when you call a company's helpline.

and it breaks my heart when companies advertize their service line saying, "you will be helped by native people working in the country." it doesn't matter, its not as if they will pop by to help in that case.

So why do companies outsource? according to the above mentioned dictionary they do it to cut costs. and they are right. a company decides that their employees are too expensive. an outsourcing company then offers to do the same job more efficiently and for less money, while making a profit themselves. So its cheaper and with the added perk that they can always blame [founded or unfounded its just nice to have a scapegoat] the outsourcing company for any mistakes. Plus the outsourcing company will work harder to keep the client happy and therefore probably improve whatever process they take over.

So there you have it. you now know what outsourcing is. so the next time you meet someone that says they work in outsourcing. smile and nod and do not insist they tell you more. and if they keep their mouth shut about their job, then you've met a friend for life.