IAOP: RSS Feed

Leading Organizations Collaborate to Expand Capability and Global Availability of Value Health Check SurveyTM (VHCS) for Outsourcing

8/31/2010 12:26:00 PM

IAOP Partners with Leading Organizations to Expand Capability and Global Availability of Value Health Check SurveyTM (VHCS) for Outsourcing
Enlighta to Provide Cloud-based Software Platform

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY Aug. 30 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®) today announced a partnership with Global Sourcing Optimization Services (GSOS) and Enlighta, Inc. to expand the functionality, global reach and general market availability of the cloud-based outsourcing Value Health Check SurveyTM (VHCS).

Under the new partnership, Enlighta will provide the underlying cloud-based software platform for VHCS as well as user reporting, including improved analytics, on-demand customizations and highly anticipated peer-group scoring capabilities.

Launched a year ago, the outsourcing Value Health Check Survey is quickly enabling IAOP Customer and Service Provider members to understand if there are opportunities to improve the overall health and business value from their outsourcing relationships, according to Matt Shocklee, the author of VHCS and CEO of GSOS.

“With over 30 of the outsourcing industry’s leading organizations using VHCS, IAOP, its members and now the outsourcing industry at-large are ready to harvest the insights, best practices and key learnings from the enormous amount of data captured through use of this innovative new tool,” Shocklee said. “As we looked to the future, we needed a robust and fully integrated platform to expand functionality, effectively and affordably manipulate enormous amounts of data, and do so in an environment requiring extremely high data/information integrity and security across the Internet.”

Said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett: “There’s enormous opportunity for organizations that have invested in any type of outsourcing and/or shared service centers operations to improve the value gained from their existing relationships. As the VHCS gains acceptance and IAOP members share their needs, it became clear that we needed a more robust integrated platform and Enlighta was able to respond with a highly creative and affordable solution.”

“As the interest in the VHCS expands and the amount of data/information captured dramatically increases, participating organizations are asking for increased analytical capabilities, customization options and expanded reporting functionality,” said Nipun Sehgal, CEO of Enlighta. “We have worked very closely with GSOS, IAOP and its members to offer VHCS as a globally accessible on-demand relationship health assessment service based on Enlighta’s acclaimed cloud-based outsourcing governance suite.”

The VHCS is now available to IAOP members and non-members worldwide. IAOP Corporate Customer and Service Provider members receive two complimentary VHCS as part of their annual corporate membership with IAOP. Additional information about the VHCS can be obtained on the IAOP Web site at www.iaop.org or by contacting Shocklee at mattshocklee@gsos.org.

About IAOP
The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®) is the global, standard-setting organization and advocate for the outsourcing profession. With more than 100,000 members and affiliates worldwide, IAOP helps companies increase their outsourcing success rate, improve their outsourcing ROI, and expand the opportunities for outsourcing across their businesses. Visit www.outsourcingprofessional.org.

About GSOS
Global Sourcing Optimization Services (GSOS) is a leader in providing customers and service providers with assistance in optimizing the business value and overall health in their existing outsourcing contracts/relationships. GSOS is also a pioneer in the emerging management science of Sourcing Relationship Management (SRM) and the underlying tools and technologies reshaping the future of the outsourcing industry. Matt Shocklee, the President and CEO of GSOS, is the author of the Sourcing Relationship Value FrameworkTM and Value Health Check SurveyTM. For more information, please visit www.gsos.org.

About Enlighta
Enlighta is a leading provider of on-demand ITIL delivery and outsourcing management solutions to global 2000 companies and IT and BPO services providers. Enlighta's solutions enable companies to effectively govern their global services delivery across multiple suppliers and service lines thereby reducing the risk of value leakage and improving business outcomes. For IT and BPO services providers, Enlighta's solutions enable effective performance and compliance reporting across all customer engagements, and automation of services delivery processes. For more information, please visit www.enlighta.com.

Media Contact:
Kimberly L. Maneeley
+1.845.452.0600, ext.104
kim.maneeley@iaop.org

IAOP Expands Globally with New Regional Advisory Boards

9/2/2010 1:44:00 PM

IAOP Expands Globally with New Regional Advisory Boards
New Boards to Promote Regional Outsourcing in Latin America, Northern Europe, Middle East & North Africa, and Asia

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, Sept. 2 -- The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®) is strengthening its global presence by establishing advisory boards in key regions around the world.

The association has formed Regional Advisory Boards made up of outsourcing leaders from top companies in Latin America, Northern Europe, Middle East & North Africa, China and Pacific Rim, with more being formed.

The boards will leverage common interests and shared resources to tailor the association’s programs and services to regional needs while also ensuring that IAOP is truly global in its thinking, leadership, decision making and operations.

“These new regional advisory boards will accelerate IAOP’s global presence, enhance our impact as an international association, deliver more tailored services to our members, and promote outsourcing in regional markets, ” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett.

Said Javier Chamorro Rubiales, executive director of PRONicaragua: “These advisory boards will bring the value of a worldwide association to a regional level that is more accessible, agile and productive, thus positively impacting the local industries, especially those in emerging markets such as Central America, and more so in Nicaragua.”

Santiago Pinzón Galán, executive director of the Chamber of BPO & IT at ANDI (National Business Association of Colombia), who is chairing the Latin America regional advisory board, said the board will provide an ideal match between “IAOP’s global access to best practices, tactics, strategies and networking, and Latin America’s talent, creativity, innovation, commitment, value and the next decade of fast-growing social and economic development.”

Ken Schulz, vice president, VanceInfo Technologies Inc., who is serving on the China board, said: “This is an opportune time for the IAOP China regional advisory board to help facilitate the rapid pace of outsourcing growth in the region as buyers and sellers of outsourcing services look to step up and compete on the world stage.”

Ron Broeren, director global sourcing advisory of Quint Wellington Redwood and chairman of the Northern Europe board, said the board will expand IAOP’s presence in the region and “build a bridge with the global IAOP organization.”

IAOP continues to grow globally. The association has membership in 44 countries and has established chapters in 15 countries. At its annual Outsourcing World Summit®, delegates from 34 countries attended.

For more information, see Regional Advisory Boards.

Global Outsourcing 100 Application Process Opens for Outsourcing Providers and Advisors

9/1/2010 10:40:00 AM

Global Outsourcing 100 Application Process Opens for Outsourcing Providers and Advisors
IAOP Seeking World’s Top Companies for Annual Rankings

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, Sept. 1 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®) is calling on outsourcing service providers and advisors to apply for its annual Global Outsourcing 100® and join the ranking of past leaders like Accenture and TPI.

The association is accepting applications for the annual independently judged, opt-in ranking through Nov. 1.

Now entering its seventh year for service providers and third for advisors, the Global Outsourcing 100® has become an important resource to help companies make more informed purchasing decisions based on an objective methodology.

In 2010, Accenture was named the world’s best outsourcing provider for the third consecutive year and TPI topped the list of leading advisors to the industry.

The unranked lists will be previewed at the 2011 Outsourcing World Summit, Feb. 21-23, 2011 at the Renaissance Esmeralda, Indian Wells, California, and fully released in May 2010 in a special advertising section of FORTUNE® magazine.

“The Global Outsourcing 100 continues to grow each year as a trusted source for the industry to help companies select leading providers and advisors who will help them achieve greater business value and better outcomes,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett, who will lead the evaluation team made up of recognized industry leaders for the second consecutive year.

Companies will be judged using an objective methodology that examines 18 criteria, including size and growth, customer references, organizational competencies and management capabilities.

Companies can submit applications for the Global Outsourcing 100 and World’s Best Outsourcing Advisors via an online application form and do not have to be IAOP members to apply. The deadline for fully completed applications is Nov. 1. For information, contact Pam O’Dell, pam.odell@iaop.org, + 845.452.0600, ext. 121.

IAOP Forms Academic Alliance with Canadian Business School

8/24/2010 11:16:00 AM

IAOP Forms Academic Alliance with Canadian Business School
Outsourcing Association Partners with Ryerson University Ted Rogers School of Management

POUGHKEEPSIE, N Y, Aug. 24 - The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®) has partnered with the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management at Ryerson University in Canada to collectively advance the profession and industry of outsourcing and offshoring.

The IT management program is housed within Canada’s largest undergraduate management school and is located in the heart of Canada’s financial district. The ITM school will work with IAOP to share research related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and contribute to the CSR subcommittee that promotes socially responsible policies and practices.

Through the alliance, IAOP will continue to build on the work by Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management’s associate director and assistant professor Ron Babin, to develop research-based guidelines on integrating corporate social and environmental responsibility in the IT field.

“CSR continues to grow in importance in outsourcing,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. “Through our newest academic alliance with theTed Rogers School of Information Technology Management at Ryerson University, we will continue to advance these practices and promote the industry.”

Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth. Externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The Ted Rogers School of Management has 13 research centres and institutes and delivers undergraduate and graduate management programs, including a BComm in ITM and an International-Focused MBA and and MBA and MMSc in the Management of Technology and Innovation.

“We are thrilled to form a research alliance with IAOP,” said Ken Jones, Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management. “Our partnership with IAOP will further assist us in delivering the most relevant information on CSR in IT management to our students.”

Babin agrees saying, “As our management programs increasingly take a more global focus, education about outsourcing and CSR is key to the future success of our graduates.”

IAOP’s other academic partners around the globe include Boston University School of Management Institute for Global Work (IGW); California State University Fullerton (CSUF)’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics Center for Emerging Markets; Duke’s C.I.B.E.R. Fuqua School of Business Offshoring Research Network; Copenhagen Business School in Denmark; University of St. Thomas Cameron School of Business in Houston, Texas; and University of Missouri St. Louis College of Business Administration.

###

Managing Outsourcing Relationships to Maximize Value: Evolving Relationship Management Practices, 2010 Edition

8/11/2010 10:47:00 AM

Print Download

We present a look at the problems (business and financial value lost) associated with poor outsourcing relationship management, the benefits (potential value gained) of good relationship management, and some practices companies are employing to more effectively manage their relationships. We also provide our perspective on what more buyers and providers can do to ensure success, and share some leading-edge practices used by a handful of companies. For the full article, please click the download button.

IAOP Names Evaluation Panel to Select World’s Leading Customer Outsourcing Teams for New GEO Award

8/17/2010 12:09:00 PM

IAOP Names Evaluation Panel to Select World’s Leading Customer Outsourcing Teams for New Global Excellence in Outsourcing Award

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, Aug. 17 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®) today named a 12-member evaluation panel of recognized industry leaders and academia to select the world’s top outsourcing teams in best practices and innovation.

The independent judges will use a rigorous and objective process to evaluate applications submitted by leading customer outsourcing teams for the inaugural Global Excellence in Outsourcing (GEO) award.

“These panelists are uniquely qualified to identify best practices and innovation,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. “Many have extensive experience in selecting companies based on requests for proposals (RFPs) and others work directly with outsourcing professionals and firms that strive for excellence.”
The GEO Judging Panel is chaired by Bill Hall, founding partner, Pretium Partners, Inc., and includes:

• Christopher Long, COP, chief operations officer, StayWell Health Management
• Jean-Francois Poisson, COP, vice president, operation, Groupe Ameublement Focus Inc.
• Kelly Sawyer, COP, CEO, AKGT, Inc.
• Arie Y. Lewin, director, Duke University, Fuqua School of Business
• Beena George, faculty, University of St. Thomas, Houston
• Joe Greco, professor, director, Cal State Fullerton
• Keith Womer, dean, University of Missouri - St Louis
• Mary C. Lacity, professor, University of Missouri
• Torben Pedersen, professor, Copenhagen Business School
• Ron Babin, associate director, Ted Rogers School of IT Management, Ryerson University
• Leslie P. Willcocks, professor, London School of Economics & Political Science

The GEO Award is the first and only award program recognizing outsourcing professional teams for their innovation and best practices.
Customer teams that win this prestigious award will be first announced at the association’s annual conference, The 2011 Outsourcing World Summit®, Feb. 21-23, at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, California, and will have the unique opportunity to share their leading-edge outsourcing approaches through multiple thought leadership activities led by IAOP.

###

Outsourcing Service Delivery Professionals Can Demonstrate their Proficiency with New Certifications

8/3/2010 11:14:00 AM

Outsourcing Service Delivery Professionals Can Demonstrate their Proficiency with New Certifications
Standardized test enables outsourcing regions to show their size and strength

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, Aug. 3 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®) today launched a new professional certification family for professionals involved in the delivery of outsourced services -- the new Certified Outsourcing Specialist™ designation.

The first certification to be introduced in this new family is the COS Transaction Processing (COS-TP) certification with others now being developed for human resources, and finance and accounting.

To gain the COS-TP certification, operators demonstrate their productivity in data entry-oriented tasks common for outsourcing positions through a standardized Web-based test powered by BeyondCore.

The COS-TP test checks an operator’s speed and accuracy on test transactions that reflect the most common transaction processing scenarios and frequent error patterns. Based on the test results, operators can receive COS certifications at three levels: gold, silver and bronze.

Previously known as the OperatorEvaluator exam, the scores and ratings will be the same for the new COS-TP test. The functions, availability and pricing also have not changed. Any prior IAOP OperatorEvaluator scores and ratings will automatically become an identical IAOP COS-TP score and rating.

“The Certified Outsourcing Specialist designation lets individuals validate their skills using a standardized test recognized across the industry and helps organizations make better hiring decisions and get higher-quality results from their workforce,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett.

The COS certification also will enable outsourcing destinations around the world to quantify the size and quality of their labor pool to attract customers and promote growth in local outsourcing industries.

As the global standard-setting organization and advocate for the industry, IAOP will publish results on the numbers of certified workers in top outsourcing destinations using the results.

The COS certification is the newest in a group of expanded certification programs launched by IAOP under the IAOP’s Outsourcing Professional Certification Framework (OPCF) with a full range of certifications for individuals from entry-level to C-suite positions. The COS tests are available at www.iaop-cos.com.

BeyondCore Technology

COS-TP tests are powered by technology from BeyondCore Inc. (www.beyondcore.com), which has been leveraged by Fortune 500, S&P 500 firms and Top 10 BPO service providers on four continents.

COS-TP testing is based on advanced methodologies pioneered by BeyondCore as well as student research conducted at the Harvard Business School and Stanford University. Some of the upcoming COS tests will be co-developed with Global Talent Track.

“A typical job candidate is tested by ten prospective employers before receiving a job offer, while a typical outsourcing provider tests six candidates before offering them a job. The inefficiency of this process is astounding. The IAOP COS standardized tests will help candidates demonstrate their talents and enable prospective employers to hire the best candidates, leading to a far more efficient hiring process,” said Arijit Sengupta, CEO of BeyondCore.

“With the rapid advance of global sourcing in the new world IAOP must play a leadership role in educating and certifying millions of outsourcing enthusiasts and these new certificaiions will catalyze the process,” said Uma Ganesh, CEO of Global Talent Track.

Outsourcing To Small Town USA

7/23/2010 6:17:00 PM

IAOP Corporate Member Rural Sourcing's CEO Monty Hamilton discusses outsourcing to small towns in the United States, with CNBC.

ruralsourcing.com
Rural Sourcing, Inc. has a vision for the future of outsourcing in America – we call it Domestic Sourcing. Rural Sourcing Inc. (RSI) is the leader in domestic sourcing, a cost-effective alternative to the offshore model for technology development and the ongoing support and maintenance for critical ... http://ruralsourcing.com/newsroom/news.aspx?id=21

Analytics Delivering Shocking Results

7/23/2010 6:58:00 PM

Source: Globalization Today, Official Publication of IAOP

By Ali Comelek

“I have been helping outsourcing firms pay their clients millions of dollars,” responded Arijit Sengupta to my cheery “So what have you been doing?” A graduate of the Harvard Business School and Stanford University, Arijit is now the IAOP ambassador for India and a member of the editorial board of Globalization Today he explained that the advanced-analytics company he founded, BeyondCore, Inc., has been helping five of the 10 largest outsourcing providers save money for their clients by helping them avoid the hidden costs of errors. “Advanced-analytics solutions reveal untapped revenue opportunities or hidden costs and .... Full story

IAOP Opens OPBOK to General Public

7/21/2010 11:25:00 AM

IAOP Opens Best Practices Book to General Public
Updated Outsourcing Professional Body of Knowledge Available for First Time in Print Edition to Non-Members

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, July 21 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®) today announced the latest updated version of its Outsourcing Professional Body of Knowledge™ (OPBOK) will be available to the general public for the first time in print editions.

Previously only available to IAOP members electronically, the OPBOK book and related templates are being sold globally through a new partnership with Van Haren Publishing, a Certification and Professional Development Partner of IAOP.

The latest OPBOK Version 9 reflects major updates from IAOP of the commonly accepted practices and skills required to ensure outsourcing success. It is the basis for IAOP’s Certified Outsourcing Professional® qualification and certification programs.

The Outsourcing Professional Body of Knowledge identifies the best practices of outsourcing professionals around the globe and presents a complete and practical guide to this emerging, complex discipline.

“IAOP is opening up this knowledge base that was previously only available to members to help others achieve outsourcing success in our role as the standard-setting association and advocate for the industry,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. “The OPBOK is based on best practices from our global network and shares critical guidance that can make or break any outsourcing program.”

Among the topic covered are: governance and defining a strategic approach to outsourcing, governance, identifying and communicating business requirements, selecting and qualifying providers, gaining internal buy-in, creating project teams, and getting value for money and return on investment.

‘We are delighted to support IAOP in producing such strong quality, information for the marketplace. The titles reflect the market demand for professional and practical guidance and I am confident they will contribute significantly to best practices as they develop across the globe,” said Ivo van Haren, chief executive officer of Van Haren Publishing.

The titles are available for purchase through Van Haren’s Web site at Outsourcing Professional Body of Knowledge book and templates. It is also being sold in the U.S. through Bernan publications and at Amazon.com and other major booksellers.

Van Haren also publishes the IAOP endorsed eSourcing Capability Models set of titles covering the Information Technology Services Qualification Center (ITSqc) best practices.

###

Secure Outsourcing

7/23/2010 7:08:00 PM

Source: Globalization Today, Official Publication of IAOP

By Barmak Meftah

Fortunately, there are fewer and fewer barriers preventing access to a worldwide supply of skilled developers and valuable resources. People and services can be located almost anywhere and still contribute to an organisation’s software development or online presence.

The good news is that the resources are out there. The bad news is that it’s your responsibility to maintain security and vigilance over people and practices that often are out of your control in day-to-day business.

Whether you are outsourcing development, services or maintenance, the bottom line is you are allowing others to create code and run services that your customers will perceive as coming from you—meaning that you are responsible for any functional problems or security breaches. Full Article...

Sourcing Relationship Management (SRM)

7/23/2010 7:12:00 PM

Transparency – You Can’t Value What You Don’t Know or Can’t Trust!

By Matt Shocklee

We hear and read a lot in the press today about the need for enhanced transparency, whether it be in the U.S. Federal Government in Washington, the global financial markets and now the IAOP. IAOP Members are sounding-off as they’re demanding enhanced transparency in the relationships they have with their outsourcing service providers. When asked why they felt this way, typical rationale for improved transparency ranged from the need to better understand cost drivers in the relationship due to the current economic downturn, to concerns over managing more complex portfolios of relationships and fears about outsourcing risk and compliance given rapid globalization of business operations. Full Article...

IAOP’s Certified Outsourcing Professional Program Gets its First Government Approval from Malaysia

7/2/2010 9:17:00 AM

IAOP’s Certified Outsourcing Professional Program Gets its First Government Approval from Malaysia
Training and Certification Program Becomes Part of Federal Program to Build Country’s Knowledge Workforce

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., May 26 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’® (IAOP) Certified Outsourcing Professional® (COP) program has received its first government endorsement from Malaysia as an approved training program to build the nation’s ranks of knowledge-enabled professionals.

The COP program -- which distinguishes professionals as leaders in outsourcing – is the first senior management program the Malaysia government has given its endorsement to.

The federal government of Malaysia has approved the COP program for inclusion into its Capability & Capacity Development initiatives under the auspices of the Ministry for Science, Technology & Innovation.

“We are pleased to continue to grow our partnership with the Malaysia government to train and certify COPs,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. “This government endorsement is a powerful testament of the continued growth and acceptance of the COP program and the tremendous impact it can have on transforming not only individuals but also companies and entire nation’s workforces.”

The recognition will provide key subsidies for Malaysia citizens taking both the COP master classes and pursuing certification. Multimedia Development Corp. (MDeC), a national parastatal agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation, will market the IAOP developed program along with the Ministry.

Through the Capability & Capacity Development Program Malaysia is working to transform its workforce to higher skill levels and become a developed nation by 2020.

“The COP program is clearly aligned toward MSC Malaysia’s national initiative to create a knowledge-enabled workforce” said Rob Cayzer, General Manager, Business and Market Development, MDeC. “The certification program will help us reach our goals of developing more competent and globally aligned leadership in the ICT sector, especially in the sourcing marketplace.”

Said Srikrishna Vadrevu, CEO, Sigmax-e Services & Committee Member, Outsourcing Malaysia: “The COP program will be a great asset to Malaysian executives looking to gain expertise in the rapidly growing and evolving business of outsourcing. I am sure a qualification like this will stand out and cry for attention when HR folks are searching for the right qualifications in a large pile of resumes”

“Nations in their pursuit of creating forward-looking and globally-oriented industries in the ICT sector have been grappling with one principal demand factor -- realigning and continually creating a talented knowledge-enabled workforce that's ready for the intricacies and complexities of a globalized world,” said Bobby Varanasi, Chairman & CEO, Matryzel Consulting, who holds the COP designation and is IAOP’s Asia Ambassador.

“Having proven its place as a premier global standard of excellence in the sourcing marketplace, COP is well positioned to address these very needs,” Varanasi said. “The Federal government’s adoption of the COP program reinforces not just IAOP's commitment to professional standards, but also its contribution to the needs of a growing marketplace where governments are increasingly emphasizing the need for such standards. This is an excellent recognition for the COP program and I'm sure it is just one of many more to come.”

###

Forget India, Outsource to Arkansas

7/23/2010 6:24:00 PM

Source: money.cnn.com

By Jennifer Alsever

(CNNMoney.com) -- Looking for skilled, low-cost labor? Forget about India and China. How about Jonesboro, Ark.?

As the national unemployment rate hovers near 10%, some companies are starting to eye job-hungry areas of the country as prime candidates for the kind of outsourced work that once would have gone overseas. http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/08/smallbusiness/rural_onshoring/index.htm

Article features IAOP Academic Alliance Partner, Mary Lacity, an information systems professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

How to Overcome the Initial Fear of Outsourcing

7/23/2010 6:31:00 PM

Mark Kobayashi-Hillary discusses how a company's culture can influence the outsourcing process and provides steps in order to combat the initial fear
Source: Shared Services & Outsourcing Network (SSON)

By Mark Kobayashi-Hillary

Contrary to what you may believe, not everyone has yet found a way to outsource the IT function. In some cases the department may not be large enough to warrant outsourcing as an option. In some cases, it’s just that there has never been enough reason to change the way things are done...
http://www.ssonetwork.com/topic_detail.aspx?id=8534&ekfrm=6

New IAOP Atlanta Chapter to Discuss Outsourcing to the U.S. and Keeping American Businesses Competitive

7/14/2010 11:20:00 AM

New IAOP Atlanta Chapter to Discuss Outsourcing to the U.S. and Keeping American Businesses Competitive
Leading Organizations Join with IAOP to Launch Greater Atlanta Area Chapter

ATLANTA, Ga., July 14 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®) will launch its newest geographic chapter in the Greater Atlanta area with a discussion on the emergence of the U.S. as a hot spot for outsourcing.

The inaugural meeting of the chapter will be Aug. 30, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at the law offices of King & Spalding at 191 Peachtree St. in midtown Atlanta.

Monty Hamilton, CEO of Rural Sourcing, will lead the discussion and share insights on global macro-economic trends that are driving this new movement as well as documented cases of how U.S. businesses are reducing costs and staying onshore.

“The United States is stepping up to become the new kid on the outsourcing block,” said the event organizers. “Just as foreign car manufacturers looked to low-cost labor in the South to gain an advantage, outsourcing within the U.S. is providing a cost-competitive alternative to the offshore option.”

The new chapter will promote education, training, best practices and professional development for companies that are buyers, suppliers and advisors on outsourcing, in all its forms - whether onshore, offshore, captive or third party

“We will work together to promote outsourcing as a profession and to build a network of outsourcing professionals across the region to share best practices that can help American companies grow and be more competitive,” said Thom Mead, chapter chair and regional vice president of marketing – North America for Firstsource.

EquaTerra/EquiSiis, Rural Sourcing and other leading Atlanta corporations are serving on the Executive Committee for this newest IAOP geographic chapter.

The meeting will also include discussion of the chapter’s charter and governance committee, upcoming events, and a networking reception for current and prospective members.

The association is seeking additional organizations and professionals from the Southeastern U.S. to join the Chapter. The Chapter’s Executive Committee will meet immediately prior to the general session.

The IAOP Atlanta chapter is a regional chapter within IAOP’s portfolio of over 40 chapters worldwide. Geographically based out of the Atlanta area, it will involve IAOP membership from Georgia and is also open to members in the greater Southeastern U.S. not served by other chapters.

The event is free and open to users, advisors and providers of outsourcing services who are individual or corporate members of IAOP. Non-members are invited to attend as a guest of IAOP. Click here to be added to the chapter notification list.

###

Outsourcing Leaders Sought for IAOP’s Outsourcing Hall of Fame

7/2/2010 9:14:00 AM

Outsourcing Leaders Sought for IAOP’s Outsourcing Hall of Fame
Nominations Now Being Accepted for 2010-2011 Program

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., June 1 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®) today kicked off its nomination process for the 2010-2011 Outsourcing Hall of Fame that honors leading professionals from around the world who have positively contributed to business and society through outsourcing.

Now in its fifth year, The Outsourcing Hall of Fame is the most prestigious award available to individuals working in the field of outsourcing. Nominations will be accepted from IAOP members, Certified Outsourcing Professionals (COPs) and others in the industry via an online nomination form through July 30.

IAOP will induct individuals at an awards luncheon at the association’s annual conference The 2011 Outsourcing World Summit®, Feb. 21-23, at the Renaissance Esmeralda, Indian Wells, California.

The recognition program is open to customers, providers and advisors of outsourcing services from around the globe who generally are experienced senior level executives leading outsourcing initiatives in their companies.

The Hall of Fame is unique in its recognition of individuals not only for their contributions to the management practice and industry of outsourcing, but also for their contributions to community-based economic development, socially-directed investments, as well as career development, education and training through outsourcing.

Past honorees include executives from Family Dollar, Luxoft, SAP, Neusoft, ACS, Infosys, TPI, General Motors, Applied Materials, Accenture, Procter & Gamble, Capgemini and other firms. Honorees say the recognition has positively impacted them professionally and their organizations.

“The Outsourcing Hall of Fame is an important recognition of one’s ability on a long-term basis to contribute to the industry beyond any company or any deal,” said Kevin Campbell, Accenture’s group chief executive of outsourcing. “It puts outsourcing front and center and represents the good work of teams, and other people look at it as an important distinction.”

Said Ron Kifer, group vice president and CIO, Applied Materials: “Being inducted into The Outsourcing Hall of Fame is more than an honor, it is an acknowledgement that your efforts have had a profound effect not only upon the profession, but also upon the social landscape within which we live and work.”

Beyond professional achievements, the other important component of the award is recognition of corporate social responsibility in outsourcing. Hall of Fame honoree the late Dewang Mehta, past president of NASSCOM, was recognized for his pioneering efforts to use information technology in India to benefit the masses of the country.

“Nasscom and the not-for-profit Nasscom Foundation has set up a knowledge network which enables displaced people to find better jobs and work in small parts of the country,” said Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, immediate past chairman, NASSCOM, who accepted the award. “There’s an increasing focus today in India that all the successful companies should contribute a significant portion of their profits towards corporate social responsibility to really enable a new India to develop.”

For the full list of The Outsourcing Hall of Fame honorees and their bios, visit: http://www.iaop.org/content/23/152/1217/

###

IAOP Seeking Nominations for Best Outsourcing Teams

6/21/2010 2:10:00 PM

International Association of Outsourcing Professionals Seeking Nominations for Best Outsourcing Teams

New Global Excellence in Outsourcing Award Recognizes Leading Outsourcing Teams in Best Practices and Innovation

POUGHKEEPSIE, N Y, June 21 - The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®) today announced the first and only award program recognizing outsourcing professional teams for their innovation and best practices – The Global Excellence in Outsourcing (GEO) Award.

The GEO will distinguish outsourcing professional teams at customer organizations who have advanced the field’s best practices, created innovative solutions and delivered great results for their companies.

“We very excited about this new award program,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. “As outsourcing increasingly becomes a strategic, corporate-wide program it’s more and more often these teams of outsourcing professionals who are creating the results their companies need. Recognizing these teams will not only be great for the teams themselves, but will showcase their accomplishments in a way that raises the bar for all of us.”

Awards will be presented annually for:

The GEO Award for Best Practices -- recognizes a company’s outsourcing team for developing and implementing one or more advanced business practices that have enhanced the design, implementation and management of their company’s outsourcing program. The team will be recognized both for its contribution to the management practice of outsourcing and for delivering measurable results for their company.

The GEO Award for Innovation – given to an outsourcing team that has implemented a new type of outsourcing relationship or new outsourcing approach that is ground breaking and worth special attention by other organizations. The goal is to recognize a practical innovation that has produced measurable results.

Nominations are open to IAOP member and non-member customer teams globally and applications for the award are prepared and submitted by the outsourcing professional team itself. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select the winners.

Winners will be recognized at the IAOP Outsourcing World Summit® each February and will have the unique opportunity to share their leading-edge outsourcing approaches through multiple thought leadership activities led by IAOP.

For more information and to nominate your team, see GEO awards.

###

IAOP Expands Outsourcing Certifications to Include Designations for All Career Levels

7/22/2010 11:21:00 AM

International Association of Outsourcing Professionals Expands Outsourcing Certifications to Include Designations for All Career Levels
New Associate Certified Outsourcing Professional Added

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, July 22 – Outsourcing professionals working at every career level from entry-level to C-suite positions can now demonstrate their leadership in the field by gaining professional certifications through several new families of certifications unveiled today by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®).

IAOP has expanded its certification and professional development programs in response to increased market demands for professional certifications in the outsourcing industry from both individuals, outsourcing companies and governments.

Professionals gaining certifications typically receive higher recognition and compensation while companies can expect consistent, higher-quality results by working with these certified individuals.

“With our expanding range of certification offerings, IAOP is creating opportunities for professional development and recognition at each stage in an individual's career,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett.

Through IAOP’s Outsourcing Professional Certification Framework (OPCF), the association’s certification program has been expanded from the original Certified Outsourcing Professional® (COP) designation for outsourcing professionals.

A new Associate Certified Outsourcing Professional (aCOP) has been added in the COP family as well as new certification families for executives and specialists working at customer, provider and advisor organizations.

Joining the professional development offerings are the new:

Certified Outsourcing ExecutiveTM (COE) designation for individuals who are recognized by IAOP and their peers in the outsourcing industry as demonstrating superior leadership and delivering consistently positive results through outsourcing and/or shared services. COEs may work as customers, provider or advisors and typically hold or have held C-level positions in public or private institutions worldwide.
Certified Outsourcing SpecialistTM (COS) family of certifications that recognize individuals primarily involved in the delivery of outsourcing services. The first certification in the new COS family to be introduced is the COS Transaction Processing (COS-TP) certification with others being developed.

To receive the COS-TP certification, professionals demonstrate their proficiency in data entry speed and accuracy by taking the COS-TP test powered by BeyondCore. Previously known as the IAOP OperatorEvaluator exam, the functions, availability and pricing have not changed. Any prior IAOP OperatorEvaluator scores and ratings will automatically become an identical IAOP COS-TP score and rating.

Building on the COP Program

Since being introduced in 2006 by IAOP, the COP designation has become globally recognized as the industry’s de facto standard of excellence. Individuals receiving the prestigious designation demonstrate their experience and knowledge against an independently developed set of industry-wide standards.

Earning this certification powerfully demonstrates that individuals possess the knowledge required to design, implement and manage outsourcing initiatives that have a high probability of achieving an organization’s intended outcomes.

The newest aCOP designation focuses on documenting the individual’s knowledge of the management process of outsourcing itself. It promotes an environment where all of the parties to an outsourcing business relationship have a common and shared professional knowledge, approach and commitment to mutual success.

To become an aCOP, individuals must pass the COP Exam and successfully complete the live or online COP Master Class. On achieving the aCOP certification, individuals may go on to document the required experience to achieve the COP certification level as well.

“This new certification framework from IAOP addresses a cross-section of functional skills and provides the hierarchical path required to enhance the value from outsourcing,” said Rajiv Dua, COP, PMP, CGEIT, CISA, ITIL V3 Expert.

###

IAOP Partners with Confederation of Indian Industries to Advance Outsourcing

7/9/2010 9:57:00 AM

IAOP Partners with Confederation of Indian Industriesto Advance Outsourcing
Outsourcing Association Forming New Chapters Throughout India

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, March 3 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)today announced an affiliate association partnership to promote outsourcing.

The two associations will work together to advance the outsourcing, offshoring, shared services and related management practices, industries and professions in India by forming new IAOP chapters; holding conferences, training and certification programs; sharing research and thought leadership; and many other industry-advancing initiatives.

CII will encourage the use of outsourcing as an effective management tool across all industry sectors. It will assist member organizations that provide outsourcing services in information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) and other areas, including healthcare, manufacturing and financial services, in their business development and operational delivery capabilities.

Through the agreement, IAOP will encourage advancement of professional standards for outsourcing and thought leadership, as well as provide a platform to share global best practices to help improve overall outsourcing outcomes in India.

IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett said the alliance will bring both customers of outsourcing and service providers from across the entire spectrum of Indian industries into the association’s global outsourcing community.

“This strategic alliance will bring added insights and better outsourcing outcomes to these companies and enhance our global thought leadership and network to the benefit of the industry,” said Corbett, who signed the agreement with CII’s Director General Chandrajit Banerjee.

Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, CII National Committee on IT, ITeS & eCommerce, and Vice Chairman & CEO, Zensar Technologies Ltd., said, “This is an exciting opportunity for global best practices in outsourcing to be brought to the entire services sector in India. There is a 3 trillion opportunity in services outsourcing and we hope to see at least $500 billion dollars of this happening in India in the next 10 years.”

Arijit Sengupta, the India Ambassador of IOAP and the CEO of BeyondCore, Inc. said, “In collaboration with CII we are rolling out the IAOP outsourcing professional and workforce certification programs throughout India and will establish local chapters in key cities.”

The newest IAOP Chapter to launch as a result of the partnership will be the Bangalore chapter that will hold its first meeting on March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Infosys campus at MC Hall, Gate 1, Electronics City, Hosur Road. Infosys and Intel are co-chairs of the chapter. The two associations also will hold an Asian conclave in New Delhi in November 2010.

###

The 2010 Global Outsourcing 100: Outsourcing Strikes Back

6/30/2010 6:29:00 PM

Print Download

Find out which firms were judged as the world’s best outsourcing service providers and advisors globally. Relative rankings, selection process details and company strengths are featured in a special advertising section produced by IAOP in the Fortune 500 issue of FORTUNE® magazine. Companies were judged on four critical characteristics: size and growth; customer references; organizational competencies; and management capabilities.

Also read “Outsourcing Strikes Back” and find out how after a lull in the action, business and innovation are on the rise. This fantastic article explores five key trends: 1) The Focus on Managing Cost, 2) New Centers of Excellence Emerge, 3) A Paradigm Shift in Technology, 4) Corporate Stewardship is Key, and 5) Seismic Shifts in Government Policy.

For the full article, please click the download button.