Tag Archives: Programming

Outsourcing makes the world go round!

Categories: Of Interest | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Some people think that outsourcing is good because it allows you to cut costs. Others think that outsourcing is bad because it takes jobs that rightfully belong to Americans and gives it to undeserving poor people in foreign countries who have names that we can’t pronounce (and don’t want to learn to pronounce.) In California, some people think that there are too many Mexican immigrants coming in while others like the affordable source of labor. The truth is that without Mexican labor, nothing in California would get built, harvested, or done. The state would grind to a stop. You wouldn’t be able to get help at your restaurant and you would be able to run most types of businesses that rely on labor. We don’t realize this, but outsourcing is the same. Without outsourcing, America, Germany, and the UK would grind to a stop.

There is an acute labor shortage in industrialized countries. There are not enough people to do many of the tasks we need to have done. Those who are hard working already have jobs. Those who are lazy don’t deserve jobs. Whatever can’t be done here, needs to be shipped to wherever some willing and capable hands (fingers) can do it.

We take this for granted, but much of America’s medical transcriptions are done in the Philippines or India while we sleep. There would be horrible delays and triple the cost if those offshore agencies were not able to handle our medical transcription outsourcing needs. Something like 80% of UK’s programming is handled offshore. Without people in India and Eastern Europe helping out, how would the UK function? They would only be able to do 20% of the work.

I am struggling to find quality help in the United States for basic tasks such as programming, phone help, and other work. It is like pulling teeth to find someone willing to work who actually cooperates. It is not funny, and not pleasant. It is so nice to have the option to hire overseas to people who have a work ethic.

Also, there is a new outsourcing company in India that claims that they can enhance planetary movement through intermolecular technology (never heard of that.) I guess that proves that outsourcing really does make the earth go round — literally.

Are you bad at communication but good at work?

Categories: Management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Many people who are in Web Design, Programming, Data Entry, or other outsourcing professions are just not good at interacting. The boss of these people might tell you that they were not hired for their social skills. You can say that again. But, the problem is: to work with someone, you need to be able to communicate with them. If they just can’t function, or refuse to communicate, it is very difficult.

I have dealt with enough people, so I can guess the quality of someone’s work purely by how they communicate. I’m generally not that far off. Guessing if they will be responsible doing their work is another hurdle that I have not yet learned go gauge, simply because nobody I’ve hired for technical work has ever been responsible. I have no profile of a winner to base future analysis on.

The message that I keep sending managers and workers is that if you want to do well in your business, don’t be lobsided in your abilities. If you are good at Data Entry, but lousy at communicating, learn to communicate too. Hire a teacher to teach your workers how to communicate better. Teach people how to answer a phone. Believe it or not, answering a phone professionally is too difficult even for 99% of call centers in India. That is part of the reason the business is all going South — or East to the Philippines! Indians just don’t take business etiquette seriously, an India will remain a 3rd rate country until this attitude changes.

Elements of communication

(1) Answering the phone
Announce who you are in a clear tone of voice. Don’t make people guess. Don’t ask them a question to evade answering the question that they asked. Be helpful and clear in your communication when answering the phone.

(2) Answer questions clearly
Don’t just put people on hold without their consent only to get hung up on. Indians do this all day long and that is why most American companies don’t want anything to do with anyone in India. If someone asks you a question, try to answer it.

(3) Transferring
When transferring a call, make sure there is someone on the forwarded line who can talk. Nobody likes to be put on hold only to be disconnected as I mentioned in point two. Make sure that they get to talk to someone even if you have to try ten times.

(4) Being there
If you have a company where there is never anyone to talk to, it is time to hire some new people. Sure, nobody is around 100% of the time. But, if you have to call eight times just to reach someone who is intelligent, something is wrong.

(5) Giving feedback
Do you get back to people on your own, or do you wait for them to harass you to figure out what is going on. Good communication involves taking the initiative to initiate correspondence on your own initiative and getting back to people fast. Don’t keep people waiting or guessing.

(6) Discussing issues
Are you able to discuss complicated issues in an honest and helpful way? Some people can’t think clearly, evade, or just bull-shit their way through issues. Nobody respectable will accept this type of communication. Handle complicated issues in an intelligent way. Spend time thinking through the problems so that you can give good answers.

These are the main points regarding communication that many people need help with. Even those of us who are above average in communication sometimes omit critical information in our communications. Just try to be the best at what you do. On the other hand, if you are good at communication, but bad at doing your job, then learn to do your job!