Led by JoAnn Hackos
Duration: two days

Is your company considering outsourcing information development or other technology jobs? Are you sending critical technology tasks offshore to an outsource vendor or to a remote employee location? Do you want arguments to counter the trend? Or, if they're inevitable, do you want to ensure that the offshoring outsourcing is successful?

Outsourcing to onshore or offshore agencies or hiring employees in new, under-developed locations presents unique challenges to the information manager. The Outsourcing/Offshoring workshop begins by recognizing the reasons that corporate executives view outsourcing as an increasingly viable alternative to high wages and benefits in developed countries. As a manager, your job is to find a successful way to counter the arguments for outsourcing or create an environment that makes outsourcing and offshore development a viable alternative.

Learn to calculate the hidden costs of outsourcing, understand when outsourcing is or is not a good solution, and identify the processes needed to ensure the successful management of remote team members.

Who should attend

• Department managers concerned that outsourcing or offshoring may be in their future
• Managers who want to counter trends in sending jobs offshore
• Those who will be outsourcing either onshore or offshore soon
• Those being asked to help set up offshore development activities
• Executives who are considering moving technology jobs offshore

You will learn to

• Calculate the full costs of outsourcing technology jobs
• Make an effective business case for maintaining existing staff
• Make the right choices in selecting outsource vendors (individuals or agencies)
• Create solid business relationships with outsource vendors
• Integrate offshoring or outsourcing into the production flow or change the production flow to accommodate offshoring or outsourcing
• Hire new employees in new locations
• Develop a sound process to support remote teams
• Ensure that outsourcing and offshoring are successful

Agenda

The many flavors of outsourcing and offshore information development

The economics of outsourcing and offshoring

Calculating the real costs

Selecting an outsource vendor

Developing a sound business relationship with your vendor

Setting up an offshore department

Setting criteria for success

Monitoring an offshore department

Managing a remote location successfully

Maintaining quality control and technical accuracy

Working with remote SMEs

Maintaining your own morale and that of your staff members