{"id":4624,"date":"2008-08-11T19:39:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-11T19:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/projects\/horsesforsources\/some-summer-sourcing-soundbites\/"},"modified":"2008-08-11T19:39:00","modified_gmt":"2008-08-11T19:39:00","slug":"some-summer-sourcing-soundbites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsesforsources.com\/some-summer-sourcing-soundbites\/","title":{"rendered":"Some summer sourcing soundbites"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outsourcers Hone European Savvy<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>  Niraj Sheth, of the WSJ, comes up with some compelling examples of how the leading Indian outsourcers are training their staff to understand European business etiquette.  With a weak dollar and tight economy, the offshore leaders are increasing their focus in the high-cost European countries, where expensive currencies, high wages and a challenging economic climate are driving outsourcing to the top of the agenda.  However, it's not quite as simple as adding americanisms to English…<\/p>\n

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Carl, a German customer, gave Indian programmer Koshal vague instructions to get a report done by the end of the month. Koshal, expecting to receive more details — such as what the report should cover, what method to use in his analysis — and a firmer deadline than "the end of the month," didn't deliver on time.<\/em><\/p>\n

A programmer attending the class defended Koshal, arguing Carl should have sent out a reminder, as would have been customary in India.<\/em><\/p>\n

"Why would Carl have to remind anyone?" replied Ms. Ashok. "He doesn't have to. He's German."<\/em><\/p>\n

China: Low Cost No More<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> Jason Busch (pictured here) picks up on some recent examples as to why \"Jason<\/a>China is no longer a low-cost provider and is rapidly moving up the manufacturing food chain. <\/a><\/p>\n

Foxconn will be opening new factories in low-cost markets like Hungary and India to reduce the pressure caused by cost increases<\/em> <\/p>\n

(I assure readers that Jason is far more of a corporate hippy than this picture suggests)<\/p>\n

(Sarcastic News Flash) Public Sector HR Needs to be More Strategic<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>  Mark Stelzner offers a hilarious viewpoint on some new research into the woes of public sector HR.  Maybe Lockeed Martin has the answer?<\/a> (said without a hint of sarcasm).<\/p>\n

The Top 10 Problems with Outsourcing Implementation (And How to Overcome them)<\/strong><\/a> : Over on the excellent Shared Services and Outsourcing Network (SSON), Shawn McCray of TPI comes up with some spot-on reasons as to why so many outsourcing engagaments hit the skids:<\/p>\n

Clients tend to put off making decisions about the retained\/governance team for multiple reasons, including:<\/em><\/p>\n