The premier guide to outsourcing and task delegation for entrepreneurs and small businesses

As the digital economy changes the rules of the game for enterprises, the role of software and IT architects is also transforming. Rather than focus on technical decisions alone, architects and senior technologists need to combine organizational and technical knowledge to effect change in their company’s structure and processes. To accomplish that, they need to connect the IT engine room to the penthouse, where the business strategy is defined. In this guide, author Gregor Hohpe shares real-world advice and hard-learned lessons from actual IT transformations. His anecdotes help architects, senior developers, and other IT professionals prepare for a more complex but rewarding role in the enterprise. This book is ideal for: Software architects and senior developers looking to shape the company’s technology direction or assist in an organizational transformation Enterprise architects and senior technologists searching for practical advice on how to navigate technical and organizational topics CTOs and senior technical architects who are devising an IT strategy that impacts the way the organization works IT managers who want to learn what’s worked and what hasn’t in large-scale transformation

Outsourcing is the movement of workload to another source which can provide assistance in that particular area for an agreed price either as a onetime service or as an ongoing complementing service. In doing so, the principal company can effectively save time, get staff to be more committed and speedier work results. The essence of outsourcing is simply engaging the services of an individual or organization outside your full time staff to handle certain aspects of your business plan. These aspects may be public relations, marketing, clerical and administrative functions, or IT management. In fact, with today's virtual environment, there is really no part of the business that could not be outsourced effectively. Of course, the big question is whether or not there are any benefits to outsourcing, especially for persons who are building their business on the Internet. There are several good reasons to outsource certain functions. Often times, an Internet business is set up with a shoestring budget and one person doing all the work. As the business grows, it is easy to get caught up in dealing with general office functions, such as answering emails, handling correspondence and maintaining client lists. By outsourcing your clerical support needs, you can spend more time focusing on the expansion of your business, not the day-to-day details of running it. Second, promoting your online presence is a full time job all by itself. You can hardly manage that and still be involved in making the big decisions that impact the overall operations of your company. Using outside agents to promote your presence and to stimulate sales makes it possible for you to do what owners need to do, which is grow the companies' roster of goods and services. Last, outsourcing allows you not to get bogged down with employee taxes, withholding and providing a benefit package.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is becoming the new revolutionas company's of all sizes are seeking to take advantage of thissource of competitive advantage. This book provides a step-by-step approach to understanding theapplication of Business Process Outsourcing, assessing the BPOopportunity in the company, and then managing the transition toBPO. It serves as a guide to implementing BPO and as a referencesource to solving the variety of issues that may arise during a BPOinitiative. Each chapter features a case study, insight from apractitioner, focus on how BPO affects people, and ethicalconsiderations. * Discusses both the how and why of business process outsourcingwith a straightforward "how to" approach. * Provides managers with the tools to analyse the BPO opportunitiesfor their own firms, as well as techniques and strategies formanaging a BPO initiative. * Empowers businesses of all sizes to take advantage of thisall-encompassing business revolution.

Written for both lawyers and business people, Outsourcing: Law and Business is the first complete guide to all aspects of these complex, strategic arrangements. It offers in-depth practical guidance to both legal and business issues -- fee structures, service levels and governance models -- to help outsourcing customers and service providers structure and implement transactions effectively. Topics covered include: types of outsourcing transactions; choosing an outsourcing team; choosing an outsourcing provider; defining services provided, responsibilities, and procedures; knowledge sharing and intellectual property rights; service level standards and metrics; fee and pricing models; human resources issues, including U.S. and international law and regulation; business continuity issues; grounds for termination; confidentiality; customers' privacy and data; compliance with state, federal and international security regulations; risk management and liability; documenting and implementing a governance structure; dispute resolution; and new approaches to outsourcing transactions. For lawyers and business people who want authoritative, forward-looking guidance to outsourcing law and strategy, this new book is the ultimate resource.

This book will provide the fundamentals of business process outsourcing for the busy executive who needs to get up to speed. It will have such features as checklists, tips and techniques, and case studies. * Written in a user friendly style that allows senior level financial executives to get a solid foundation of what business process outsourcing is and how it can benefit their companies. * Provides managers with the tools to analyse the BPO opportunities for their own firms, as well as techniques and strategies for managing a BPO initiative. * Shows managers how a BPO strategy can save the company money and create jobs domestically. * Both authors are consultants and advisers to industry-leading companies and frequent speakers at business forums and conferences.

This book offers a sociological account of the process by which companies institute outsourcing in their organization. Drawing on qualitative data, it examines the ways in which internal outsourcing in the IT and HR professions negatively affects workers, their work conditions, and working relationships.