IT Outsourcing: Economic Slide Could Produce Upside for Providers
Despite a decline in the IT outsourcing market recently, a possible double dip economic downturn could spell good news for outsourcing providers in the near future.
So says findings from the latest quarterly report by outsourcing firm Everest Group, as reported in CIO this week.
For the first time in the past year, activity within the global outsourcing market, for both IT and business processes (BPO), dropped, according to the firm’s latest findings.
Analysts, however, remain optimistic while keeping one eye on future quarterly findings.
IT service providers including HP and Dell opened 32 new outsourcing delivery centers this past quarter, nearly double the amount of sites opened in the previous quarter.
In addition, a predicted second economic downturn - the so-called double dip - may lead more corporations to an increased reliance on IT outsourcing.
Researchers say IT organizations will have no other choice to seek help outside their corporate walls as tough financial situations have forced many to cut staffing to the bone as it is.
Wanted: Workers to Fill 50,000 Healthcare IT Jobs
Two titanic organizations devoted to IT membership and human resources in the healthcare industry are joining forces to get the word out that there’s plenty of jobs to be had right now in healthcare IT.
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA) plan to collaborate on efforts driving job seekers to fill an estimated shortage of 50,000 workers in health IT, according to an article in InformationWeek.
The organizations are seeking to promote the relatively new field of healthcare IT as a career path to fill a labor shortage to support implementation of electronic health records and health information exchange. With many IT professionals out of work from other industries, HIMSS and ASHHRA want to get the word out.
Projects already in motion include a virtual career fair and joint education programs.
Advice on IT Leadership
Dr. Larry Tieman, a 40-year veteran of the IT industry, offers his take to help those seeking employment in the industry and employers trying to hold on to whom they have.
In a recent column in InformationWeek, Tieman, a former senior VP with FedEx, reminds his audience that he’s changed jobs multiple times over his career and not once was the actual job just as advertised.
For those considering a new opportunity in the industry, Tieman recommends his four “C” framework.
- Company: Is this a place you would want to work?
- Career: Does the job support your career objectives?
- Chemistry/Culture: Is the environment conducive to your own success?
- Compensation: Is money the main reason for taking the job? It shouldn’t be.
As more IT organizations these days are being forced to analyze whether they can succeed with the staff and budget given them, more would be wise to team with their HR departments to develop a staff skills retrain and refresh plan.
