Tag Archives: Improve

Technology vs. Outsourcing: How Four Job Positions Evolved


Outsourcing is a tool for getting work done, especially when you just don’t have the skills or the management bandwidth to do the work yourself. Outsourcing is often chosen because it can significantly reduce cost, either through more efficient processes … Continue reading

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How To Talk To Your Outsourcer


Outsourcing is a committed relationship. You have to work closely with the account manager at your outsourcer. Like every other committed relationship, you need to communicate with your partner. However, also like every other committed relationship, quality communication is very … Continue reading

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4th Sigma: How To Listen When The Client Is Silent


If you’ve been following this Blog, you know that we have been discussing variability: how the products and services we provide can be better or worse at any given moment. We then created a tool for identifying and quantifying the … Continue reading

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Blue Skies, Black Swans and Backup Plans


As Hurricane Irene passes through lower Manhattan, there is  a tinge of panic but not the full-on disaster that has been expected. Wall  Street will be a bit mussed up, but open for business on Monday. For many in New … Continue reading

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How Modern Guns Conquered The Old West


No single story defines America’s Old West. Instead it is a series of individual stories… Big stories about Big characters doing big things. Usually with big guns. The West and the Gun are inseparable. “God didn’t make men equal Smith and … Continue reading

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For “Resistance Is Futile”, Press 1


Let’s face it, we have a very confused relationship with technology. Not just as individuals, but as a species. We are who we are as a species because of the technology we use. Too many other animals are faster or … Continue reading

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Are Outsourcing Obstacles Too Big To Swallow?


Last week I saw a question on Linked-In that I thought was particularly interesting. The question was, “What are the top five challenges in BPO transitions that  need to be addressed in the outsourcing/offshoring industry?”  If there were any “winners” … Continue reading

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Higher Clouds: Learning From Amazon’s AWS Strategy


Last month, Amazon had a conference in New York to show off its latest web services. At the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Conference a number of very experienced executives presented some exceptionally impressive technology.  Still, as they day wore on … Continue reading

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Gramdma Has Left The Kitchen!


I remember a commercial from a few years back, I think it was for spaghetti sauce. It showed an Italian family’s kitchen as the Sunday meal was being made. In the kitchen, there were several grandmothers working away over a … Continue reading

Posted in Best Practices, Expectations and Rewards, Improvement, Continuous or Not, Learning and Development, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Creative Projects: A Few Ideas And Tools!


Every now and then you run across some really useful tools, or fascinating trends, that can help you with your operations.  Six months later you may forget about these tools, or they may be replaced by something better. (Hey Facebook, … Continue reading

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