Outsourcing Rudiments Brief Background The Goals of the Game Integrate, Integrate, and Still Integrate Outsourcing Basics Insourcing versus Outsourcing Offshoring versus Outsourcing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Types of Outsourcing Growth of Outsourcing Worldwide Outsourcing Benefits The Strategic Call The Various Approaches Subject Matter Expertise Technology¿s Transformation Touch The Cost Factor Holistic Offerings Speed of the Game The Engagement Players Resources Optimization Round-the-Clock Operations Demand Spikes Hiring Consultants for Setup Geography Is History The Quality Imperative Reuse of Projects, Resources, Experiences, Learning Higher Control and De-Risking The Many, Many Benefits Challenges To Outsource or Not? Realities and Myths Strategy and Considerations Strategy¿Differs from Market to Market, Industry to Industry Strategy¿Is Outsourcing Part of the Solution or Not? Costs Evaluation Pre-Outsourcing Evaluation Example¿Outsourcing and Banks Example¿BPO Operations¿Business and Technology Convergence Example¿IT Staff in an Accounting Firm¿To Outsource or Not Outsourcing¿Not a Final Solution in Itself What to Outsource? Outsourcing Scope What to Outsource? Activities to Outsource? BPO¿What to Outsource? Example¿Outsourcing by Banks Example¿Public Relations (PR) Function Outsourcing Example¿End Customer Management through Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Solutions Example¿Corporate Receivables Outsourcing to Banks Example¿BPO Outsourcing of Sales Tax Compliance Example¿BPO¿Outsourcing Support Operations Example¿Treasury Operations Outsourcing Example¿Tax Process Outsourcing Miscellaneous Examples Outsourcing to India Asian Economy Brief History of Outsourcing in India Where to Outsource?¿SWOT Analysis of Outsourcing to India Benefits of Outsourcing to India The Benefits, at a Glance India¿Preferred BPO Destination Top Outsourcing Cities in India Indian Vendors¿ Growth Challenges Example¿GE Example¿Awards to Indian BPOs Potential Countries for Outsourcing India versus Other Outsourcing Destinations Vendor Selection Vendor Classifications Vendor Identification, Evaluation, Competence, Selection, and Management Vendor Competence Evaluation BPO-Specific Vendor Competence Role of Technology in Vendor Selection The Geographical Bearings of Buyers and Vendors and Some Generalizations Vendor¿s Past Performance History Check Vendor Selection Checklist Contracts¿Types, Pricing Models, and Issues Contract Types¿Three Major Legal Structures (1) Third-Party Outsourcing (2) Parent¿Subsidiary Relationship (3) Build¿Operate¿Transfer (BOT) Model Pricing Models Fixed-Price Model Transactional Pricing Model Activity-Based Pricing Model Cost-Plus Pricing Model Gain-Sharing Model Contract Drawing Contractual Issues Contractual Risks Collaborations¿Joint Ventures Contract Termination Transitioning¿Postcontract Termination Example¿Antidumping U.S. Law Operations¿Execution, Challenges, Quality, Etc. Operations Optimization Operations Optimization through Vendor Expertise Operations Execution Example¿Operations Example¿BPO Operations¿Mentor¿Mentee Concept Operational Costs Example¿Chief Financial Officer (CFO)¿Role and Operations Example¿Bearings of Office Location Vendor Management Example¿Outsourcing BPO Operations to India Example¿Outsourcing Customer Support Operational Challenges Example¿Operational Challenges of Banks and Financial Organizations Risk Management Operations¿Contingency¿Disaster Recovery (DR) Quality Imperative WEB-BASED OUTSOURCING Web Outsourcing¿Introduction Internet¿Brief Background History of the World Wide Web How People Discover Web Sites Web-Based Outsourcing Web Outsourcing Models and Frameworks Business Model 1¿Outsourcing over the Web Using Well-Defined Contracts Business Model 2¿Outsourcing over the Web without Contracts Business Model 3¿Strategic Tie-Ups¿The Time Shares¿Selling Time Business Model 4¿Strategic Tie-Ups¿Making Customers and Employees Shareholders Business Model 5¿Time-Based Costs for Services and Products in Outsourcing Business Model 6¿For Every "n" Units Sold, Giving "m" Units Free Business Model 7¿Prepurchase in Bulk with Delivery Spread Out in Parts over a Period of Outsourcing Products and Services Business Model 8¿Big Projects Outsourcing to a Consortium Business Model 9¿Using Online Provider/Vendor to Manage the Internet Business (E-Business) Part/Component Business Model 10¿Automated Outsourcing Using Software Agents Web Outsourcing Examples Projects That Are Good Candidates of These Models General Category of Applicable Projects Miscellaneous Examples Examples in E-Commerce Examples¿Potential Fields for Outsourcing to India Web Outsourcing¿Criteria for Success, Challenges Web-Based Outsourcing Is Froth with Many Challenges What Does NOT Qualify for Online Outsourcing Market Readiness Target Geography for Online Outsourcing Vast Online Information Volumes Transparency and Interoperability between Networked Systems Quality Time, Speed, and Uncertainty Convenience and Self-Service Personalization and Customization Learn to Outsource, Even Online High Demands of Online Users/Customers Outsourcing Approach Online and Confidentiality Training Online Vendor/Providers Specialized Domain, Business, and Technology Skills Online Outsourcing Organization¿s Specialized Business Skills Risk Management Employee Retention Variable Pay Access to Critical, Sensitive Data by Partners, Online Vendors, and Unauthorized Users Language Nuances Online Recession and Low Market Economic Conditions Layoffs Reverse Brain Drain Reuse of Related Past Work, Knowledge, and Experience Presentation Challenges Online for Enabling Quick Decision Taking in Web-Based Applications Readability Challenges Online Personalization Challenges through Example¿Video Rentals Survey Acceptance of the Concept Online Payment Systems and Electronic Data Interface (EDI) Challenges "Business Transactions Challenges" of E-Commerce Technical Challenges in E-Commerce Applications The Rate of Proliferation of Internet/Intranet Outsourcing Portals General Challenges Faced by the Internet Need for Standards Openness Global Governance Design Investments Data Management Security Strategic Cooperation Mobility Speed Limitations of Online Outsourcing Web Outsourcing¿Advantages Business Advantages in the Virtual World of Web Outsourcing Highly Skilled People and Resources Reuse of Tools, Resources, Experiences Borderless World 24/7 ¿365 Operations Speed Strategic Focus Vendors¿ Geographical Spread Personalized, Customized Services Exponential Growth Prospects Budgets for Setup and Working Web¿The Information Superhighway Dematerialization¿Migration of Manual/Paper Records to Electronic Media, Online Leveraging from Outsourcing, Online Financial Benefits Cross-Currency Conversion Benefits Higher Integration Dell¿s outsourcing strategy Mass Customization Dell¿Some Salient Points Reduced Learning Curve for Online Organizations Brand Building Substantial Changes in the Environment Interoperable Communications Quality and Continuous Benchmarking Long-Term Career Paths Reduced Liability and Risk Knowledge Store Linguistic Barrier Is Greatly Lowered Repetitive Tasks and Labor Costs¿Software Agents Automation¿Software Agents Online Payments Operational Efficiency E-Commerce Benefits Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Advantages Advantages of Outsourcing Online to India Business-to-Business Payment Systems Online E-Commerce¿I-Way Communications Electronic Payment Systems Payment Gateways Electronic Commerce and EDI EDI¿Some Definitions EDI Concept EDI¿The Future Clearing Automation through Truncation and Electronic Check Presentment (TECP) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Process Financial Instruments Tech¿Electronic Token E-Cash E-Checks Working Mechanism Smart Card Example¿EDI Usage by Sears Roebuck Organization SLOWDOWN AND OUTSOURCING The Slowdown Scenario Economic Turmoil Indices Nosedive Worldwide¿Growth Forecasts Downgraded Forecasts Downgraded in India Economic Situation in the United Kingdom during Slowdown Budget Squeeze and IT Spend Declines Example¿Microsoft CEO¿s View Example¿Nortel¿s Bankruptcy Example¿Satyam Saga¿Credibility Loss Examples¿Frills Cost Cutting in the IT and BPO Sector Moody¿s Estimates on Outsourcing to India India and Other Countries as the Outsourcing Destination Business Repositioning in Slowdown Business Repositioning¿Slowdown¿CEOs Speak at Harvard Meet on Cause and Measures Business Repositioning¿IT Sp.