Outsourcing Research Articles

A qualitative study of women care professionals’ experiences in social service non-profit organizations in Israel

ABSTRACT Although women play a significant role in non-profit organizations as employees, volunteers, and clients, there is insufficient knowledge about these women and their unique work experiences in the current era, which is characterized by outsourcing of social services. This study explored work experiences among women in professional care settings of social service non-profit organizations (SSNPOs). Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with women with postsecondary education working as care professionals (such as social workers and occupational therapists) in Israeli SSNPOs. The sample reflected Israel’s geographical, religious, ethnic, and job (full-time and part-time) diversity. Interviewees were asked about their employment experiences, struggles, and challenges. Thematic analysis was used. The findings shed light on how care work in SSNPOs enters the private sphere and is internalized, i.e. boundaries between home and work that are continuously blurred and endanger employees’ well-being. Our study suggests that women working in care professions in contracted SSNPOs are more vulnerable due to their working conditions, despite their postsecondary education and defined professions. Negative psychosocial outcomes are the major challenge for this population.

Social Support and Job Insecurity in Outsourced Employees

Industry in Indonesia is increasing, so companies are required to continue to focus on production. To obtain efficiency and company profits using outsourced employees from labor supply companies. Outsourced employees work for a company through a company providing labor. With the existence of a fixed-time work system, outsourced employees have concerns about their future. Several factors influence the emergence of job insecurity, including social support. Therefore, this study aims to determine the relationship between social support and job insecurity among outsourced employees. This study uses a quantitative correlational design. The sampling technique used is saturated sampling, with a total sample of 83 outsourced employees. The instruments used were a social support scale comprising 26 items, a quantitative dimension of the job insecurity scale of 3 items, and a qualitative dimension of 4 items. The social support scale has a reliability value of 0.886, a quantitative dimension of the job insecurity scale of 0.604, and a qualitative dimension of job insecurity of 0.786. The analysis technique uses the Pearson correlation with the help of data processing software. The research results showed that the correlation value of social support with job insecurity in the quantitative dimension was r = 0.338 with p = 0.002 <0.05. Furthermore, the qualitative dimension's correlation value of social support with job insecurity was r = -0. 228 with p = 0.008 < 0.05. These results show that the hypothesis proposed by the author is declared accepted even though the direction of the relationship is different.

Logistics Outsourcing Services and Performance of Firms in the Tele-Communications Sector: A Case of Airtel Rwanda Ltd

This study assessed the effect of out-sourcing services on performance of firms in telecommunication sector with reference to Airtel Rwanda Ltd. The specific objectives were to determine effect of financial systems, network monitoring tools services, and supplier network responsiveness outsourcing on organizational performance of Airtel Rwanda Plc the study provides useful data to management of Airtel to assist it in service delivery and quality performance for the outsourced services. The study targeted 65 senior managers and key employees at Airtel Rwanda Ltd and sampled 56 respondents using Yamane formula. Primary and secondary data collection techniques were both using through questionnaire and interview guide. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis to establish the relationship between variables. Results to the first objective show that the logistic process response to unexpected demand changes and the effectiveness in delivery of shipments both scored means of 4.597. These variables scored means of 4.376, 4.376 and 4.038 respectively. There was the significant correlation between rapidly adjusts warehouse capacity to address demand changes and project time (r=.206; p-value=.000). Results to the second objective that all respondents agreed that their company uses outsourcing in its operations and as a result, they indicated that the supply chain operating system responds rapidly to changes in product volume demanded by customers (mean 4.921). The grand mean of these factors was 4.498 showing that generally there was higher responsiveness of the supply chain systems to customer needs. For  the effect on responds rapidly to changes in product mix demanded by customers on quality, time cost, the study ascertained that responds rapidly to changes in product mix demanded by customers is statistically significant with quality (r=0.122*;p value=0.035). Results on effectively expedites emergency customer orders felt that it is significantly correlated with an increase of quality of services (r=0.123*; p value=0.034). Results to the third objective shows that the grand mean was 4.155. It was indicated that major suppliers consistently accommodated requests (mean of 4.712) and the major suppliers changed product volume in a relatively short time (Mean of 4.259). Results show that major suppliers consistently accommodate our requests was insignificant with the quality of services (r=0.080, p-value=.0169), and major suppliers consistently accommodate our requests was insignificantly correlated with efficient and effective use of cost (r=0.013, p-value=.822). Finally, the study found a significant correlation between Major suppliers consistently accommodate our requests and timely delivered of services to beneficiaries (r=0.105, p-value=0.071). All the correlations were statistically significant given that the p value was < 0.05 proposing that an increase in major suppliers consistently accommodate our requests was insignificant with the quality of services increase quality of services, timely delivered, efficient and effective use of cost allocated and vice versa. In conclusion, the study concludes that Airtel Rwanda Plc in Rwanda have outsourced financial system billing. Airtel Plc had outsourced networking monitoring tools which play a pertinent role to the organizational success. Airtel has masts/towers and fleet management that contribute to organizational performance.  Finally, the study recommends that to adopt masts/towers and fleet management in means, the government should revise competition policy, and contract duration for outsourcing activities. Future studies should consider conducting similar research in different types of companies for comparison of results with the aim of coming into consensus on the generalization of the results. Keywords: Outsourcing, in-housing development, telecommunication, core business activities.

EMPLOYMENT FLEXIBILITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS

This article addresses the issue of legitimacy and legal consequences of the introduction of various forms of flexible employment in times of crisis, above all focusing on issues related to the flexibility of the workplace (telework, remote work), as well as those of flexible working time (part-time work, modifications of working time systems and schedules). Bearing in mind the specifics of the crisis, the following legal constructions will also be analyzed: term employment contracts, non-employee civil law work, work in cottage industry, self-employment, temporary work, casual work, on-call work, job sharing, and employee outsourcing. Each flexibilisation of employment introduced into the legal order due to the crisis, although temporary, each time leaves its mark on the regulations in force also in times free from a crisis (specific legal constructions remain, permanently modifying a given legal order). This article is also devoted to this issue.

Exploring Work from Home Experiences: A Study of Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing Employees in Makati City during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Exploring Work from Home Experiences: A Study of Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing Employees in Makati City during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Do outsourcing services provided by agricultural cooperatives affect technical efficiency? Insights from tobacco farmers in China

AbstractIn this study, we assess whether household outsourcing production tasks provided by tobacco cooperatives affect household technical efficiency, using the survey data from 449 households in Guizhou Province, China in 2014. The one‐step estimation of the stochastic frontier production function is employed. We also use the instrumental variable approach to address the potential selection biases that may arise from unobserved factors that are correlated with both outsourcing service adoption and technical efficiency. The empirical results show that the farmers’ decision to outsource agricultural services provided by cooperatives has a positive effect on technical efficiency. The effects of outsourcing on technical efficiency are highly heterogeneous at different production stages. It is also interesting to note that the magnitudes of outsourcing effects on technical efficiency are similar between labor‐intensive services and technology‐intensive services.

IT Infrastructure, Knowledge Management and Firm Competitiveness: Exploring Mediating Role of IT Outsourcing in Nigeria

IT Infrastructure, Knowledge Management and Firm Competitiveness: Exploring Mediating Role of IT Outsourcing in Nigeria

Building a Reputation as a Business Partner in Information Technology Outsourcing

One noticeable trend in the maturing information technology (IT) outsourcing industry is the growing interest from client firms seeking to benefit from supplier-led innovations. Yet IT outsourcing suppliers still find it challenging to shift their reputation from the competent provision of a low-end service to a high-value innovative line of services, thus becoming known as business partners. We address this issue by examining the reputation formation efforts of an IT supplier experiencing a reputation deficit in terms of quality (its ability as a business partner) and intent (its intention to adopt trustworthy behavior). We develop a model based on a case study of a large IT supplier engaged in reputation formation with its outsourcing clients. We portray reputation formation as a process wherein an IT supplier alternately emits signals of quality and intent from a repertoire of signals. Our process model distinguishes between signaling at the market level, which relies on rhetorical mediums to broadcast a message promoting the supplier’s ability as a business partner, and signaling at the client level, which relies on substantive mediums such as demonstrations of the supplier’s ability to solve the client’s business problems and behavioral mediums that allow the client to assess the supplier’s intent to adopt trustworthy behavior.

The level of digitalization of Russian enterprises in the investment and construction sector

Introduction. The modern vector of development of the Russian Federation is associated with the transition to a digital model in a variety of aspects: — from the penetration of information technologies into the social sphere and private life of people to their impact on the pace of development of industries and national economies, the effectiveness of public administration, the development of international cooperation. The configuration of global spheres of human activity is undergoing significant changes under the influence of digitalization and radically new emerging human needs and the enterprise management process. Various studies and analytical reviews are of key importance in determining the level of digitalization of the regions of the Russian Federation, allowing to assess the dynamics of the incremental level of digitalization in the business process of enterprises. The results of a study devoted to the analysis of the level of digitalization of Russian enterprises and organizations in the investment and construction sector are presented (ICS). Construction is one of the key sectors of the economy. Thus, its share in the gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 5–6 % (according to Rosstat, 5.6 % in 2019), and the share of employed in it is about 9 %. The scale and importance of the construction sector suggest that improving the efficiency of enterprises, including through the introduction of digital technologies as the main modern driver of productivity and efficiency processes, can have an impact on the development of the domestic economy as a whole.
 
 Materials and methods. The basis of the study is a selective correspondence direct survey in the format of an online questionnaire. The following methods were used: the system approach, general theoretical methods of cognition (analysis, synthesis, analogy, generalization, comparison, comparison and others), graphical modelling.
 
 Results. The results of respondents’ assessment of the level of digitalization of Russian enterprises in the investment and construction sector are presented, confirming the activation of the industry in the digital environment. The success factors of these processes are identified, which include: the availability of digital infrastructure and qualified personnel, which in turn is determined by the financial capabilities of enterprises, the presence of digital culture, as well as the ability to develop and retain personnel.
 
 Conclusions. The analysis proves that there are all prerequisites for the effective development of digital relations within enterprises and the industry as a whole. The transition to “digital” will ultimately increase the economic efficiency and manageability of all internal and external organizational and production processes of enterprises and increase the share of the industry’s GDP.

Perlakuan Akuntansi Pendapatan Jasa Outsourcing Pada Pt. Ion Solusi Objektif

The income earned by companies in the field of outsourcing comes from all forms of work contracts and also management fees, which means that it comes from all kinds of service revenue in the field of outsourcing as income obtained directly from all areas of sales activity in the service sector. Outsourcing in the field of companies comes from the existence of work agreements, as a form of income accounting treatment at the Ions Solusi Objective company. The main part in managing the company is in the field of recognition, presentation and measurement. The methods used in this study were interviews and documentation as the main part of the data analysis as the main part of the qualitative descriptive. The results of the study are that there is an accounting treatment that originates from outsourcing service revenue from PT. Ion Solution Objective seen from the recognition, presentation, and measurement. Revenue from outsourcing services is in accordance with the rules that apply in SAK ETAP

‘An Empirical Study On Investment Decision In Volatile Market With Special Reference To Investment In It Sector”

Sensex has experienced significant volatility over the past decade, with several large swings in both directions driven by a variety of economic, political, and global factors. The European debt crisis (2011-2012), General Elections (2014), Demonetization (2016), COVID-19 pandemic (2020) witnessed wide range of volatility in the stock market.
 In this article, an attempt has been made to showcase the volatility of IT sector comprising four Top IT companies for 12 months (February 2022 to February 2023). Volatility in the Sensex can be measured by the standard deviation of the daily returns of the index. Monthly changes in prices and monthly fluctuations in returns, average return, standard deviation and beta is calculated to show how IT companies’ stocks are volatile in relation to IT sector as a whole.
 In this research paper discussion has been made on how investment decision can be taken based on risk return statistics.
 IT sector is a major contributor to India's GDP in recent years, with the country becoming a leading destination for IT services and outsourcing. It is expected to continue to grow due to the increasing demand for digital services and solutions in India and globally.

ПРОМЫШЛЕННАЯ БЕЗОПАСНОСТЬ ПРИ ТЕХНИЧЕСКОМ ПЕРЕВООРУЖЕНИИ ОПАСНОГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕННОГО ОБЪЕКТА НА ПРИМЕРЕ ЛИТЕЙНОГО ЦЕХА

When the question of re-equipment of a hazardous production facility is raised, it must first be understood that it should be carried out in the light of the Federal Law on Industrial Safety. Modern enterprises are often equipped with a large number of dangerous equipment, which implies the presence of dangerous technological processes. Other enterprises may use hazardous substances in their production. Unfortunately, such production facilities can pose a danger for their employees and for the entire environment, and therefore for the population living in the danger zone. In addition, the more our industry develops, the more urgent the question of the analysis of such threats becomes. The greatest danger in this case is represented by large technological enterprises, since the more complex the internal production processes, the higher the probability of a disaster or accident. The article presents the results of the examination of the industrial safety of JSC Soyuzhydraulica during the technical re-equipment of the facility. Due to the production necessity, the company is carrying out technical re-equipment, within the framework of which the LK IMPRESS-III casting machine weighing 26 tons is being installed. During the examination, the foundation for the new equipment is developed with the help of the LIRA software package. Recommendations are given on its installation and operating conditions.

Future of IT outsourcing: The role of learning efficiency in vendor selection

Problem of Practice: A question most companies face while outsourcing any IT project is vendor selection — which vendor to select or whether to opt for multiple vendors? Most companies face difficulties while selecting vendors as they do not have adequate information about the vendors' cost structure. New research by Jain and team1 can now help navigate this age-old dilemma as it looks at a key factor beyond the pricing—the 'learning efficiency'. The essay provides insights on how companies can implement these learnings in a practical setting

Taste sensations: the role of sensory analysis in controlling the quality of food products

The aim of the study was to investigate the factors that affect a persons subjective perception of food safety. Normative legal acts and documents regulating society as a whole and food products in particular were used during the study. It was proven that preserving and enhancing the specific sensory properties of a food product by changing its chemical composition using falsification methods, cheaper and less nutritious components, is a dangerous direction in the development of food technologies and the evolution of the food system. This approach can lead to a dissonance between the perception of the product as tasty and its nutritional value, which determines its health-preserving effect. The objective assessment of food safety is currently ensured (or should be ensured) by instrumental methods of quality control of food products, which are used in a system that includes both internal (production) control and external (state veterinary and state sanitary and epidemiological) supervision.

Outsourcing of Non-core Functions in the Halls of Residence at the University of Cape Coast: Prospects and Challenges

In today’s rapidly evolving global market space with growing consumer needs and fierce competition, outsourcing of services is often seen as a tool organizations use to manage resources and capabilities efficiently to maximize gains and performance. The areas under study were the six traditional halls of residence at the University of Cape Coast: VALCO, Oguaa, Nkrumah, Casley Hayford, Atlantic and Adehye Halls. The approach was purely qualitative with a purposive sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 office bearers in the six halls of residence. The purpose of this study is to assess the prospects and challenges of outsourcing at the University of Cape Coast. Therefore, we examined how outsourcing impacts operational strategy, especially on the goals of operations related to cost reduction, improved quality, flexibility and better service. Our findings show that managers of the students’ Halls of Residence believe that outsourcing has great potential not only for cost reduction but also has an impact on other operational objectives that make outsourcing more strategic. Another finding from the study indicates that outsourcing could significantly affect organizational performance, which empirically corroborates aspects that have only been theoretically analyzed previously. From the study, it is found that outsourcing would only make sense if it exerts a positive influence on the various goals of operations and halls of residence performance. It was recommended that, with the great benefit to be derived from the outsourcing mechanism, it should be kept in mind by the policy implementors that it can be implemented shortly.

Managing Outsourcing in IT Software Services: A study of 3 Perspectives and 3 Industries in UAE

Depending on outsourcing software services is increasing so it became important to understand the idea fully and know how to manage it. This paper aims to identify and prioritize software outsourcing problems facing organizations in the UAE and to propose a solution for keeping these services under control. Thus, to meet project’s objectives and answer research questions, qualitative research approach was used to cover “what” and “how” questions of the paper. The research’s data were collected through employing semi-structured interviews done with IT managers, business managers and vendors from three organizations and three service providers so a total of nine interviews were conducted. The results indicated that organizations are outsourcing their software services because of some common reasons and in the same time they are facing issues with their service providers. The discussion revealed shared problems among participants and prioritize them according to their repetition. The value and originality of this research comes from revealing the set of problems facing each one of three studied groups: IT manager, business manager and vendors to provide a clear image of the reality of software outsourcing in the UAE and to help future researches about the topic. Based on findings and relevant literature a set of practical implications were suggested to control software outsourcing services and eliminate their risks on clients and vendors.

Underestimation of smoking hazards and smoking cessation intervention efficiency among healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study among Korean occupational health nurses.

Occupational health nurses (OHNs) in South Korea who visit the workplace periodically could play a key role in smoking cessation. It would be helpful to assess their understanding of smoking hazards and smoking cessation methods to encourage them to provide smoking intervention services at the workplace. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of smoking hazards and perceptions of smoking cessation methods among OHNs. We conducted an anonymous self-administered cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 108 OHN nurses employed in an occupational health service outsourcing specialized agency with 19 regional branches in Korea from July to August 2019. We assessed the perceptions of the OHNs about smoking interventions, hazards of smoking, and perceived competence to counsel smokers according to training experience, using chi-squared tests and Fisher's exact tests. The majority of the nurses underestimated the smoking-attributable fraction for lung cancer (78.7%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (64.8%), and mortality (49.0%), regardless of training experience on smoking cessation, while more than half perceived their skill and knowledge to counsel patients concerning smoking as inadequate (56.5%). However, those trained in smoking cessation interventions felt more competent in smoking cessation counselling, with 52.2% and 29.3% in the trained and non-trained groups, respectively (p=0.019). The OHNs in this study underestimated smoking hazards and perceived themselves as lacking counselling skills regarding smoking cessation interventions. It is necessary to encourage OHNs to promote smoking cessation by increasing their knowledge, skills and competence in smoking cessation interventions.

Platform based Innovation Ecosystems: Value Network Configuration Perspective

A platform-based innovation ecosystem links multiple markets and their corresponding stakeholders for joint value creation and innovation around a platform, and it is critical for the platform sponsor to manage the configuration efficiently for maximized value and survival. Through a multi-case study, we propose a configurational framework for platform ecosystems to analyze multi-stakeholder business structures, boundary decisions and their relationships. We define the context as for-profit business networks that leverage a digital platform to create multi-sided market circumstances and to engage partners as well as customers in joint innovation and value creation. Empirically we study five small to mid-sized digital information and communication technology platforms and their ecosystems. The discoveries elaborate on the four characteristic configurations and activities involved in the platform ecosystem management, and show configurational differences between open, semi-open, and closed innovation ecosystems. We propose the value-network configurations for the ecosystem, upstream producer, downstream consumer, and partner driven scenarios. Contradicting the existing literature, we argue that complementarities are created by two different producer actors and the consumption is influenced by two different downstream actors. We also argue that an internal production platform can be considered a platform ecosystem for innovation in the case of the extensive use of external knowledge and resource sources. The results extend the understanding of a platform ecosystem as a multi-layered configuration, and show what are the roles of different functions in the multi-layered structure.

Perencanaan Strategis SI/TI Menggunakan Analisis Ward & Peppard Pada Toko Trubus Pekabaru

Toko Trubus is a company that wants to invest in IS in the form of software development for its strategic business needs by using outsourcing services. Using information systems and information technology can improve business strategy. This analysis is useful for designing IS/IT that produces the output of a portfolio of software applications that best suit the conditions or needs of the company in achieving goals based on the vision and mission. Therefore, research using the Ward & Peppard method is expected to obtain optimal results in accordance with the objectives of this company's business strategy. It is hoped that this framework can improve the company's management process by managing information better in the future. This Ward & Peppard methodology is a methodology in which there are several diagrams that will help how to understand an organization or company, with an IS/IT strategic plan, so that it has an impact on future plans.

მონაცემთა ცენტრის მომავალი, მისი დადებითი და უარყოფითი მხარეები

Why are more and more large and mid-sized organizations now considering data center outsourcing? Are the pros of IT outsourcing overblown? Or do organizations want to embrace the trend for the financial and operational advantages that data center management outsourcing offers? Unfortunately, a simple yes or no will not be enough to answer the above questions. According to a recent survey of Fortune 500 companies by Forbes, most IT companies now prefer IT outsourcing over in-house data center operations due to the advantages that data center outsourcing offers. This includes minimal operational costs, better utilization of infrastructure, access to servers and compute/storage on demand, etc. Before you decide to outsource your data center, carefully research your options, analyze your business prospects, and conduct a careful examination of your assets, budgets, and requirements. Carefully evaluating the pros and cons of data center outsourcing and how it might affect your business is something you should consider before signing an outsourcing contract. Data centers are critical to today's business scene. Although their demands have always been on an upward trajectory, the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed it further. Like all other segments in and around IT, data center technologies are rapidly changing to achieve a highly optimized and efficient system. Therefore, it is very important for you as a business owner to stay up to date with each of these technological changes and trends. After all, they are going to create the future of data centers. Advances in technology will help the overall performance of the data center. Predictive analytics tools can help security and real-time monitoring teams spot potential problems early and fix them before they impact operational performance. Data center AI can highlight areas that could work more efficiently, such as cooling or power consumption. Thus, data center composability means creating resources that can work with many different systems. Instead of dedicated or narrow-use resources providing only one service, data centers should use resource pools that can contribute to the deployment of different types of workloads, such as storage, networking, or server equipment. Likewise, the implementation of composite resources helps to avoid locked capacity in the data center, thereby improving efficiency and throughput. Above all, digital transformation will enable data centers to deliver additional value to customers. Edge computing will help providers run low-latency workloads with end users, while software virtualization will create more budget-friendly options for multiple workloads. As private and public clouds combine to create more flexible and robust hybrid cloud deployments, companies will leverage technology to do more with less.