Like any good manager, CIO Ron Kifer wants to ensure that the outsourcing providers he hires are aligned with his own company’s objectives. Kifer goes beyond asking the typical questions that examine whether the work can be delivered on time and on budget: he looks at social and ethical factors as well. He is one of a growing number of business owners who are riding the next wave in contract employment: socially responsible outsourcing.
This trend of looking to social responsibility when choosing an outsourcing vendor is listed as the No. 1 trend in the field for 2008 by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP). The association predicts that companies providing, using or offering advice on outsourcing will increasingly develop standards that go beyond pure business objectives to address ethical questions. It expects that these standards will touch on topics that indicate how a company interacts with people, the community and the environment.
This isn’t just a feel-good move, however. Proponents say that outsourcing providers with socially responsible policies will find that corporate citizenship has business value too by lowering expenses, such as the cost of replacing burned-out employees, and provide better outcomes.
It has attracted the attention of Dariusz Sus, head of global business process outsourcing product development at Capgemini, a global outsourcing provider. He says there has been an increase in clients inquiries about his company’s compensation plans, diversity initiatives and work schedules. He says clients want to ensure that Capgemini treats employees fairly so it can attract and retain qualified workers. As time goes on, Sus believes that this trend of focusing on social responsibility will only soon hit the mainstream.
For a few people like Kifer, it already has.
Full Article written by Mary K. Pratt can be found here.
One Comment
The idea of corporate citizenship providing business value is fantastic. Employee incentive plays a huge role in productivity thus, better incentive, better returns. Genius. It seems the idea of corporate citzenship will also have a snowballing effect as we move int the future. The greater the business potential, the more companies will engage in it and the more they are engaging in it, the more clients will look for it/require it. The future looks good for social responsibility.