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The article offers information on the certified outsourcing professional (COP). According to experts of the computer industry, information technology (IT) outsourcing professionals require to have expertise in technology, law, negotiation, project, change, and performance management. The new COP designation is a kind of option that differentiates knowledgeable professionals working in outsourcing. According to Godfrey Pinto, director of offshore outsourcing in an IT company, the COP designation means a professional has got a certain level of expertise and his skills are transferable. Some of the universities and colleges in the U.S. offer outsourcing management programs and training for client corporations. INSET: Which Side Are You On?.

Presents letters to the editor published in the October 17, 2005 issue of the journal "Computer World." "Skills Should Decide Who Gets IT Jobs," that examines the economics of outsourcing; "Objectivity Regarding Mac Is Appreciated," that focuses on the appropriate use of Macintosh computers; "Many Managers Obstruct Productivity," that deals with productive information technology managers.

This article identifies factors that contribute to the failure of an information technology outsourcing deal. The organizational shortcoming, not knowing enough before negotiating a deal, should be the first place to lay blame. The company bought the wrong package of services, and the answer at this point is to get busy negotiating changes to the agreement. Another area to lay blame refers to broken processes. For instance, the company still owns development and architecture, but infrastructure and networks have been outsourced. For the users, the change implementation process is a single entity. For the company, it is two.

This article reports that most information technology (IT) managers agreed with a Gartner Inc. prediction that less than 30 percent of financial services companies will be outsourcing strategic projects by the end of 2006. At the Gartner Financial Services Summit, IT executives said they do favor using outsourcers for more routine tasks like maintenance or call center operations, but not for important projects where strong oversight is essential. Though the report released at the conference suggests that IT organizations should be more receptive to outsourcing, doubts about external developers persist among many managers.

The article informs that Lawyers, analysts, consultants, insurance firms and others offer this advice: IT managers can make better outsourcing decisions if they're conversant in fiscal terms. Liquidity is the ability of a business to meet its short-term obligations; this is where early warning signs of financial difficulty will reveal themselves. The next step in determining a potential outsourcer's fiscal health is to learn its debt-to-equity ratio. It's easy to grasp a company's income statement and balance sheet, but few IT pros realize there's a third side in this triangle, called a statement of cash flows that ties the other two together, presenting a more detailed snapshot of an outsourcer's cash position. Experts say an outsourcer's size, measured in both revenue and customers, as well as trends in its gross margins, are important signposts. INSET: An Insured Thing.

This article presents information on on-demand computing, a dynamic allocation of computing resources to meet fluctuating business demands on a pay-per-use basis. While the concept is simple, the execution is not. Full on-demand computing at the enterprise level requires degrees of reporting and management unheard of at most companies. It also entails rethinking the organizational structure of information technology, focusing on business needs rather than on technical specialties. Many in the information technology industry use the term utility computing as a synonym for on-demand computing, but utility implies near-total use of outsourcing, application service providers and managed services. If there is an underexplored aspect of on-demand, it is that the model cannot succeed in one of its primary goals, which is aligning information technology use with business needs, unless coupled with a business process methodology. Some of the methodologies designed to do just that are information Technology Information Library, balanced scorecard, business service management and portfolio management. These disciplines force organizations to begin at square one, which may prove frustrating for information technology managers expecting quick benefits.

Reports on the prevalence of sending information technology work overseas among companies in the U.S. computer industry, as of March 2004. Motive of Google Inc. for turning to workers from Bangalore, India; Implication of the increase in offshore employment for research and development initiatives; Driver of the offshore move at Google. INSET: Anti-Offshore Groups Band Together.

Presents news briefs on the computer industry as of September 22, 2003. Defect in the OpenSSH software warned by the CERT Coordination Center; Contracts for outsourcing information technology works awarded by Sprint Corp. to IBM Corp. and Electronic Data Systems Corp.; Contracts awarded by Ascension Health Inc to Computer Sciences Corp.

In this article the author discusses trends in the computer industry. It states that there is increase in outsourcing of information technology (IT) services which goes hand in hand with changing role of IT. It mentions that there is growth of electronic commerce (e-commerce) due to which buying of goods and services by companies does not require paperwork. It highlights that social networking is the software side of IT consumerization.

The article reports on a deal between the Hong Kong Judiciary and Unisys Corp. The Judiciary has awarded Unisys with a five-year outsourcing contract. Under the terms of the deal, Unisys Corp. will be responsible for providing continuing application support and maintenance. Unisys will also be expected to provide network infrastructure, office automation, and other information technology services. The article notes that details on the contract between the Judiciary and Unisys, specifically its value, were not disclosed.

The article reports that Unisys Corp. is planning to open more information technology (IT) services delivery centers in India. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania-based IT company has already its facility in Bangalore, India, and under its next move, it will add 6,000 more offshore jobs by 2008. The other new facilities are expected to be opened at Bangalore city's Whitefield suburb and in Hyderabad. However the company did not disclose how many employees will be hired to staff the new two facilities.

This article discusses developments in information technology, computer industry, computer software industry, and computer service industry. Amsterdam, Netherlands-based Equant NV signed outsourcing contracts with New York, N.Y.-based Universal Music Group for communications infrastructure and Sweden-based Getinge AB for data management and end-user technical support. Etsuhiko Shoyama is chairman at Hitachi Ltd. Research in Motion Ltd. is in negotiations with China Mobile Communications Corp. about launching the Blackberry wireless electronic mail system in China.

This article describes conferences, continuing education opportunities, and special events in the U.S. information technology and computer industry. Outsourcing World Summit in Orlando, Florida is sponsored by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals. International Quality and Productivity Center (IQPC) is sponsor of the Miami, Florida-based Software Asset Management and Software Licensing Summit. The 14th Annual International Conference on ISO 9000 in Las Vegas, Nevada is hosted by the American Society for Quality. IQPC is sponsor of the IT Financial Management Week in Miami, Florida.

This article discusses developments in the global information technology (IT) and computer industry. Corporate reorganization of London, England-based Cable & Wireless PLC includes splitting the Great Britain and international businesses into separate units and elimination of the chief executive officer position. Hamilton, Bermuda-based Accenture's branches in the Philippines, India, and China will double their workforce. There is an extension of the IT outsourcing contract between the Bavarian Ministry of Justice in Germany and Unisys Corp. until the end of 2008.

The article reports on developments related to computer industry in U.S. Toshiba Corp., Hitachi Ltd., and Renesas Technology Corp. are establishing a joint planning company to examine whether to pool resources and jointly build a chip production plant. Intel Corp.'s revenue came in below in its fourth quarter of 2005 forecast. Microsoft Corp. has issued a patch for a preliminary version of its Windows Vista operating system. Information Technology outsourcing vendor affiliated Computer Services Inc. has halted negotiations with a group of private equity investors interested in buying the firm.

The article reports on the outsourcing deal between Gap Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM). Gap and IBM signed a 10-year Information Technology (IT) outsourcing deal valued at approximately 1.1 billion dollars. Gap is hiring IBM in an effort to contour economically and efficiently IT operations and reduce costs. The estimated value of the outsourcing deal is approximate because some of the costs assessed to Gap will be based on its actual consumption of IT services. In addition, the contract includes a provision designed to keep Gap's costs down while ensuring that IBM's fees do not become higher than the market rate.

The article focuses on the Indian vendors of Information Technology (IT) in U.S. gaining big workplace and look to expand into new areas. Year by year increasing employees of Indian is becoming a routine for Information Technology services firms. Those gains come as offshore firms and the Indian operations of U.S. vendors are seeking to expand IT infrastructure outsourcing. In connection, Dallas-based Perot Systems Corp. started offering infrastructure management services from its facilities in India.

The article presents predictions on the status of information technology (IT) in 2006. One anticipation points to the continuation of the furious debate over the offshoring of IT jobs and services jobs. Hackers will also successfully launch an attack on a widely used open source application. Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s Revolution game console will globally outsell Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 by a wide margin. In addition, Linux open-source software will be more ubiquitous on the desktop, in governments, schools, and other public institutions.

This article identifies obstacles to outsourcing deals in the information technology (IT) sector in the U.S. Outsourcing deals in IT have long been marred by poor communications between buyers and suppliers, along with failures by customers to adequately manage the relationship and measure performance. At the OutsourceWorld conference in New York in October 2005, users and analysts said that outsourcing customers are facing new challenges, including regulatory requirements and shortages of experienced outsourcing relationship and contract managers. INSET: Use of Home-based Agents Challenging.

This article reports that the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals has released a code of ethics and a set of business-practice standards that are designed to help companies improve their processes for awarding and managing outsourcing contracts. The standards apply to information technology deals as well as to other forms of outsourcing. One of the people involved in the effort was Cynthia Kearney, vice president of global pharmaceutical research and development sourcing and supplier management at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development LLC in Raritan, New Jersey.

Presents an interview with SeaCode Inc.'s information technology (IT) and outsourcing veteran, Roger Green, and IT consultant, David Cook, regarding their plans for the company. Business model for the plan of outsourcing programmers and engineers; Difficulties in communicating requirements, doing knowledge transfer and managing the project; Application of U.S. labor law to the company's scheme.

The article presents information relating to information technology (IT) industry. IT organizations tend to share a global outlook that highly values the contributions of IT workers not only within the U.S., but overseas as well. CIO of Juniper Networks Kim Perdikou is an outspoken proponent of maintaining a hiring strategy that's not constrained by national borders. The same strategy is championed by Sherry Aaholm, senior vice president of express and freight solutions at the FedEx Services arm of FedEx Corp. That connection is made when foreign workers come to the U.S. as well. There is increase in their use of offshore contractors, from an average of 47 employed by the IT companies last year, to 69 in 2005. The article also discusses circumstance in which the 100 companies that IT professionals consider to be the most attractive places to work are aggressively expanding the practice of outsourcing work to overseas locations. The offshore outsourcing isn't the morale killer it's widely perceived to be. The efficiency and cost savings it often yields are seen by business-savvy IT workers as net gains for the IT organization.

This article focuses the cost accounting in IT industry. IT costs form the basis for many strategic decisions. Most large companies have a reasonable understanding of their overall IT costs. Accurate cost accounting is crucial to making good business trade-offs. Few organizations want to outsource if it will result in higher costs. But unless one has an accurate understanding of current costs, the outsourcing efforts may result in a nasty surprise. Cost-accounting data provides the foundation for determining the price at which it's advantageous to outsource a particular function.

This article explains that the term "farmsourcing" in information technology is gaining acceptance as a synonym for rural sourcing, the practice of establishing operations in, or outsourcing work to, areas in the United States where the cost of living, and therefore wages, is relatively low. The idea is that rather than sending work offshore to take advantage of cheap labor, companies can send work to the hinterland and not have to deal with foreigners. McKesson Corp. chief information officer Cheryl Smith has relocated the primary data center from San Francisco, California to Dubuque, Iowa. A company that opts for rural sourcing over offshore outsourcing stands to lose out on the opportunity to learn, benefit, and grow from the exposure to other cultures and markets that the offshore connection affords.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues of "Computerworld." "Gartner: Backlash Against Offshoring to Vanish by 2006," which highlighted issues in business outsourcing; "IT Heroes Think Big," which focused on the 2004 Computerworld Honors finalists; "User Indifference Hurts Chances of Comdex Revival," which focused the revival of Comdex information technology conference.

The article provides an update on information technology and the computer industry as of April 2004. With regards to International Business Machines Corporation's (IBM) U.S. outsourcing activities, IBM ends up laying off some of the workers it hires from outsourcing clients as it makes the acquired operations more efficient. IBM says domestic outsourcing currently brings in about $15 billion a year, representing 17% of its revenue and much of its growth prospects. According to authors Ravi Kalakota and Marcia Robinson, outsourcing may be at an all-time high, but IT professionals working for U.S. outsourcing companies may also be facing a higher-than-average risk of job loss. Barry Kaufman, chief technology officer and founder of Intense School Inc., in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, says the future of technology training is online because it's low-cost and a step above classroom training. Not surprisingly, then, his company has revamped and renamed its training and certification program to take advantage of online, asynchronous education opportunities. The school offers training and certification programs for a variety of Microsoft products, Cisco technology, security systems and voice over IP.

Focuses on a study conducted to examine the economics of outsourcing. Data used; Methodology; Key findings; Significance of the results for information technology management.

Reports on the plan of Electronic Data Systems Corp. to offer business transformation services led by a management team of former chief information officers, as of February 2004. Financial and legal troubles facing the company; Objective behind the plan; Remarks from industry analysts; Team members being considered.

Focuses on several market expectations for the information technology industry (IT) in 2004. Background on the condition of the industry in 2003; Concerns on the possible offshore outsourcing practice of the industry; Effects of the radio frequency identification systems on the industry; Improvement in the reputation of corporate IT.

Presents information on the top ten issues related to the information technology industry in 2003. Inclusion of other countries like Romania and Bulgaria as outsourcing partners of U.S. companies; Spam issues that turned to major political issues in Europe and U.S.; Spread of slammer virus in the Internet.

Focuses on the problems encountered by the information technology industry in 2003. Interpretation and association of a poem written by Clement Clark Moore with the industry problems; Effect of business outsourcing in the industry on employees in the U.S.

Presents news briefs concerning the U.S. computer industry as of November 11, 2003. Predicted increase in information technology outsourcing in the U.S.; Appointment of Gene Wojciechowski as vice president of technology at Ensenda Inc.; Selection of Anne Bruce as chief information officer of Curative Health Services Inc.

Presents news briefs on the computer industry as of October 27, 2003. Move of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to restate its financial results dating back to 1998 because of errors caused by the faulty implementation of an accounting system based on SAP AG software; Move of Dynergy Inc. to outsource its information technology infrastructure and application management services to Accenture Ltd.; Corporate profit posted by Microsoft Corp. in the first quarter of ending September 30, 2003.

Reports on the offshore IT outsourcing services in China. Factors contributing to China's competitive edge in IT outsourcing services; Types of IT works given to Chinese IT workers; Advantage of other countries over China in IT outsourcing services.

Assesses offshore IT outsourcing services in Canada. Advantages of Canada against other outsourcing centers; Factors contributing to the country's strong outsourcing service; Reasons companies are going to Canada; Benefits of moving IT services to Canada.