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5.2. Staffing Alternatives -
Outsourcing |
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The word outsourcing has received a very bad reputation as of late. To most people
outsourcing means stripping hardworking North Americans of jobs to move them to some
third world country where incredibly cheap labour is used to save some money. |
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The reality is that most of us are probably outsourcing without realizing it.
Most small business can’t afford to have inhouse lawyers, bookkeepers,
or IT departments. Nor do they have enough work to warrant hiring one. |
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So the solution is to hire a law firm, external bookkeepers, and IT consultants. Accountants,
in particular, are often serving as the outsourced accounting department for a company. |
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There is also the harsh reality that it is becoming harder and harder to find people that want
to do the mundane or repetitive work that is being outsourced. Most of it is being replaced
with technology which means everyone is losing the job. Or the work is moving overseas to
places where actually want to do it. |
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| The benefits and characteristics of outsourcing: |
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| • Can reduce costs and increase file quality |
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| • Scalable resource - adapted to work volume |
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| • Locally based staff focus on high level issues |
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| • Time spent identifying consulting opportunities, not on file preparation |
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| • Highest and best use of time - more focus on client meetings |
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| • Use indepth conversations with clients to expand scope of work |
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| • Paperless office critical to success |
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| • Faster billing and collection for commodity work |
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Outsourcing isn’t the big bad word it used to be and it can actually be seen as recruiting
advantage. Potential employees that take a look at your company and see that you are
outsourcing the mundane work. Suddenly they really want the job because they don’t want
to be doing that work and it means they can spend more time doing the work they want to
be doing. |
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It also frees up time for mentorship programs and additional training for your inhouse staff.
Thus creating a more efficient, higher educated company. |
