Abstract

Business process outsourcing (BPO) allows owners and managers of small and medium enterprises to focus on the core competencies that afford them a competitive advantage. It provides them with resources and expertise they need to get necessary non-core functions done, while allowing them to focus on what they do best. There are risks that come with outsourcing that cannot be overlooked, but with proper due diligence and preparation they can be minimized. Although almost any function can be outsourced, each enterprise needs to determine which functions are best suited for them based on their current situation and their needs.

Exaggeration or outright lie?

On a regular basis you will hear about politicians who exaggerate or even lie about their background and experience. Various years ago the President of a local college in Reading was caught lying on his resume which he used to apply for the job. A few years ago there was an article in the newspaper in Reading of a man who applied for a position with the county and the HR department found out he had lied on his application. In some cases, some of the people are spared their jobs if the lie is found after the fact, yet others are let go immediately. Where these considered lies or merely an exaggeration of the truth? This is called embellishment.

A Knowledge@Wharton article states that "embellishment is part of human nature, experts say, and almost everyone is guilty of it of at one time or another." The article continues to say that "left unchecked, however, exaggerations that seemed innocuous at first could result in serious, potentially career-ending consequences. It also points out that even though it may not end your career, if "you are caught in deception, even if it's a common deception, people won't trust you. And once the bond of trust is lost, it's terribly hard to recover."

Today more than ever, with all of the technology and immediate access to information, it's harder to cover exaggerations or lies. Human resource professional have more access to more information than even before to check out employees backgrounds and make sure the information they providing is true. Does your company verify the information on resumes or applications? Have you had any situations were you have had to deal with misrepresented information from and applicant? Don't worry, I am not going to ask if you misrepresented information to get your job!

I suggest you read the full article, it is very interesting.

Legislative Action

Not until recently was I so aware of the impact that legislative actions had on business. I have become more aware because of the type of work I do. The Chamber sees advocacy for businesses as an important part of what it does. The Chamber even has an endorsement committee task force that interviews candidates running for office. But the reality is that most people, including business owners, are not aware of the impact that legislative actions can have on their business, and therefore on their employees and the way they run their day to day operations.

Take for example Card Check legislation. Under Card Check legislation, should it have passed, it would have made it easier for unions to organize. Another aspect of it was that if the union and the business were not able to agree on a contract, a government arbitrator could set whatever he felt the contract should be, no matter how it would negatively impact the business. Although it has not passed, it is not completely dead yet.

State and Federal taxes also have a direct impact on the bottom line of businesses. Tax increases could have a negative impact on the business, and tax incentives to help create more jobs could have a positive impact on the business.

There are many other things, such as Cap and Trade, foreign currency policies, trade agreements, initiatives on strengthening the workforce, and many other, at both the state and federal that will have a direct impact on your business.

The Greater Reading Chamber has a section on our website, GreaterReadingVoice.com, that deals with legislative issues that affect business. You can also find more information there about health care reform and the potential impact it may have on businesses. Does anyone at your business deal with government policy or advocacy?