UK gets outsourcing accreditation

The UK's first accredited outsourcing qualification has been unveiled by an industry body, says ihotdesk.

Produced by the National Outsourcing Association (NOA), the training runs at various academic levels and is to be assessed by Middlesex University. According to the NOA, three years of planning have gone into the course and it is hoped best practice knowledge developed through the scheme will allow companies to get the most from the practice.

The qualifications, which will be made available, include the NOA Professional Certificate, Advanced Professional Certificate and a masters-level diploma in strategic global outsourcing.

The US state of Georgia has awarded a pair of big computer contracts to IBM and AT&T, states Forbes.com.

The outsourcing is expected to save the state $180 million over several years. Ninety-two Georgia Technology Authority workers will lose their jobs under the plan.

One eight-year, $873 million contract was awarded to IBM and a second five-year, $346 million contract went to AT&T. The companies were both soles bidders for the contracts.

The value of the top 100 outsourcing deals worldwide in 2007 decreased in value by 39.2% from the top deals in 2006, according to a new study by research firm IDC, states the Austin Business Journal.

IDC says the top 100 outsourcing deals for 2007 had a total value of $58.6 million, compared with $96.2 billion in 2006.

“While not declaring the demise of the megadeal, we may in fact be witnessing a cyclical saturation of the market. Service providers will need to continue to invest in lower cost and more flexible delivery models, wisely expand their global footprint, and focus on emerging markets as the source of material growth in the years to come,” says Terrance Strom, research analyst at IDC.