New HR Frontiers

            The Softer Side of IT, Outsourcing, Services and HR

Let's take a look at the people side of IT, services and consulting. Here's a quick recap of articles I spotted recently:

First, eWeek examined where IT shops are recruiting new talent for their firms. A big part of their story included observations by Forrester. IT shops need to quit over-fishing the usual sources of talent and look to new sources like college students, academics, superusers, and more. (see www.eweek.com, "Competing for IT Talent" 7/23/2007)

Second, Computerworld identified the hottest IT careers one can get (see www.computerworld.com 8/06/07, "Irresistible IT Skills"). These skills included: Machine Learning, Embedded Security, Human-Computer Interface and more.

Third, Business 2.0 (see Jan/Feb 2007 -"Taking on the the Recruiting Monster") highlighted a changing way that candidates can be sourced: Referrals. This articles focused on Jobster although I think the power behind social networking sites like LinkedIn and Spoke may prove even more powerful.

Fourth, Global Services did a piece called "HR: No Longer a Career Graveyard" (see: www.globalservicesmedia.com August 2007). They showed a chart (see below) that really defines HR's impact on the executive suite.

Fifth, Human Resource Executive has a related piece called "The Talent Drought" (see 6/16/2007 issue). It describes how a talent shortage is possibly affecting the HR Outsourcing industry. This is an interesting issue as really talented HR professionals are scarce to begin with and fewer still exist in the HR outsourcing space. This issue is delicious as the people responsible for managing other firm's employees are having trouble managing their own.

Sixth, stories are emanating from India that outsourcers there are leaning more and more on software instead of employees to deliver value. Software, it appears, doesn't leave the company or request ever higher pay raises. (see www.informationweek.com "Indian Firms Turn to Software As Talent Crunch Takes Toll" 6/4/2007)

Seventh, look at the Baseline piece "Efficiently Managing A Human Supply Chain" (www.baselinemag.com, April 2007). It tells the story of how CUNA Mutual Group got a better handle on using and sourcing in contingent workforce.

Lastly, look at Global Service's piece "Offshore HR, What Can Customers Do?" (www.globalservicesmedia.com May 2007). This piece has a couple of good case studies involving Wachovia and a Fortune 100 firm and how they get better long-term results from their offshore partners.