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The topic of outsourcing US jobs to countries like India has been a hot topic during the current recession, and the practice has been blamed by many for exacerbating unemployment in the US. Ironically, though, the Indian IT and IT services companies that have been most targeted may actually be helping unemployed Americans today by hiring thousands of them in jobs they are outsourcing to the US.

This is a case of outsourcing coming full circle, and it is a fact that gets little attention in the US today. Aegis, for example, is one of the largest Indian employers in the US. It currently employs over 5,000 US citizens on its payroll and plans to hire 10,000 more over the next three years. They have a total of 10 centers operating in the US and more than 97% of their employees at these centers are US citizens.

© UTC Library

Constant and neverending improvement is highly important for a company in today's competitive business environment. This is very applicable to information technology services firms and computer products companies, particularly as computer hardware and software are constantly upgrading at a rapid pace. That is why a program of training and professional development is essential in a modern IT company.

Training programs can be offered in a range of formats. Traditional training programs include workshops, seminars, lectures and exams that focus on particular topics related to a specific aspect of the business. Other forms of training include simulation and practice sessions, games and even certificate courses and degree programs. Many of today's biggest and best IT companies recognize the improtance of staff development, and they have even tied training to bonuses and progression up the corporate ladder. In fact, staff training is so fundamental to many businesses that it is laid out in the company's long term strategy. The understanding is that if the staff is trained, then the business will run smoother with intelligent employees and there will be more opportunities for innovation.

One case in point is the direction of Cisco's Inder Singh, the Vice President of Strategy. His role cut across all of Cisco's products and technologies, and he focused intently on developing a strategy for Cisco that enhanced the skills and talents of all staff. Interestingly, if you examine Cisco's products and services, you'll notice that it actually offers Cisco training for its staff and for customers too. Both employees and clients have a wide array of training opportunities to learn more about Cisco's products and how they work. Cisco has a certification program which is taught all over the world. Under this program, there are a range of skill sets that are tested in different categories such as Professional, Expert, Associate and Specialist. Under the Specialist category, some of the certifications are for networking, design, sales, and customer support positions.

Many of Cisco's certification programs are taught and conducted at local community colleges around the globe. Some private training centers also hold these programs. As part of the training, candidates must complete weekly readings, exercises and lab work. Cisco's training program is just one example of an IT company that is taking responsibility for the development of its staff. By having the training programs in place, employers at the company are more able to understand the competencies of its team to use them more effectively.

© Ned Raggett

The California city of Costa Mesa, under pressure from extreme budget shortfalls, is planning to lay off more than 200 employees and outsource IT and 18 other city services by the fall. The 200 employees that will be laid off represent a cut of nearly half of the city's municipal workforce, or 43% to be exact.

The City Council approved the layoffs in a 4-1 vote late Tuesday night, in spite of unanimous opposition from those in attendance who were mostly city employees. The pink slips will be issued over the next six months, and the mayor is blaming the drastic move on years of financial missteps by city staff and also rising pension costs. He told the audience that the city had hit rock bottom and there was no other choice but to proceed with the layoffs.