Evaluating Vendors Across Cultures

Recently we were talking with an American client about an upcoming trip to India to evaluate outsourcing vendors.  They are experienced managers, who have evaluated a number of vendors for different kinds of services for their business, and they have a well thought-out vendor evaluation process.  But they’ve never outsourced work to India, and none [...]

Two Sides of Globalization in the Banking Crisis

The layout on the first page of today’s business section in the New York Times creates a powerful meta-message. The first article, As Wall Street Stumbles…, is about how major banking firms in the U.S. are sending key employees to international markets they see as growth opportunities. The second article, …India’s Role is [...]

Sandeep Sood on the Not-So-Flat World

I’ve been a fan of Sandeep Sood’s wickedly funny comic “Doubtsourcing” for some years now. (He seems to be taking a breather right now, writing about big B’s campaign, but that’s another story…)
Yesterday his newsletter pointed me to an excellent short – and humorous – article in Forbes about outsourcing to India. If [...]

So, You’re Going to India for the First Time! (3 of 3)

What to eat & not eat:
The main rule is to not drink the water – drink only bottled water, or sealed beverages (like sodas or juices in bottles), or hot tea or coffee. This also means insisting on “no ice” whenever you are served a beverage. Keep a bottle of water by the sink in [...]

So, You’re Going to India for the First Time! (2 of 3)

What to expect when you arrive in India:
For many American travelers, the hardest part of a trip to India is the time from when you leave the airplane and arrive in your hotel. You will likely step off the plane feeling groggy and tired, but it’s important to keep your wits about you at this [...]