I briefly read the patent application, and I notice that it doesn't seem to
mention if the model includes back-testing / accuracy measurements. Hmmm.
BTW: Rumor is that IBM has a massive supercomputing grid running a secret AI
application called Blue Patent Shoes that automatically generates process
/ methods patents.
On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Ed Gould ps2...@yahoo.com wrote:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasicarticleId=9130750source=NLT_PM
(watch the wrap)
March 30, 2009 (Computerworld) IBM last week filed a patent application for
an offshore outsourcing methodology that is intended to help companies
minimize the financial risks associated with sending work overseas.
The patent application describes a computer-driven approach for putting
values on both the quantitative and qualitative attributes of a global
resource sourcing strategy. For instance, the methodology takes into
account the language skills and morale of offshore workers, as well as a
list of the hard numbers involved in setting up an offshore operation,
including labor rates and currency valuations.
In short, IBM is attempting to reduce offshoring considerations to a
mathematic model — or, in the words of the application, a robust and
reusable sourcing template for identifying and analyzing global resource
pools.
For IBM itself, the patent filing couldn't be any timelier. The company
submitted the application to the U.S. Patent Trademark Office last
Thursday, the same day it confirmed that it is eliminating more jobs in its
North American operations.
IBM didn't disclose any details about the planned cutbacks, but
allia...@ibm, a union local that isn't recognized as an official
bargaining unit, has said it expects between 4,000 and 5,000 workers to be
let go. The union thinks the cuts are part of a plan by IBM to send more
jobs overseas, following an earlier round of reductions in January.
In the patent application, IBM said the described methodology allows
decision-makers to conveniently trade off one or more qualitatively defined
levels between one or more factors in terms of quantifiable, direct, costs.
The methodology also looks at some scary assumptions as part of its
mathematical models — scary, that is, if you're a U.S.-based IT worker. In a
hypothetical assessment, the application sets up an example that includes a
company having 50% of resources in China by 2010.
Here's an example of the specific metrics that the methodology takes into
account:
Suppose that employees hired in country A possess level 1 communication
skills, while employees in country B possess level 2 skills.
Additionally, suppose that the job satisfaction of employees hired in
country A is rated to be at level 2, while that of employees hired in
country B is rated at level 1. In this case, a lower score implies higher
job satisfaction.
Since communication skill levels and job satisfaction levels can't be
directly compared, it's useful to quantify in terms of cost the differences
between the levels, both within the same factor and across different ones.
The patent application explains why IBM thinks it's important to look at a
broad range of variables when making global sourcing decisions. By simply
looking at wages and material costs, the organization may indirectly
increase other costs such as those associated with poorer quality workers
and/or materials, IBM said. That could include loss of customers, lower
productivity, increased product returns and higher worker attrition, the
company said, adding that a company needs to consider both direct and
indirect costs associated with its resources.
This isn't the first time that IBM has filed for a patent related to an
offshoring methodology. An application filed in 2007 described a
software-driven approach for identifying at least a portion of a
human-resource within an organization for outsourcing.
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