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Let's worry about skills, not outsourcing - The Globe and Mail - 1 views

www.theglobeandmail.com/...article11084876 week8 outsourcing India capitalism labour market employment
shared by sarahbunting on 21 Oct 14 - No Cached
  • Information technology workers displaced in Canada are being replaced not by cheap Indian workers but by better ones.
  • When businesses save money – and boost profit – good things happen. Because it’s in their DNA to grow, money saved by business is money invested – in new products, in workers, in research.
  • But if the shift were from Ontario to Alberta, would the outrage be as great?
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • And a dynamic economy isn’t created on paper or by central planning – it’s created by allowing the natural forces of capitalism to work.
  • sarahbunting on 21 Oct 14
     
    Interesting article written in April 2013, when RBC was outsourcing jobs and there was much hype in the media about it.  The author makes some interesting points which I have highlighted for you to read.  Firstly, commenting on the fact that Indian workers are actually as well qualified or more qualified than Canadian workers to get the job done.  Friedman mentions this in his book when talking about his visits to Bangalore.  She notes that when businesses boost profit this is good for the economy because it means they will invest it. However, it was noted by Stanford in Economics for Everyone, that this is not always the case, and the amount of profit being spent on luxury goods rather than investment is currently increasing.  Interesting note the author makes about us vs them.  She mentions that if the jobs had been moving somewhere else in Canada, would the reaction have been just as passionate?  It is important to ensure that we are looking at cultural and racial issues here and taking these into account.   Lastly, she comments that on how we have to allow "the natural forces of capitalism to work".  Stanford also mentions how economists will often refer to capitalism as "natural" and that this is not true.  It is one economic system (which has been created by man) which we currently use, but it is not the only one that can exist, and it certainly did not exist before man did.  It is not natural like the seasons.  
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7 Social Good Trends For Social Entrepreneurs To Ride On In 2014 - 0 views

www.dutiee.com/trepreneurs-to-ride-on-in-2014
shared by andreafaulkner on 11 Dec 14 - No Cached
  • andreafaulkner on 11 Dec 14
     
    Micro-Entrepreneurship is likely to continue to increase in the next few years. This article discusses "7 Good Social Trends that Entrepreneurs" can benefit from including "Crowdfunding" and "Hackathons."
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Planning your 'career curve' - Fortune - 1 views

fortune.com/...planning-your-career-curve week 13 career curve career carillon carillon
shared by Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14 - No Cached
  • Older adults have tended to think about one career curve
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14
       
      Same as Gratton's thought.
  • Gen Y’s, however, should be thinking of multiple curves. Quite likely, you will have ups, downs, and do-overs. For you, the career curve framework might better be called career carillon, because the line of your career is likely to resemble a series of bell curves
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14
       
      Interesting that it specifically addresses the Gen Y. Does this mean Baby Boomers are exempt? I'd say Baby Boomers will also experience the career carillon since they are living into their 90s and are good to work for another 10, 20 or more years. Then there's Gen X who are still fairly young and have half of their careers left still - they will probably experience career carillons. Also, what about Gen Z? Will Gen Z have these career curves, or will Gen Z be even more fluid in their careers?
  • What other priorities do you have for your life? How much time would you like to devote to work?
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14
       
      This is a good point. I have many other priorities and interests in my life. I am able to handle 9-5, five days a week, but realistically I would prefer either fewer hours per week or to work one of the weekend days so that I would have a free day during regular work hours.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Lots of people say they’d like more flexibility in their work arrangements, but what would that really mean for you? How much spontaneity or predictability do you need to accomplish the other priorities in your life?
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14
       
      I like some routine, but I get bored if my analytical and creative sides are not engaged. If I have the time to take care of myself and keep my energies levels up, then I am more open to spontaneity. I like being able to roughly make my own schedule, but I like other people setting up a few times where I need to be doing X task. 
  • How much money do you need at this stage of your life? What standard of living will be comfortable for you?
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14
       
      This is a good point. This is when tracking expenses comes in handy to figure out how much one is spending, and then adjusting from there. Personally, when I started tracking my expenses, I was a little shocked by how much I spend, and it made me spend less because I was more aware of my spending.
  • Challenge
  • Responsibility
  • Melinda Mah on 28 Nov 14
     
    A short article on how to think in terms of a career carillon instead of a single career curve.
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Punished by Rewards - 0 views

www.alfiekohn.org/pbr.htm kohn motivation rewards carrot and stick labour extraction week5
shared by sarahbunting on 02 Oct 14 - Cached
  • sarahbunting on 02 Oct 14
     
    In Chapter 8 of Economics for Everyone, Jim Stanford brings up on multiple occasions the need for labour extraction, and the use of the carrot and stick (reward and punishment) model in all businesses. As soon as I was reading this it made me think of a book I read last year by Alfie Kohn on Punishment and Reward. Kohn believes that punishments are just as bad as rewards, and that using either reduces happiness, and productivity. The first section of the book focuses on the research showing that the use of both punishments and rewards is detrimental to people's ability to do good work. In the second section he looks specifically at punishments and rewards in 3 places, the workplace, the school, and the home. In the third section he suggests new methods of motivation for all three places. When I origionally read this I was focused on his his ideas about school, however he his theories are equally important to the world of work!
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Is job sharing a good idea? - 0 views

theglobeandmail.com/...article1197697
shared by kthoonen on 26 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • kthoonen on 26 Sep 14
     
    This is an interesting article which introduces the reader to some of the pros and cons involved in job sharing.
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What Makes a Healthy Work Environment? - Healthy Environments - 0 views

www.health.gov.bc.ca/...healthyworkplace.html week 6 healthy work environment ministry of health BC
shared by Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14 - No Cached
  • Physically inactive employees cost employers $488 more per year in more in sick time, benefits and lost productivity
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      It's to the employer's and owner's advantage to encourage good health in the medium- and long-term.
  • Employees who smoke cost companies $3,396 more each year
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      Yet another reason not to smoke - it makes sense considering all the ill effects of smoking that we now know about.
  • Mental and nervous disorders have replaced musculoskeletal conditions as the top conditions causing long-term disability.
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      Now that it's become the more common thing, perhaps some of the stigma will go away, especially when it comes to fear of being fired or not promoted in a workplace.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • encourage workers to take responsibility for their own health, safety and wellness and contribute to creating a healthy work environment
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      No one understands a person's health like that person.
  • create environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      This is important to do in many aspects of life. If fast food wasn't junk food, people would probably still choose it because it's easy.
  • promote work-life balance and make work a healthy life experience
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      This shows employers care about their workers. It also means that there will be higher retention. For companies who are afraid that young people will leave after a year or two at their company and who refuse to train young people, it seems like this would be one of a bunch of ways to encourage employees to stay with that company. Treating employees well and caring about them makes tham more likely to stay.
  • jobs are challenging
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      This is a good point that success only comes when jobs are challenging. Many people in low-paying jobs are unhappy because they do the same thing day-in, day-out, and it doesn't require much thought.
  • employees have adequate resources to do their job
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      This reminds of jobs where employees have to bring in their own stuff to make their workplace happy, or even functional. Specifically, this reminds me of the elementary school teachers who are given a tiny budget that isn't even adequate for providing everyone with pencils for a year, let alone all the books, paper, markers, chalk and other teaching supplies.
  • Lower absenteeism
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      Definitely true. If I had absolute independence in middle school, I would have skipped a lot of my classes and gone to do something else more interesting - like go to the library and read a bunch of books. As well, many people will show up but not actually do work. Because many people are paid either a) an hourly wage or b) to show up during certain hours, it encourages workers to be less effective with their time.
  • lexibility – allowing employees to have some capacity to adapt their workday to respond to family issues such as a child becoming ill or one who has special needs, school visits and parent-teacher interviews or special needs of elders. It typically includes family responsibility leave for employees. Supportive supervisors/managers whose management style values staff and is characterized by a desire to help employees achieve better balance between work and the rest of their lives. A culture that is family friendly - overall attitudes, beliefs, values and taken-for-granted ways of doing things that support work-family issues as legitimate workplace concerns, and as an opportunity to develop ‘new ways of working’.  Options include maternity, paternity, family and personal leave provisions. Alternative work arrangements – options are available to employees including daily or scheduled flex time arrangements, job-sharing, reduced hours, compressed work week, family leave options, part-time work, gradual retirement, telecommuting, other leaves and sabbatical options. Such alternative work arrangements are seen as ways of working, and employees using them are not sidelined, marginalized or belittled. Recognition of child and elder care issues including support for child care, providing access to a service regarding child or elder care, establishing on-site child care or, developing a consortium with other employers in order to provide emergency child care. This includes accommodating the needs of employees who are breastfeeding their children.
    • Melinda Mah
      Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
       
      In this list of reasons, all except one are family-oriented. I'm guessing only parents and children count as making a "family" for many people. Personally, I don't plan to have kids, and one of my parents passed away shortly after I finished high school. I hope this flexibility extends to family needs for couples who won't/can't have kids. Also, I wonder if this flexibility will extend to pet emergencies? What counts as a valid pet who is member of the family? For example, I can see a workplace sympathetic to a dog or cat, but maybe not to hermit crab.
  • Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
     
    A page of the BC Ministry of Health website that outlines what makes a healthy work environment. It's most important for the business itself to promote health because it makes it easier for all employees to be healthy and productive. Annotated Link: https://diigo.com/05nyj6
  • Melinda Mah on 13 Oct 14
     
    A page of the BC Ministry of Health website that outlines what makes a healthy work environment. It's most important for the business itself to promote health because it makes it easier for all employees to be healthy and productive. Annotated Link: https://diigo.com/05nyj6
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Good News, Bad News In Generation Y Workplace Trends - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...-generation-y-workplace-trends trends
shared by Trish Gill on 24 Nov 14 - No Cached
  • Trish Gill on 24 Nov 14
     
    Gen Yers who hold a Ph.D. report being underemployed at a rate of 34 percent, compared to 27 percent for Gen Xers and 25 percent for Boomers.
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WebSite101 Free Computer, Internet & Web Tutorials for Small Business Webmasters - Doma... - 1 views

website101.com/...ll-business-internet-tutorials
shared by andreafaulkner on 29 Nov 14 - No Cached
  • andreafaulkner on 29 Nov 14
     
    This also looks like a great site which is aimed at business professionals. This site covers how to create a good online presence for new/growing businesses.
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The Big Idea: The Age of Hyperspecialization - 1 views

hbr.org/...1
shared by jscharrer on 17 Nov 14 - No Cached
  • The term “hyperspecialization” is not synonymous with outsourcing work to other companies or distributing it to other places (as in offshoring), although it is facilitated by the same technologies. Rather, it means breaking work previously done by one person into more-specialized pieces done by several people.
  • separation often leads to improvements in quality, speed, and cost.
  • consider how much time you personally spend on tasks that don’t draw on your expertise and that you may not even be particularly adept at performing.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • Quality improves when more of the work that goes into a final product is done by people who are good at it.
  • The improvement is even greater when, as with TopCoder projects, people who are good at work compete with one another to get it.
  • power of the online “open innovation marketplace”
  • another major benefit of hyperspecialization: speed.
  • More generally, hyperspecialization can reduce clock time by assigning related tasks to different people who then accomplish them in parallel rather than serially.
  • jscharrer on 17 Nov 14
     
    The growth of hyperspecialization and new markets such as TopCoder, through which individuals can 'sell' their specialized talents, allow individuals to compete in an increasing "flat" world. Outsourcing if often thought of only in terms of wealthy developed world companies seeking cheaper labour from developing countries, however this article highlights that some outsourcing is done to increase the quality of work, not simply to decrease cost. In an increasing connected world, individuals can 'outsource' the parts of their job that they do not excel in, to other individuals who are specialized in it.
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Average household expenditure, by province (Ontario) - 0 views

www.statcan.gc.ca/...famil130g-eng.htm work family income consumption money goods services jobs
shared by shawnaderksen on 03 Oct 14 - No Cached
  • shawnaderksen on 03 Oct 14
     
    Average household expenditures in Ontario in 2012 was $78,495 whereas the total median income of Ontario census families in 2012 was $74,890. This can be seen in this second link: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/famil108a-eng.htm This relates to chapter 9 of Stanford's book as he states "most households spend essentially all their income on consumption, and hence their savings are non-existent" (114). This can be seen with the two figures above. If you take the two numbers, households are actually spending more than they are making.
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Ontario Job Futures - 1 views

www.tcu.gov.on.ca/...ojf labour market information future trends outlook week 2 occupation
shared by Melinda Mah on 13 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • Melinda Mah on 13 Sep 14
     
    Ontario Job Futures is a publication which provides information on the current trends and future outlook for about 200 occupations common to Ontario. It is developed by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and uses projections developed in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada. It is a good source for looking at local employment trends for the short and medium-term future in people's careers.
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Generation Y: why young job seekers want more than money - 0 views

www.theguardian.com/...-financial-security-fulfilment Generation Y
shared by jscharrer on 22 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • those born between 1980 and 2000, are less interested in financial gain than their parents, and more concerned with job fulfilment.
  • The y-generation has a holistic outlook on the world, and social enterprises help enable this
  • Those born after 1980 have also grown up with the internet, and so Generation Y are the first working-age generation to be considered "digitally native"
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • growing up with the internet has given Generation Y a better insight into society's core problems
  • At the global level, we are more likely to have travelled abroad, to have friends from other countries, or simply to have grown up with the internet for a core part of our lives.
  • Older generations have gained greatly from the pursuit of wealth and this has left many young people wondering if there is more to life than getting rich quick
  • Others believe social enterprise offers graduates a sustainable alternative to charitable giving.
  • Young people want to simultaneously reach levels of financial wellbeing as well as achieving social good.
  • By prioritising job fulfilment over financial gain, Millennials are sure to shape the workplace in years to come. However, we will have to wait to see exactly how this generation changes workplace dynamics.
  • jscharrer on 22 Sep 14
     
    This article related to chapter 6 of the The Shift, where Gratton outlines how Gen Y-ers like John and Susan seek social engagement over personal financial success. It also discusses a recent rise in 'social entrepreneurship', where young graduates are creating their own social change start-ups as a way to fulfill both their need for employment and sense of social responsibility.
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Public Career Tools - Labour market information - 0 views

studentexperience.uoit.ca/...lmi.htm
shared by shawnaderksen on 15 Sep 14 - No Cached
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 15 Sep 14
       
      Great source for job searching. You can see wages, statistics and education needed for certain jobs. 
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 15 Sep 14
       
      If you click this link and follow it to "Employment Patterns" you can see some statistics from last year regarding percentages in full time, part time work, employees vs. self-employed, and male and female percentages. 
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 15 Sep 14
       
      Great article by Forbes indicating trends in 2014. This is a great way to see what type(s) of business would be good to start and which would probably do poorly in today's market. 
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Ontario Immigration - Find A Job - 0 views

www.ontarioimmigration.ca/...OI_HOW_WORK_JOB.html canada trends
shared by arlaynacurtin on 08 Oct 14 - No Cached
  • arlaynacurtin on 08 Oct 14
     
    Ontario has a strong economy and many opportunities to offer newcomers. But finding a job takes hard work. It can also take time. It's a good idea to prepare for your job search before you leave for Ontario.
  • arlaynacurtin on 08 Oct 14
     
    I saw that the Labour Market Information Service had already been previously commented on. So I decided to share this link on immigration in Ontario instead. It talks about finding work for new immigrants. This could be temporary or full time work.
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Best Business Opportunities 2014 - 1 views

sbinfocanada.about.com/...usiness-Opportunities-2014.htm job growth opportunities business
shared by shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14 - No Cached
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14
       
      Since this is a huge food, diet and social trend, this would be a good business idea for those trying to decide what type of business would be profitable and not a money waster.
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14
       
      Since body decoration is a widely spread Western trend right now, seeing these trends enables someone to consider going back to school for art, design, tattooing and or piercing. This could be a potential business venture as well. 
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14
       
      Gerontology would be a great career for Generation Y's. Because the baby boomers will be retiring soon, now would be the perfect time to research Gerontology and see if it is something you would consider going back to school and pursuing.  
  • ...2 more annotations...
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14
       
      Computer programming or software programming would be a great major to take on because mobile devices and technology are integrated strongly in to the Generation Ys and Xs.
    • shawnaderksen
      shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14
       
      It is important to understand the trends happening in the area you are considering starting a business in or going to school in. The trends can help determine if the field of study or business will have a chance of success.
  • shawnaderksen on 12 Sep 14
     
    I chose this article as it suits the idea of trends that can shape the type of field you major in at school and or the type of business you choose to start. The trends help you get an idea if your business will potentially be a success and also if your major will be able to land you a career down the road.
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Labour Market Bulletin - Ontario: January 2014 (Quarterly Edition) - 0 views

www.esdc.gc.ca/...jan2014.shtml Labour market information Canada Ontario Trends
shared by colinsarkany on 12 Oct 14 - No Cached
  • colinsarkany on 12 Oct 14
     
    This website provides quarterly updates on Ontario's Labour Market Information. It covers topics including: job gain/loss percentages, unemployment rates. It also breaks job information down by Industry covering employments rates, good produced, and various related services. This resource is beneficial as it covers regional trends within Ontario and provides you with graphs and charts so that the data is presented in an easier to understand manner. It also provides the sources of the data and the links to the source documents if available allowing for more in-depth research to be done on a particular number presented.
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Study: Outsourcing and Offshoring in Canada - 0 views

www.statcan.gc.ca/...dq080523b-eng.htm outsourcing offshoring flatteners globalization week 9
shared by shan-v on 03 Nov 14 - No Cached
  • shan-v on 03 Nov 14
     
    An article reviewing the economic effects of outsourcing, measuring both goods and services, since 1963. It also discusses the impact on wages and the employment rate. I chose this article for this week based on the list of "Flatteners" Freidman described, both because they were included in his list and because it seems to me to be an important feature of globalization--that in the ruthless competition of capitalism, there will always be a value in inequality to create the cheapest sources of labour. This is something mentioned very early in the chapter (as related to the moderate poverty of the Soviet system) but I believe it's also important to think about when picturing a world that is increasingly connected and a playing field that seems equally leveled.
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IDC: Offshoring IT keeps Canadian firms competitive - 0 views

www.itworldcanada.com/...46312 offshoring
shared by meganrowe on 02 Nov 14 - No Cached
  • meganrowe on 02 Nov 14
     
    This article takes a very positive stance on Canada's current offshoring climate. Currently 50% of Canadian companies surveyed are outsourcing at least 10% of their work, creating an industry worth between $2.5 and $3 billion in Canada. But, according to the article, Canadian companies are offshoring not only because of cost efficiency and good productivity, but out of necessity. Apparently there are just not enough Canadians willing or able to fill all of the jobs that IT companies are offering. I have a hard time believing what this article says is true, since it is coming from the vice President of i-Gate Canada himself (one of the most successful outsourcing companies in Canada). I would like to see more research to support his words.
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Rising university tuition fee burden squeezing Ontario families: study - 0 views

www.policyalternatives.ca/...ueezing-ontario-families-study tuition taxes university Return on investment
shared by meganrowe on 16 Oct 14 - No Cached
  • meganrowe on 16 Oct 14
     
    One of the things we will need to be helping our clients to consider as Career Counsellors is whether attending University and paying tuition will yield a good Return on Investment given the projected earnings of potential careers. This article emphasizes the harsh reality that tuition fees are often too heavy for both low and middle income families and therefore may not always be the best investment, given the time it takes to pay back loans. But, one point that is very interesting: "For an annual average of $170 a family, undergraduate university tuition fees could be eliminated altogether."
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