Friday, October 03, 2003
Panelists at an information technology conference this week reached consensus on a number of points about outsourcing. Their conclusions apply to other industries, such a s manufacturing.
First, outsourcing is inevitable. Companies will always look for lower-cost options.
Second, erecting trade barriers to slow job losses is not in the best interest of U.S. companies. Higher barriers will lead in the long run to reduced competitiveness among U.S. firms.
Third, training for both employed and laid-off workers is vital. The best approach is to focus on core skills, so that workers can be flexible as circumstances change.
Finally, companies and universities should focus on innovation, an area in which we have always been strong. As one panelist noted, ""We don't know the new technologies that will come (but) they will come, they will always come. Our challenge is to make sure that we are positioned in terms of our educational system, in terms of our economy to jump on board those technologies."
Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site:
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Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
Download some background information on me here.
The challenge of outsourcing
