[kictanet] Day 2 of 10:-BPO discussions, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

Thu Jun 4 12:15:29 EAT 2009

Dear All,
Although I'm coming rather belated on this, I have this analogy in the BPO
sector.

Assume I work for radio station X and I want to make an urgent announcement
or event on radio. My radio station has packaged the same programmes as I
want to make but due to the reach of the target, radio Y comes in handy. I
very well understand that the editorial policy of my radio station is clear,
say, an employee should not promote the any other radio station, either in
official or personal capacity, and going against that, has stringent
repercussions including a sack. As an employee (whether a senior or
subordinate), it would take a lojng time to have the station reach the
masses as I want (the regulations, politics, etc) within the shortest time
possible.
In order for the message to be relayed within the time limit, I  either
(through a proxy) go to radio Y and have it aired or use my radio station as
long as the message is delivered, then I shouldn't worry about the target
audience. However, if I convince my radio station's management to either
outsource or expand the existing reach of audience and they buy my argument,
then we would be marketing both our company and the other 'rival' company,
as long as the end justifies the means!

What I'm trying to drive home is for the BPO to work in Kenya, there has to
be some strong policies in the sector, which will not only be definitive on
the roles of key (and minor) players. too, but also benefit the local
community in understanding the importance of the sector.

Another thing, as someone has pointed out, is *confidence*. How many of us
are really confident enough to initiate an innovative project, if the
government  does not invest in the project?
This confidence again, should not be directed towards the foreign investors
more than the local investors, because having confidence with the former,
loses the importance of local investors in adapting changes that are found
within their reach.

2009/6/4 Peres Were <pwere at cascadegl.com>

>
>
> External perception is absolutely critical in the race to obtain
> international BPO contracts. No one wants to outsource to a country which
> they 'percieve' as unstable, or which they percieve as underdeveloped. The
> truth is that most executives in our source markets for BPO work, in
> particular USA, percieve Africa as one country with a myriad of ills:
>
> Somalia -Pirates
> Congo - Wars
> Darfur- kicking out the Aid organizations, starvation
> Kenya ? Post Elections Violence
> Nigeria ? 419 Scams
> Zimbabwe ? Cholera and Inflation
> Etc., etc.
>
> The best way to counter these perceptions is to have in-coming trade
> delegations from our source markets, so they can see for themselves what
> Kenya has to offer.
>
> W need to work on changing these negative perceptions of Kenya/Africa, BUT
> at the same time build up our internal capacity. We cannot do one without
> the other. Local outsourcing market needs to be developed in tandem with the
> international.
>
> Peres
>
>
> Quoting Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>:
>
>  Colleagues your comments are right, however we seemed to be more inclined
>> at
>> external perceptions as opposed to building up internal capacity, must it
>> take foreigners to show us our potential?
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:01 AM, munyiva ngea <munyivangea at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Good morning,
>>>
>>> I agree with Peter about perception take Mauritius for example the
>>> Board of Investment and the BPO Vendors strive to change the
>>> perception of the country as a mere tourist attraction to an ICT Hub.
>>> They invite prospective investors or clients to the country take them
>>> to their lavish well equipped offices, which are probably located in
>>> Ebene Cyber City the landing point of the Submarine cable so the
>>> clients are assured of available internet infrastructure.After the
>>> site visit the clients are then whisked away to have a fantastic
>>> weekend on the beaches or on a boat. Simply put they show clients they
>>> can do much more than provide BPO services they can offer quality of
>>> life.
>>>
>>> To answer Question 3 i think without the government and local vendors
>>> taking decisive steps to attract and retain investors and clients to
>>> the country. Basically we need to give officials who are marketing the
>>> country the funds to be able to invite the prospective investors and
>>> clients to the country to show them we sufficient infrastructure and
>>> Human resources.
>>>
>>> In order to build confidence in the country's capabilities we have to
>>> have to EVIDENCE of these capabilities take India for example with its
>>> National Skills Registry which is an industry initiative to ensure
>>> that individuals employed by organizations have their background and
>>> antecedents verified
>>> (http://news.indiamart.com/news-analysis/national-skills-regi-13182.html
>>> )
>>> prospective clients need only to browse through the site to be assured
>>> that the country has the Human resource capacity needed. What about
>>> Kenya apart from various websites which allow individuals to upload
>>> their CVs where can a prospective client get information on the
>>> available agents, software developers and so on?? this information is
>>> not available on various institutional websites (universities,
>>> colleges) so how do we expect a client to actually believe that we are
>>> capable if we are unable to show it (Perception again!!)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Best regards
>>> Munyiva Ngea
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Barrack O. Otieno
>> ISSEN CONSULTING
>> Tel:
>> +254721325277
>> +254733206359
>> http://projectdiscovery.or.ke
>> To give up the task of reforming society is to give up ones responsibility
>> as a free man.
>> Alan Paton, South Africa
>>
>>
>
>
>
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-- 
Solomon Mburu
P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi
Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041

*Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the
same way to the side of a hill!
*
AND

*It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous
generosity! *

Sent from Nairobi, Kenya
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