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Social Outsourcing as a Development Tool. Richard Heeks * & Shoba Arun + * Development Informatics Group, IDPM, SED, University of Manchester, UK + Dept. of Sociology, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK Podcast 2007: http://www.womenictenterprise.org/audiovisual.htm.
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Social Outsourcing as a Development Tool Richard Heeks* & Shoba Arun+ *Development Informatics Group, IDPM, SED, University of Manchester, UK +Dept. of Sociology, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK Podcast 2007: http://www.womenictenterprise.org/audiovisual.htm
Alternative Perspective Main Perspective Large Organisations Consumers Large Organisations Producers Goods & Services Goods & Services Poor Communities Producers Poor Communities Consumers Two Perspectives on the Bottom of the Pyramid
Digitisation/Data Entry IT Training PC Assembly & Maintenance Kudumbashree: Social Outsourcing in Kerala
Features of Kerala Project • IT Services Focus: • Direct ICT—Poverty Connection • Growing Foundation in Poor Communities • Opportunities for Telecontracting • Strong Demand Growth • Outsourcing Clients from Public Sector: • Other Examples of Private Sector Clients • Social Outsourcing: • Combines Commercial and Developmental Agendas
Human Capital: Building IT and Entrepreneurial Skills Sustainability? Longevity Member Replacement (Limited) Diversification Assets Remain Social Capital: Government Officials; Enterprise Group Political Capital: Empowerment; Confidence; Status; Gender Relations? Physical Capital: One PC per Member Financial Capital: US$1 per Day; Welfare Expenditure Livelihood Impacts of IT Social Outsourcing
Conclusions on IT Social Outsourcing • Current Scale/Coverage Limitations • Major Opportunity Area: Private, Public & NGO Clients • Potential "Triple-Win": • Development Benefits for Sub-Contractors: Livelihoods Pentagon Delivery • Economic Benefits for Clients: Low-Cost Goods/Services Delivery • Political Benefits for Clients: Corporate Social Responsibility Delivery • Project Contacts: • http://www.womenictenterprise.org • richard.heeks@manchester.ac.uk