Traveling for Work? - Page 3

James · #31 09-17-2004, 09:33 PM

I respectfully disagree with you. When talking about a service based industry, command of the language is essential. And accent and inflection are keys to understanding.

I can puzzle out broken or highly accented ennglish if I need to, but why would I want to go through the effort?

PS. Please stop arguing back and forth about something silly.

Quote:

Originally posted by crzychx
Personally I think its great that companies are able to help provide jobs in a developing country. You'd be surprised to know how much it really helps their economy. The Discovery Channel did a documentary on outsourcing in Bangalore, India & it was terribly interesting. It showed both the good & bad sides of how it was impacting India's society. Personally, I've always thought that growth is good.

I just wish that American callers were more patient with some of the Indian call center agents that they encounter...just because they have a different accent does not mean that they can't help you!

_Lisa_ · #32 09-17-2004, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
I respectfully disagree with you. When talking about a service based industry, command of the language is essential. And accent and inflection are keys to understanding.

I can puzzle out broken or highly accented ennglish if I need to, but why would I want to go through the effort?

PS. Please stop arguing back and forth about something silly.

In the documentary, as well as the company that my company has hired, the agents go through classes where they learn to master the accent & inflection of Americans. When you watch the documentary or talk to the agents that work for my company you can tell that some of them have mastered accents & inflection at different levels.

These kinds of jobs, outsourced from somewhere in America, are highly desired by those from 18-25 years in age. I think that in time it means great things for the future of India. I'm pleased that my company has given the younger generation in India a chance to shape the future of their country.

PS. Thank you for stepping in.

greekmom · #33 09-18-2004, 12:38 AM

Outsourcing can be a very touchy subject. Lots of customer service and IT jobs in the US are being lost because of companies sending them off shore. It's hard to compete with the lower wages. From a companies point of view, I can understand that the "bottom line" rules but it is sad when jobs are being lost.

_Lisa_ · #34 09-18-2004, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by greekmom
Outsourcing can be a very touchy subject. Lots of customer service and IT jobs in the US are being lost because of companies sending them off shore. It's hard to compete with the lower wages. From a companies point of view, I can understand that the "bottom line" rules but it is sad when jobs are being lost.

Only jobs are being lost in the US, thousands of jobs are being obtained in India.

_Lisa_ · #35 09-18-2004, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
I agree---when you're wondering why your $2,000 computer isn't working so you can finish a task for work or school...who really wants to be deciphering someone who doesn't speak English?

Quote:

Originally posted by crzychx
In the documentary, as well as the company that my company has hired, the agents go through classes where they learn to master the accent & inflection of Americans. When you watch the documentary or talk to the agents that work for my company you can tell that some of them have mastered accents & inflection at different levels.

Also-even though the language is kannada in Bangalore a good majority of the residents speak English. More times than not, when an American hears a different accent, they just assume that the problem is the english because that is what they want to believe. (Although different scenarios are always possible so please just recognize that I am trying to offer a different light on the situation.) I like to think that it is the lack of patience & politeness from both the agent & the customer that make the call so unpleasant.

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Frankly, I'm more concerned about jobs being lost in the US than in India.

A lot of people are only concerned about jobs being lost in the US. But personally, I like to recognize that the US isn't the only country in this world & we aren't the only people who have families to support.

James · #36 09-18-2004, 04:31 PM

I understand your logic, but I hardly think its altruistic to take jobs away from US citizens and give them away to people of other countries. Our people have to eat also right?

I understand the bottom line when it comes to coporate costs, and thats fine with me, but lets call a spade a spade and say straight out that the company is doing it to make money, not improve life in Inida.

Quote:

Originally posted by crzychx

A lot of people are only concerned about jobs being lost in the US. But personally, I like to recognize that the US isn't the only country in this world & we aren't the only people who have families to support.

valkyrie · #37 09-18-2004, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
I understand your logic, but I hardly think its altruistic to take jobs away from US citizens and give them away to people of other countries. Our people have to eat also right?

I understand the bottom line when it comes to coporate costs, and thats fine with me, but lets call a spade a spade and say straight out that the company is doing it to make money, not improve life in Inida.

Exactly. Show me the executive who said "Gosh darn it, I really want to give jobs to people in India because that will make me feel all warm and fuzzy and I'm really helping the world." They're over there because they're too cheap to pay the wages they'd have to pay in the U.S.

I remember reading an article about people in India working for U.S. companies and many of them were very unhappy. I don't remember all the details, but part of it was because they have to work odd hours since there's such a great time difference between here and there.

Munchkin03 · #38 09-18-2004, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie
They're over there because they're too cheap to pay the wages they'd have to pay in the U.S.

How can the pay be so bad, when Calcutta is basically NYC?

The quality of life in India is not the concern of anyone--not even your employer. We need to provide jobs for Americans before we go over to make Bangalore the next Manhattan or some isht like that.

_Lisa_ · #39 09-18-2004, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
How can the pay be so bad, when Calcutta is basically NYC?

No one said that Calcutta is basically NYC.

I said that some cities in India are just as westernized as NYC. There is a HUGE difference in comparing a certain aspect of a city & saying that it is exactly the same. You all want to say that they are exactly the same when I all did was compare the cities. Do I need to post the definition of an analogy again?

And saying that some cities in India are just as westernized is an educated opinion from a friend who actually lives there-not you all who've just seen pictures & read articles.

_Lisa_ · #40 09-18-2004, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
The quality of life in India is not the concern of anyone--not even your employer.

That is why I'm only speaking on behalf of myself when I mention how I feel about outsourcing. I'm not speaking on behalf of my company.

James · #41 09-19-2004, 01:24 PM

Just to sum up all the posts I deleted:

crzychx: Believes that there is a qualitative difference between the opinions of someone who has lived for a long period of time in a foreign country versus someone just visiting it.

Others: India is not westernized to an extent that makes comparing it to American Cities anything else but a generous excercise in egalitarian wish-fulfillment.

_Lisa_ · #42 09-19-2004, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
India is not westernized to an extent that makes comparing it to American Cities anything else but a generous excercise in egalitarian wish-fulfillment.

You are right James. This is why I didn't compare the country of India, just a few of its more westernized cities. Meaning that some of the cities in India have similarities to the cities in the US.

James · #43 09-19-2004, 01:48 PM

Cool. You just won't find it as similar as you believe

But go and have fun, and sow some wild oats. Anything you do in a third world country doesn't count

Quote:

Originally posted by crzychx
You are right James. This is why I didn't compare the country of India, just a few of its more westernized cities. Meaning that some of the cities in India have similarities to the cities in the US.

_Lisa_ · #44 09-19-2004, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
Cool. You just won't find it as similar as you believe But go and have fun, and sow some wild oats. Anything you do in a third world country doesn't count

LOL! I like that way of thinking!

And I don't what to expect James, I just choose to believe someone that I actually know & what they say as opposed to total strangers.

Munchkin03 · #45 09-19-2004, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crzychx
LOL! I like that way of thinking!

And I don't what to expect James, I just choose to believe someone that I actually know & what they say as opposed to total strangers.

If you don't want input, don't put your isht on the internet.

Okay? Okay.