Outsourcing The Boss
Christopher Hayes, citing NYT tax reporter David Cay Johnston, has a modest proposal of his own: outsource executives. He argues that corporations could save a whole lot more money—and dampen public anger at outsourcing—if they outsourced some of their most expensive employees, their senior management. I suppose this hasn’t caught fire because executives are the ...
Christopher Hayes, citing NYT tax reporter David Cay Johnston, has a modest proposal of his own: outsource executives. He argues that corporations could save a whole lot more money—and dampen public anger at outsourcing—if they outsourced some of their most expensive employees, their senior management. I suppose this hasn’t caught fire because executives are the ones who make outsourcing decisions, and they wouldn’t be keen to put themselves out of a job. You can’t out source “the man”—can you? More seriously, as Dan explains in his FA piece, only certain specific, standardized business functions are conducive to outsourcing, not complex, interactive tasks requiring geographic proximity, like management. Which, incidentally, is why most business functions will not be outsourced. I think emphasizing that fact would be the best way to address public fears about outsourcing. As for whether executives are being paid too much, that's a separate issue... Nevertheless, Hayes’ post brings to mind a classic Kinsley column on editors being replaced by technology. The money quote:
Christopher Hayes, citing NYT tax reporter David Cay Johnston, has a modest proposal of his own: outsource executives. He argues that corporations could save a whole lot more money—and dampen public anger at outsourcing—if they outsourced some of their most expensive employees, their senior management. I suppose this hasn’t caught fire because executives are the ones who make outsourcing decisions, and they wouldn’t be keen to put themselves out of a job. You can’t out source “the man”—can you? More seriously, as Dan explains in his FA piece, only certain specific, standardized business functions are conducive to outsourcing, not complex, interactive tasks requiring geographic proximity, like management. Which, incidentally, is why most business functions will not be outsourced. I think emphasizing that fact would be the best way to address public fears about outsourcing. As for whether executives are being paid too much, that’s a separate issue… Nevertheless, Hayes’ post brings to mind a classic Kinsley column on editors being replaced by technology. The money quote:
We must distinguish, however, between special pleading and legitimate alarm about deeply troubling developments. It is one thing to sacrifice textile workers and auto workers on the altar of progress. It is quite another to start throwing journalists into the flames. And the difference is? Well, it’s very different. Completely different. Couldn’t be more different, quite frankly, my good madam, because … because … well, it occurs to me that I’m a journalist. This puts the whole situation in a new perspective
Surely, this brought a tear to the eye of this blog’s now silenced editor, wherever he may be.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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