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Why outsourcing is relevant to future of work, economy

By Victor Gbonegun
27 February 2020   |   3:33 am
The ability of businesses to attract rich but diversified intellectual mercenaries will be fundamental for the future of work, as flexible arrangements will become increasingly common with a workforce

The ability of businesses to attract rich but diversified intellectual mercenaries will be fundamental for the future of work, as flexible arrangements will become increasingly common with a workforce that consists, different groups of full-time employees, contract, freelance talents, and others having no connection to a brand, experts have said.
 
To ensure employability, therefore, employees have been urged to keep learning either at work or by taking time off to improve skills, as learning is changing from ‘just-in-case’, to just-in-time, where tools that would be needed for a concrete upcoming task are learnt.

President and Chairman of Governing Council, Institute for Certified BPO & Shared Services Professionals (IBPOSSP), Dr Peter Akindeju, said the future lies in dynamic employability especially in emerging economies.
He noted that the dominant employment model will consist a collaborative, transparent, technology-enabled and rapid-cycle way of doing business through network and ecosystems of workers who work as intellectual mercenaries.

 
Akindeju spoke on the sidelines of an inaugural induction organised by the Institute for 80 inductees of different cadres in Lagos.
 
He emphasised that individuals will need to shift from the need for career resilience, which is defined by distinct set of responsibilities tied to a particular career, to dynamic employability skills and competencies that could be applied to a range of roles.

He stated that outsourcing has been and will continue to be a disruptive force in the labour market and the world without it is almost impossible to envisage today.

“Outsourcing is a major economic enabler taking over the business world. Countries like China, Brazil, Malaysia, and India among others are using it to boost their economy. Earlier, businesses were more interested in owning, managing, and controlling assets directly unlike what it is today that both core and non-core can be outsourced.

“The demand of the business world has birthed these realities for organisations to compete globally, increase flexibility and creativity. Globalisation, technological progress and demographical changes are having a profound impact on society and Labour Market. It is crucial that policies that help workers and society at large to manage the transition with the least possible disruption, while maximising the potential benefits are formulated,” he said.
  
He charged the new fellows to serve as a voice for the industry, consistently develop the body of knowledge through skills acquisition and be customer-centric in their approach to business.

  
The Head, People Outsourcing, ICS Outsourcing Nigeria Ltd., Kunbi Adekeye, disclosed that self-driven performance and skills need will drive changes in people.

According to her, the concept of retirement will go into extinction as employees in their senior years will continue to stick around for a longer period, rendering their experience and service through outsourcing.

Adekeye said: “Skill demands are changing so rapidly that even when a company lays out what it requires now, by the end of 2020 that will be different. From adaptability to building brand, these are essential skills that workers will need to navigate a changing work environment and flourish in the next decade.”

Additionally, she advised Nigerian workers to develop the top five skills, which include adaptability to thrive, creativity, emotional intelligence, tech-savvy, and ability to build a personal brand. These he stressed are required by companies globally.

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