IBM patent application diagrams method for offshoring employees

The Industry Standard ^ | March 30, 2009

[NCjim]

The world's largest IT services company is attempting to boost its creative cost-cutting techniques with a patent application -- number 20090083107 at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office -- for a "method and system for strategic global resource sourcing." (Yes, "resource sourcing.") In short, IBM wants to patent its math for deciding where to offshore staff.

A patented methodology for deciding where to send jobs overseas to cut costs would be a valuable tool that IBM could sell to its corporate clients. But IBM has plenty of opportunity to eat its own dog food: The company continues to slash its own payroll, starting with 4,600 cuts earlier this year and continuing with a huge layoff within its 180,000-employee global business services group leaked to the Wall Street Journal last week.

Project Match, an IBM offshoring initiative the Standard reported on last month, offers U.S. employees the chance to stay with IBM by relocating to another country, to work in an IBM regional division at local wage rates. IBM has roughly 400,000 employees in 170 countries. As of early February, fewer than ten employees had shown interest in the program.

[StormEye]

"Project Match, an IBM offshoring initiative the Standard reported on last month, offers U.S. employees the chance to stay with IBM by relocating to another country, to work in an IBM regional division at local wage rates."

Very generous of IBM..... work in India. Don't forget to take your malaria medicine before leaving.

[Yossarian]

As of early February, fewer than ten employees had shown interest in the program.

And the cost to IBM's corporate goodwill has been incalculable.

[SteamShovel]

A patented methodology for deciding where to send jobs overseas to cut costs would be a valuable tool that IBM could sell to its corporate clients.

This is rediculous.....

.....it's like patenting a method to decide if you want ice cream or pie after dinner.

Yes, they can copywright software that would use the method to make the decision. But how in the H are they ever going to be able to enforce a person making a decision if they did it on their own?

[american colleen]

LOL, IBM service and hardware have gone downhill in recent years so this must be their ploy to bring other companies down to their level.

At least they accidentally cleared something up... by offering Americans their same jobs but in lower paying countries, they exposed the lie of 'undereducated Americans who can't do the job so we have to import foreigners or outsource to foreign workers'.

I've dealt with outsourcing from some of the biggest companies for years... it's a long term loser. Sad days for the American worker.

[laker_dad]

How about a nice wholesome bakery company? They outsourced all of IT to IBM. Top management gets to stay of course, and a few got offered a “re-badge” to IBM for the short term, but most are expected to train their replacements in India (if they want their severance, that is).

[bmwcyle]

ping

[wac3rd]

I guess that’s why there aren’t people crossing the desert into Mexico for the generous benefits and opportunity.

[indthkr]

"method and system for strategic global resource sourcing."

I've never been a big fan of "business method" patents, but this one is particularly sad.