For many years, American workers have complained that jobs in manufacturing have been lost to foreign workers.  More recently, the U.S. has seen many professional service jobs lost to foreign workers.  Bangalore, India, for example, is now well-known for businesses that provide 24/7 telephone customer service operations for U.S. customers.  Computer programming and engineering services are now being outsourced to China, where a highly-skilled worker can live comfortably on an annual salary of a few thousand U.S. dollars.  Even experienced marketing researchers have seen jobs move to start-up firms in India; the Internet now allows online survey programming and statistical analysis to be outsourced to anywhere on the planet.

What kinds of services could most easily be outsourced to foreign providers, and what kinds of services present the greatest barriers to entry into U.S. markets?  Specifically why; what theory or marketing concepts suggest this?  Write a report that assesses this global environment, concluding with advice regarding the kinds of occupations that are most likely to be impacted by and those that are most likely to be resistant to international outsourcing. 

Note that this is not a research project.  Base your report substantially on issues that have been raised in the variety of presentations that have been made since the midterm - branding and product management, relationship marketing, promotion, marketing research, barriers to entry, international logistics, services marketing and management, and pricing.  "Shooting from the hip" is likely to result in a failing grade; your report must be in the context of our class discussions.

Limit your entire report to five double-spaced typewritten pages (I won't read anything after page five).  Note that issues of spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and such are important considerations at the MBA level.  Be sure to print your name at the top of your submission.

The exam is due by 10:00 PM, Monday, 29 NOV 04.  You may e-mail as a word-processed attachment or submit personally.  Note that the doors to enter the building are often locked prior to closing.  If you e-mail, you will get a reply saying that the attachment has been received and successfully opened; send a reminder or call if you do not.  Send to (space now removed):

robert(dot)owen(at)tamut(dot)edu

phone: 903-223-3010