Business Case Studies,Corporate Governance & Business Ethics Case Study, Flour Corp's Business Ethics Practices: Creating Six Sigma Standards in Staying Corruption-Free

Code : GOV0025B

Year : 2006

Industry : IT/BPO

Region : India

Teaching Note: Not Available

Structured Assignment : Not Available

Abstract: In 2004-05 India contributed 44% ($17.2 billion) of the world outsourcing market. The BPO industry in the country grew at the rate of 41% in 2004-05 to reach a value of Rs.25, 080 crores. Indian IT-ITES companies were warranted to be among the best globally, as far as quality standards were concerned. The IT and ITES companies contributed about 4.1% of the countrys GDP by 2004-05. Over 185 of the Fortune 500 companies were outsourcing from India. 50 out of the 74 SEI CMM Level 5 certified companies in the world were based out of India. But this success record of Indian BPO companies was marred by a few scandals in 2005.

In April 2005 some workers on the payrolls of MphasiS BFL Pune, garnered Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and net passwords from the U.S. Citibank customers and drew money from their accounts. This incident made a serious dent in the credibility of the Indian BPO industry. Experts realised that the security factor could make or break the industry. Hence, the Indian call centers and other BPOs were planning to create a centralised information bank. The information bank would maintain records of educational, occupational and credit histories of employees and enable employers to conduct employee background checks.

Critics were of the view that this incident would dampen the industrys growth rate. Future growth prospects of the industry depended on its ability to retain customers and to convince prospective clients about its competence and expertise in handling security issues.