Assessing the Social Development Potential of Impact Sourcing

Abstract

Impact Sourcing is an emerging sub-field of global Information Technology (IT) and business

Sociocultural transitions and developmental impacts in the digital economy of impact sourcing

“…They could also find the professional team‐based work environments of ImS companies (Lacity, Rottman, & Carmel, ) and working with ICTs (Malik et al, ) overwhelming. In meeting such challenges, employees have been found to draw comfort and support from each other (Malik et al, ) and learn from observing the work of more experienced colleagues (Lacity et al, ). Research has also briefly documented the impact that ImS employment has had on different underprivileged and disadvantaged communities such as those living in rural areas (eg, Madon & Sharanappa, ; Malik et al, ), incarcerated individuals (eg, Lacity et al, ), and indigenous groups (eg, Lacity et al, ).…”

“…In meeting such challenges, employees have been found to draw comfort and support from each other (Malik et al, ) and learn from observing the work of more experienced colleagues (Lacity et al, ). Research has also briefly documented the impact that ImS employment has had on different underprivileged and disadvantaged communities such as those living in rural areas (eg, Madon & Sharanappa, ; Malik et al, ), incarcerated individuals (eg, Lacity et al, ), and indigenous groups (eg, Lacity et al, ). Studies indicate that individual incomes go up by 80%–120% because of ImS salaries (Kubzansky, Cooper, & Barbary, ; Heeks, ) and that the positive trickle down effects are also felt in the local communities (Sandeep & Ravishankar, ).…”

“…It also explores how employees engage in cognitive reframing of difficult jobs (Berg, Wrzesniewski, & Dutton, ; Matarelli & Tagliaventi, ; Wrzesniewski & Dutton, ) and build confident professional selves (Ibarra, ). To answer the second question, we draw on concepts from the developmental studies literature (eg, Comim & Carey, ; Nussbaum, ; Sen, ) as well as on preliminary analyses undertaken in recent ImS research (eg, Madon & Sharanappa, ; Malik, Nicholson, & Morgan, ).…”

Entrepreneurial impact sourcing: a conceptual framework of social and commercial institutional logics

“…Recent developments in the practice of global sourcing of information technology (IT) and business services suggest that the impetus behind global sourcing is evolving beyond traditional economic motivations (such as capitalizing on labour arbitrage or obtaining strategic benefits) to now include creating social impacts and development (Babin & Nicholson, ; Heeks, ; Madon & Sharanappa, ; Malik et al , ; Carmel et al , ; Nicholson et al , ; Sandeep & Ravishankar, ). Within this broadened purview, a new breed of innovative and entrepreneurial outsourcing service provider firms with social and development aims has emerged (e.g.…”

Analysis of Impact Sourcing by Infusing Social Innovation in Outsourcing for Nepal

“…Impact sourcing is defined as "a practice of hiring and training marginalised individuals to provide information technology, business process, or other digitally enabled services who normally would have few opportunities for good employment" (Malik et al 2013). So this model of outsourcing is dedicated to create employment for people at BOP (aka bottom of the pyramid) level whose average income level is less than $2.50 per person per day (Heeks 2014).…”