USM sponsoring call center conference - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Sep 14, 2004

USM sponsoring call center conference

Date: Sep 14, 2004

This is Sarah at the Mayberry phone company. I couldn't help overhearing your call & I 'd like to throw my

in...

One Cingular call center & the "industry" is of paramount importance to the economy of Mississippi. The rest of the country is outsourcing call centers to India, so is this just another case of Mississippi having a 3rd world economy?

Goober Pyle down at the gas station wants to know when USM will be hosting a conference for shade tree mechanics. Shade tree mechanics are a major factor in Mississippi's economy...

Date: Sep 14, 2004

Apparently long division is not required in USMs Economic
Development program. Consider the statement by
Dr. Butler:

"We will share national trends and patterns in this critical industry.
It employs a major labor pool of 3 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. working population, 100,000 to 140,000 people," Butler said. "

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) estimates total employment
in the U.S. in August at 139.6 million. Now my little Casio calculator
tells me that 100,000 divided by 139.6 million is about .07 percent.
But, hey, I don't have a Ph.D. in economic development! Actually, since
the "labor pool" that Dr. Butler refers to is larger than total employment, the percentage s actually about .068%. I suppose this is a major industry
wtih significant economic impact.

Date: Sep 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Pirate
"Apparently long division is not required in USMs Economic Development program. Consider the statement by Dr. Butler: "We will share national trends and patterns in this critical industry. It employs a major labor pool of 3 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. working population, 100,000 to 140,000 people," Butler said. " The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) estimates total employment in the U.S. in August at 139.6 million. Now my little Casio calculator tells me that 100,000 divided by 139.6 million is about .07 percent. But, hey, I don't have a Ph.D. in economic development! Actually, since the "labor pool" that Dr. Butler refers to is larger than total employment, the percentage s actually about .068%. I suppose this is a major industry wtih significant economic impact. "

Pirate, you'd obviously benefit from one of those 2-week degrees in Economic Development Numerology (the only one of its kind in the world!). Don't you know that you're supposed to move the decimal point over one place? Ever since I got my degree, I feel so much smarter and perfectly great about numbers! (as long as they serve my purposes!).

Date: Sep 14, 2004

Assistant Professor and geographer Dr. David Butler, who reports to Assistant Professor and polymer scientist Dr. Ken Malone, is the world's leading business expert in call center industry technology...just read the old press releases...we're gonna hit the economic development home run with this one.

Date: Sep 14, 2004

Don't know about you folks, but I find this horribly embarrassing. didn't we used to be a college?

Date: Sep 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Sarah @ the Mayberry RFD Switchboard
"The rest of the country is outsourcing call centers to India, so is this just another case of Mississippi having a 3rd world economy? "

This is a great point, Sarah. Are these really the jobs for which we want to be in competition? Also, will our minimum wage potential employees be able to speak coherent English as well as their Indian counterparts? Will they have to enroll in English 099?

Date: Sep 14, 2004

Maybe there's an international plan in the works to convert the abbey to a call center.

Date: Sep 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: A Higher Calling
"Maybe there's an international plan in the works to convert the abbey to a call center."

Higher Calling - you present a very clever pseudonym to match the contents of your post. Mal, Vict, and Miss Information, this one should wake you up!

Date: Sep 15, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mr. Wonderful et. al.
"Higher Calling - you present a very clever pseudonym to match the contents of your post. Mal, Vict, and Miss Information, this one should wake you up!"

You're right Mr. W. et. al. - a pseudonym of the highest order!