Factors affecting the adoption of new technology: The case of 311 government call centers

Government call centers (311) were first created to reduce the volume of non-emergency calls that were being placed to emergency 911 call centers. The number of 311 call centers increased from 57 in 2008 to about 300 in 2013. Considering that there are over 2,700 municipal government units across the United States, the adoption rate of the 311 centers is arguably low in the country. This dissertation is an examination of the adoption of 311 call centers by municipal governments. My focus is specifically on why municipal governments adopt 311 and identifying which barriers result in the non-adoption of 311 call centers. This dissertation is possibly the first study to examine the adoption of 311 call centers in the United States. ^ The dissertation study has identified several significant factors in the adoption and non-adoption of 311 government call centers. The following factors were significant in the adoption of 311 government call centers: managerial support, financial constraints, organizational responsiveness, strategic plan placement, and technology champion. The following factors were significant barriers that resulted in the non-adoption of a 311 government call center; no demand from citizens, start up costs, annual operating costs, unavailability of funding, and no obvious need for one. ^ If local government entities that do not have a 311 government call center decide to adopt one, this study will help them identify the conditions that need to be in place for successful adoption to occur. Local government officials would first need to address the barriers in setting up the 311 call centers. ^

Viabilidad de un centro comercial empresarial de alta tecnología en la ciudad de Barranquilla

La tecnología hoy en día es un factor determinante, tanto para el desarrollo continuo de las personas, como para el mundo en general; por esta razón, se busca el buen manejo y aprovechamiento de un puerto tan importante como lo es Barranquilla para el desarrollo del sector informático y de servicios, estudiando la viabilidad de un “Centro Comercial Empresarial de Alta Tecnología” CCEAT, para así lograr una evolución tanto para el departamento, como para el país.

Nós callcentristas somos o novo proletariado. Identidades e resistências do trabalho em call center

Dissertação de mestrado em Antropologia - Direitos Humanos e Movimentos Sociais

Correlación de las condiciones de iluminación, ángulo visual, agudeza visual y contraste con y síntomas visuales en trabajadores de un call center en Bogotá, Colombia

Objetivo: Establecer la correlación entre condiciones de iluminación, ángulo visual, discriminación de contrastes y agudeza visual en la aparición de síntomas visuales en operarios de computador. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal y correlación en muestra de 136 trabajadores administrativos de un “call center” perteneciente a una entidad de salud en la ciudad de Bogotá, utilizando un cuestionario con el que se evaluaron las variables sociodemográficas y ocupacionales; aplicando la escala de síntomas visión – computador (CVSS17), realizando evaluación médica y midiendo iluminación y distancia operario pantalla de computador y con los datos recolectados se realizó un análisis estadístico bivariado y se estableció la correlación entre las condiciones de iluminación, ángulo visual, discriminación de contrataste y agudeza visual; frente a la aparición de síntomas visuales asociados con el uso del computador. El análisis se llevó a cabo con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión y con el coeficiente de correlación paramétrico de Pearson o no-paramétrico de Spearman, previamente se evaluó la normalidad con la prueba de Shapiro-Wilk. Las pruebas estadísticas se evaluarán a un nivel de significancia del 5% (p<0.05). Resultados: El promedio de edad de los participantes en el estudio fue de 36,3 años con un rango entre los 22 y 57 años y en donde el género predominante fue el femenino con el 79,4%. Se encontraron síntomas visuales asociados al uso de pantalla de computador del 59,6%, siendo los más frecuentes la epifora (70,6%), fotofobia (67,6%) y ardor ocular (54,4%). Se reportó una correlación inversa significativa entre niveles de iluminación y manifestación de fotofobia (p=0.02; r= 0,262). Por otra parte no se encontró correlación significativa entre los síntomas referidos con ángulo de visión y agudeza visual y discriminación de contrastes. Conclusión: Las condiciones laborales de iluminación del grupo de estudio están relacionadas con la manifestación de fotofobia, Se encontró asociación entre síntomas visuales y variables sociodemográficas, específicamente con el género, fotofobia a pantalla, fatiga visual y fotofobia

O impacto da terceirização do call center em empresas de energia elétrica no Brasil

This dissertation seeks to recognize the impacts that outsourcing of the call center brings to firms of electrical energy in Brazil. For this research, two existing cases in the brazilian sector electric: i) case of Cemig, firm mineira of electrical energy; ii) case Light, firm carioca of electrical energy. The framework of this dissertation is based of the methodology of multiple study cases described by Robert Yin (2003). This work analyzed separately each of the cases and compared the results obtained in each analysis. In this way, this research aimed at analyzing the impacts that firms sufering in outsource the call center, despite the citys are diferents, like the factors of the environment. The obtained results suggest that the firms adopt the mixed call center, with the greatest part of outsources employees and with less proper. The importants impacts seeks in this research are the lost of the image, quality and the control of the process of answering. The aim impacts of a outsourcing the call center find in this research are the lost of the image of the firm and the reduction of the control of the process of customer service, impacting directly on the quality of the customer service.

A relação da motivação para o trabalho com as metas do trabalhador: um estudo de caso em uma operadora de call center

Having as basic purpose, that the work motivational strategies are more efficient when elaborated directly from the worker¿s personal goals and values, the study line of this dissertation searched to identify the worker¿s motivational employee¿s profile from call center industry. The knowledge of this motivational profile makes possible the development of differentiated programs of motivation inside the organization, aiming to attend goals of diverse groups of workers. In order to achieve the considered objective, the present dissertation analyzed one of the biggest companies in call center¿s inside Brazilian market, the BrasilCenter Communications Ltda. In such a way, in the first stage of the study, a bibliographical research was carried out, with the objective to collect contributions from diverse authors on the motivation subject, and also a modern theory of values was presented, verified empirically in more than 60 countries, which identifies the people¿s motivational structure. Having as base the results of these studies, the worker¿s concept profile motivational and argued its way of evaluation in the organizations it was boarded. In the second stage, a field research was carried out, with the application of the Inventory of Values of Schwartz theory (IVS), in order to identify the employee¿s motivational profile crowded in the Center of Attendance and Services (call center) company, located in Juiz de Fora city. The analysis of the results from the field research, based on the bibliographical data, identified that the values prioritized for the call center¿s employees are the ones that serves the collective and mixing goals. This motivational profile offers some perspectives of employee¿s valuation that correspond to their goals and interests. The displayed results point respect to the centrality of the types of values benevolence, conformity, security and universalism among the participants in the sample. As the accented was more among the employees it was the search of collective results it, is concluded that the more appropriate valuation strategies are those related to the tolerance for the ideas and opinion of the others, to harmonic a organizational enviroment, the concern with the quality of life at work and the social aspects of the work.

Uma investigação empírico-exploratória acerca da causalidade dos indicadores operacionais de call center com a satisfação dos clientes

Year after year the call center industry comes presenting high growth, either in Brazil or the world, using increasing contingent of people and receiving large amount of financial resources. Supporting all this industry, exists a theoretical reference that privileges the search of the improvement of diverse operational performance indicators. This study, empirically examines the relationship between caller satisfaction and diverse operational performance indicators currently used for call center management in Brazil. For in such a way, a group of telecommunications segment call centers will be used searching to determine which indicators are really more significantly correlated with the customer satisfaction. Of this form, it is aimed at to add new evidences and explanations to existing literature, in way that companies of call center industry can give a more adequate service to their customer, opposite to solely focus its efforts in the improvement of a great set of performance pointers that, effectively, can not become related with the customer satisfaction.

Linha ocupada, cliente livre!: um estudo sobre contact centers e fidelidade dos clientes de operadoras de telefonia celular

O presente estudo trata da influência do Contact Center na interação de clientes e empresas de telefonia celular e a resultante fidelização desses clientes. A interação entre os clientes e as empresas, quando bem gerenciada, pode ser um diferencial competitivo relevante, num mundo em que as inovações e sua disseminação ocorrem muito rapidamente. Ao contrário, um relacionamento mal gerenciado pode levar à infidelidade dos clientes e à conseqüente troca de fornecedor. Para avaliar a satisfação dos clientes sobre a sua interação com as empresas foi realizado um survey, enviando-se e-mails para usuários residentes no Estado de São Paulo e recebendo-se suas respostas por meio de um endereço na Web. Para a análise do tema, foram utilizadas as teorias de Marketing de Serviços, Marketing de Relacionamento e de Orientação ao Mercado, bem como estudos relacionados aos Contact Centers (ou call centers) e fidelidade. Esta pesquisa contempla três áreas principais: Orientação ao Mercado da empresa; qualidade dos serviços do Contact Center; e fidelidade do cliente. Para a análise dos dados que compõem o escopo desta pesquisa, foram aplicadas técnicas estatísticas de Análise Fatorial e de Análise de Conglomerados (ou Clusters). Além disso, foi realizada uma análise comparativa de fidelidade às principais operadoras e uma simulação para se estimarem as potenciais perdas de clientes. Os resultados apontam para uma grande insatisfação dos clientes com empresas de telefonia celular e com o atendimento em aspectos que lhe são mais urgentes, como o atendimento às suas necessidades e a eficiência do Contact Center. E também assinalam uma forte tendência à infidelidade. Com a vinda da portabilidade do número do celular a partir de 2009, que permite que o usuário mantenha seu número mesmo trocando de operadora, o risco é ainda maior. Neste caso, os resultados mostram que 64% dos clientes declaram sua infidelidade à operadora atual. A relevância deste estudo para as organizações é que o mesmo apresenta uma perspectiva sobre o Contact Center, como ponto de relacionamento e incremento da satisfação do cliente, bem como de um diferencial competitivo que, aparentemente, vem sendo pouco prestigiado pelos profissionais de marketing.

Estudo da fidelização dos clientes de telefonia celular na grande São Paulo em função do atendimento recebido por esses na área de call center das operadoras

O objetivo desse trabalho é fazer um estudo exploratório acerca da fidelização de usuários de serviços de telefonia celular, na Grande São Paulo, em função do atendimento percebido por ele, quando em contato com o Call Center da empresa. Buscou-se verificar quais os elementos importantes e impactantes do atendimento, assim como de que modo o atendimento prestado pelo Call Center impacta na fidelização do cliente à sua operadora. Para tanto, foi empreendida uma pesquisa de campo junto a clientes das diversas operadoras atuantes na região.

Os impactos da reestruturação organizacional de uma empresa multinacional de alta tecnologia na área de treinamento e desenvolvimento de call center:aplicação da teoria das configurações de Mintzberg

Neste estudo realizamos uma pesquisa no setor de serviços de uma empresa multinacional de alta tecnologia, na qual ocorreram mudanças organizacionais envolvendo a área de treinamento e desenvolvimento, que atendia vários clientes de call centers, com sua equipe deixando de se reportar à Gerência Operacional local e passando a se reportar à área de Treinamento & Desenvolvimento Global. O objetivo foi contribuir para o papel do desenho organizacional da área de treinamento neste setor. O estudo teve como embasamento a Teoria das Cinco Configurações, de Henry Mintzberg, e as questões respondidas foram: que reestruturação a empresa estudada está implementando, de acordo com a teoria de Mintzberg, e quais são os impactos desta reestruturação para o departamento estudado, na visão dos entrevistados? O método utilizado foi o de estudo de caso e a nossa pesquisa foi realizada na organização desta área no Brasil, na qual coletamos dados através de fontes primárias, e empregamos observação direta e pesquisa de campo com entrevistas semiestruturadas com funcionários e clientes da área. Demostramos que a organização de treinamento estava se estruturando como uma Adhocracia Operacional e que a mudança foi positiva na visão tanto dos funcionários da área, quanto de seus clientes. Para avaliarmos o comportamento dos indivíduos do grupo, criamos duas tipologias a partir da categorização dos dados coletados. Concluímos que as pessoas do grupo tinham ação estratégica e foco em seu desenvolvimento profissional, o que é coerente com a estrutura Adhocrática de Mintzberg. As características de uma Adhocracia se mostraram positivas para uma área de treinamento de call center que atende a múltiplos clientes, conduzindo a equipe a ter foco mais estratégico, aumentando a autonomia e o engajamento, elevando o conhecimento, melhorando a comunicação, trazendo processos flexíveis e, como consequência, um resultado positivo para as operações atendidas.

Comparison between two caller groups of a medical call centre in Switzerland

OBJECTIVES: The incidence distribution of triage advice in the medical call centre Medi24 and the pattern of service utilisation were analysed with respect to two groups of callers with different insurance schemes. Individuals having contracted insurance of the Medi24 model could use the telephone consultation service of the medical call centre Medi24 (mainly part of the mandatory basic health insurance) voluntarily and free of charge whereas individuals holding an insurance policy of the Telmed model (special contract within the mandatory basic health insurance with a premium discount ranging from 8% to 12%) were obliged to have a telephone consultation before arranging an appointment with a medical doctor. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the medical call centre Medi24 based on all triage datasets of the Medi24 and Telmed groups collected during the one year period from July 1st 2005 to June 30th 2006. The distribution of the six different urgency levels within the two groups and their respective pattern of service utilisation was determined. In a multivariable logistic regression model the Odds Ratio for every enquiry originating from the Telmed group versus those originating from the Medi24 group was calculated. RESULTS: During a one-year period 48 388 triage requests reached the medical call centre Medi24, 56% derived from the Telmed group and 44% from the Medi24 group. Within the Medi24 group more than 25% of the individuals received self-care advice, within the Telmed group, on the other hand, only about 18% received such advice. In contrast, 27% of the Telmed triage requests but only 18% of the Medi24 triage requests resulted in the advice to make a routine appointment with a medical doctor. The probability that an individual of the Telmed group obtained the advice to go to the accident and emergency department was lower than for an individual of the Medi24 group (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.60-0.99). Likewise, the probability of self-care advice was decreased in regard to the Medi24 group (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75-0.85). However, regarding the advice to make a routine appointment with a medical doctor, the Telmed group was represented more frequently than the Medi24 group (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.28-1.44). CONCLUSION: In respect of the triage advice, the Telmed group differed significantly from the Medi24 group within all urgency levels. The differences between the two groups in respect of the advice given were still less pronounced than expected against the background of their different contract conditions and the disparate temporal pattern of utilisation. We interprete this finding with the fact that appraising the urgency of health problems appropriately seems to be very difficult for the majority of people seeking advice.

Lo que los trabajadores quieren vs. lo que las empresas necesitan. Implementación de las anclas de carrera de Edgar Schein en un contact centre

El compromiso laboral entre los trabajadores y las organizaciones es uno de los activos con mayor poder explicativo para consolidar un alto desempeño e incrementar la productividad. Para lograr eso es fundamental conocer cuáles son las vocaciones de los trabajadores actuales y futuros y de qué manera estas motivaciones de carrera encuentran articulación con la misión y la visión de la compañía. El problema es que las empresas fallan sistemáticamente en este proceso. El modelo de anclas de carrera (ac) de Edgar Schein es una metodología que permite conocer cuáles son las motivaciones de carrera de los individuos. Este documento tiene como propósito establecer un vínculo entre las ac y los procesos de selección, vinculación, y retención del capital humano en un contact centre que se desempeña en Bogotá, Colombia. Para alcanzar este propósito, se implementó el modelo de ac en una muestra de 116 trabajadores del área de gestión de esta compañía. El informe presenta el análisis de resultados y las propuestas sugeridas por los autores a la gerencia de la compañía.

Contact Center Functionality - Collecting and Prioritizing Features of Modern Contact Center.

Tässä diplomityössä pohditaan call centereiden asemaa tämän päivän palveluympäristössä ja myöskin call centereiden tulevaisuutta contact centereinä. Tämä työ tutkii kuinka asiakastarpeita ja uusia toiminnallisuuksia voidaan etsiä olemassaolevaan, mutta vielä keskeneräiseen call center tuotteeseen. Tutkimus on tehty lukemalla artikkeleita ja kirjoja tulevaisuuden contact centereistä, haastattelemalla asiakkaita ja järjestämällä ideointisessio yrityksen asiantuntijoille. Näin saadut tulokset priorisoitiin tätä tarkoitusta varten kehitellyllä matriisilla. Lopullisena tuloksena on lista toiminnallisuuksista tärkeysjärjestyksessä ja tuote roadmap kaikkein tärkeimmistä toiminnallisuuksista. Tämä roadmap antaa tuotekehitykselle ehdotuksen mitä tulisi implementoida nykyiseen tuotteeseen ja mitkä ovat prioriteetit. Tässä työssä pohdiskellaan myös tuotteen modulaarista rakennetta.

Sales lead management in a global enterprise

Many companies today struggle with problems they face around sales lead management. They are suffering from inconsistent quality of leads, they miss clear sales opportunities and even cannot handle well their internal marketing lists. Meanwhile customers are better and better equipped with means to easily initiate contact via internet, via call centers etc. Investing in lead generation activities that are built on a bad process is not a good idea. Better than asking how to get more leads, companies should ask how to get better quality leads and invest in improving lead management. This study looks sales lead management as a multi step process where a company generates leads in controlled environment, qualifies them and hands over to the sales cycle. As a final step, organization needs to analyze the incomes and successes of different lead sources. Most often in sales lead management a process improvement requires setting up additional controls to enable proper tracking of all leads. A sales lead management process model for the case company is built based on the findings. Implementing the new model involves changes and improvements in some key areas of current process. Starting from the very beginning, these include redefining a bit the lead definition and revising the criteria set for qualified lead. There are some improvements to be done in the system side to enable the proposed model. Lastly a setting for responsible roles is presented.

Une analyse en milieu de travail : Étude de cas d'une firme de sondage

[français] L’objectif de cette recherche est d’analyser l’organisation interne d’une firme de sondage sous l’angle des sphères du milieu de travail telles qu’identifiées par Bélanger, Giles et Murray (2004), soient : la gestion de la production, l’organisation du travail et la relation à l’emploi. Plus spécifiquement, nous chercherons à savoir comment se comporte la firme enquêtée face à la gestion de la flexibilité organisationnelle et quel est l’impact de celle-ci sur les trois sphères du travail. L’analyse utilise la méthodologie de l’étude de cas et fait appel à divers types de matériaux : des observations ponctuelles, des entrevues informelles et les bases de données administratives ainsi que les rapports d’évaluation des entrevues téléphoniques effectuées par les intervieweurs. De même, l’analyse des résultats utilise à la fois des méthodes plus classiques telles que les corrélations ainsi que des représentations graphiques et des analyses qualitatives. L’analyse permet de repérer une logique de fonctionnement à l’œuvre dans les différentes sphères de l’emploi : l’importante standardisation des processus de travail (dans le champ de la gestion de la production), la réduction des marges de manœuvre (dans le champ de l’organisation du travail) et la non reconnaissance de l’expertise des intervieweurs (dans le champ de la relation à l’emploi). Les contradictions repérées dans l’analyse, entre les sphères de l’emploi et les objectifs de flexibilité, montrent que les structures mises en place bloquent, dans une certaine mesure, la capacité d’initiative et d’adaptation que la flexibilité exige. La recherche a montré que ce qu’on demande aux intervieweurs est à la fois le reflet des exigences de la flexibilité, tel que constaté dans ce mémoire, mais aussi, des exigences sociales face à la méthodologie de sondage. Tout porte à déduire que celles-ci peuvent engendrer un plafonnement de la performance des employés. Mots-clés : centres d’appels, intervieweurs, firmes de sondage, flexibilité organisationnelle, gestion de la production, organisation du travail, relation à l’emploi, travail émotionnel.