You don't have to be a botanist to know roots make the tree strong. And you don't need to be a BPO expert to know that the root of HR's biggest challenges today is misalignment of HR processes with business objectives. For healthcare insurance giant CIGNA, it was a lesson that only outsourcing could unearth.

Beyond appearances, the underlying technology of outsourcing will determine the effectiveness of the effort.

Hey, we’ve learned our lesson. No longer is any year the year of just one thing. And 2007 will be HRO’s year of many things, including finally hitting the $100 billion mark. But wait ’til you read the list of things.

A wholehearted embrace of the "O" word is what's needed to get HRO back on track.

Yes, last year’s Unilever deal punctuated the HRO industry’s continuing trend of big-deal engagements, but will 2007 sputter when it comes to more global, enterprise outsourcing? Even outside in shorts on a January day, HRO Today’s editor is warmed by the prospect of the mid-market.

Addressing HR needs for multiple divisions in multiple states was no easy task. A mid-market employer explains how business transformation benefited its employee base.

While IBM led the provider pack in the number of large deal signings last year, Accenture claimed the biggest contract in 2006 by landing Unilever. In a year of slowing deal growth, there were still enough big buys to keep HRO in the headlines.

Consider all that a service provider can bring to the table in ensuring you meet all of your compliance mandates.

With a large number of women ascending to HRO provider leadership positions in 2006, has gender bias been eliminated from the vocabulary of provider organizations?

There are operational as well as human dimension benefits to using technology-driven recognition programs.