Time and money were simply too short. The initial agreement covered the systems needs of more than 2,000 customer-service representatives serving three million customers. We needed the computing horsepower to support a fast-growing business in short order. They created what would be a multibillion dollar company in a snap. Add virtual employees from Compaq and Convergys and those from programming and manufacturing partners bring the tally to 3,400.
Virtual virtues Being virtual means different things to different companies.
It can mean having all of your employees work from home, using the Web to collaborate. Or it can mean focusing on your core competencies and partnering for the rest. By any definition, the Internet is at the heart of being virtual. The enabling technology of virtual corporations not only speeds the process of product development and servicing, it makes the workforce more mobile, extends the value chain to help companies compete in global markets. In a world where Internet time dictates action, the lithe organization views internal staff, contractors and outsourcers as vital partners in a value chain.