I bet those Enron executives were changing their underpants by the hour at the time.

Imagine being asked questions by Federals. Terrifying.

Imagine this dialogue:

' Why did things go wrong ? '

' Things often go wrong in business '

' Do you think you made mistakes ? '

' We all make mistakes '

' Why do you paid so much ? '

' Bonuses were agreed by the Bonus committee - nothing to with me '

' Who is on the bonus committee ? '

' They've all left now, I think '

' How did the Pensions fund get such a deficit ? '

' We were all too busy. Must have overlooked that '

' Thank you . You have been most helpful . These must be dreadful times for you and your family.... '

' Not really. We've all got jobs with banks . '

' Splendid - fancy some lunch - any vacancies going ? '

More importantly, there is a need to question the ineptitude of our so called multi-tasking high flying pen pushes who have sat in government offices for years and allowed companies like thse to run rings round them. Like BPN (a Portuguese bank that went tits up a few years ago), those in sitting behind closed doors will still be doing their nine to five - and that's on a good day, clocking up their sickies, pensions, flexie and whatever other benefits they can wangle out of the taxpayer. And if any blame is put at their door, it will be the same old 'we,re on a learning curve'. The public sector is more to blame than any in the private sector for horrendous state of contracting to the private sector. Until Government gets to grips with the dirt under their own carpets, the situation will not change. Yes, a fair proportion of the public sector do a good job, but these are mainly the makers and doers.

The dross is in the administration, the pen pushers, the managers who once they get their legs under the table, unless they pinch the tea money or pinch the wrong bottom, will sit their for life. And this applies from the top to the bottom.

It's time to follow procedure. That's what "The Black Book of Outsourcing" is all about. It's old, bit it's still quite good. ( )

An excellent book that fairly covers both sides of the outsourcing issue: both how a company can handle the transition, and how the employee can benefit from the move to an outsourced business environment. Loaded with useful strategies and tactics - as well as a section of contacts for people endeavoring to work in a company undergoing an outsourcing move - this book is of rather salient importance to modern business. ( )