The role of ICT in the growth of international outsourcing

First, let’s see The Onion’s take:

Which country is the most attractive location for outsourcing activities?

“The metrics used to evaluate location attractiveness were determined from responses to A.T. Kearney and other industry surveys, and knowledge obtained in client engagements over the past five years. The relative weights of each metric are based on their importance to the location decision, again derived from client experience and industry surveys. Because cost advantage is typically the primary driver behind location decisions, financial factors constitute 40 percent of the total weight in the index. The two remaining categories—people skills and availability, and business environment— each constitute 30 percent of the total weight.”

This document comes from the A.T. Kearney site. Global_Services_Location_Index_2009

Why is the iPad assembled in China?

The iPad is assembled by Foxconn, which also manufactures Apple’s iPod, iPhone and Mac Mini, in its largest plant in Shenzhen, China. [Source]
iSuppli estimated that each iPad 2 32 GB 3G version costs $326.60 to manufacture, a total that excludes research, development, licensing and patent costs. [Source]

Findings in the 2009 A.T. Kearney Global Services Location Index™ reflect the current unstable recessionary environment. While some established outsourcing hubs are fading—nine countries dropped nine or more positions in the Index—new rising stars are changing the outsourcing landscape. – See more at: http://www.atkearney.com/paper/-/asset_publisher/dVxv4Hz2h8bS/content/2009-a-t-%C2%A0kearney-global-services-location-index/10192#sthash.hScfmQBb.dpuf