What does it take to get ahead?

Profile of Anne Utendorf, Global Contracting Manager, MicrosoftSSON Managed Certification & Online Learning Program participantName: Anne UtendorfTitle: Global Contracting ManagerCompany: MicrosoftSSON: What is your key role? AU: My role as Global Contracting Manager is to develop, implement, continuously improve and support a standard, best-in-class contracting methodology for our BPO organizations.SSON: What is it that attracts you to the online learning forum?AU: The SSON Managed Certification program covers 10 skill and competency areas of shared services and outsourcing, which gives me a broader foundation for growing my leadership capabilities in the contracting area. Online learning has always been attractive to me because I can continue my education without the commitment of having to be somewhere at a specific time. This program allows me to learn in the evenings and on the weekends, outside of working hours, but still allows me to collaborate with others through online discussion and scheduled conference calls.SSON: What's proved most useful to date? AU: It is difficult for me to pinpoint what is most useful for me because all of the learning modules I’ve taken to date are useful, as I do not have a background in outsourcing.SSON: How useful is the networking with other participants on the message boards? AU: Although not real-time or face-to-face, the message boards allow us to interact with each other and share ideas where we might not be able to otherwise. The online learning allows us to interact with people across the globe, which outweighs the need to communicate real-time.SSON: What have you set into action at your workplace as a result of this program? AU: We are currently reviewing and improving our contracting practices, so the Change Management and Contracting & Negotiation modules were very helpful to ensuring we are looking at best practices. In particular, we added a Close & Analyze phase to our contracting lifecycle to ensure we capture best practices and lessons learned as a result of me doing this course.SSON: What would you like us to add?AU: With regard to the certification program, I cannot think of anything to add, as it seems to be very thorough, although as mentioned previously, I do not have an outsourcing background.SSON: How does this compare to other training sessions you've taken part in?AU: I completed the IACCM Certification program, which is very similar. This program is the most content rich of any online learning programs I have participated in, and I look forward to completing the certification.SSON Managed Certification & Online Learning Program SSON’s newly launched Online Accreditation course has been designed and recorded by leading practitioners. The series of online modules walks the generalist through 10 core competencies. Message boards provide participants with an interactive community in which to ask questions and get answers. SSON’s newly launched Online Accreditation course has been designed and recorded by leading practitioners. The series of online modules walks the generalist through 10 core competencies. Message boards provide participants with an interactive community in which to ask questions and get answers.

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