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Samasource is one of three social ventures under the nonprofit organization Sama Group. Its mission is to alleviate worldwide poverty by connecting unemployed people in impoverished countries to digital work.〔(Our Mission ), Samasource.org. Retrieved 2013-04-04.〕 One of the first organizations to engage in impact sourcing,〔Bornstein, David (November 3, 2011). (Workers of the World Employed ). ''New York Times''. Retrieved 2013-04-04.〕 Samasource uses an internet-based model called “microwork” to break down large-scale digital projects from clients into smaller tasks for workers to complete. These workers are trained in basic computer skills and paid a fair wage (as determined by the (Fair Wage Guide )) for their labor.〔Gino, Francesca; Staats, Bradley R. ("The Microwork Solution" ). ''Harvard Business Review''. December 2012.〕 Samasource has offices in San Francisco, California and Nairobi, Kenya. The organization currently partners with 10 delivery centers across Haiti, India, Kenya, and Uganda, and has previously paid workers in Pakistan, Ghana, and South Africa.〔(Samasource Press Kit ). Retrieved 2013-04-04.〕 As of March 2015, Samasource has improved the lives of 6,527 workers and 20,161 dependents in these countries. The prefix “Sama” is a Sanskrit word, meaning “equal”. Janah has stated that her organization’s name “refers to leveling the playing field.”〔Cookson, Peter W; Iscol, Jill. ''Hearts on Fire'' (2011). New York: Random House. 2011. pp60. ISBN 0812984307〕 ==Business model== Samasource’s proprietary technology platform, the SamaHub, breaks down complex data projects from large companies into small tasks that can be completed by women and youth in developing countries with basic English skills after a few weeks of training at delivery centers with which Samasource partners.〔(How We Work ), Samasource.org. Retrieved 2013-04-04.〕 These delivery centers are required to follow Samasource’s social impact guidelines, which include reinvesting at least 40% of revenue in training, salaries, and community programs, and hiring workers who were previously earning less than the local poverty line.〔 Samasource and in-country partners collaborate on the recruiting process, which targets women and youth without formal work experience who are earning below a local living wage.〔 The Samahub technology features a five-step quality assurance mechanism that continually gauges the success of each individual worker. Workers are not, however, in direct competition with one another as they are in crowdsourcing models.〔Gino, Francesca; Staats, Bradley R. ("Samasource: Give Work, Not Aid" ). ''Harvard Business School''. February 12, 2012.〕 Samasource’s staff also makes a point of understanding the skills native to each region so that it can channel projects to centers best equipped to handle them.〔 Samasource currently offers five categories of digital services to its customers, including content moderation, digital transcription, and machine learning.〔(Services ), Samasource.org. Retrieved 2013-04-04.〕 Its clients have included Google, Ebay, Intuit, LinkedIn, and Microsoft.〔 There is some controversy surrounding Samasource's business model: it is designed for users who have access to a computer, internet, and basic computer training. That by definition takes out the poor, especially women and youth, in Africa out of the question. Work is already available to them through online work marketplaces such as Odesk, as well as free further training through online classes or programming lessons. What these youth and women need is access to the internet, affordable laptops, micro-loans to purchase a laptop, structured training. This will cost little or nothing. While Samasource has been effective at raising funds and retaining a high profile leadership, as well as work that has served as PR from clients, its efficiency or effectiveness in meeting its mission is questionable. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Samasource」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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