Offshoring...
Apparently the BCS have come to a new understanding with the IAOP to advance offshoring. This made me a bit angry, so I decided to write to the BCS today.
I don't expect they'll publish my letter, so here it is here in case anyone is interested.
Sirs,
I read with a sense of trepidation the news release that the BCS and the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) had agreed a "new understanding". This understanding allowing both organisations to work together to advance the industry of outsourcing and offshoring.
Whilst it cannot be denied that offshoring is part of the world in which we live; it is the case that offshoring large amounts of IT work affords a very short sighted view. Offshoring erodes the native IT skills based and facilitates building it abroad, where the work is done. This practice results in skilled native IT workers being made redundant, as "it's cheaper" to get the work done abroad. With more and more work being sent abroad, coupled with the current recession, it is hard to see how those displaced native IT professionals will re-enter employment.
The traditional argument employed by advocates of offshoring, is that the redundant UK workers can retrain and "move up the food chain". Again, this short sighted view presupposes that the offshore IT staff are not already doing this - after all, there is nothing to stop them. Perhaps one day the UK management consultants that promote offshoring will find themselves offshored - no doubt they will welcome the opportunity to "move up the food chain" - whilst still needing to pay their mortgage.
Do organisations looking to offshore really want to build an ever increasing dependency on a remote contractor? Over the longer term this means little room for maneuver - offshore costs will increase as the standard of living increases abroad, and as currencies revalue against eachother. At the same time, native organisations must be made aware that their actions are eroding the native skills base and thus limiting their choices longer term.
Given this situation, I find it increasingly frustrating that the BCS wants to be part of it. If (when?) the vast proportion of IT work in this country is carried out abroad, who will the BCS be for? Who will the new members be?
Would it not be wiser for the BCS to recognise the damage that offshoring is doing, take the longer view, and stand up for our profession?
Sincerely
Phil Nicholls, MBCS CITP
I don't expect they'll publish my letter, so here it is here in case anyone is interested.
Sirs,
I read with a sense of trepidation the news release that the BCS and the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) had agreed a "new understanding". This understanding allowing both organisations to work together to advance the industry of outsourcing and offshoring.
Whilst it cannot be denied that offshoring is part of the world in which we live; it is the case that offshoring large amounts of IT work affords a very short sighted view. Offshoring erodes the native IT skills based and facilitates building it abroad, where the work is done. This practice results in skilled native IT workers being made redundant, as "it's cheaper" to get the work done abroad. With more and more work being sent abroad, coupled with the current recession, it is hard to see how those displaced native IT professionals will re-enter employment.
The traditional argument employed by advocates of offshoring, is that the redundant UK workers can retrain and "move up the food chain". Again, this short sighted view presupposes that the offshore IT staff are not already doing this - after all, there is nothing to stop them. Perhaps one day the UK management consultants that promote offshoring will find themselves offshored - no doubt they will welcome the opportunity to "move up the food chain" - whilst still needing to pay their mortgage.
Do organisations looking to offshore really want to build an ever increasing dependency on a remote contractor? Over the longer term this means little room for maneuver - offshore costs will increase as the standard of living increases abroad, and as currencies revalue against eachother. At the same time, native organisations must be made aware that their actions are eroding the native skills base and thus limiting their choices longer term.
Given this situation, I find it increasingly frustrating that the BCS wants to be part of it. If (when?) the vast proportion of IT work in this country is carried out abroad, who will the BCS be for? Who will the new members be?
Would it not be wiser for the BCS to recognise the damage that offshoring is doing, take the longer view, and stand up for our profession?
Sincerely
Phil Nicholls, MBCS CITP