This exact thing didn't happen to me yesterday.
Management: Hey developers, there's some great news for the company! We're looking into outsourcing your jobs!
Developers: Err. That's not great. That sucks. Why?
Management: Well, see, among other thing, these outsourcing companies have a big pool of programmers that they can draw from, to put as many resources as is necessary on a project, instantly!
Developers: Why not just hire some temps here?
Management: No, you see, the outsourcing companies will be able to keep enough people familiar with enough projects that there won't be any ramp-up time for people who are moved onto a new project - they'll already know the project well enough to jump right in!
Developers: OK. Then why not just hire some entry-level people here, de-specialize and cross-train the people we already have by moving some people from project A onto project B, and project C to A and B to C, etc.. for a while. Then, when project A needs people, you can pull them from wherever there's a little excess capacity. We already have deep knowledge of the projects and we're just as capable of learning multiple projects as those guys in Bangalore, ya know.
Management : No, because then we would have a fragmented workforce.
Developers: Whaa...? I notice you haven't blocked Monster.com. Thanks.
It’s the triumph of the Elbonians!
We went through this last year. Nobody got laid off, we just had some stuff to get built before our whole local team was in place, so we outsourced it.
We are just now getting ready to rebuild most of it.
Good luck, cleek!
Non-condolences for this nonoccurrence!
thanks.
luckily, we all (probably) have until the beginning of the year before we learn our fate!
Happy Holidays, sukkas.
String along (string along), that’s all I do is sorta
String along (string along), you never seem to notice
I’m along, I just want you to want me, too
How I hope and pray that you’ll need me some day
Good luck (not that you need it because nothing actually happened right?).
Outsourcing is, in my experience, a false economy and companies that do so end up regretting it. But hey, those Indians are cheap, so that’s all that really matters.
I am currently trying to employ a C++ head. It’s hard because I don’t actually want a seasoned pro – I need someone with a little experience that is willing to be mentored by yours truly. Finding someone is tough because universities in the UK now teach Java, and stopped teaching C++ a few years ago. I’ve had a handful of CVs, when I naively expected dozens. The skills I want (C++/Win32 API) seem to be hard to find unless you’re willing to pay £££’s for a thirty-something hotshot like myself :)
However, I have had it pointed out to me on more than one occasion how lucky I am to be in the position to hire somebody – had I of left it any longer, my staff acquisition request would of been turned down.
So if you fancy a move to the UK (which we won’t pay for) and a massive salary cut, then let me know!
So if you fancy a move to the UK (which we won’t pay for) and a massive salary cut, then let me know!
can you wait four more weeks ?
:)
he he. I see the polls are looking better for Obama now though, but I guess there’s a long way to go…
Dude that sucks.