July 27, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Prevent Outsourcing
July 28, 2010 at 2:09 am
Well, the article is in good taste and I agree with you that if an employee adds value, he will not be laid off or his work will not be outsourced. I work in Bangalore, India, mostly on outsourced projects. 🙂 So, the title - 'Prevent Outsourcing' made my eyes pop out. :w00t: I have had a few interesting discussions with some people from US and UK about the topic. Well, I think as corporates look to cut costs and maximize profits, outsourcing is inevitable. I don't know how much they eventually gain from it because I have seen companies having to cancel contracts, find new vendors and stuff. All these reduce their margins. To add to that, a lot of people working in the so-called consulting companies in developing countries (I mean only India and Sri Lanka as I don't know about the rest) don't really have sufficient expertise. This makes conveying requirements to them and getting the desired result a very time consuming process. But, there are a few good folks down here. 🙂 It will be nice to hear your experiences, fellow members.
- arjun
https://sqlroadie.com/
July 28, 2010 at 6:09 am
"One of the keys to success that I have seen in my career is the ability to add value to the company, above and beyond what others do. I look for ways to improve situations, to make things run smoother, to build a solution that helps the company, or a person in the company. This makes me more valuable, and also less likely to be on anyone's layoff list."
This is all well and good and indeed, normally good advice, but there is a real downside to what you are suggesting if one works at one of those behemoth companies where people are deeply involved in "protecting their little kingdoms".
I had such an experience years ago in my career when working for one of America's largest defense contractors. I was stunned to find how much time was wasted by people protecting their little domains and making sure no one else exceeded their job description lest they should make others look lazy. In fact, they were lazy with very little initiative and there was a general attitude that with government dollars, no one needed to go beyond their defined roles and if they did, they were labeled as "brown-nosers" and largely shunned.
Since that time I have seen this dynamic a few more times, always in large companies. Places where people have odd titles and if you asked their boss "What does [person's name] really do?", the boss wouldn't really know for sure.
As much as I commend and agree with your advice, the reality is that in some companies (in my experience, always the big ones) what you are suggesting is actually an express ticket to being outsourced. In such a case, my advice to anyone would be find another job where you are not a cog in a huge wheel, but instead can apply this good advice presented, and stand out positively for the very same actions that in another setting, are considered negatively.
July 28, 2010 at 6:14 am
Totally Agreed. I worked in Bangalore, Chennai, Kentucky & now in New Jersey. The reason jobs are outsourced is because of cost of labor since labor is cheap in India. Being from India I can say the quality of work done in India is not as good as done in US.
IT Outsourced -> India
Manufacturing -> China
Money Printing & Borrowing -> US
Indian -> dont have job -> Beg
US -> dont have job -> govt pays -> no worries
July 28, 2010 at 6:52 am
I do not intend to offend anyone. So, I will not comment on my outsourcing experiences.
I will only say that I agree with Blandry. Many organizations have a culture that dampens drive and the desire to succeed. To reach out and volunteer to do more can be viewed as a negative instead of a positive. Fotunately, I currently work in an environment where that is encouraged. Just yesterday I volunteered for something that isn't my direct responsibility and it was accepted with gratitude.
July 28, 2010 at 6:55 am
blandry (7/28/2010)
but there is a real downside to what you are suggesting if one works at one of those behemoth companies where people are deeply involved in "protecting their little kingdoms"
I worked at a company like that which was certainly no behemoth. Maybe 100 people or so? It's more the culture than the headcount. They did outsource some development to a local company which was performed admirably, but they were probably paying 2x-3x what they paid in house developers. I would assume the managers had to outsource because there weren't enough people available due to difficulties hiring and retaining staff. But staff retention was a whole other issue that wasn't entirely related to pay. I've heard it's gotten better though. Perhaps after all of us ambitious people left, they hired people who were more in line with the corporate culture.
July 28, 2010 at 7:05 am
Obama plans to end Outsourcing/Off-Shoring of American jobs and I hope he succeeds. Many Congessmen/Senators this election year are running on the same platform. American jobs for Americans first. With millions of Americans currently out of work in this terrible economy it is now a matter of our national interest. End Offshoring of American jobs now! Make your voice heard this year. 😀
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
July 28, 2010 at 7:17 am
Providing value to your company is paramount. If you work for a company that supresses creativity and initiative, get out. It is time that skilled, capable workers, like so many of those I have seen in IT, quit working for companies that diminish their value and inhibit their contribution potential. Find a company where you are valued and appreciated, and you make a real contribution. Let the other companies languish in the world of poorly managed outsourcing.
I have nothing against outsourcing, there are many valid reasons to outsource. As a manager in the past I have chosen to outsource to supplement staff and get skill sets I could not get internally. But outsourcing to replace staff is a generally bad idea with a very poor return.
Don't diminish yourself by working for a bad company. Get out, at almost any cost, and find a good company that values your contribution. Eventually the bad companies will perish or change, and we will all be better off.
July 28, 2010 at 7:21 am
TravisDBA (7/28/2010)
Obama plans to end Outsourcing/Off-Shoring of American jobs and I hope he succeeds. Many Congessmen/Senators this election year are running on the same platform. American jobs for Americans first. With millions of Americans currently out of work in this terrible economy it is now a matter of our national interest. End Offshoring of American jobs now! Make your voice heard this year. 😀
Don't confuse Outsourcing with Off-shoring. There are thousands of IT workers in the US that provide outsource services.
Although I think Off-shoring does have some value (limited) I agree that any incentives through tax or other policy here in the US that encourage Off-Shoring should come to an end. On a level playing field we will see much stronger employment here in the US.
July 28, 2010 at 7:32 am
Don't confuse Outsourcing with Off-shoring. There are thousands of IT workers in the US that provide outsource services.
Although I think Off-shoring does have some value (limited) I agree that any incentives through tax or other policy here in the US that encourage Off-Shoring should come to an end. On a level playing field we will see much stronger employment here in the US.
I'm not, I understand the difference, but many people in America do think they are one in the same. i am mainly against the Off-Shoring of American jobs because of the state our economy is in.:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
July 28, 2010 at 8:37 am
Though none of us wants to see our jobs get outsourced, I'd like to make a couple of points.
First - outsourcing does not necessarily mean that you'll lose your job. The company I work for has outsourced a few departments, and what I've typically seen here is that the employees working in those departments become employees of the new outsource company. I will concede that the changes in salary and benefits may not always be positive - but they are not always negative, either. Change is difficult, but still having a job is the most important thing, especially in this time of economic difficulty.
Second - there is definitely nothing wrong with making sure you're seen as a high achiever. There is something wrong with doing it at the expense of your coworkers if there's no solid foundation for it. Eventually, management will see through your behavior if you're always putting someone else down to make yourself look better. I think you're better off to share credit where credit is due, rather than always taking full credit. Being seen as a team player is an achievement in itself.
--Desiree
July 28, 2010 at 8:54 am
I have to agree with Blandry - I left a company that was everyone trying to protect their kingdoms no matter who they stepped on. Everybody is afraid of someone looking a little better than they are.
July 28, 2010 at 8:58 am
Second - there is definitely nothing wrong with making sure you're seen as a high achiever. There is something wrong with doing it at the expense of your coworkers if there's no solid foundation for it.
This is a good point: you need to provide value to your company, not just the appearance of value and certainly not at the expense of those around you.
A lot of the good that comes from doing more and taking a broader view of your responsibilities is from how everyone sees you, and how a wide circle of people feel the benefit of your work. If you make an effort to serve the company's needs when it isn't clear who should own a task, or if you enable another team to easily knock something off that they might otherwise not bother taking on, then management will notice. They really do. If you're just brown-nosing then only your boss (and your co-workers) will see it, and frankly it's seen through as often as not. Spot real issues and find ways to get them addressed, and try to be more constructive than "your group needs to do this". It isn't easy, but once you get the hang of it things start popping out like the images in those shopping mall Magic Eye stereogram pictures.
[font="Arial"]Are you lost daddy? I asked tenderly.
Shut up he explained.[/font]
- Ring Lardner
July 28, 2010 at 9:00 am
I agree, in some situations attempts to increase your value to the company can make you more of a target especially if you are not in with the management crowd. Now a good manager would not be threatened by the successes of their subordinates, but I have been in the position where every step I took forward was rewarded with back handed compliments, sabotage of my work, and even removal of responsibilities--right up until the day I brought my new offer letter with me as a prepared response to my 'satisfactory' performance review which came with an insultingly low salary increase. :angry:
As an individual contributor, however, I have found that it is simply easier to do those things Steve mentions than not.
I look for ways to improve situations, to make things run smoother, to build a solution that helps the company, or a person in the company
I think this is an attitude that everyone should bring to their work, and not just for personal gain. I do this even as a consultant, even with processes I am not tasked with, I can't really turn it off. As adamant and perfectionistic as I am about accuracy in timekeeping and refusing to work overtime for free (which has cost me some contracts where they preferred to see straight eights on the time sheets regardless of the hours actually worked [they rule the air, ahem] :ermm: ) I still am always looking for and sharing those process improvement opportunities. And really it pays off even when you ARE the outsource, in the form of references, recognition, and future work.
I simply believe it is important to be careful about your work, be observant of your surroundings, and do the best you can to use your expertise to enhance the lives of those you interact with. Do the right thing regardless of what may seem to be immediate negative repercussions. I leave you with a thought by a great contact of mine...
Raging Saint (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1073376945)
Character
~+~
The deeds of great people
Go unnoticed
But what truly makes them great
...Is this does not matter 🙂
~+~
😎 Kate The Great :w00t:
If you don't have time to do it right the first time, where will you find time to do it again?
July 28, 2010 at 9:04 am
Outsourcing does not necessarily mean that you'll lose your job.
This has not been my experience, and I have been in the business for 25 years. Every IT department I have been in that started Outsourcing or Off-Shoring, layoffs followed shortly thereafter. The whole idea of doing outsourcing/off-shoring is to cut manpower costs, so it stands to reason that the two are connected together, Bottom line, it costs people their jobs, and in this economy of today with millions of Americans currently out of work, we as a country can no longer afford to do it. President Obama also understands this as well and hopefully, he will put an end to it.:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
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