U.S. Offshore Outsourcing Leads to Structural Changes and Big Impact

cio.com ^ | August 13, 2003 | Diane Morello

[dfwgator]

It's the "prisoner's dilemma." Companies know that offshoring will dry up IT talent, but they do it anyway because they know their competition is doing it.

[dfwgator]

SOAP/WSDL/XML/XSL, and who knows what is next.

I do. Aspect-Oriented Programming.

[thimios]

Free trade? While other countries impose larger tariffs on American products, our elected officials just bend over like Barney Frank.

Bill of Rights won’t mean much when Beijing calls the shots.

[boycott]

Just one more article that will be another nail in GWB’s coffin in 2004. As a hardcore conservative and IT professional, I’m not too happy and somewhat reluctant to pull the level for GWB, and I’m not alone.

Agree. I am also getting sick of this bs. I like GWB but I've also got to think about me and my fellow Americans. He is losing my confidence. The only guy running for President that is saying we've got to do away with NAFTA and GATT is the congressman from OHIO. I cannot think of the guy's name but I wouldn't hesitate to vote for the guy because HE GETS IT.

Enough is enough. I've had enough.

[hedgetrimmer]

Traficant?

[thimios]

Hurry the sheep are heading over the cliff. Yes that's GWB leading the way.

I guess we can't question GWB, after all he is growing the government faster then "Those Crazy Liberals"

I don't have to defend my view point with some one who is more then willing to help flush this country down the toilet.

[Koblenz]

I cannot think of the guy's name but I wouldn't hesitate to vote for the guy because HE GETS IT.

Kucinich. He also wants to cut defense spending 30% so we can build more pre-schools. He's also a vegan. He was mayor of Cleveland about 25 years ago, and the city went into receivership. (However, there was some technicality around that, not sure what. I don't think Cleveland ran out of money, per se, but he was protesting something and didn't pay up). He was pro-life, but now he's pro-choice.

I've never understood pro-choice Vegans. I mean, you've got people who won't eat eggs, because that's killing a living thing. But then abortion is ok. So an egg's a life, but a fetus isn't. Yeah, something like that.

[Marauder]

What are they going to do when no one is left to buy their goods?

The real problem is that these CIOs and other mgt types can't see beyond their income statements, because their stockholders can't see beyond their dividend statements.

The lower level of disposable income here in the states - and yes, I think GWB will pay for that at the polls* - has to impact domestic sales. This in turn will have a profound effect on the almighty dividend statements, and the crafty CIOs will pay as well.

In the meantime, when and if IT investment returns, and there are no developers that trust the industry not to hose them again, I think the answer will again be sought with H1B and L1 visa sponsorships. Because these people are sponsored for the most part, it's hard for them to change jobs, and because they generally work for less money, I call this "neo-indentured servitude."

I can't compete with it, can't afford to. So I'm looking to change my career yet again, but I want to find something they can't outsource, whatever the hell that turns out to be.

*Not that I want him to; I don't want a liberal democRat in the White House.

[tubavil]

A website is in order.

A descending sort on the number of jobs outsourced.

Top talent will know who to avoid working for and who not to patronize. MS and IBM top the list.

[Euro-American Scum]

What if we relations with these countries goes south? What if they are overthrown by Islamics?

Not to worry. These companies are indemnified against loss by the U.S. Government. Ever heard of OPIC?

If companies have to move their IT jobs back to the US suddenly, they may not be able to find skilled people to fill them.

They don't care. They only care about the $ to be made now. But then, if we need JDAM guidance systems, I'm sure the Chinese will be more than happy to provide them. After all, they're just like us. </ sarcasm>

[a_Turk]

No use complaining about globalization.

This article points out good news. Hang in there, keep up to date, and when they need you again you can score a killing.

[Euro-American Scum]

Kucinich. He also wants to cut defense spending 30% so we can build more pre-schools. He's also a vegan. He was mayor of Cleveland about 25 years ago, and the city went into receivership. (However, there was some technicality around that, not sure what. I don't think Cleveland ran out of money, per se, but he was protesting something and didn't pay up). He was pro-life, but now he's pro-choice.

This is the problem I have with the whole issue. There are precious few Dems who are talking about this -- mainly because they don't give a damn about it and will do nothing to stop it. But the ones that are I wouldn't vote to put them in a night watchman's position, let alone in the White House.

[tubavil]

Offshoring IT could pose a security threat to companies.

Exactly. In my opinion this will be the winning argument for effective legislation. Now all we need is a conservative leader.

[tubavil]

And if someone were in an accident, a traffic light can't call for help.

[dfwgator]

Hang in there, keep up to date, and when they need you again you can score a killing.

Yep, the good news is that this will weed out all the wannabees. Those who stick with it will be the ones who actually have the passion for it, not just doing it just for the money.

[MatthewViti]

You should read the book Animal Farm, or better yet there's a film version of it.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"What if we relations with these countries goes south? What if they are overthrown by Islamics?"

I hate to tell you this, but OPIC funds will bail out the corporations. That's why they feel so comfortable about investing in 3rd world countries. OUR tax money is actually enabling and encouraging "American" corporations to offshore our jobs.
Then, when/if there is political unrest causing economic losses, all the corporations have to do is collect their OPIC insurance (our tax money).

I think we should redefine what an "American" corporation is. America provided a fertile safe place for a business to grow, but when Americans are no longer employed, how is it an American corporation? Why should it continue to receive the benefits of being an American corporation?
And, once these stupid, short-sighted corporations have had all their intellectual property stolen by their "loyal" foreign employees, these countries may very well create some competition and run these once American corporations out of their country.

[America's Resolve]

Offshore outsourcing weakens the already-fragile relationships between employees and employers.

You must be kidding turk. I've been an IT consultant and working steadily for 20 years. I now find my self unemployable. Why would I stay in the IT industry? I should spend the next 20 years keeping my skills honed how? At a minimum wage job?

This isn't companies that are laying off people during hard times because they're hurting. They're stabbing their employees in the back and laughing all teh way to the bank to do it. They really don't care about their people, they care about their bank statements to the exclusion of all else.

I for one won't be around or interested in working in the "IT industry" should these short-sighted people come looking in the future.

I just don't understand this at the bottom most level I guess. They complain that American IT people are too expensive. They're making a killing going overseas. But they think the prices for overseas talent isn't going to increase in the next few years? That's nuts.

"When ya got em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow." and the foreigners are gonna have em by the balls a few years down teh road.

Just my $.02