Where is Indian IT heading? Your opinion...

suba · Post by **suba** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:41 pm

The other day when I called up my friend in India and asked him what his 12th grade son is going to study in College, he said that since Obama has come to power again they are having second thoughts on taking up Computer Science!

So much so that Indians adjust quickly to the changing World. On the other hand I find that my employer who has a good presence in India is seriously looking at moving some of the offshore operations from India to South America. I really don't know the reasons since the decisions are taken at the top and I'm far down below in the ladder.

It looks like cost benefits of offshoring to India are not much anymore and on top of that the attrition rates are high and the quality of work is not consistent. But the global companies don't have much choice other than to stick to India for sometime because India only has a large pool of resources and that too English speaking. Is this a correct statement?

So what is your opinion on where the Indian IT is heading?

okonomi · Post by **okonomi** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:52 pm

suba;480624The other day when I called up my friend in India and asked him what his 12th grade son is going to study in College, he said that since Obama has come to power again they are having second thoughts on taking up Computer Science!...

I have often heard that concept called "scope". "what is the scope?" is something highschool children learn from their parents and other older relatives. The american blindfold called "be all you can be" or "do what you want" is not part of the Indian scheme of things.
All foreign direct investment (including IT offshoring) happens because of a complex set of factors. Political stability, rule-of-law and economic viability are probably the most important. I think IT investment in India would be there to stay for a couple of decades; after all, India has got the young population. [QUOTE]because India only has a large pool of resources and that too English speaking. Is this a correct statement?
As for "English speaking", I had always had trouble with that. I could never know when there is a transition from the vernacular to English or vice versa. It is confusing, even after my jetlag had worn off. Obviously it is my handicap and not a problem of the locals.

PeterGriffin · Post by **PeterGriffin** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:59 pm

suba

A year ago, I had offshored some of my company's work to India. But through the months, the costs on my projects started to balloon and I had quite a lot of problems in dealing with these teams and their managers. Their replies to RFPs stunk big time. To add to my issues, the quality of documentation went on a downward spiral. Most of these vendors (not the big 4 Indian companies) advertise low rates but end up with high project costs. A simple 8 hour work would be billed as 24-30 hours where 6-8 documents supporting the code would be delivered. But if you look at those documents, they would be very amateurish and blatantly show their copy and paste work. I once had a business document for one of our projects with a different company's name on it!
Anyways, we are winding down our operations there and are trying to use our local resources more effectively.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:03 am

Don't look at Computer Science as a career choice. Look at it as how you would look at "English" or "Chemistry". I would look at programming and basic CS education as a skill/tool, and not a profession. Very soon, CS knowledge will be a basic requirement for success in any career path.

Offshoring was just the first wave. There are lots of startups and small companies coming up, who are actually creating IT products for the local market. But in order to create a software product for a market, you need knowledge of CS plus knowledge of that specific domain. E.g. someone trying to build a Smart electricity Grid needs Electrical Engg knowledge, apart from CS.

So CS or IT is not going to die anytime soon. If anything, programming skills are going to get more and more in high demand in various domains like Education, Human Resources, Finance, Manufacturing, Marketing, etc. Prepare your kid for the future that is 4-8 years down the road, not for the past that has been here for 20 years.

boca · Post by **boca** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:30 am

PeterGriffin;480632suba

A year ago, I had offshored some of my company's work to India. But through the months, the costs on my projects started to balloon and I had quite a lot of problems in dealing with these teams and their managers. Their replies to RFPs stunk big time. To add to my issues, the quality of documentation went on a downward spiral. Most of these vendors (not the big 4 Indian companies) advertise low rates but end up with high project costs. A simple 8 hour work would be billed as 24-30 hours where 6-8 documents supporting the code would be delivered. But if you look at those documents, they would be very amateurish and blatantly show their copy and paste work. I once had a business document for one of our projects with a different company's name on it!
Anyways, we are winding down our operations there and are trying to use our local resources more effectively.

Were you the champion for offshoring to India? If so, did you feel guilty sending the work to India?

PeterGriffin;480632But if you look at those documents, they would be very amateurish and blatantly show their copy and paste work. I once had a business document for one of our projects with a different company's name on it!

They conned even after knowing that you were an Indian? :)

suba;480624The other day when I called up my friend in India and asked him what his 12th grade son is going to study in College, he said that since Obama has come to power again they are having second thoughts on taking up Computer Science!

I read that Obama is popular in India. Didn't he even visit India? Should've listened to RI! :)

returning_indian · Post by **returning_indian** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:35 am

Sid;480634Don't look at Computer Science as a career choice. Look at it as how you would look at "English" or "Chemistry". I would look at programming and basic CS education as a skill/tool, and not a profession. Very soon, CS knowledge will be a basic requirement for success in any career path.

Offshoring was just the first wave. There are lots of startups and small companies coming up, who are actually creating IT products for the local market. But in order to create a software product for a market, you need knowledge of CS plus knowledge of that specific domain. E.g. someone trying to build a Smart electricity Grid needs Electrical Engg knowledge, apart from CS.

So CS or IT is not going to die anytime soon. If anything, programming skills are going to get more and more in high demand in various domains like Education, Human Resources, Finance, Manufacturing, Marketing, etc. Prepare your kid for the future that is 4-8 years down the road, not for the past that has been here for 20 years.

He is worried about Indian IT, not about his friend's son's career.

suba;480624But the global companies don't have much choice other than to stick to India for sometime because India only has a large pool of resources and that too English speaking. Is this a correct statement?

[QUOTE]
So what is your opinion on where the Indian IT is heading?

PeterGriffin · Post by **PeterGriffin** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:43 am

boca2blr;480636Were you the champion for offshoring to India? If so, did you feel guilty sending the work to India?

They conned even after knowing that you were an Indian? :)

You are right. It felt like nepotism in a way. But I was quick to pull the plug before we lost a lot more money in this venture. It didn't cost us much in the grand scheme of things but I gained a lot from this experience.

returning_indian · Post by **returning_indian** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:45 am

PeterGriffin;480640It didn't cost us much in the grand scheme of things but I gained a lot from this experience.

Building resume on company dime. Good.

Old-Spice2 · Post by **Old-Spice2** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:07 am

okonomi;480630I have often heard that concept called "scope". "what is the scope?" is something highschool children learn from their parents and other older relatives. The american blindfold called "be all you can be" or "do what you want" is not part of the Indian scheme of things.

Oko,

What works in America may not work in India for a simple reason - USA is a $14T economy feeding 300M people whereas India is $2T economy feeding 1.2B mouths. Simple mathematics tells me that one has to be competitive and pursue a course that has maximum chance of getting a well paid job in India. That is called scope. All the BS of pursue your passion or do what your heart tells may land you on the street as there are no soup kitchens in India.

IT in India will continue for a long time, Obama or no Obama. IT vendors including the MNC have learned how to keep the cost low. More than 60% of the workforce is below 25 and companies replace oldies with these young kids. That is the reason why you will find majority of the workers in IT firms are young. If you are 40 you are a grandfather in Indian IT.

okonomi · Post by **okonomi** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:17 am

Old-Spice2;480684
okonomi;480630I have often heard that concept called "scope". "what is the scope?" is something highschool children learn from their parents and other older relatives. The american blindfold called "be all you can be" or "do what you want" is not part of the Indian scheme of things.
All foreign direct investment (including IT offshoring) happens because of a complex set of factors. Political stability, rule-of-law and economic viability are probably the most important. I think IT investment in India would be there to stay for a couple of decades; after all, India has got the young population. ...
Oko,
What works in America may not work in India for a simple reason - USA is a $14T economy feeding 300M people whereas India is $2T economy feeding 1.2B mouths. Simple mathematics tells me that one has to be competitive and pursue a course that has maximum chance of getting a well paid job in India. That is called scope. All the BS of pursue your passion or do what your heart tells may land you on the street as there are no soup kitchens in India.

IT in India will continue for a long time, Obama or no Obama. IT vendors including the MNC have learned how to keep the cost low. More than 60% of the workforce is below 25 and companies replace oldies with these young kids. That is the reason why you will find majority of the workers in IT firms are young. If you are 40 you are a grandfather in Indian IT.

What "works" in America ? hee....heee :))..... a "blindfold" is not an accessory to prepare for life !! And besides,
Isn't vehement agreement anathema to thread growth ?