Security of offshore coding

As security becomes more of an issue, the dubious security of offshore coding will make trustworthy domestic programmers all the more valuable. For US programmers, the US government has an extensive need for programmers with US citizenship and security clearances. Other developed countries have similar programs. While obtaining a clearance is a difficult and time-consuming process, the result is strong job security, not only as a government contractor, but also later in the private sector.

Business investigation

Along with architects, business analysis help define the project, which is then executed by the offshore coders. Due to the gap between offshore coders with general programming knowledge, and the displaced in-house programmers with extensive domain-specific knowledge, so-called business analysts are required for any successful offshore coding engagement. While outsourcing programmers may make sense, outsourcing strategy almost never does, therefore internal employees with a solid grasp of the domestic corporation's business, goals, problems, and strategies and possessing the technical skills required to bridge the gap with offshore coders, are likely to remain extremely valuable. And they remain the same sometimes.

Inactivity

When the Indians may work for one fourth of what Americans or Europeans make, they make about the same in terms of quality of life and percentage of average per-capita income. That is, Indian programmers making US dollar twenty thousand per year are not struggling in poverty as one making US dollar twenty thousand in America face this poverty situation, but US dollar twenty thousand gets a great deal more in India, primarily because India is an emerging economy. And the Indians are satisfied. Already India is facing a shortage of programmers, and China's burgeoning middle class is becoming increasingly restive and ambitious.

When India and China grow and prosper, the business case for offshore coding will weaken. However, given all of the caveats of offshore outsourcing, the net savings is not likely to be close to 75%, which means that as the cost of Indian programmers increases from a US programme. Of course, if the US and European economies do not stagnate, one ought not worry, as an industrious individual should be able to find rewarding work in a growing economy, regardless of offshore outsourcing pressures. The net cost of offshore outsourcing is likely to become sufficiently high as to negate any potential savings in labor costs.

Administration

Offshore coding requires more in-house management, not less. While some programmers will consider this option schismatic, the sad reality is that programmers will always be subordinate to management, even if those programmers are offshore. Focusing on management of a distributed workforce will render one even more qualified to manage offshore coders. By developing one's management credentials, as well as maintaining one's tech skills, will add value in any market.

Conclusion

We can conclude it with some statements:

1. Offshore of programming jobs is potentially perilous domestic companies' bottom lines, and must be considered in terms of total qualitative and quantitative cost, not simply the US $20,000/year the Indian programmer makes.

2. An industrious domestic programmer concerned about competition from offshore coders must resist the temptation to sulk and blame others, and should instead endeavor to differentiate himself such that offshore coders cannot compete with him.

3. Outsourcing work to offshore workers who are cheaper and equally capable as domestic workers makes good financial sense, and is not inherently immoral.

4. Corporations owe no duty of loyalty or employment to their employees, and can (indeed, should) seek the most efficient and effective way to perform a given task, regardless of physical location.

Those who wish to deny the realities of free market economics may return their heads to the sand, but they do so at their own peril. The reader is at least enraged, or at best inspired to action, as a result of reading this article.