Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Development
    • Development

    Get Used to Offshoring

    By
    Ben Faustino
    -
    November 3, 2003
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The arguments of Don ONeill of the Center for National Software Studies remind me of the protectionist arguments of the early 60s and 70s. Guess what? We should all check the labels on our T-shirts or the brand on our VCRs. ONeill devoted only two small paragraphs to the pros of offshore development and many more lines to the cons. His arguments are flawed.

      ONeill says, “Offshore outsourcing … provides a direct boost to … those countries.” He is absolutely correct, but hes only looking at half the question. The economics of offshore software development work both ways. The United States benefits from lower costs, whether the product is software, trucks or televisions. A lower cost of production benefits businesses in particular and the public in general. Writing software in India is no different from manufacturing T-shirts in Guatemala or Jeeps in China. Can you imagine a T-shirt costing $50 rather than a tenth of this price?

      “Offshore software developers are not vetted for trustworthiness,” ONeill writes. This statement is ignorant and arrogant. Software companies, particularly in South Asia and Southeast Asia, are sensitive to this issue. Laws are on the books or are being written to tighten security in software development. As a matter of fact, the Asia Pacific Economic Council, of which the United States is a member, has a committee working on this very issue.

      In short, there are ample technical means to guarantee the security of sensitive data; implying lack of trustworthiness on the part of offshore software houses is a baseless insinuation.

      ONeill says executives who outsource are unable to exert management and oversight and are likely to find their capabilities for determining requirements are immature. Again, this reeks of arrogance. Of course, there is no substitute for in-person supervision, but surely ONeill must have heard of the phenomenon called the Internet. Day-to-day supervision of software development—and significant cost savings—is now possible through collaboration over the Web.

      ONeills think tank, and those who use its services, would be well-served to look into how we can be more productive by taking advantage of offshore resources where appropriate while using local resources to strengthen corporate defenses against threats such as hackers, worms and viruses.

      Protectionism is never an answer, no matter what the business is.

      Ben L. Faustino has worked in the IT industry for more than 30 years, including stints with IBM in Asia, Hewlett-Packard in the Philippines and AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, N.J. Faustino is an investor in two small software companies, one in the United States and one offshore. His e-mail address is fonitsua@reprowiz.com. Free Spectrum is a forum for the IT community. Send your comments to free_spectrum@ziffdavis.com.

      Ben Faustino

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×