A year of blogging on Offshoring IT Services
Over the long labor-day weekend, I was reflecting on my avtar as a corporate blogger, given that it has been a little over a year since we launched this blog.
The idea for this blog was seeded by Vijay of our corporate marketing group who asked if I wanted to explore some topics based on my book on a platform that would be a blank canvas available to me. I jumped at the opportunity.
During the course of the year, I have posted on various aspects of sourcing, offshoring and technology management. A few of my blog posts generated several comments and exchanges while others probably ended up in the blogsphere vaccum. As I continue to post, I muse on the business of technology sourcing.
The topics I continue to muse on
- Strategy vs. tactics of execution. Strategic ‘aha’ moments in offshoring are too few and far between while the daily grind of execution is what leads to execution excellence.
- ‘Research’ on offshoring and ‘sourcing models’ vs. just-do-it. Again a theme from above with a variation: there is lot more research on offshoring, globalization and sourcing being published by academia and thought leaders. I sometimes wonder if the cart is pulling the horse; i.e. is bulk of the ‘research’ just a collation of what those in the industry are already practicing… if not, the Good-to-great question (3.)
- What makes some offshoring (especially Tier-1) companies extremely successful, while the tier-2 and smaller players struggle to cut it. Going back to point 2.) if research from the field could be applied by other players, should the playing field not be level; yet?
- The (mythical) 'move up the value chain' for offshorers. The media and analysts seems to love this theme... but those in the industry sometimes wonder: what's new about moving-up? When do we call out when we have reached the top?
- Ongoing challenges in the industry: talent-wars, geopolitical challenges, legal challenges of globalization (including travel and visa restrictions). Of course, I will also continue to blog on some of the more tactical observations from the trenches.
Suggestions on topics you wish to see explored in further detail are more than welcome
Comments
Mohan, appreciate your thought process and knowledge in diverse areas. I think your blogs have been a good enabler to share the latest knowledge on information technology, sourcing, off shoring and technology management
It would be great if you could further explore the following topics ..you may have covered them
Emerging complexities in business models/strategies and its impact on IT & off shoring – Business is becoming more complex, due to globalization, mergers, acquisitions, newer markets opportunities etc. Business models are changing e.g increasingly manufacturing companies are outsourcing production to local parties. I think the impact of Business vision and change on IT is tremendous , there is talk about SOA , however the answer is not so simple and requires some strategic IT planning and execution . This is definitely going to change the way companies offshore IT work from work specific outsourcing to a more collaborative model ..Some other questions are does the offshore team share the same vision for business change?
Defining the next paradigm of IT off shoring – Best practices , Patents, Research & development, products etc …I strongly believe that a shift from IT services to products, patents , R&D driven organization requires a very different approach and strategy
Competitive Strategies for smaller IT off shoring companies – niche IT off shoring
Posted by: Chetan Bhor | September 11, 2007 12:40 AM
Thanks Chetan!
I will certainly build on some of these themes over the next few weeks.
- Mohan
Posted by: Mohan | September 14, 2007 01:22 PM