The Offshoring Debate

It never goes over well at parties, but a dose of reality is always a good thing. At least, that's what I tell people as they walk away.

Yes, I am usually that guy at the party. The one who doesn't pipe in with more of the same. I can't help it. Call me unemotional. I just tend to look at situations by the numbers. Plus, I don't mind the occasional debate as long as it gets both sides thinking.

LARRY HOOPER Can be reached via e-mail at lrhooper@cmp.com.

The last time it happened was at the CMP Channel Group's XChange Solution Provider conference in San Diego. I was talking to a group of VARs who were lamenting about the hiring situation. They all were complaining that they were having trouble finding technical people. And a funny thing happened. I brought up India.

I was listening. All three men specifically mentioned software development as a problem. It's not as if I suggested offshoring the sales process.

But all three dismissed it outright. Not an option. I was surprised. Was it a control issue? Was it a quality issue? Logistics?

I can see a person who runs a single-site shop being uncomfortable with sending work halfway around the world to be done in the middle of the night. If you are used to watching everything right under your nose, it might be too big of a change for you. But that wasn't it.

I also could understand and support a quality argument if that was an issue. But no, that wasn't it, either.

Well then, it must be logistics. But even logistics didn't seem to be the challenge that kept them from offshoring. Sure, there would be some logistical challenges, but those could be worked out without too much trouble, they said. That wasn't the problem.

As I pushed, the conversation became more emotional. Despite the fact that these men were having trouble finding, hiring and keeping competent developers, they simply would not consider sending the work to India. The very idea was wrong to them. Wrong.

And it wasn't just India. It was wrong to send jobs overseas. So there it was. These three men were doing their part to keep jobs in America, even if it crippled their businesses in the long run. I guess you could call that noble.

But I have to wonder if their customers are doing the same.

What's your take on offshoring? Send me an e-mail at lrhooper@cmp.com, or post your comments in the forums at crn.com.