Divakara K. Udupa, E-mail: [email protected]
Outside India, we are pioneers in almost all fields. We excel everywhere except in our own country! We have missed so many technological revolutions and opportunities ending up in most of the cases as followers or “also ran.” However, in IT industry, especially in the software sector, we have a chance to become a superpower provided we act fast in the right direction.
In the late eighties and early nineties, Japanese companies were in a buying spree in the US and other countries. It appeared that Japanese had overtaken the US and are about to economically conquer the world. This wake-up call led to massive and merciless restructuring and reengineering of the US companies. As a result, most of the US companies have regained their leadership positions. GE and IBM are classical examples of turning around of huge companies and they are slowly adding employees to the payrolls. Ultimately, these powerhouses makeup and represent nations. We have to learn from them on what it takes to move into excellence.
In math, science and analytical skills, we have an edge over others. In hard work and innovations, we are second to none. Unfortunately, we lack the ability, focus, determination and persistence to manage, market and leverage our strengths to our advantage. In addition, some of our professionals have an attitude problem. This is a hangover from the socialist era. It is difficult for some to change with the time!
The engines to drive us to superpower status are excellence of employees and management in IT companies and innovative products. Here, the educators, IT companies, and policy makers each have a role to play. Educators need to stress on excellence and professionalism in the students they produce. Unless the foundation is strong, it is difficult for companies to mould them into excellent professionals.
IT industry is highly dynamic and competitive. Things change at a fast pace. This requires extra caution, vigilance and quick reaction on the part of the management and employees. So, only those, who continuously educate themselves and keep up-to-date, have to be leaders. We should become obsessed with excellence instead of obsession with job security and status quo. Employees need to have a positive attitude to work and changes.
Professionalism is very important. Professionalism requires solid technical skills and very good communication skills with sound ethics and values. Unless these professionals have sound ethics and values, few people will trust us. It is difficult to grow in business without the trust factor.
As we are lucky to have an unlimited regular supply of IT graduates coming out of our professional colleges, we can afford to continuously filter out the incompetent, out-of-date and problematic employees and replace them with new recruits from colleges. As a matter of fact, new college graduates bring with them new ideas and up-to-date knowledge. These basic essentials inject dynamism into companies and keep them current. Bottom line is that we have to stress on excellence in management and employees.
Slowly, our current export product mix of on-site consultancy services and low-end services such as technical support, call centres, maintenance etc. has to expand to include system integration, software packages, high-end consultancy services, hardware and so on.
These days, it has become difficult for industries to undertake R&D activities unlike earlier days. To reach and sustain superpower status, it is essential to have a close collaboration between the industry, educational institutions and research laboratories. The educators, researchers and leaders of IT industry must lobby to extract maximum amount for research from the government to our educational institutions and research laboratories. The funding has to be supplemented from the industry.
Financial institutions and venture capitalists can accelerate the progress in the IT industry by taking more calculated risks. It is an accepted fact that IT industry has prospered as our politicians and bureaucrats did not have much idea of what was going on. So, our policy makers can be facilitators at best. In the worst scenario, if they cannot contribute, they can continue to remain on the sidelines as silent spectators.
The advantages of achieving IT superpower status are enormous. Globally, IT industry will be an all encompassing industry with a high growth rate and ever increasing potential. As per Goldman Sachs, global IT services market is expected to reach $585 billion in 2004 with our share being a mere five percent. If we progressively increase our share, it will translate into more job opportunities and the employees can aspire to better salaries, status and financial security. IT people and industry can share the wealth with the less privileged. They can contribute to the financially starved social causes and can play a positive and decisive role in nation building.
The Economic Times, February 11, 2002.