"Software Engineer" and "Softician"
Monday, October 19, 2009
We all know the difference between a technologist/engineer and a technician.
No one confuses the skill set (and the compensation levels) of an electrical engineer with that of an electrician, or of a mechanic with that of a mechanical engineer.
Similar distinctions will emerge between “Software Engineers” and “Softicians” with development technology getting commoditized.
It is anybody’s guess as to whether this shift happens in the next 2 years or it takes 10 years.
When I first wrote about this last year (see the article – of engineers and mechanics), it looked like a distant future.
Last week I met two folks, both engineers with seemingly same but in reality different skill sets and with different growth prospects.
A software engineer with 5 years experience who has been able to go beyond the basic coding level, and a bright programmer with 2 years experience with a solid understanding of fundamentals who can develop complex code.
he salary level of both were very different, and the job prospects for both in current market situations were very different too.
The hiring patterns for software engineers too seem to be changing.
I think the shift will happen more sooner than later.
posted by Anirudh Joshi @ 2:59 AM,
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I (don't) get email, therefore I am (not)!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A friend of mine was unhappy and upset for 6 months because he said he was overworked and got 200 mails every day.
He changed his job, moved to another company and now he is again very unhappy. He feels under-utilsied and complains that he hardly gets any emails.
Another friend of mine, who is a master of the art of politicking in corporate jungle, is very sensitive about when he is or is not marked on an email.
When I see the light on my blackberry glow, I rush to see who has sent that latest mail.
I complain about emails wanting a quick action, or more mails than necessary, but I must admit that I miss it when I get no or very few emails sometimes in a few hours.
It is interesting how our sense of identity has got so closely entwined with the emails we send and receive, how many and when and from whom.
If Descartes was alive today, he would change his statement “I think, therefore I am”
to " I get email, therefore I am".
posted by Anirudh Joshi @ 9:42 AM,
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Tail that wags the dog....
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Many enterprises today have unwieldy IT departments who have a hetrogeneous infrastructure and application landscape accumulated over a period of time.
Of all the large IT departments I have come across so far, two challenges seem paramount and common amongst all.
First - A large percentage of the IT budgets are still spent on “keep the lights on” expenditure with lesser scope than desirable for innovation or transformation related projects.
Second -The disconnect between business priorities and IT spend. Often the IT systems are not really aligned to business priorities and business processes have to be realigned to fit with IT systems.
IT departments in these enterprises are akin to the “tail that wags the dog”.
As the economy goes through the tough times, enterprises will take this problem head on.
So as the dog decides to take control and wag the tail, we will start seeing a significant shift in the way businesses prioritise their IT spends and force IT to get aligned to busienss realities.
posted by Anirudh Joshi @ 1:53 AM,
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Are we out of the woods yet?
There seems to be a sense of relief as markets report positive signs and we hear talk of recovery being just round the corner.
I am not sure if the relief is from a knowledge of busines environment improving at a fundamental level or is it due to a break in the economic slide and a mixture of hope and wishful thinking.
The global economic scenario is like an Olympic athelete who has been doing very well for the last 10 years with people having been used to a stellar performacne at every game.
Let us say this athelete met with a fatal accident in terms of global recession and everyone was scared for a while if he will survive or not. Everyone waited with bated breath while the athelete battled with life in the ICU for a few months, almost a year.
It seems that he has now survived, has come out of the ICU and is reporting normal signs for last few weeks.
The fears of his death were so high that markets and people are jubiliant upon his survival.
However as he regains his energy, it will take time for the realisation to sink in that the athelete may have suffered damages which might be permanent.
The twin legs which powered the atehlete, availiblity of easy money and high consumption in US and Europe, have taken a big hit and he has almost lost both the legs in this recession.
It is theoretically possible that atehlete may turn into a super star singer, let us say if emerging economies drive the demand in future, or the world finds alternatives to easier money, but it not a certainity.
So where do we stand exactly?
Here are my 2 cents
Has the haemorrhage stopped....looks like it…has the recovery started…maybe, how soon will we see growth levels of days before the pre lehman bust …not for a long time now.
posted by Anirudh Joshi @ 1:47 AM,
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