The Benefits of Global Thinking
Certain moments from childhood stick with you, either because they showed you what you didn’t want out of life or, if you’re lucky, what you did. It was December 1968. The country was at war in Vietnam and at war with itself, both facts which were hard to escape as colored images of the conflict flashed across our television screen each night. However, what I remember most from this era is not a country divided, but a world united. I can still picture myself as a twelve-year-old boy on the night of that historic Christmas Eve broadcast when America’s first human spaceflight to the Moon gave us cause to celebrate. Even as a child, I remember thinking how incredible it was to see the Earth from Apollo 8’s perspective, just a small, isolated blip on the vast screen of the universe. We’re all in this together, I mused, taking my first, tentative step toward the global mindset I espouse today.
I first shared this inspiration in the preface to my book, Software Without Borders. But I feel that it’s important to reiterate it here, especially for those who are new to the ideas that Accelerance promotes, or wary of the services it provides. Accelerance was born of the notion that we should embrace a more global business perspective and, specifically, take advantage of offshore resources to develop the software that American businesses need. Of course, the work we do continues to raise red flags for many people who view offshore outsourcing as an unquestionable evil. I could argue the point, but this is not the platform. Instead, I simply wish to share, from my experience, a few benefits to this approach.
Having been involved in several Silicon Valley start-ups in the early ‘90s, I know the decisions my clients face. Once, I had the task of building a small technical team, and my eyes were opened to how difficult this kind of recruiting really is. Wading through a huge mass of resumes, hiring people, and hoping they have the right chemistry to work together is not my idea of efficiency! But this is the reality: it takes months and months to select and train a team of programmers and get them to the point where they can be productive. Fortunately, we soon started using the services of another company, and I was introduced to the phenomenon of outsourcing, which eliminated nearly all the challenges typically associated with developing an onsite team. An instant team of experts at a low cost without the demands of training – what more could you ask for?
Naturally, offshore outsourcing presents its own set of challenges, such as communication and time zone and cultural differences. Their impact may not be minor; however, if you can learn how to overcome them, you will also learn how time- and cost-effective your investment is. You will be thrilled at the wide selection of international vendors who can provide the skills and services you need so that your company can refocus on its core competencies. And it is my belief that you will gain a sense of personal satisfaction at having reached beyond our domestic borders and made a connection with greater humanity. After all, we do share this remarkable planet.
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