Jim Dodd

Bristol

System Architect

I work in a large mobile phone company with extensive in house developed systems. Due to an ongoing process of outsourcing we have all had to increasingly develop project management and BA skills alongside use of our core technical knowledge. In lots of ways I agree that the days of technical people being able to live inside a world of almost academic isolation is over. However even in a company that uses offshore partners extensively excellent technical skills still seem important. The business units that have radically deskilled are now a significant source of technical problems and cause constant bottle necks to business processes. Departments that have retained a knowledge base and hands on skills and work well with offshore partners are measurably more effective and clearly deliver better results. Although companies may not need large numbers of technical people, it is still important that they don't become 'water empires' whereby they are incapable of understanding their own IT infrastructure and guiding their outsourcing colleagues. Given the small number of capable technical people inside some UK companies, I would suggest some caution about annoying your remaining talent. You might live to regret it.