Forced to Refuse Software Projects?

Ashwin Megha's LinkedIn post here captures the challenge that leading IT companies are forced to forego commercial opportunities for challenges in onboarding talent. I have been speaking about the various facets there.

(a) Talent is in short supply because of the industry's shortsighted emphasis on bodyshopping and apathy towards technical talent.

(b) We do not have good teachers because they can get a higher pay as programmers. The education system suffers and students do not get good skills.

(c) Companies are in a mad rush after the rare tech talent under an incorrect presumption that only all star teams can deliver good software. Their pay structures get skewed because of that.

(d) The skewed pay structure and the hire-and-fire culture practised by companies converts loyal employees into opportunists, which results in high attrition rates and shallow skill levels.

This shortsightedness has its consequences.

Fortunately, some of these things can be fixed quickly and others can be fixed over time. I have experience of consulting companies and turning around their ailing projects in a short time. Most of the times, the problem is not where you are looking. I am confident that the companies can be helped to fix their delivery challenges rather than refuse work.