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IBM Chief: All CEOs Reluctant To Invest In R&D
theodp writes "In his Centennial Conversation at the Computer History Museum, IBM CEO Sam Palmisano emphasized the importance of investing in R&D, even in a down economy. 'Shareholder expectations for higher returns don't diminish when the economy stutters,' said Sam. 'And yet, Tom Watson Sr. actually increased research investment during the Great Depression.' Palmisano added, 'I will tell you that my own instinctive reflex isn't to continue investing $6 billion a year during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. In that regard, I'm like all CEOs.'"
I was surprised to see a story from theodp without a ton of links and screechy hyperbole, but then I looked at the original submission. Kudos to Soulskill for doing some editing.
Not only is the modern corporation and its CEO unwilling to pay for R&D, they are unwilling to pay for the Technical Debt of their existing systems.
Software developers who work in production support know they will only be able to fix individual defects that have been targeted by the business customers. So, any production system becomes a series of code compromises. Developers fix individual issues and never do a broad refactoring of the code base. So, when a developer comes to a page, sees it's a collection of compromise/hacks, there is no stomach from the business to taking the time to refactor the page. So, instead, the developer holds his nose and adds another hack. Horrible.
So, developers do the refactoring on the sly. If they are really honorable, they come in on their own time and implement architectural improvements on their own dime.
No one in business understands it idea of Technical Debt and the value in future bugs prevented of paying that debt off.
...that cannot think beyond the next quarter's profits. And hasn't that worked out well for the economy? We used to be a country of inventors and innovators. Now we're a country of servants and finance dickheads who neither invent or implement new technology. We went from a country of Hewletts and Packards to a country run by the likes of Carly Fiona.
Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
Gee, the quote in the summary makes it look like he's not in favor of R&D, but right after that he says "But I also know that if you fall behind, it becomes very difficult to catch up."
He also talks about the evolution of R&D "a deep commitment to both R and D means that it's not only important to innovate it's equally important to innovate how you innovate. "
In the end of course, like any long term investment, it take guts to spend on R&D when the returns are far from certain.
When there is an economic downturn it is due to the fact your current process of getting money is no longer viable. In order to change to a viable process of getting money you must start by looking for a new process. In the world of technology this requires researching technology.
Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.