Does Outsourcing Programming Really Save Money?

itwbennett writes "In a blog post titled 'Why I Will Never Feel Threatened by Cheap Overseas Programming', John Larson tells the story of a startup that shipped its initial programming to India, paying $14 per hour, with predictably disastrous results. Larson concludes: 'I have yet to see a project done overseas at that sort of hourly rate that has actually gone well.' But in this not-uncommon tale of outsourcing woe, is the problem really with the programming or with unrealistic expectations?" The comments on Larson's blog post (originally titled "Why I Will Never Feel Threatened by Programmers in India") seem to me more valuable than the post itself.

Comments

I outsourced this first post!

[Anonymous Coward]

Seems to work ok.

Re:I outsourced this first post!

[Darinbob]

I had someone laugh for me.

Re:Agree

[Overzeetop]

Naw, the exchange rate sucks.

Re:Outsourced Programming Flaws

[vlm]

That shows a failure of the American programmer, not a problem with Indian programmers.
1) Why can't an American lie? Liars expect people to lie, management, especially upper management, requires sociopath tendencies which equals lying, so, freaking lie about it to keep the boss happy. If a guy in India who just graduated school can claim 10 years C++ experience, why can't I claim 20 years? I have "CCIE-level" experience although not a CCIE. Actually, in the restricted arena of BGP I probably do, but I'm lost in switching. If I know its a BGP job, and the boss doesn't care if I lie, and the competition in India will lie ... why not? Sure, boss, I'll be a CCIE.
2) The boss likes "needy" "unempowered" employees. So do it. Ask him dumb questions constantly to keep his tiny little ego boosted. Whats so hard about that?
3) Tell the boss it'll take longer, and F off more. Again, whats the problem, you worried you'll wear out the foosball table or what?
4) Don't worry about needing handholding or spending more time on rework than initial development. Just do it. The boss likes it; or he wouldn't be going to India where they do it all the time.
5) Leave for greener pastures as soon as possible, preferably before the project crashes and burns.

The price is "too low" for a american programmer because the boss is hiring incompetents in India. OK, the problem isn't the american can't get hired for an "incompetent" level job at $1/hr, the problem is the american is supposed to be applying for high paying high end architect and management jobs, which he can't do because he's only a programmer, but then again, the indians can't program, so its all kind of even in a way. And if thats they way the man wants it, thats the way the man gets it.

This all seems to be "programmer getting frustrated trying to make and enforce management decisions while not being in a position of management authority". Just zen up a bit and go with the flow of reality. If the boss wants incompetent liars, don't whine about it, either become the boss and demand something else, or become an incompetent liar, or work elsewhere. Its simple, really.

Re:You get what you pay for

[1s44c]

PLEASE let Microsoft move to India. Then it really will be year of the Linux Desktop.

Re:Faulty Reasoning

[compro01]

Available evidence suggests you can sell an unfinished program just fine.

Down and out

[Rocky Mudbutt]

I was the "Down" in Downsized, I was the "Out" in Outsourced. That made me down and out.
I wanted to be the "Laid" in Laid Off but but my wife gave me "The Look".

Re:Faulty Reasoning

[lightknight]

I'm trying to grasp the mental gymnastics involved in going from owning a color laser to leasing one. Was any drinking involved? Did any of the male executives suddenly spring out of their office smelling like the leasing company's female representative?