Mailbag

I have gotten several emails, and what I thought I would do is collect them for a few weeks and then do a mailbag posting to answer some of the questions received.  Many good questions received - so keep sending them. 

Q.  What do you think of the Wisconsin smoke free law?
A.  I am trying to keep this blog technical in nature, how it pertains to information technology.  But I do appreciate the question.  I believe as Americans we all have the liberty to make choices.  Business owners should be able to make choices, and as a customer/consumer - we can make choices.  If I want a smoke free environment to eat my dinner, then I will make a choice as to what establishment I will spend my money at.  Today it is smoking, tomorrow it will be soda, food - where does it stop?  Is this really the government's place to dictate?  I think it crosses a sacred line and opens the door for future controls that take away our liberty. 

Q. What is your opinion on the Arizona Immigration Law?
A.  I am trying to keep this blog technical in nature, how it pertains to information technology. But I do appreciate the question.  I will continue to do business in Arizona and I believe we need tighter controls at our borders.  I don't support any boycotts.

Q. What is your opinion on IT offshoring - particular North Korea?
A.  Do we not have the talent in America to provide this service or knowledge?  That is right, it is cheaper - right?  Do we, as consumers really want our data offshore?  Do these countries have the same privacy, protection and copyright laws?  Is our sensitive data really secure offshore? 

IDG News Service — Think of North Korea, and repression, starvation and military provocation are probably the first things that come to mind. But beyond the geopolitical posturing, North Korea has also been quietly building up its IT industry.

Universities have been graduating computer engineers and scientists for several years, and companies have recently sprung up to pair the local talent with foreign needs, making the country perhaps the world's most unusual place for IT outsourcing.

With a few exceptions, such as in India, outsourcing companies in developing nations tend to be small, with fewer than 100 employees, said Paul Tija, a Rotterdam-based consultant on offshoring and outsourcing. But North Korea already has several outsourcers with more then 1,000 employees.

"The government is putting an emphasis on building the IT industry," he said. "The availability of staff is quite large."

At present, the country's outsourcers appear to be targeting several niche areas, including computer animation, data input and software design for mobile phones. U.S. government restrictions prevent American companies from working with North Korean companies, but most other nations don't have such restrictions.

So given this country's unstable government, communist environment, cyber threats and bad behavior - why would we want to have our IT development, or offshore staff in this country?  We have to stop managing by spreadsheet and take a good look at what we are doing with our data, skills, and employees.  Ask yourself, is this decision good for the company?  Employee? Customer?  If you can't say yes to all 3 - stop and take a look at it again. 
 
Keep postive and engaged!
 
Scott Arnett
scott.arnett@charter.net