[Info-vax] OpenVMS future directions - discussion topics

[William Pechter]

In article <ckh4mrFtf5nU1 at mid.individual.net>,
Bill Gunshannon <billg999 at cs.uofs.edu> wrote:
>In article <mbqfuo$k7m$1 at dont-email.me>,
>	David Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>> 
>> 
>> The most expensive way to develop software is to have an in-house staff.
>> 
>> A much more economical method is to have a "trusted" vendor with the 
>> expertise to produce what is required.
>> 
>
>This is the only part of this that got my goat.  It's hogwash.
>
>It's like the  logic that replaced E-3 and E-4 (that's Private and Corporal)
>GI's as gate guards with contracted civilians for a a financial "savings".
>
>The E-3 or E-4 earned $24K-$25K.  The contractor is paid $60K for the
>same job.  And that doesn't even touch on the cost of benefits for either
>of them.
>

Five bucks said the contract employee got at most $35k.
The rest went to the firm managing the contract, sales commissions for the
deal, corporate overhead.  

>And why is one considered "more economical"?  Not because of dollar value
>but because of the budget line item the money comes out of.  It is truly
>sad that the business world "learned" this from the government, a group
>that has never successfully run any business venture.  Expertise cost
>money, and if you have the work done out-of-house you are paying all of
>their non-related operating expenses as well, with no oversight (haven't
>you seen the Aspen Dental commercials about office expenses?)  And, their
>profit.  When I was a government contractor the cost of my contract to
>the government was 3 times what they would have paid a government employee
>to do the same job.  1/3 was my pay, 1/3 was the cost of my benefits and
>1/3 was profit to the company for the contract.  Tell me again how using
>an outsider is cheaper for any company beyond the 1-5 man shop.

The problem is getting a good person on the contract.  
Just because they promise quality staff doesn't mean they retain them.

I did some time as an employee at IBM Global Services in the '90's.
The best and the brightest got out of the on site stuff into management, 
presales etc. where they had a chance at getting bonuses...and raises and 
where they wouldn't have to deal with 24x7 operations waking them up. 
Not every week or two.  EVER.

>
>bill
>
>-- 
>Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
>billg999 at cs.scranton.edu |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
>University of Scranton   |
>Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>   

Bill

-- 
-- 
Digital had it then.  Don't you wish you could buy it now!
pechter-at-gmail.com  http://xkcd.com/705/