BEE and skills shortage: Two sides of the same coin

While black economic empowerment (BEE) is a corporate imperative, the process of transformation and the shortage of so-called previously disadvantaged skilled workers in the technology industry can pose serious challenges for CIOs.

That`s according to Wade Gomes, Compuware SA managing director, who points out that having to meet BEE targets is often seen as compounding the cost reduction, improved quality, timely delivery and service level management challenges faced by corporate technology managers in 2003.

"The three-in-the-morning waking nightmare that all too many company CIOs face today is having to deal with these pressing issues with a shortage of skilled staff. There`s a perception that BEE requirements just makes things worse," says Gomes.

"However, this need not be the case. In fact, the skills shortage is a global phenomenon and SA companies deal with this regardless of the existence of BEE programmes or charters. And the only effective way to deal with a skills shortage is to accelerated skills transfer to the unskilled or lesser skilled."

According to Gomes, Compuware can help to maximise the value of available skills by automating many crucial IT tasks such as application testing, speeding application development through model-driven development, and reducing the cost of running IT while improving application quality.

"As a software provider focused on delivering products and services designed to increase productivity, Compuware creates practical solutions to meet customers` needs and surpass their expectations.

Compuware encourages and actively participates in creating diversity as a core component of providing these solutions. "We believe in vigorous BEE programmes, but recognise that bridging the skills gap is a significant challenge. In providing automated software development and quality assurance solutions, we are contributing towards helping South African businesses meet their skills - and BEE - challenges," concludes Gomes.