Hard working, highly productive and well motivated is how South African IT professionals are viewed internationally - and the global demand for those highly skilled in IT is high and on the increase. The worldwide IT talent shortage is one that South Africans can address, not only with world-class candidates who set a new standard in work ethics, but often at competitive rates.
The business opportunity tempting international companies in need of highly skilled IT personnel, says CCH Software Development MD Derek Hughes, is to take advantage of South Africa`s status and reputation as a high-tech country that provides its people with solid IT training, education and experience.
Recognising these advantages, US and UK companies are eager to snap up the country`s best young talent. This represents a challenge to local employers, who run the risk of becoming victims of international head-hunters - a threat that is extremely difficult to couteract.
CCH Software Development, however, has tapped into this trend and turned it to advantage by offering its young talent the opportunity to work overseas on large development projects in the US and UK for fixed periods of time.
For example, CCH enjoys a partnership with Computer Management USA, which encompasses the provision of consultancy, project management, development and support to their American clients. Although customer engagement occurs in the US and the bulk of the development is completed in South Africa, on-site resources are regularly required by the Florida-based company.
"We provide a skilled resource pool in the form of talented individuals to assist Computer Management in engaging its clients," says Dave Carson, business manager in CCH Software Development`s KwaZulu-Natal office. "Our role is to provide Oracle- and Java-skilled resources to assist with and facilitate development, and thereafter to provide consulting support for their clients."
Typically the CCH Software Development staff interface directly with the client to provide a wide range of services including analysis, development, database design and administration, and in some cases, even guidance on improving the capability of the client`s IT team.
"It`s a win-win-win-win relationship," says Carsons, "Computer Management USA knows it can trust us to deliver, and the level of professionalism, dedication and work quality provided is superior to the norm experienced in the US. Its clients win because we do the job well and at a highly competitive cost; CCH benefits from an international contract at improved margins; and our staff benefit through international experience, career growth and great travel opportunities under the safety net of a secure job."
Doesn`t CCH Software Development harbour fears of losing its young talent to the lure of international opportunity? On the contrary, says Hughes: "We have a pragmatic approach - if a person wants to leave or thinks he will get better experience elsewhere, he is bound to leave anyway. What we offer is an opportunity for our staff to see the world - through CCH. It`s a powerful retention strategy: they`re able to develop their own personal career growth through international exposure while satisfying personal travel aspirations - without formally having to leave South Africa.
"In this way we`re able to keep young talent within South Africa. While they are temporarily unavailable to the local market, we will retain them in the long run as assets of the company and the country," concludes Hughes.
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