Well, here is another post.  This post addresses general modelling as well as software outsourcing, so I hope the editors do not come after me.

"think globally, act locally".  My brother once explained to me, that there are those in this world that try to figure out how to maximize quality of life for everybody, then they take their place in that world.  Then there are those who just try to figure out how to maximize quality of life for themselves.  Compounding this problem, is those who define "quality of life" in a way that if everyone on the planet had one we could not sustain it.  I like to think I am part of that first camp - but in truth I am more schizophrenic depending on how negative my bank account is.    We all sit somewhere on that continuum or in multiple places. Regardless of where you sit, "thou shalt atone with the global reality".  Some who sit on the "me first" end of the continuum may use every device of "the art of war" to accomplish their advantage.  But eventually greed and wars and all that come back to roost.  And who wants to live a world where you are at war all the time.

Well, I typically get a call a week and at least 10 emails offering me outsourced software development services.  And these folks are organized and speak good english.  As well, our main competitor operates out of Ontario and is named SiberLogic - all of their development is outsourced to Siberia - I always imagine Russians with high IQs carefully building great features for $8 per hour.  As well, local entrepreneurs constantly advise me to outsource.

So, on occasion I ask myself how we are going to live in million dollar houses or condos in Vancouver and still develop software.  The answer, in the short term, is western countries have their own economy (which is currently taking a shit kicking - and it is not just a housing crisis) so you have to find a place on the trickle down teat of that economy and hope it doesn't dry up.  But more and more, capitalists in those Western countries are outsourcing then selling those goods into the Western economy thus maximizing profitability (or allowing survival) - especially in tough times.  There is a certain ecology to this...

I think our job is to creatively "atone" using the organization units of person, company, city, province and country.  "Times they are a changing", and it is more fun to be in step with the times than out of step.  The important thing is that the change happens at a pace that is manageable.  If you don't adjust, you will be adjusted.  Unfortunately, I think western economies are "getting adjusted" now.  There are other global adjustments too tho. 

We have to figure out how to measure quality of life Q.  My model is thus Q is Quality, M is Misery:

grossQ = WorldPopulation * individualQ;

grossM = WorldPopulation * individualQ;

netQ = grossQ - grossM;

(semicolons are optional)

(I am told, these little formulas play loose with the branch of philosophy called ethics :) )

For example, does anyone want to live in China.  Does China have the right ecology?  The overal ecololgy is dictated by many factors" cultural, environmental, political - how does China compare to Vancouver on these factors?  Obviously the Chinese have to take their local organizational units and "think globally, act locally".  And unfortunately, if the other end of the continuum prevails - we have to be ready to defend ourselves - but that prospect is less likely if we are willing to have open global discourse on the "elephant in the room".

From time to time we need to talk about the elephant in the room - that way we can avoid being trampelled.  Others smile smugley as they attend full time to their empires and think there goes another hopeless idealist who will pick up a stray bullet as the inevitable bullets fly.

Now, back to writing that code.

(These opinions represent the views of Jim Tivy personally and in no way should be associated with organizations that Jim Tivy is a member.)

Jim Tivy