Master technology first; be a manager later: Infosys
By
siliconindia news bureau
| |
Bangalore: Infosys Technologies has decided that its staffers must have at least six years experience in technology responsibilities before being asked to head a project. This is the latest move in a process that began 18 months earlier, after clients had complained that its project heads didn't seem to have enough of technological skills. This requirement is in turn, because of the industry's high growth, and the pace of attrition in the sector.

Many employees were being given managerial responsibilities within three to four years of joining, reports Business Standard. However, from last month, all freshers joining the company will have to compulsorily stay focused on technology for the first six years of their career. After this, they will have to choose to either grow vertically as a techie or take up managerial responsibilities.
Infosys says that this new strategy, termed 'iRace,' aims to re-map the technology skills of its software professionals and offer them roles based on their current level of experience and technological know-how. It appears to have already had some adverse effect, for a section of employees in the junior and middle levels are understood to have resigned.
"Because of the high growth in the industry, people were being given managerial responsibilities within three to four years, making clients return to us and complain about the lack of their technology skills. We have now re-mapped the efficiency of our employees, as a result of which some high performers have been mapped upwards, while others have stayed in their previous positions," says Nandita Gurjar, Group Head for Human Resources. By doing so, Infosys will be able to meet the clients' requirements in a much better manner.
To make the task smoother, Infosys has created 25 career streams. An employee who does not wish to take up managerial roles but stay focused on technology has to identify positions like technical architect and technical lead till he goes up the ladder to become the Unit Technology Manager (UTO), a position the company just created. Henceforth, all 13 business units of the company will have UTOs, who will directly report to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the company.
Infosys started the exercise almost 18 months earlier, following an internal assessment by consulting agency, Mercer. Based on the results, the company decided to implement what Gurjar terms a 'role structuring.' Industry insiders concur that when the IT sector was booming and demand was high, people with very little experience were being given roles of project managers or technical leads, as it was difficult for the company to get experienced people. However, with the greater supply of trained resources, especially in the wake of the economic recession, most Indian IT companies are busy redefining the roles.
"We have seen people becoming project managers with less than six years of experience, whereas in most global companies, especially product companies, project manager is a big role. A person who manages projects in those companies should have at least 14-15 years of experience, which helps him handle multiple projects and customers at a time.

Many employees were being given managerial responsibilities within three to four years of joining, reports Business Standard. However, from last month, all freshers joining the company will have to compulsorily stay focused on technology for the first six years of their career. After this, they will have to choose to either grow vertically as a techie or take up managerial responsibilities.
Infosys says that this new strategy, termed 'iRace,' aims to re-map the technology skills of its software professionals and offer them roles based on their current level of experience and technological know-how. It appears to have already had some adverse effect, for a section of employees in the junior and middle levels are understood to have resigned.
"Because of the high growth in the industry, people were being given managerial responsibilities within three to four years, making clients return to us and complain about the lack of their technology skills. We have now re-mapped the efficiency of our employees, as a result of which some high performers have been mapped upwards, while others have stayed in their previous positions," says Nandita Gurjar, Group Head for Human Resources. By doing so, Infosys will be able to meet the clients' requirements in a much better manner.
To make the task smoother, Infosys has created 25 career streams. An employee who does not wish to take up managerial roles but stay focused on technology has to identify positions like technical architect and technical lead till he goes up the ladder to become the Unit Technology Manager (UTO), a position the company just created. Henceforth, all 13 business units of the company will have UTOs, who will directly report to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the company.
Infosys started the exercise almost 18 months earlier, following an internal assessment by consulting agency, Mercer. Based on the results, the company decided to implement what Gurjar terms a 'role structuring.' Industry insiders concur that when the IT sector was booming and demand was high, people with very little experience were being given roles of project managers or technical leads, as it was difficult for the company to get experienced people. However, with the greater supply of trained resources, especially in the wake of the economic recession, most Indian IT companies are busy redefining the roles.
"We have seen people becoming project managers with less than six years of experience, whereas in most global companies, especially product companies, project manager is a big role. A person who manages projects in those companies should have at least 14-15 years of experience, which helps him handle multiple projects and customers at a time.
Reader's comments(14)
1: But I am wondering if any body in IT having
less than of 6 yr of experience becomes
Manager.
It seems this news been misinterpreted. As some one has commented may be the manager they are talking about is PMO.
But if the news is talking about software project manager then it is absolutely true that there are huge number of manager in IT who is heading the project, but does have enough technical knowledge. And if Infosys is working to streamline the process ie manager should be knowledgeable(technically), it should be appreciated. I emphasise that Manager should be technical sound along with his managerial skills.
There are lot of business analyst in IT industry who become the manager without technical knowledge.
It is their mindset that manager not necessarily to be technically efficient. If such process (implemented by Infosys) is initiated then definitely all manager aspirant will work towards technical growth as well.
Mr Nripa
It seems this news been misinterpreted. As some one has commented may be the manager they are talking about is PMO.
But if the news is talking about software project manager then it is absolutely true that there are huge number of manager in IT who is heading the project, but does have enough technical knowledge. And if Infosys is working to streamline the process ie manager should be knowledgeable(technically), it should be appreciated. I emphasise that Manager should be technical sound along with his managerial skills.
There are lot of business analyst in IT industry who become the manager without technical knowledge.
It is their mindset that manager not necessarily to be technically efficient. If such process (implemented by Infosys) is initiated then definitely all manager aspirant will work towards technical growth as well.
Mr Nripa
Posted by: Nripa - 14 Nov, 2009
2: I want to know how they came up with six? why
not 4 or 7 :)
Posted by: ravi - 13 Nov, 2009
3: Well, if most s/w companies follow this
trend, then what effect will it have on
freshers with a tech. degree + MBA(done
directly after graduation) ?
Posted by: Vivek - 13 Nov, 2009
4: Thank God .. Finally an Indian service based
company took this step. Hopefully other
companies can learn a lesson from Infy by
which we can get a better Indian IT market.
Posted by: Debasis - 13 Nov, 2009

5:This is the first time it is happening that
the capability of a person is getting
measured in terms of experiance. If this
methodology is true than all those who just
simply join their parent's venture will
simply make the severe tailspin in the
company's growth. I dont understand that how
come management come up with such ideas which
has no logical reason. Infact it is all good
to say. Can any one tell me the name of one
company who promoted anyone with three years
of experiance as PM. Peoples with genuine
experiance of more than 8-10 years and having
experiance in multiple industry type still
struggling for PM as title. They might be
doing the role of PMO but not having the
title. Higher (No one knows how much higher)
management expect us to perform and justify,
but whatever we do, they never get justified.
End of the day, it is our job responsibility
to get exploited
Garg replied to: Debasis
post - 13 Nov, 2009
post - 13 Nov, 2009

6:Dear Debasis,
Infosys - has very little leadership to offer to other organizational structure - borrowed garments never fit well - Infosys is trying run a school - Sudha Murthy was a teacher - she will be Head Mistress of the new school.
We know they are a no go - Infosys. Wait and watch.......
Bantwal Srinivas pradeep nayak
Infosys - has very little leadership to offer to other organizational structure - borrowed garments never fit well - Infosys is trying run a school - Sudha Murthy was a teacher - she will be Head Mistress of the new school.
We know they are a no go - Infosys. Wait and watch.......
Bantwal Srinivas pradeep nayak
Bantwal Srinivas pradeep Nayak replied to: Debasis
post - 13 Nov, 2009
post - 13 Nov, 2009
7: So joining infosys before 6 years of
experience means same 10k - 20k salary per
month. Wage of a beggar in USA
Posted by: Animesh - 13 Nov, 2009

8:Why do U guys in the USA feel that 10K-20K
salary is pittance.. Keep ur high wages to
yourself because that is becoming the root
cause of this consumer malice in Bharath, a
malice that has already destroyed America....
Shiva replied to: Animesh
post - 13 Nov, 2009
post - 13 Nov, 2009

9: The question is not salary but skills and the
way outsourcing is being handled .. Its a big
mess .. client is forced to outsource at the
time of crisis .. and certain companies who
recruit in thousands and run factories out of
nothing makes good money ..Will it work for
long ?
OK .. no more grimes..now suggestion:
1.Employer should stat giving respect and value deserved by Software engineer ( even if someone is fresher )
2.Evaluate and verify individual's interest and performance to move up in career. Most of us just don't like what we do .. things can be better if employer takes serious note of individual preferences..
Making some 5 or 6 exp mandatory for managerial role is not going to help ...Its more about capability and opportunities given rather than yrs of experience
Above are my personal observation,other may differ and welcome to argue.
OK .. no more grimes..now suggestion:
1.Employer should stat giving respect and value deserved by Software engineer ( even if someone is fresher )
2.Evaluate and verify individual's interest and performance to move up in career. Most of us just don't like what we do .. things can be better if employer takes serious note of individual preferences..
Making some 5 or 6 exp mandatory for managerial role is not going to help ...Its more about capability and opportunities given rather than yrs of experience
Above are my personal observation,other may differ and welcome to argue.
Anuj replied to: Shiva
post - 14 Nov, 2009
post - 14 Nov, 2009

10: For the amount these companies are billing
their clients 10k -20k is a meagre salary
compared the amount of work extorted. These
companies have degraded programming and
engineering to such a low extent , that
programmers and engineers don't carry the
value they deserve.
Aravind replied to: Shiva
post - 13 Nov, 2009
post - 13 Nov, 2009

11:Only people who are not well aware, compares
salary in USA to salary in India. These are
two different countries with 2 different
economic structures & social system. So
comparing salary is meaningless. This is
probably one of the reasons why Infosys
decided not to promote kids as Manager. India
should bump down salary in both government
& private sectors. Software for exports,
should pay their employees three times the
government sector employees in similar level.
And software companies catering to local
markets should pay their employees two times
the gross paid in government sectors. MNC's
should be regulated with this policies also.
If someone wants US salary they should go to
US and earn it.
brahma replied to: Animesh
post - 13 Nov, 2009
post - 13 Nov, 2009
12: Ooops, it took infosys several years to
discover that experience and technical skills
come first? My god, how much did they pay to
come to this point of wisdom?
Posted by: matthias - 13 Nov, 2009
13: This is a smart move. Its true. And its good
that the company pays heed to its clients
complaints
Posted by: dona - 13 Nov, 2009

14:Good move, it is good to understand the
technology behind projects before managing
it, it helps with better decision making and
developing time line estimates.
bi_buff replied to: dona
post - 13 Nov, 2009
post - 13 Nov, 2009
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