Outsourcing software development to China
The US is both fascinated and fearful of China. We see it as a source of unlimited labor, while we hear of rampant intellectual piracy, fake infant formula, lead paint in children’s toys, and other horrors. Americans want to tap into that labor pool and get our products (both physical and intellectual) made while avoiding all the pitfalls.
This can be done, but it requires a few things on our part.
- We must recognise and respect that China has a different culture than America or Europe.
- Though some Chinese try to put out bad and cheaply made products, there are many other Chinese people who pride themselves on doing good work.
- We cannot think of China as an American colony, a source of cheap labor that we can exploit for our benefit without regard to the Chinese people. Many other nations, including Britain and Japan, have tried to do this and have seen its consequences.
- Constant good communication is critical. Misunderstandings happen within American companies, so the chance of misunderstanding increases when working with people in another culture.
I will write more about these points and many other aspects of creating software in China in this blog. Stay tuned.