SHORT-TERM THINKING and the slavish following of industry trends could cost Australia’s next generation of information and communications technology (ICT) professionals thousands of jobs, according to industry’s peak body, the Australian Computer Society (ACS)
SHORT-TERM THINKING and the slavish following of industry trends could cost Australia’s next generation of information and communications technology (ICT) professionals thousands of jobs, according to the industry’s peak body, the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
While the industry has often been perceived as trend junkies preoccupied by the latest technology fad or management trend, ACS president Edward Mandla said innovation and reinvention were the lifeblood of the industry.
“We must never lose sight of the human side of the business and the human cost behind some of our decisions,” he said.
“In the next five years thousands of jobs will be lost to overseas countries. As an industry and as a community, we can’t afford to take these sorts of decisions lightly.”
Speaking from the ACS’ governing council meeting in Canberra, Mandla announced a range of new policies, including a call for the industry and Government to take greater action on the issue of the sending ICT jobs offshore.
The ACS said the Government should develop guidelines for Commonwealth departments and agencies which take into account an offshoring cost-benefit checklist developed by the ACS, and then publicly endorse the checklist for Australian companies.
The society also called on the government to improve and enhance access to existing schemes for re-skilling and re-training of unemployed ICT professionals.
“We’re not asking for protectionism, just prudence,” Mandla said.
“We’re calling on the industry, the Government and the Australian community to wake up and pay attention to this issue. We need to weigh up the real price of our decisions – not just today, but in 10 years time.”
The ACS council also passed resolutions on internet use, and called on all employers to develop or review internet use policy and practices as a matter of urgency.
The society recommended that these should take into consideration industry-specific standards of business conduct, and strictly prevent the transmission of any material which may discriminate against, harass, offend or vilify colleagues.
The council also said companies should be legally responsible for any communication, including email, which is sent from a company system.
