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Shilpa Pai Mizar

Indian software companies are discovering that their reputation helps attract talent in an aggressive Chinese job market.

China today is a land of opportunity for young Chinese. Most employers are forced to offer something special to woo the picky graduate — be it a joint venture with a multinational or a trip abroad. Given this scenario, when Wipro Technologies began work on its development centre in Shanghai last year, Masaki Nagao, CEO - Japan and China Operations, had few problems with recruitment.

As Indian software companies make a beeline to China, they are discovering that their reputation is helping attract talent in an aggressive job market. Says Shal Xiaowen, a 27-year-old analyst at Satyam's Shanghai centre, "It is quite good to work for Indian IT companies because they are global players." While US-based software companies are the preferred employers, Chinese IT professionals place Indian firms just a few notches below.

Though it is not a "dream job" for Samuel Liu, an engineer with Satyam for a year now, he is "fairly happy here." He plans to continue for at least another year. At the workplace, communication is becoming less of a problem as English language skills continue to improve. Chinese engineers who work for Indian companies also appreciate the relaxed and open work atmosphere. "I feel comfortable with the culture here. One is trusted and given one's space to work," says Liu. Chinese firms, which tend to have a clear chain of command, may offer less freedom. Liu adds that he might work for another Indian firm after leaving this job. So, is China an emerging talent pool for Indian firms? Says Raghvendra Tripathi, Regional Manager - Greater China, Satyam, "China is just like India in terms of availability of manpower and socio-economic structure. Education and hard work are valued as necessary for success." Besides, some Indian software firms also view China as an alternative location for outsourcing. Salaries in China are not expected to rise as fast as in India. An office in China, they feel, would also help mitigate the anxieties of multinational clients, who worry about the political instability in the subcontinent.

Satyam, which set foot in 2002, has been sending Chinese engineers to worksites all over the world. Does this mean that China will soon become skilled enough to beat India in the outsourcing game? Suraj Shirsat, Wipro's Marketing Manager - Japan and China operations, says, "India has a substantial lead in terms of IT. As for competition from China, but see it as a collaborative effort." And for Indian firms, China could be their gateway to Japan and Korea.

Chinese software companies are small and cater mainly to local clients. Indian firms have dual advantage of size and international experience. When it comes to domestic business, however, "Indian software firms are perceived as competition by local firms," says Prakash Menon, General Manager, NIIT China (Shanghai).

The decision of several Indian software companies to set out alone, without a local partner, also poses a cultural barrier in a country where business is more about relationships. Language is one more obstacle.

Nevertheless, Indian firms, well admired in China, can work around the situation by building trust and goodwill. This brings with it the responsibility to share knowledge, and Indian companies recognise this well. China, too, is culturally complex, and to leverage any of the pluses it offers, or tap into the local market, investing in a long-term association is essential. Says Suryaprakash K.S., Head - Delivery Operations at Infosys's Shanghai centre, "In China, what you give is as important as what you take."

In several Indian firms, the staff are almost entirely Chinese. Foreign professionals and Chinese returning from the West are hired mainly for middle-level posts, which cannot be filled locally. Pune-based Zensar Technologies, which has a joint venture in Shenzhen with a Chinese firm, Broadengate Systems Inc, recently entered into an agreement with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to train 1,000 Chinese software professionals. The agreement also covers a project for senior-level software training.

Says Suryaprakash, "Our presence will influence the Chinese software industry — we will create global outsourcing here." China, with its infrastructure and welcoming policies, appears eager to learn from India's IT success.

Picture by the author

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