Feel the negativity first but stay positive, they advise
By AvantiKumar
02 Feb 2009
During a recent signing of a call centre company with a major business software vendor in Malaysia, the Australia-based chief executive officer of the reseller said that there was a marked difference between chief executives—or C-level people—in ASEAN countries, compared with Australia and New Zealand.
Yes, true, that negative or fear-based thinking is a communicable malady. Small and medium businesses have little money coming in, whereas many major ICT organisations are ‘seeing what the other fella does first’ and holding on to spending decisions.
“The problem is many of my IT peers in this part of the world, including Malaysia, are stuck in the downturn of 1997. They think it is going to be worse and for much longer. Yes, in many ways it is worse. But many things have sped up, including upturns.”
“The result,” said another local-senior IT leader, “is that nothing is happening. We expect the true sorry state of affairs to become even clearer right after the Lunar New Year, perhaps around February.”
Don't panic, stay on your toes
So, what should be happening? I asked.
Simple, he said. "You can be cautious, while setting up and implementing plans to prepare for the upturn. Talent can be picked up cheaply. Opt for more efficient long-term returns on current, as well as proposed IT purchases. Most of all think in terms of cycles."
"Don't be caught with your pants down when the upturn comes. By then, in any case, only the smart companies will be reaping rewards. It will be too late then to start rehiring talent. Smart talent very rarely returns, why should they? Such people tend to have a higher level of self-esteem and will not easily come back to a place where they have been unceremoniously dropped!" said another.
Everyone has an opinion about the downturn. No one is going to come out on record with how long we have to wait for the upturn: though, the advice comes thick and fast.
So far, local industry organisations, including the government, are keeping their own counsel about the nitty-gritty of the downturn. In the UK, a business affairs journalist with the largest media organisation opined that the only thing that makes sense is to stay on your toes.
AvantiKumar is the Malaysia correspondent for Fairfax tech brands and deputy editor of Computerworld Malaysia.
