Saturday, November 29, 2003
Businessweek cover story on India
Close on the heels of the Fortune cover story on Bangalore, Businessweek is carrying a story called The Rise Of India, a look at how India's fast changing economy is affecting corporate America. Some of the stuff is a little over-effusive, methinks.
Plenty of Americans know of India's inexpensive software writers and have figured out that the nice clerk who booked their air ticket is in Delhi. But these are just superficial signs of India's capabilities. Quietly but with breathtaking speed, India and its millions of world-class engineering, business, and medical graduates are becoming enmeshed in America's New Economy in ways most of us barely imagine. "India has always had brilliant, educated people," says tech-trend forecaster Paul Saffo of the Institute for the Future in Menlo Park, Calif. "Now Indians are taking the lead in colonizing cyberspace."
This techno take-off is wonderful for India -- but terrifying for many Americans. In fact, India's emergence is fast turning into the latest Rorschach test on globalization. Many see India's digital workers as bearers of new prosperity to a deserving nation and vital partners of Corporate America. Others see them as shock troops in the final assault on good-paying jobs.
There is also a story on the bi-directional R&D flows between India and Silicon Valley. More importantly, Michael Mandel writes about what the U.S. needs to stay competitive in the innovation game. Nothing new, but good to remind oneself every now and then.
Plenty of Americans know of India's inexpensive software writers and have figured out that the nice clerk who booked their air ticket is in Delhi. But these are just superficial signs of India's capabilities. Quietly but with breathtaking speed, India and its millions of world-class engineering, business, and medical graduates are becoming enmeshed in America's New Economy in ways most of us barely imagine. "India has always had brilliant, educated people," says tech-trend forecaster Paul Saffo of the Institute for the Future in Menlo Park, Calif. "Now Indians are taking the lead in colonizing cyberspace."
This techno take-off is wonderful for India -- but terrifying for many Americans. In fact, India's emergence is fast turning into the latest Rorschach test on globalization. Many see India's digital workers as bearers of new prosperity to a deserving nation and vital partners of Corporate America. Others see them as shock troops in the final assault on good-paying jobs.
There is also a story on the bi-directional R&D flows between India and Silicon Valley. More importantly, Michael Mandel writes about what the U.S. needs to stay competitive in the innovation game. Nothing new, but good to remind oneself every now and then.
