Networking and project entry: benefits and drawbacks

I thought of putting my experience about IT industry with completion of six plus years with vivid work experience in three big known companies in this industry segment. I worked in half a dozen of projects at various different locations in India and outside.  In nutshell, the unique thing about this industry is that no processes are entirely complete in itself which may lead/enable a manager to complete a given project. This indicates that IT industry processes are still in nascent stage and is in its development phase.

I remember when I joined my first company as fresher, we had three month of training and then we were put in knowledge pool popularly known as ‘bench’. Here one thing which always rules group conversation is about ‘how to make good network?’ ’Networking will help getting project’, ’Fresher drink party with senior/other employees to enable them make good network’ so and so’. My views are just to represent constructive critical critique about this method which is widely popular and greatly advised by all managers/expert in IT industry.

Benefits:-

There are numerous benefits of networking one must have heard/implemented especially those who are direct part of this market segment.  

Good network of contacts always helps in getting projects in shorter duration when switching from one project to another. It enables you to try hand in new technology as your known peer have confidence in your ability to grasp basics. It is also win-win situation for both manager and resource as they sync with each other’s capability and trust.

Apart from being billable for longer duration compare to idle time, networking also helps in learning and sharing. You can quickly speak to expert whom you have worked earlier and ask him about solution of problem you are facing in your current projects. It helps gets you required skill set resource to fire-fight troubled projects. Networking provides a comfort blanket around you in an organisation, which keeps you moving and be cosy, of course your skills set and hard work is included.

Drawbacks:-

Though networking brings lots of advantage but we have to ponder on its drawbacks as well. The below stated disadvantage are the one which I have felt as participant viewer of this industry. Inclusion in project based solely on networking has led to silent feeling of dissatisfaction among new comers who are fresh blood and are ready to take challenges. Though in course of time these group also become revenue generators to companies but many fails to cope with the initial pressure of networking. Networking meaning is same but its use has been confused from trust to favour. Resource selected based on networking is most of the time treated with special preference which sometime undermines other capable resource which is being developed to become an asset. There are number of resources who gets chance to work in project for 2-3 months of duration throughout the year, so from networking point of view ideally he should have larger contacts but at the end he is left with no one to support him/her during appraisal. So has networking helped him/her?

On conclusion as processes of IT industry is in nascent stage so is the concept of networking.

Few questions to think about before you sign off:-

1.      Is networking leading manager to become bureaucrats?

2.      Networking in some way killing manager risk taking capability which in past has lead to the growth of IT industry. Are we moving toward stagnation where processes are still in nascent stage?

Thank You!

Satender Kumar Mall

Twitter: satenderiiit