PATCA Consultants Mtg - Offshore contract engineering panel discussion July 12, 2007

PATCA's July 12 meeting features a panel of technology experts sharing their experiences, perceptions, and Silicon Valley insights on "Offshore Contract Engineering: Is the luster and glamour wearing off for Corporate Management in America?"

We have seen the practice of "Offshore engineering" projects becoming a common trend, or some might say even a "rage" among many American companies. Just a few years ago, there were open discussions among technical consultants at PATCA and throughout Silicon Valley that careers for engineering consultants could be "dying" or that consultants might need to return to working as full-time employees of former clients in the not-too-distant future.

* Has the consulting landscape changed?
* What are the current perceptions in Silicon Valley about Offshore Engineering?
* Have the luster and glamour worn off for Corporate America?

Threads of discussion are expected to include:

* Local versus "Remote Outsourcing" - key differences
* Factors in selecting a trustworthy remote "Outsourcer"
* "Turnkey" remote Outsourcing, versus "hire my own staff" in a remote location approach
* Risk Factors in Remote Outsourcing
* Which type of projects are best suited for remote outsourcing?
* Anecdotal tales of project successes and failures
* Communication tools for remote outsourcing - the good, the bad, and the ugly!
* Changes in American corporate management perceptions and decisions affecting Offshoring of engineering projects in the past five to seven years
* Where are we headed next?

PANELISTS:

* Brian Berg is President of Berg Software Design, a consulting organization offering software design and expert witness services.

* Mark Kwan is President of WinMac Consulting Inc., a full services firm specializing in Microsoft Windows and Internet software development.

* Walt Maclay is Founder and President of Strawberry Tree Inc., and its Voler Division, an electronics/software engineering company.

About Professional & Technical Consultants Association:
PATCA is a nonprofit professional association of independent consultants and principals who work in small consulting practices. Since its founding in 1975, PATCA members have been highly respected for their professionalism, integrity, objectivity and competence. PATCA offers a free Post a Project referral service for clients searching for an expert consultant.

$30-members; $35-non-members; $27-guests.

Official Website: http://www.PATCA.org