The collective noun for unicorns is a blessing. Are you blessed with an abundance of technology talent?
Don’t answer that question, lest you offend someone. But I can tell you that many organisations are not as blessed as they would like to be.
We see it, our clients see it, and talented people see it—there is a lot of demand for talented technology people. And it will not change anytime soon.
But while this is the challenge, it’s not the problem.
The problem is, organisations are not changing their mode of operation to overcome this challenge. Instead, they are doubling down on their employment brand and expanding their recruitment networks—working harder to get the same return, if not less.
Economics 101 teaches us that when a resource is scarce, the price goes up. This is obvious and by itself not an insight. But when you play this out, what this means is your entire technology salary base will eventually go up in cost.
There is no “short term hit” as you hire one or two expensive people. Eventually, your existing staff will expect more. Or you risk losing talent and, with them, your IP.
Alternatively, you can hire contract staff. But that is just perpetuating the same problem. You are now making the market even more expensive for talent. And if you aren’t, someone else is. Plus, random contractors may help you get over a hump, but they should not be where your IP is invested.
Instead, organisations like yours need to invest in technology and processes that improve the productivity of your development and operations people and, with it, your organisation’s productivity.
Do this, and you create a virtuous circle of success. Your people achieve more, your business delivers faster and to higher quality and with fewer people. And best of all your customers are happier.
By automating tasks, you can focus your existing people on the most productive and exciting work—work that your people will find the most motivating.
If you think what I am saying is an unrealistic marketing sentiment; overlooking the realities of what’s possible; such that at best it’s hope at worst a pipe dream. Then pause and look at what is possible.
This research shows that there is a wide chasm between the average and elite performers.
This is lightning faster and light-years from what most organisations are doing or think they can do.
And to be clear, this is not achieved through a hiring strategy that believes it will be blessed by an abundance of unicorns.
To achieve results like this, you need to invest strategically in your software development and operations pipelines.
Use those organisations that understand which tools and processes are right for you. A service provider with the capability and know-how can transfer into your technology development and operations pipelines.
This is what you need to do to move you from being average to what the graphic shows the elite achieve.
SECTION6 has a unique Virtual Team Service that combines our capability with your people to create a modern DevOps pipeline that enables our clients to deliver more, better, and faster. SECTION6’s unique Virtual Team differs from other professional services by providing price certainty while making available our entire talent pool of capability plus our IP and know-how on how to be the best at DevOps.We have carefully identified, curated, and invested in aA capability of people and processes to help our clients achieve the results they need to remain relevant in their market and field.
If you would like to learn how a Virtual Team Service can help you achieve better results for your people and your organisation, please get in touch.
Otherwise, I’d like to bless you with good luck looking for your next unicorn.