Attract and retain talent in information technology

1. What can be done to attract and retain IT (information technology) talent in Singapore?

Reply: We need to create opportunities for big IT projects to be done in Singapore, similar to the approach taken for the life sciences, but perhaps not to the same scale.

There are opportunities to develop new applications that can change the way that people live their lives or do their work. This uses the latest innovation in information and communication technology, and the internet.

Perhaps, we need a big, bold budget to create the opportunities and critical mass.

2. What can the local IT professionals do to differentiate themselves from the cheaper competition in the region?

Reply: We have to accept the higher cost of I.T. professionals in Singapore. We need to be more imaginative and productive, to justify our higher cost and compete with lower cost countries.

We need passion and love for our work. This will allow us to gain special knowledge, insight and competence to move ahead. We have to be prepared to work hard, develop our skills and think for the long term. We need to inculcate the fighting spirit.

Developing software is similar to creating a piece of art. Many people can paint a picture, but a skilled painter can create a excellent painting. I hope that our software developers can develop the skill to create a software that can be like a great work of art.