But not necessarily, Meyer holds. While costs are very low on a per-staff-hour basis -- and this fact alone often is the main reason why many outsourcing contracts are sold -- total project costs don't necessarily show a corresponding decrease. Instead of a "crisis" it may be that this is an "opportunity" for the software engineering community, says Prof. Meyer.

Meyer argues that "...software engineering -- a systematic discipline based on quality tools..." ought to make it possible to make offshore development work to everyone's benefit: local experts and (low priced) offshore programmers alike. Meyer argues, "Quality is indeed the central issue." That how good what's delivered is JUST as important as the cost -- in the long term scheme of things.

To focus more attention on how this can be done, Meyer is putting together a workshop to help foment in-depth discussions of the technical issues raised by mixed on-shore/off-shore development strategies. Check out Software Engineering Approaches for Offshore and Outsourced Development (SEAFOOD), scheduled for October 2006 in Zurich, Switzerland. Food for thought. Very healthy food for thought.