The clinical SAS (www.sas.com) programming industry, in India, has seen a rapid growth in the last decade and the trend seems set to continue, for the next couple of years, due to cost advantage and the availability of skilled labor. On one side the industry needs are focused on less execution time, high margins, segmented tasks and the delivery of high quality output with minimal oversight. On the other side, due to the increased demand for skilled resources, the wants of the programmers have taken a different shift toward diversifying exposure, unsustainable wage inflation due to multiple opportunities and generally high expectations around career progression. If the industry needs are not going to match with programmers want, or vice versa, then there is the possibility that the current year on year growth may start to slow or even go into decline. Aim: This paper is intended to identify the gap between wants and need and puts forwards some suggestions, for both sides, in ways to change the equation to benefit all. Settings and Design: Questionnaire on similar themes created to survey managers and programmers working in clinical SAS programming industry and was surveyed online to collect their perspectives. Their views are compared for each theme and presented as results.
India is moving from the generic bulk drug manufacturer to one of key player in clinical research industry. Clinical trial analysis and reports submission using SAS software is one of the key activities carried out as part of the clinical research. Due to high availability of skilled resources, innovative capacity and reduced costs this particular segment of resources is highly recognized and more work is being outsourced currently than in the past. As in any scenario, when the supply cannot keep up with demand, it always leads to numerous challenges. This paper is aimed to study the balance between the industry needs and the programmers want and also reflects on its impact, with the current challenges faced by the management.
This theme briefly touches upon the skillset that the programmers (mid to senior level) are keen to develop mapped to the areas where management thinks that there is a strong need for them to develop. The first three bars in indicate the basic areas where the self-need to improve and management expectations are closely aligned. This is a positive trend as the needs are clearly translated and matching with the wants of the industry. The next three bars indicate the soft skills where the management assessed expectations are slightly above the programmer's perceived areas to improve. This indicates a need for additional steps, to be taken by the management, to mentor their programmers in honing their soft skills; this is especially true for senior programmers who are on the verge of managing projects and specifically in areas of resourcing, collaboration, time management, clear communications, expectations management and stake holder management.
India is moving from the generic bulk drug manufacturer to one of key player in clinical research industry. Clinical trial analysis and reports submission using SAS software is one of the key activities carried out as part of the clinical research. Due to high availability of skilled resources, innovative capacity and reduced costs this particular segment of resources is highly recognized and more work is being outsourced currently than in the past. As in any scenario, when the supply cannot keep up with demand, it always leads to numerous challenges. This paper is aimed to study the balance between the industry needs and the programmers want and also reflects on its impact, with the current challenges faced by the management.
This theme briefly touches upon the skillset that the programmers (mid to senior level) are keen to develop mapped to the areas where management thinks that there is a strong need for them to develop. The first three bars in indicate the basic areas where the self-need to improve and management expectations are closely aligned. This is a positive trend as the needs are clearly translated and matching with the wants of the industry. The next three bars indicate the soft skills where the management assessed expectations are slightly above the programmer's perceived areas to improve. This indicates a need for additional steps, to be taken by the management, to mentor their programmers in honing their soft skills; this is especially true for senior programmers who are on the verge of managing projects and specifically in areas of resourcing, collaboration, time management, clear communications, expectations management and stake holder management.
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