RM for aggressive growth in India

The New Indian Express, 29 Nov 2003 - IT @ weekend by Kamal Gopinath

Russell Govan,Director

Russell Govan, the Human Resources Director of RM Plc, UK’s leading info-tech player in education software was on a visit to RM’s Technopark unit this week. Govan, who joined RM in 1989 as Senior HR Manager responsible for compensation and benefits, took over as the entire HR portfolio in 1992. In 1998, he assumed responsibility for the Facilities Department. Before joining RM, Govan held a number of HR roles with British Aluminium, Guiness and the London Stock Exchange.

IT @weekend spoke to Govan about RM India’s growth plans and the ongoing controversy in the developed world about outsourcing of work to countries like India.

About RM India:

I am glad to announce that RM has revised expansion goals at the Technopark unit from 75 professionals to 150 by Sept 2004. Basically we are looking for info-tech skills across a broad range. I am impressed by the high calibre of people here. It’s very tough to find such high calibre people back in the UK.

About RM & Outsourcing:

Outsourcing has never been an issue with RM that has a high reputation as a company with integrity. We have always believed that it is possible to expand away from the centre. Though we are located in South London, we already had a unit in Scotland employing 100 people before we chose to expand in to India. We brief the staff regularly about the company’s plan and are very transparent in our approach. RM has decided to grow aggressively in India but not at the cost of jobs in England.

About outsourcing and Resistance:

Outsourcing to India especially in the knowledge industry is an economic inevitability given the high calibre of people here and the apparent cost differential. Once Europe was the hub of manufacturing sector and nobody imagined that would move out. But it did and now it is the turn of the knowledge industry. What will take its place providing jobs in the developed economies is a 64, 000 million-pound question. But, in the long run economies should even out across the board in different countries. I do not think legislation can stop outsourcing in the free market economy.

About info-tech & Education:

RM is positioned uniquely for growth owing to out twin areas of expertise, info-tech and education. Education is the area of the future as use of info-tech in education is right at the beginning. Education built on an IT platform will revolutionise education and we are right at the foothills ready to take on the challenge. In UK, IT is the core part of the curriculum. It is also making forays in to education administration. On RM’s part, its latest initiative has been towards automation of National Public examinations in UK. Entering the Indian education arena is not currently in the plan, but it could be an area for the future. Though we already have a presence in Australia and Singapore, introducing education systems across the borders is difficult owing to differing cultures and countries guarding the same zealously. RM’s priority is to cater to the huge domestic market in UK and I can safely say that interactive white boards are increasing replacing the conventional black boards and chalk pieces.

About India / Kerala experience:

My experience here has taught me that good people are good people anywhere and good people are hard to find. I am also happy that we never had to compromise on the quality of people. I expect RM to be a good hunting ground for other companies here in the days ahead. I am equally impressed by the talent of the people here, the local education system and the quality of local people, be it in terms of attitude or behaviour.