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I often wonder if this attitude makes the problem worse. If good programmers don't work for Accenture because Accenture is full of bad programmers, then how can

I often wonder if this attitude makes the problem worse. If good programmers don't work for Accenture because Accenture is full of bad programmers, then how can Accenture ever become better? How can it evolve to provide better contracting services? If you were in charge of Accenture hiring strategy, what would you change?

danmaz74 13y ago
IMHO they would need to acknowledge there is a problem and launch a public program to fix it. "Come fix the biggest consulting company in the world" could attract top talent. But they just can't do it, even if they wanted - how would customers react?
usea 13y ago
> If you were in charge of Accenture hiring strategy, what would you change? Is my goal to improve the ability of the developers? What does that gain me? If the ability of my talent is only loosely coupled with landing contracts, then I'd try to maximize the gulf between the salary I pay and the value they provide. If fresh grads can produce good enough work to satisfy contracts, and they cost less, they're my target. Many firms work this way, and it seems to be a fairly successful strategy if you can land the contracts. Having a few senior, competent people in the mix probably helps hedge against any serious problems. Also, I'd make sure to get everybody as many useless certifications from big companies as possible, as they improve our ability to land contracts. I'm just playing devil's advocate though. My real answer is I'd change my job.
frozenport 13y ago
Easy, rebrand and say they are gathering people for a new team. Maybe call it Accenture+. Maybe don't even use the Accenture name. Start a lean technical consulting service company that is 100% owned by Accenture. With 275,000 employee it is clear they are looking for volume and not talent.
- ericd 13y ago
  Good point, working for Walmart Labs is actually a much more appealing idea than working for Walmart.
  - frozenport 13y ago
    Yes, and if they weren't retarded they would call themselves Walton Research, or perhaps be publicly traded with Walmart owning 80% of the stock and being the sole client?
    - ericd 13y ago
      Heh it could be better, but the important part is that it's separate and mostly independent, so hopefully less mired in bureaucracy.
- AjithAntony 13y ago
  They kinda did that: http://www.avanade.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx http://www.avanade.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx
jessaustin 13y ago
If you were in charge of Accenture hiring strategy... ...then I would be well compensated for not changing a thing. They've had this model since they were "Andersen Consulting" (the rest of us on project teams with them called them Androids, before "android" was cool [this was also before "Andersen" became exceedingly uncool]), and they bank by the truckload. Apparently there is a type of customer that wants legions of safety-school graduates with lots of highlighter in the first three chapters of their "For Dummies" books.

danmaz74 13y ago

IMHO they would need to acknowledge there is a problem and launch a public program to fix it. "Come fix the biggest consulting company in the world" could attract top talent. But they just can't do it, even if they wanted - how would customers react?

usea 13y ago

> If you were in charge of Accenture hiring strategy, what would you change? Is my goal to improve the ability of the developers? What does that gain me? If the ability of my talent is only loosely coupled with landing contracts, then I'd try to maximize the gulf between the salary I pay and the value they provide. If fresh grads can produce good enough work to satisfy contracts, and they cost less, they're my target. Many firms work this way, and it seems to be a fairly successful strategy if you can land the contracts. Having a few senior, competent people in the mix probably helps hedge against any serious problems. Also, I'd make sure to get everybody as many useless certifications from big companies as possible, as they improve our ability to land contracts. I'm just playing devil's advocate though. My real answer is I'd change my job.

frozenport 13y ago

Easy, rebrand and say they are gathering people for a new team. Maybe call it Accenture+. Maybe don't even use the Accenture name. Start a lean technical consulting service company that is 100% owned by Accenture. With 275,000 employee it is clear they are looking for volume and not talent.

ericd 13y ago
Good point, working for Walmart Labs is actually a much more appealing idea than working for Walmart.
- frozenport 13y ago
  Yes, and if they weren't retarded they would call themselves Walton Research, or perhaps be publicly traded with Walmart owning 80% of the stock and being the sole client?
  - ericd 13y ago
    Heh it could be better, but the important part is that it's separate and mostly independent, so hopefully less mired in bureaucracy.
AjithAntony 13y ago
They kinda did that: http://www.avanade.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx http://www.avanade.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx

jessaustin 13y ago

If you were in charge of Accenture hiring strategy... ...then I would be well compensated for not changing a thing. They've had this model since they were "Andersen Consulting" (the rest of us on project teams with them called them Androids, before "android" was cool [this was also before "Andersen" became exceedingly uncool]), and they bank by the truckload. Apparently there is a type of customer that wants legions of safety-school graduates with lots of highlighter in the first three chapters of their "For Dummies" books.