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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Locally developing ERP (and other complex) systems is definitely
possible, given the right environment. Such an environment includes proper pay.
I do not like the idea that local talent is cheaper – to attract and
retain quality developers, I would suggest paying locals nothing less than what
the foreign developers would ask for. It is the failure to reward local
talent properly that has led to the infamous ‘brain drain’. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I believe such a system cannot be a ‘one-man’ show
otherwise corporates will find it difficult to rely on systems whose continuity
lies on loose ground. Developing an ERP is a long-term project whose fruits can
only be gained over a long time. This is the reason ERPs are more generic as
opposed to being a particular organisation’s-needs specific. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>To me, most of the prices fairly compare to the amount of effort
that goes to the development and measures fairly well against the value of
corporate assets the systems protect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>So... let’s invest in the development of systems that
compete with the best in the world, and price to compete with them, not just to
pay locals 1/5!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Sylvester<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> kictanet-bounces+skisonzo=gmail.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+skisonzo=gmail.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] <b>On Behalf
Of </b>Shem Ochuodho<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 28 June 2008 12:50<br>
<b>To:</b> skisonzo@gmail.com<br>
<b>Cc:</b> 'New Vision List'; 'Haron Wachira'; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p>Bro. Antoine,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Great reading back from you. I believe together we can, and shall,
overcome.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Best rgrds,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Shem<br>
<br>
--- On <b>Fri, 6/27/08, antoine bigirimana <i><antoine@e-tools.com></i></b>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>From: antoine bigirimana
<antoine@e-tools.com><br>
Subject: RE: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?<br>
To: shemochuodho@yahoo.com, kiriinya2000@yahoo.com, "'KICTAnet ICT
Policy Discussions'" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke><br>
Cc: "'New Vision List'" <newvisionkenya@yahoogroups.com>,
"'Haron Wachira'" <hwachira@itakenya.com><br>
Date: Friday, June 27, 2008, 2:57 PM<o:p></o:p></p>
<div id=yiv1834548824>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>Hello Shem,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>Thank you very much for mentioning SmartGov ERP developed
in Rwanda by E-Tools Rwanda.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>Hello All,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>The systems developed for USA , Canada and European Union</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>tend to include many features that are not necessarily
relevant for the East African market and they are also very expensive.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>We believe the most cost effective solution for our
developing and poor countries is to use our local talent, supplemented if
need be</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>by seasoned international experts: more and more these
internationals may even have roots in East Africa . The cost savings are
twofold: support is local and easier; our people are cheaper even when they
earn top salary in our economies: it is not rare to get a ratio of 1 to 5. The
savings could be then used to solve some other urgent problems.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>E-Tools Rwanda and E-Tools Kenya are designed to create
any software solution required in the East African region.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'>antoine</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Shem Ochuodho
[mailto:shemochuodho@yahoo.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:55 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> kiriinya2000@yahoo.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
<b>Cc:</b> New Vision List; Haron Wachira; Antoine BIGIRIMANA-Yahoo<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Wesley,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Actually
given the right parameters, even ERP-like software can be locally
developed. The two closest examples of ERP-like systems I have come across
that were 'locally' developed were: a system by Haron Wachira (he
formerly of Diamond Systems - the 1st Kenyan firm to assemble computers) which
I remember being used by a major Tea company through its network, among
others, and Rwanda 's SmartGov. There is a very thin line between these
systems and conventional ERPs. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Btw,
before I even thought that 'hardware' manufacture/assembly is a pipe-dream
for us - until I came across the 'fabless trend' that Nigeria is already
pushing. It is truly cutting-edge technology - and 'knowledge work'. For
those who might not know, in such a scenario, a country/firm that does
not have the technology to 'manufacture' chips/VLSI can still design
systems, and then send designs to places like Malaysia for
production/manufacture of the chips. The 'intelligence' or brain-work
(and hence the money) is not in the manufacture, but in the design,
particularly for products whose value is in the uniqueness/complexity, not
numbers.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In
effect, if the environment is right, it is doable.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>Shem</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>--- On <b>Wed, 6/25/08, wesley kiriinya <i><kiriinya2000@yahoo.com></i></b>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:
0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt;margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'>From:
wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000@yahoo.com><br>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?<br>
To: "Shem Ochuodho" <shemochuodho@yahoo.com><br>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions"
<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke><br>
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 12:55 PM<o:p></o:p></p>
<div id=yiv443666420>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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