Is cynicism going to cripple Australia's chances on the international technology stage, or are there changes afoot?
Research has shown that there is one major difference between the effects of alcohol and the effects of marijuana â€" and it can all be summed up in one sentence. When being stared at, a person under the influence of alcohol will demand -What are you looking at?" A person under the influence of marijauna, however, will nervously inquire -What are you looking at?"
OK, maybe it was really a comedian who actually noted the phenomenon, but my point is it's a phenomenon not only observed with intoxicants.
Here's something you might want to try: don't say anything, just go up and stand behind the chief of your tech team. If you'd done that a couple years ago, the response would very likely have been -What are you looking at?" Today, though, there's a good chance that the slightly paranoid version would be the response.
Don't worry, they're not under the influence â€" they're just battered into a perpetual state of paranoia by everything from the rate of technological change to the view of how Australia is faring on the international tech scene. Sometimes this paranoia manifests itself in a crippling dose of cynicism. I can't count how many times I've asked people in IT what they thought they'd be doing in two years and they've answered -Not working in IT."
Keeping up with the US, UK, and Europe can also be a draining prospect. The news (even in these pages) is full of stories describing how Australia is falling behind, there's no hope, we might as well snap shut our notebooks and go home.
So it's nice to see the report that just crossed my desk â€" a report that finally gives us something we can be positive about.
According to the latest Asia Pacific Technology Fast 500 survey, compiled by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, of the top ten fastest growing technology companies four were Australian. Overall, 19 percent of the Fast 500 were Australian companies, with 21 percent coming from Japan and 20 percent from South Korea. That's not bad among such tough company (China's another), and over such a hard year.
Of course, any company can achieve a huge growth percentage if they start with a dollar in the bank, so it should be noted that, to be eligible for selection in this list, companies must have been in operation for three years and must start the year with at least US$50,000 in revenue.
In the words of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's Peter Williams, -Australia's strong presence among Asia Pacific's leading technology companies shows we have an innovative world-class technology industry led by companies that have developed successful business modes."
Maybe it is getting to the point where Australian tech companies can (soberly) face the rest of the world and say, -What are you looking at?"
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