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==December 4 -2025 The SES problem in Japan==

==December 4 -2025 The System Engineering Service (SES) model problem in Japan==

In Japan, for some reason this model has been widely adopted as a method for companies to procure flexible IT manpower.

And under this model, companies supply engineers on a time-and-materials basis, at times placing them on-site at client firms. This is intended to provide access to skilled technical labor...pause and think bout that for a moment...the reality is that it frequently falls short.

Many SES engineers find themselves relegated to routine manual tasks or just following instructions from a pre-printed book frorm the client, without opportunities for skill development or meaningful contributions. This leads to a frustrating environment limiting both career growth and service quality, hurting engineers, clients, and the overall technology industry.

===Structural and Operational Issues within SES===

Let's dig deeper, one of the fundamental problems with the SES model is its structure around multi-layer subcontracting, where engineers are deployed at the lowest tier with tight budgets and little investment in training. This setup encourages a "warm body" approach placing whoever is available to follow rigid scripts rather than contributing to problem solving or system improvement. The hourly billing system compounds this issue, as the focus shifts toward maximizing billable hours rather than efficient or innovative work. Consequently, engineers lack meaningful engagement with complex technical challenges, and firms receive limited returns in expertise and system robustness.

This situation stifles learning because engineers rarely engage in tasks that require critical thinking, experimentation, or collaboration beyond following instructions. Without continual skill development or exposure to architecture, automation, and problem-solving, engineers become stuck in stagnant roles. This absence of growth not only harms their career prospects but also weakens the broader IT community by creating a labor pool lacking depth and versatility. Additionally, systems maintained under SES often lack resilience and adaptability, as repetitive manual processes are prone to errors and inefficiencies. Over time, this can cause technical debt accumulation and increased operational risk, leaving organizations vulnerable to failures and slow to innovate.

===This is Why SMEs Should FOSS==

With these current challenges, SMEs confronted with the SES dilemma should consider shifting toward FOSS solutions rather than relying heavily on SES contractors. FOSS provides transparent tools supported by global communities, offering long-term technological stability and continuous innovation. For SMEs, adopting FOSS enables building internal expertise to manage and customize systems, reducing dependence on unreliable external labor. This approach builds skill development within the company, helping employees solve real problems, contribute to code, and gain practical experience beyond routine manual work.

Abandoning the SES reliance is necessary for fostering a culture of learning and strengthening IT resilience. FOSS offers an alternative that SMEs and organizations can leverage. When adopting and contributing to FOSS, companies move away from fragmented labor models toward transparent, community-driven technologies. This shift helps internal teams to gain ownership over their infrastructure, engage with codebases, and solve real-world problems through collaboration. Such involvement naturally accelerates skill development and cultivates engineers who think critically and adapt quickly.

FOSS promotes resilience by enabling customization, automation, and integration with modern tooling. It avoids vendor lock-in and the legal complexities of multi-layer subcontracting seen in SES. Internal teams become more self-sufficient, reducing operational risks and enabling faster responses to change or incidents. Over time, organizations that embrace FOSS build healthier, more innovative environments—ones that encourage continuous learning, efficiency improvements, and sustainable growth.

==December 1 - 2025 Thinking about Subscription Traps==

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
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-==December 4 -2025 The SES problem in Japan==
+==December 4 -2025 The System Engineering Service (SES) model problem in Japan==
+In Japan, for some reason this model has been widely adopted as a method for companies to procure flexible IT manpower.
+And under this model, companies supply engineers on a time-and-materials basis, at times placing them on-site at client firms. This is intended to provide access to skilled technical labor...pause and think bout that for a moment...the reality is that it frequently falls short.
+Many SES engineers find themselves relegated to routine manual tasks or just following instructions from a pre-printed book frorm the client,  without opportunities for skill development or meaningful contributions. This leads to a frustrating environment limiting both career growth and service quality, hurting engineers, clients, and the overall  technology industry.
+===Structural and Operational Issues within SES===
+Let's dig deeper, one of the fundamental problems with the SES model is its structure around multi-layer subcontracting, where engineers are deployed at the lowest tier with tight budgets and little investment in training. This setup encourages a "warm body" approach placing whoever is available to follow rigid scripts rather than contributing to problem solving or system improvement. The hourly billing system compounds this issue, as the focus shifts toward maximizing billable hours rather than efficient or innovative work. Consequently, engineers lack meaningful engagement with complex technical challenges, and firms receive limited returns in expertise and system robustness.
+This situation stifles learning because engineers rarely engage in tasks that require critical thinking, experimentation, or collaboration beyond following instructions. Without continual skill development or exposure to architecture, automation, and problem-solving, engineers become stuck in stagnant roles. This absence of growth not only harms their career prospects but also weakens the broader IT community by creating a labor pool lacking depth and versatility. Additionally, systems maintained under SES often lack resilience and adaptability, as repetitive manual processes are prone to errors and inefficiencies. Over time, this can cause technical debt accumulation and increased operational risk, leaving organizations vulnerable to failures and slow to innovate.
+===This is Why SMEs Should FOSS==
+With these current  challenges, SMEs confronted with the SES dilemma should consider shifting toward FOSS solutions rather than relying heavily on SES contractors. FOSS provides transparent tools supported by global communities, offering long-term technological stability and continuous innovation. For SMEs, adopting FOSS enables building internal expertise to manage and customize systems, reducing dependence on unreliable external labor. This approach builds skill development within the company, helping employees solve real problems, contribute to code, and gain practical experience beyond routine manual work.
+Abandoning the SES reliance is necessary for fostering a culture of learning and strengthening IT resilience. FOSS offers an alternative that SMEs and organizations can leverage. When adopting and contributing to FOSS, companies move away from fragmented labor models toward transparent, community-driven technologies. This shift helps internal teams to gain ownership over their infrastructure, engage with codebases, and solve real-world problems through collaboration. Such involvement naturally accelerates skill development and cultivates engineers who think critically and adapt quickly.
+FOSS promotes resilience by enabling customization, automation, and integration with modern tooling. It avoids vendor lock-in and the legal complexities of multi-layer subcontracting seen in SES. Internal teams become more self-sufficient, reducing operational risks and enabling faster responses to change or incidents. Over time, organizations that embrace FOSS build healthier, more innovative environments—ones that encourage continuous learning, efficiency improvements, and sustainable growth.
 ==December 1 - 2025 Thinking about Subscription Traps==