Recently a lot of friends told me that the technology research and development in Internet enterprises are all cabbage price, do the market, do marketing, do operation than do technology is much better, feel that many domestic companies are looking down on the technology, in fact, how?

Do IT technologists exist?

First of all, many domestic companies have high-level technical experts. Not all IT technologies are finally transferred to technical management, depending on the project.

Take me for example, the first company I entered after graduation threw a technical project to me. The company had to use TD-SCDMA chips from scratch. The protocol was very complicated, and I learned it for several months without any eyebrows.

Later, in order to build the project structure, the company specially recruited several PHDS. They did not write codes at ordinary times, but provided structure training for the department. The main task was to solve the difficulties of the project.

Later to do the router switches project, IT is no experts, the company also can not afford a Dr, only from internal contact, but the project is not big, technology is that a few points, basically a month could master the technical architecture, then slowly contact more technical architecture project, finally became the “technical expert”.

Therefore, IT technology can go to the end, specifically from the project to exercise their technical ability.

To be a technical expert, opportunity is more important than ability

In fact, not only foreign companies, but also many domestic software companies, the career development of IT technology has two ways: IT technology and IT management. Along these two lines, employees can move forward as if they were “beating monsters to the next level.

For example, I upgrade from Software Engineer > Senior Software Engineer > Senior Software Engineer > Technical Expert.

Generally speaking, as long as a programmer is not too bad, diligent, seniority, mixed with “senior software engineer”, the problem is not too big. In my observation, more than 60% of programmers can achieve the title of “senior software engineer”.

But “technologists” are different and require a lot of hard work and opportunity.

Just like the literal meaning of the title, “technical expert” must be an expert in some field, able to guide programmers in a certain field, and even require some influence in the industry, such as a certain number of patents and so on.

Technical experts not only need to accumulate skills, but also opportunities are important. After all, the purpose of a business is to make money, so the department in which an engineer works is also very important.

Even if you are a skilled programmer, but your department is not profitable, or even losing money, it will be difficult for you to impress the technical panel judges during the technical review.

Obviously, the technology is good depending on the product to be verified, and the product depends on the market to be verified.

Therefore, the opportunity to be promoted as a “technologist” is very important. Sometimes it’s even more critical than the technology itself.

In my observation, probably less than 10% of programmers make it to technical expertise.

Another point is that, after being promoted to “technologist,” programmers must assume certain technical management responsibilities, but they are limited to the technology itself and usually do not involve administrative management.

Technology is not as valuable as you might think

From a macro perspective, technology is the origin of the business and has unlimited value. But from an economic point of view, technology has very limited value.

From a macro point of view, technology advances the development of the world and its value is immeasurable. Apple turned a dying company into the world’s most valuable with a single phone.

But from a microeconomic point of view, technology isn’t that important. Here’s an example:

In the eyes of technical personnel, technology research and development is the seed, with the seed, the root will be prosperous, the fruit will be numerous. In the eyes of capital, IT research and development this seed also sells 5 yuan a bag, but can grow fruit worth 100 yuan.

Technology, like seeds, is of little value. Capital is absolutely more important than technology, because companies can buy technology immediately with capital. Unless it has a unique technology, short-term monopolies will quickly be imitated and gradually lose their advantages, like iPhone. And Apple’s r&d costs are low, at 3-4%.

As seeders, we should pay attention to make better seeds, so as to increase the voice and value of IT technology.