CONTRACT PROGRAMMING OR WARRANTED SOLUTIONS: WHAT'S THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?   The data processing field has evolved from corporate environments staffed with only full-time employees to data centers in which contract programmers and other independent or third part workers may outnumber a company's traditional staff.   Reasons for the increasing trend to contracting talent include the growing, worldwide shortage of data processing people and the variable nature of workload. In addition, with productivity and immediate profit concerns, managers can bring in people to meet specific, short-term needs and, then, shrink overhead back to operating levels.   Unfortunately, desired benefits from using contract help - greater flexibility, efficiency and cost control - are not being realized. Unfortunately, some information services managers still view and treat contract people as they do traditional employees. They require contract people to follow the same procedures as traditional employees. This wastes valuable time on non-productive activities. Having them use company facilities and equipment prevents potential savings from being enjoyed.   Adding more people adds management responsibilities. What's worse asking contract people to 'punch the clock' promotes inefficiency. Contract professionals should be viewed and treated differently from traditional employees - and required to meet more demanding standards. When they do, it produces better results, improves efficiency and increases economics.   What should be important is that people are exceptionally productive, not just that they are putting in hours, which encourages inefficiency. Contract people and contracting firms must be professional and responsible, able to manage themselves and deliver solutions that work - on an agreed-upon schedule, at an agreed-upon cost. Contracting for delivery of solutions that work rewards outstanding performance and high productivity. It attracts the 'best in the business' - people who know what to do, how to do it well, and who are confident in their abilities to perform.   All IS managers would love to have top-flight pros working for them. But, to attract and keep them, they must be treated like racehorses, not plow horses. Contracting for solutions rather than hours worked rewards those who work smarter and faster rather than working longer. Firms and IT professionals who can deliver on what they promise will make a lot of money, but projects will be completed sooner and cost clients less! That's a desirable 'win-win' situation.