Essentials of Software Organization

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Essentials of Software Organization

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Changes in Business of IT

• IT is being used to align business at global
  locations
• IT solutions serving diverse global markets
• IT strategy aligned to business strategy
• IT solutions to meet business objectives not just
  technical solutions
• Complete Outsourcing \ Off shoring rather than
  ad-hoc projects
• Handle scale, Develop offshore delivery models,
  Ensure consistent and cost effective delivery
• Global competition
• Highly sophisticated and experienced global
  competitors Quality of outputs has become
  paramount. No longer cost is the only issue
• Knowledgeable customers
• Focus enlarged from actual software work product
  requirements to customer defined quality,
  processes, project management SLAs

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Essentials of todays software organization
Earlier
Today

• Project management integrated with SDLC
• Quality processes - predictability and
  repeatability is important
• Delivery methodologies
• Industry / business understanding
• IT solutions Focus on systems value to the core
  business

• Programming based assignments
• Cost the only business driver
• Solutions perspective was missing
• Stand alone project execution capabilities
• Focus on sound coding techniques
• SDLC knowledge was all the was required

Education system focussed on building technical
skills
Need for education system to keep pace
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Essentials of todays software organization
Earlier
Today

• Project management integrated with SDLC
• Quality processes
• Delivery methodologies
• Industry / business understanding
• IT solutions Focus on systems value to the core
  business

• Technical solutions
• Standalone project execution capabilities
• Focus on systems performance and sound coding
  techniques
• SDLC

Education system focussed on building technical
skills
Need for education system to keep pace
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Project Dynamics
Scope Size
Management Practice
Resources
Project Dynamics describe the way various factors
inter-relate in influencing project
outcomes. Predicting project outcomes is complex
and is often counter-intuitive
Project
Quality
Risk
Budget
Technology
Time Constraints
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Project Management Methodology and Development
Life-Cycle Relationship

• The development life cycle occurs within the
  project execution portion of the project
• Project Management and associated activities are
  independent of the specific development
  methodology selected

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Project Management Methodology
Benefits

• Provides a standard method and guidelines
• Ensure that IT projects are conducted in
  disciplined, well-managed, and consistent manner
• Promotes the delivery of quality products
• Results in projects that are completed on time
  and within budget
• Fixes accountability and responsibility
• Reduces redundancies
• Automatically creates knowledge repository to be
  effectively used next time without reinventing
  the wheel

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Project Management Methodology
How to prepare tomorrows IT professionals?

• Use PMI methodologies to teach Project Management
  Methodologies
• Encourage students to do certification courses
  run by PMI
• Provide exposure through sample projects
  (institute, organization sponsored, NGO) covering
  every aspect of project dynamics
• Key point Evaluate on project management
  methodology, not on the basis of delivered
  product
• Case studies Practice, Practice and Practice
• Show benefits compare projects done with project
  management methodology and without using it

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Essentials of todays software organization
Earlier
Today

• Project management integrated with SDLC
• Quality processes
• Delivery methodologies
• Industry / business understanding
• IT solutions Focus on systems value to the core
  business

• Technical solutions
• Standalone project execution capabilities
• Focus on systems performance and sound coding
  techniques
• SDLC

Education system focussed on building technical
skills
Need for education system to keep pace
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Quality Processes

• Formal review and feedback mechanisms
• Provides objective measures to monitor, control
  and improve
• Metrics time, defects, costs
• Process based project execution approach e.g.
• Risk management processes
• Defect prevention processes
• Change management processes
• Continuous improvement processes
• Use of globally recognized process assessment
  models
• CMM, CMMi, etc.
• Use of Six Sigma for continuous improvements

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Quality Processes
Benefits

• Consistent outputs
• Meeting of defined Service Level
  Agreements/Performance Guarantees
• Continuous improvement
• Reduced rework, on time delivery
• Higher motivation levels

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Quality Processes
How to prepare tomorrows IT professionals?

• Guest lectures \ demonstrations from quality
  professionals from QAI or CMM assessed companies
• Build process oriented culture in the institute
• Document various institute processes
• Have process awareness workshops with all the
  students reviewing the processes and
  reengineering them to make them more efficient
  and effective
• In case of issues look at the processes for
  systemic failures

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Essentials of todays software organization
Earlier
Today

• Project management integrated with SDLC
• Quality processes
• Delivery methodologies
• Industry / business understanding
• IT solutions Focus on systems value to the core
  business

• Technical solutions
• Standalone project execution capabilities
• Focus on systems performance and sound coding
  techniques
• SDLC

Education system focussed on building technical
skills
Need for education system to keep pace
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IT Software Service Delivery Models
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Global Delivery Models Key Features

• A project delivered from multiple sites virtually
  one One Plan with multiple sub-plans.
• All the teams work to a single quality plan for
  the project with agreed procedures and standards.
• All documentation is held in a common repository,
  accessible by all the members of the team.
• Communication Internal as well as with customer
• Customer Relationships
• Transparency
• Resource Management
• Coordination

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IT Service Delivery
Benefits

• Smooth workflow of work products
• Appropriate mix of skills and capabilities
• Lower costs
• 24x7 model
• Minimizes risks associated with global delivery
• Ease of problem resolution and builds customer
  confidence
• Opportunity to grow existing business
• Clear expectations and better understanding of
  business requirements
• Need of the hour for long term outsourcing
  engagements

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IT Service Delivery
How to build tomorrows IT professionals?

• Fortnightly discussions on current IT service
  delivery trends
• Research and presentations by group of students
  on how major IT companies are using global
  delivery models
• Case Studies
• Assignments on managing service delivery for a
  large engagement

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Essentials of todays software organization
Earlier
Today

• Project management integrated with SDLC
• Quality processes
• Delivery methodologies
• Industry / business understanding
• IT solutions Focus on systems value to the core
  business

• Technical solutions
• Standalone project execution capabilities
• Focus on systems performance and sound coding
  techniques
• SDLC

Education system focussed on building technical
skills
Need for education system to keep pace
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Industry / Business Understanding

• Industry knowledge basic understanding of
  functioning and common terms insurance, banking,
  healthcare, utilities etc.
• Business understanding core processes, support
  processes, systems approach, markets, customers
  etc.

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Industry / Business Understanding
Benefits

• Helps in understanding the requirements
• Helps in processes and application reengineering
• Brings users/customers perspective
• IT solutions for core business needs and to solve
  business problems
• Valued by clients, as it helps in transforming
  their business

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Industry / Business Understanding
How to build tomorrows IT professional?

• Create groups to focus on specific industries
  e.g. Banking, Insurance, Healthcare
• Provide them with guidance/support/motivation to
  learn about at least one industry in terms of
  understanding its processes, typical usage of IT
  etc.
• Encourage them to get certifications in the
  industry of their choice.
• Simulation games replicating the manual
  operations of industries and then thinking of
  using IT

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Essentials of todays software organization
Earlier
Today

• Project management integrated with SDLC
• Quality processes
• Delivery methodologies
• Industry / business understanding
• IT solutions Focus on systems value to the core
  business

• Technical solutions
• Standalone project execution capabilities
• Focus on systems performance and sound coding
  techniques
• SDLC

Education system focussed on building technical
skills
Need for education system to keep pace
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IT Solutions

• Focus on the usage of system to serve end
  customers better, not building a superior
  software with excellent coding, low CPU time,
  less I/O interface etc.
• IT for supporting business and solving business
  problems
• ATM
• Electronic cheque clearance etc.

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Takeaways

• Think like a organization selling in a market
  place Students (and their skills) are the
  product, IT companies are the buyers
• Every institute is teaching technology to its
  students
• They have better brand name and therefore benefit
  from it in terms of attracting IT companies
• You cannot hope to beat them at their own game.
• Marginal improvements will not help.
• Therefore suggested strategies
• Create a niche for yourself by creating all
  rounded IT professionals
• Impart business orientation to students
• Develop their problem solving skills
• Make them good in Project Management, IT
  processes, Service Delivery etc besides the
  technical competencies etc.
• Convert project management, quality processes,
  service delivery, domain knowledge from being
  considered as soft skills to hard skills
• Bring incentives
• Heavy component for for evaluation
• Make it interesting and valuable - Industry
  tours, show results, simulations etc.

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Questions ?