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Thursday, January 29, 2004
Toral: New environment for software developers
By Janette Toral
Digital Filipino
WOMEN IN IT. There’s so much talk as to how few software development professionals today are women. Perhaps that is true.
But on the other hand, the women I encounter in this field are either project managers, quality analysts, and some are even software testing experts. Vanessa Umali is one of them.
Vanessa worked for numerous organizations and is currently with PCIAsia. By next month, she’ll be joining Astech Power as one of its software testing personnel.
Since 2001, I’ve been conducting classes aboutbsoftware process improvement with focus on the Capability Maturity Model Integrated.
I can’t help but use the recent Comelec computerization project as an example of why government and corporations today, big or small, should start looking into improving their processes, shifting from a people-centric focus.
A people-based project management, in the context of software development, is relying on the capabilities and expertise of individuals in coming up with results. This is an unstable process as people change through time. Your success in one project may not necessarily be carried on to the next.
Process-based management is the way to go as people can be developed and trained to perform the process.
The standardization of processes, procedures, forms, and templates makes it easy for top management to get a glimpse of the organization’s situation as everyone speaks the same language and definition. If done well, this process will remain, regardless of leaders. And it can only be changed through proper procedure.
However, Filipinos, especially software development professionals, are not really trained to work in a process-based environment.
Logging productive hours into what tasks have been accomplished like lines of code, modules tested, reports generated, are all seen as a sign of mistrust. In reality, processes like these allow management to quantitatively measure if projects are on track, and who needs help or not.
Testing is another example. Products are tested to minimize defects and ensure that 100 percent error-free products are delivered to the customer.
For some developers, this is not seen positively and that’s why organizations let the people who developed the product test it themselves. The element of check-and-balance is wasted in such a process.
Bottom-line, the lack of training for people to perform their work following a certain process and understanding its benefits is a must for organizations today that want to mature.
For Vanessa, working with international companies allowed her to improve her methodologies and communicate process concerns as objectively as possible (and with a little charm as well).
The approach should be done in a positive manner. Citing its benefits for the overall organization’s good is important.
“Being quality conscious is a must for individuals who want to pursue a career in the field of software testing and software development in general,” she said.
“A mediocre (person) will not be able to work well and perform this. The passion for quality must be there or else no amount of hard work will cover for it.”
(Janette can be reached at janette@digitalfilipino.com.)
(January 29, 2004 issue)
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