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ITB7537 Hassan 309
. c n I p u o r G a de I t h g i r py CoSoftware Development in Chapter 17
Developing Countries: Framework for Analysis of Quality Initiatives
c. n I p u o r G Syed Zahoor Hassan a Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan e Lahore University of Management d I t h g ri y p o of software quality enhancement approaches have been suggested A number C and implemented. Over the last decade, software (SW) companies in developed . countries have reported significant enhancements in productivity and quality nc I by using various quality approaches. Software companies operating in p u othe recent developing countries have also undertaken quality initiatives in r G years. This chapter presents a framework for analysisa of quality initiatives. e d The need for considering customer and market aspects in assessing an I t hestablished. The notion of a market organization’s quality initiatives hasibeen g r quality indicator (MQI) hasp introduced for this purpose. o andbeenyprocess Information on the C quality improvement initiatives at some of the leading software companies of Pakistan has been collected. The proposed framework is applied to analyze the quality initiatives of these companies. Based on the insights obtained from this analysis, some recommendations for companies interested in launching quality and process improvement initiatives are also presented.
c. n I p u o r G a INTRODUCTION e d I It has been generally t realized that quality plays a very important part in the h success of any business and many philosophies and approaches have been deg i r y vised to p guide organizations in their quest for quality (Deming, 1986; Juran, 1988). o C
Previously Published in Challenges of Information Technology Management in the 21st Century, edited by Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, Copyright © 2000, Idea Group Publishing.
This chapter appears in the book, Information Technology Management in Developing Countries by Mohammad Dadashzadeh. Copyright © 2002, IRM Press, an imprint of Idea Group Inc.
310
Software Development in Developing Countries
Similarly several approaches have been proposed for handling the issue of enhancing software quality. It has also been highlighted that quality issues in software development are, in some respects, inherently different from those in manufacturing (Binder, 1997). One approach to assess an organization’s ability and capability to produce quality software is the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). The main focus of CMM is on improving the processes involved in SW development. Total Quality Management (TQM) based model for quality improvements have also been suggested and followed by some software organizations with very promising results. Hollenbach (1997) presents the results of one such initiative at a specific company. Over the recent years many organizations have adopted the CMM approach to quality improvement and the benefits achieved from CMM have also been documented (Herbsleb, 1997). On the other hand, several concerns have also been raised regarding the applicability and relevance of this approach for some types of software development organizations, especially small enterprises (Bach, 1994; Brodman, 1994). Work has also been done to tailor CMM to suit the needs of small business, small organization and small project situations (Johnson, 1999) Earlier studies have also shown that the specific situation and the operating environment of a given organization also plays an important part in determining the most appropriate approach for a quality initiative at a given company (Hassan, 1997). Some of the factors that are of specific importance for companies operating in developing countries have also been studied before. Most of the reported studies show significant improvement resulting from use of quality initiatives in the developed countries and in many cases the quantitative benefits have also been recorded (Arthur, 1997; Diaz, 1997). With increasing use of outsourcing and development of software industry in developing countries, it has become important to study quality initiatives undertaken by companies in these countries. Hassan (1997) presents a contingency based capability maturity model for developing countries based on the field data from a number of companies in Pakistan. A number of companies have launched extensive quality initiatives in the recent past, in Pakistan. An in depth study of these initiatives can provide useful insights on how companies in developing countries could potentially benefit from effective and relevant used of the quality concepts, techniques, and tools. A framework for study of quality initiatives is proposed in the next section. Data has been collected from three software companies in Pakistan on their quality initiatives and is presented. This is followed by an in depth analysis of these quality approaches and some suggestions on how software companies in developing countries may configure a quality and process improvement approach that is appropriate for their own specific situation.
. c n I p u ro G a e d I t h g i r y Cop
. c n I p u ro G a e d I t h g . i r c y n I p u Cop o r G a e d I t h g i r y p Co
a e d I t h g i r y Cop
. c n I p u Gro
8 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the "Add to Cart" button on the product's webpage: www.igi-global.com/chapter/software-developmentdeveloping-countries/23722?camid=4v1
This title is available in InfoSci-Books, InfoSci-EGovernment, Science, Engineering, and Information Technology, E-Adoption in Developing Countries, InfoSciComputer Science and Information Technology, InfoSciSelect. Recommend this product to your librarian: www.igi-global.com/e-resources/libraryrecommendation/?id=1
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ITB7537 Hassan 309
. c n I p u o r G a de I t h g i r py CoSoftware Development in Chapter 17
Developing Countries: Framework for Analysis of Quality Initiatives
c. n I p u o r G Syed Zahoor Hassan a Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan e Lahore University of Management d I t h g ri y p o of software quality enhancement approaches have been suggested A number C and implemented. Over the last decade, software (SW) companies in developed . countries have reported significant enhancements in productivity and quality nc I by using various quality approaches. Software companies operating in p u othe recent developing countries have also undertaken quality initiatives in r G years. This chapter presents a framework for analysisa of quality initiatives. e d The need for considering customer and market aspects in assessing an I t hestablished. The notion of a market organization’s quality initiatives hasibeen g r quality indicator (MQI) hasp introduced for this purpose. o andbeenyprocess Information on the C quality improvement initiatives at some of the leading software companies of Pakistan has been collected. The proposed framework is applied to analyze the quality initiatives of these companies. Based on the insights obtained from this analysis, some recommendations for companies interested in launching quality and process improvement initiatives are also presented.
c. n I p u o r G a INTRODUCTION e d I It has been generally t realized that quality plays a very important part in the h success of any business and many philosophies and approaches have been deg i r y vised to p guide organizations in their quest for quality (Deming, 1986; Juran, 1988). o C
Previously Published in Challenges of Information Technology Management in the 21st Century, edited by Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, Copyright © 2000, Idea Group Publishing.
This chapter appears in the book, Information Technology Management in Developing Countries by Mohammad Dadashzadeh. Copyright © 2002, IRM Press, an imprint of Idea Group Inc.
310
Software Development in Developing Countries
Similarly several approaches have been proposed for handling the issue of enhancing software quality. It has also been highlighted that quality issues in software development are, in some respects, inherently different from those in manufacturing (Binder, 1997). One approach to assess an organization’s ability and capability to produce quality software is the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). The main focus of CMM is on improving the processes involved in SW development. Total Quality Management (TQM) based model for quality improvements have also been suggested and followed by some software organizations with very promising results. Hollenbach (1997) presents the results of one such initiative at a specific company. Over the recent years many organizations have adopted the CMM approach to quality improvement and the benefits achieved from CMM have also been documented (Herbsleb, 1997). On the other hand, several concerns have also been raised regarding the applicability and relevance of this approach for some types of software development organizations, especially small enterprises (Bach, 1994; Brodman, 1994). Work has also been done to tailor CMM to suit the needs of small business, small organization and small project situations (Johnson, 1999) Earlier studies have also shown that the specific situation and the operating environment of a given organization also plays an important part in determining the most appropriate approach for a quality initiative at a given company (Hassan, 1997). Some of the factors that are of specific importance for companies operating in developing countries have also been studied before. Most of the reported studies show significant improvement resulting from use of quality initiatives in the developed countries and in many cases the quantitative benefits have also been recorded (Arthur, 1997; Diaz, 1997). With increasing use of outsourcing and development of software industry in developing countries, it has become important to study quality initiatives undertaken by companies in these countries. Hassan (1997) presents a contingency based capability maturity model for developing countries based on the field data from a number of companies in Pakistan. A number of companies have launched extensive quality initiatives in the recent past, in Pakistan. An in depth study of these initiatives can provide useful insights on how companies in developing countries could potentially benefit from effective and relevant used of the quality concepts, techniques, and tools. A framework for study of quality initiatives is proposed in the next section. Data has been collected from three software companies in Pakistan on their quality initiatives and is presented. This is followed by an in depth analysis of these quality approaches and some suggestions on how software companies in developing countries may configure a quality and process improvement approach that is appropriate for their own specific situation.
. c n I p u ro G a e d I t h g i r y Cop
. c n I p u ro G a e d I t h g . i r c y n I p u Cop o r G a e d I t h g i r y p Co
a e d I t h g i r y Cop
. c n I p u Gro
8 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the "Add to Cart" button on the product's webpage: www.igi-global.com/chapter/software-developmentdeveloping-countries/23722?camid=4v1
This title is available in InfoSci-Books, InfoSci-EGovernment, Science, Engineering, and Information Technology, E-Adoption in Developing Countries, InfoSciComputer Science and Information Technology, InfoSciSelect. Recommend this product to your librarian: www.igi-global.com/e-resources/libraryrecommendation/?id=1
Related Content Innovations in Mobile Broadband in Japan and its Implications to Developing Countries Sheikh Taher Abu (2011). International Journal of Innovation in the Digital Economy (pp. 1-16).
www.igi-global.com/article/innovations-mobile-broadband-japanits/59866?camid=4v1a Trust in E-Commerce: Social Networks vs. Institutional Credibility Fahri Unsal, Kurt Komaromi and G. Scott Erickson (2013). Adoption of Virtual Technologies for Business, Educational, and Governmental Advancements (pp. 4457).
www.igi-global.com/chapter/trust-commerce-social-networksinstitutional/72397?camid=4v1a
Literature Review in Conceptions and Approaches to Teaching using Blended Learning Vicki Caravias (2015). International Journal of Innovation in the Digital Economy (pp. 46-73).
www.igi-global.com/article/literature-review-in-conceptions-and-approachesto-teaching-using-blended-learning/123246?camid=4v1a Digital Divide in Turkey: A General Assessment Mete Yildiz (2010). Handbook of Research on Overcoming Digital Divides: Constructing an Equitable and Competitive Information Society (pp. 75-89).
www.igi-global.com/chapter/digital-divide-turkey/38312?camid=4v1a
