ACS/AAESPI Challenges Software Industry to Improve Results
Monday 19 January 1998 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has thrown down the gauntlet to organisations involved in software development projects to improve their methodologies and processes to meet business goals and verify a return on this investment (ROI).
With entries currently being accepted for the annual Australian Award for Excellence in Software Process Improvement (AAESPI) , Awards Coordinator Doug Jay wants to hear from companies who can claim achievements in improving the quality and productivity of their software development process.
"Despite all the talk about ROI and how business goals are now driving software development, Australian industry is not doing enough in applying measurable, scientific principles to improve the way they do software," said Mr Jay, who Chairs the ACS Technical Committee for Software Process Improvement.
"We are simply not seeing well conceived and measured improvement programs in the software industry and that sends a clear message about our potential long-term ability to compete effectively in the international software market."
Mr Jay said last year’s inaugural AAESPI Award failed to produce a winner, although two companies (SCITEC and Ericsson) received honourable mentions for their work.
"There simply wasn’t any organisation that really came up to our expectations in terms of demonstrating the connection between its improvement and business goals. We're hoping that this year we will be able to identify at least one Australian company that is clearly defining what it expects to achieve and then putting the appropriate modus operandi in place to ensure that return."
The AAESPI Award is organised by the ACS, and last year received funding from both the ACS and the Federal Department of Industry, Science and Tourism (DIST).
Designed to encourage a disciplined approach to the development of software within Australia, the award will be announced in November at the Australian Software Engineering Conference (ASWEC).
In adjudicating the award, the review team will look for key factors such as sustainability, management support and commitment, and measurement data that relates improvements achieved to planned, business-directed goals.
To be eligible for entry, the development team must:
* Comprise one or more software engineering professionals engaged in software development, support or management;
* Be part of an organisation where software is, or is critical to, the core business;
* Be resident in Australia; and
* Have performed the work primarily in Australia.
Entries close on 30 April 1998.
For more information, see www.acs.org.au/news/AAESPI, email info@acs.org.au or telephone Doug Jay on (02) 9325 3100.
This media release is available on the Web at: http://www.acs.org.au/news/aaespi98.htm
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Doug Jay, Chair of ACS Software Process Improvement Technical Committee, Tel: (02) 9325 3100, Email: doug.jay@cmis.csiro.au
Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au
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