Report of December 7, 2011 Meeting

Quality Management: Strategies to Shift left

Anand Raghu

Anand Raghu made a powerful and insightful presentation.
Mr. Raghu, a consultant from Cognizant who has worked with many large businesses in our area and beyond, noted observations about the way QA has evolved in business and industry.

This presentation focused on specific strategies that IT Organizations have successfully adopted and implemented. There were six key points: the key inhibitors of predictable quality outcomes, key strategic questions – the CIO’s agenda, quality management- what it means to shift left, transforming IT engagement models, building a quality culture, and knowing the difference between structural quality vs. functional quality.

Though somewhat mature in application of processes, many QA processes rely on quantification of defect identification by the testers as a measure of quality, when true quality means building the code right the first time.

A video was shown that exemplified several examples of quality compromises that were made that shifted focus away from meeting customer needs, and more toward succumbing to pressures from the marketplace. In each example the cost in lives, time and money that would have been required to avert disaster was minuscule, when compared to the eventual outcome.

The most chilling example was the 1986 loss of the shuttle Challenger and all souls aboard. The faulty “O” rings had shown inadequate performance during testing and had not been tested at low-enough temperatures required for fail-proof performance required for a launch. We all know the result.

Even when outcomes do not result in such large-scale disasters,
as developers and testers we have all experienced examples when pressure to deliver the product has outweighed the fortitude to adhere to strict QA requirements and practices. Further driving home the point, he showed a quote of Henry Ford,
” “I still try to always do “the right thing, even when no one is looking” “.

Anand Raghu has over 9 years of work experience including 5+ years of focused experience in Quality consulting & Advisory services for leading client corporations of varying size, complexity & geographies. He has an in-depth understanding of technology & business strategy, and has played the role of Sr. Consultant for over 60+ quality consulting & implementation projects for leading firms across geographies (US, UK & Continental Europe). His diverse experience also includes a pivotal role where he supported a national sales force of a technology based company. He holds an engineering degree in Mechanical engineering and a Post Graduate Program in Management from a premier institution affiliated to Illinois institute of technology.

As a side note, Anand volunteered for and was elected to QAAC’s 2012 board of directors as Direction of Education. What a coup for QAAC!
Our next meeting will be Feb. 8, 2012.

2012 Board Elections Held

Dateline Dec. 7, 2011

Elections were held for the 2012 QAAC Board of Directors. In addition to re-election of several board members in their current positions, the following first-time board members were elected from the membership: Treasurer, Sherry Mauro; Secretary, Anju Datta; Direction of Education, Anand Raghu; Direction of Communictions, Mini Gupta.

Joyce Hardy left the 2011 Treasurer position to become 2012 Director of the Charter. Jaimini Bhatt was appointed as Member-at-large by the president.

Re-elected for another year were: Deepak Sharma, President of the Board, Daksha Kantaria, Vice-president, Niket Gandhi, Director of Programs & Logistics, Robin Mullaney, Director of Membership.

Prior to the elelctions, the membership voted on a charge to the charter to eliminate the two-year term-limit of the sitting president by removing the language that mandated that the president step out of the position for one year before becoming eligible to run for an additional 1-year term.
Thanks to all who have served on the 2011 board. Welcome to the new directors!

Our Next evening meeting will be held February 7, 2012.