005/05
18 February 2005
Software Quality is the Key
Industry, particularly SMEs, need to reduce the risks for both suppliers and customers when developing and implementing software products, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said following the release of an industry report today.
"The Software Quality Accreditation Working Party report gives a valuable insight into software process improvement and accreditation in Australia and will assist industry to look to the future competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian software sector," Senator Coonan said.
"Software process improvement and associated accreditation, in some circumstances, is important in ensuring that Australia's software sector is globally recognised as a source of high quality innovative software."
Improving overall organisational quality through improved software processes and other measures such as professional accreditation of employees also has the potential to reduce an organisation's risk profile and associated insurance requirements.
To assist in developing an implementation plan in response to the report's findings and recommendations, all interested parties are invited to comment on the report.
"I look forward to working with key stakeholders to consider the Software Quality Accreditation Working Party's findings and build on previous initiatives to ensure Australia is viewed as a source of high quality innovative software," Senator Coonan said.
"The Government will also be working with the industry to enhance the level of professionalism in the industry and help reduce the costs of insurance to professionals."
The report builds on significant initiatives already undertaken by the Australian Government to improve software quality in Australia.
The Government provided significant seed capital to establish Software Engineering Australia National (SEA) which provides software process improvement products and services for Australian industry and improves the capabilities of software organisations in Australia. SEA now operates as an independent industry authority representing software business excellence in Australia.
The Government is also currently funding research on software process improvement and associated accreditation through its support for the ICT Centre of Excellence, National ICT Australia, which has an empirical software engineering research program.
The report is available online at www.dcita.gov.au/ict/publications. Responses to the report can be emailed to: softwarequality@dcita.gov.au by Friday 22 April 2005.