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Thursday, August 31, 2017

May be Indian Software Developers are just not good in programming

 Today I was reading an article 'Maybe today’s Navy is just not very good at driving ships' about problems by US Navy in light of two recent ship collisions.


What stuck me the how similar the problems are with the problems faced by the Indian Software Industry.
  1. Compromising on training of new comers (in the name of saving cost) and assuming that they will learn 'on job'. Typically these guys then screw up 'on the job' which has much higher cost. But this cost is never really visible. It remains hidden behind individual project failures/cost.
  2. Project Managers and Team leads afraid to go to seniors/mgmt with anything that might look bad for them. They did everything to protect their own reputation to ensure that they get promotion. 
  3. Environment is not about becoming competent software developer/project manager but about looking out for yourself.
  4. Decisions made for saving money have now “posed more leadership, logistical and administrative problems,” 
  5. (Navy) culture rewards checking the box on qualifications, passing inspections and stacking resumes with career-minded assignments.
For short term company gets 'reduction in cost and hence better profitability'. In Long term company is doomed. (growth stops, good people start leaving, company is sold, etc).

Unfortunately in Indian context this is not just problem of few companies. Its a 'pandemic'.  That is why we (i.e. entire Indian software industry especially small companies) are in BIG trouble.
 
We desparately need lot of Good Passionate Coders. But we also need companies which really really value these passionate programmers.

I cannot do much about companies really giving importance to core coding skills. However, from Sept I will do my bit to develop the next generation of Passionate Programmers. If you want to know how, read about the Concept of CodeGym.

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Characteristics of Software Technical Expert - As documented by Hemant Shah

Hemant Shah listed these characteristics of a Software Technical Expert in a mail to participants of Accelerated Technical Expert Program. I think this is a great list and forwarded this mail to various other Teams in Geometric Ltd. I am reproducing the list here as it will be great reference to everyone.

(PS - Hemant has uncanny ability to simplify complex ideas to simple core concepts. If you are in GeometricPLM/HCL Technologies, don't miss his sessions) 
 
While Nitin has been articulating the qualities which he wants to see in Techincal Experts,
Here is a list of things which has been compiled.

I understand that it might sound too much of super-human-like. Also most of the things you would already know.

This is just to document things in a single place.

Note that not all of them are unique or mutually exclusive. Some of them might be repetition of already mentioned points, with a different view point.

Technical Expert

  1. A Technical Expert should be able to design a software.
  2. A Technical Expert should be able to implement a software.
  3. A Technical Expert should have a wide-ranging experience.
  4. A Technical Expert should be the go-to person in the team for Technical queries.
  5. A Technical Expert should be able to give Technical Presentations.
  6.  A Technical Expert should be able to make, review, evaluate a Technical Proposal.
  7. A Technical Expert should be able to formulate Technical Guidelines for e.g., Technical Coding Guidelines etc.
  8. A Technical Expert should be able to evaluate a new software and give recommendations.
  9. A Technical Expert should do Technical Bench-marking.
  10. A Technical Expert should be aware of / read technical standards.
  11. A Technical Expert should be aware of / read latest things available in his/her field
  12. A Technical Expert should be member of Technical bodies. 
  13. A Technical Expert should write Technical Blogs.
  14. A Technical Expert should be able to compare and evaluate two software.
  15. A Technical Expert loves challenging problems and attempts at solving them.
  16. A Technical Expert should answer queries which are posted on Technical Forums.
  17. A Technical Expert should take part in Technical Competitions. 
  18. A Technical Expert should be a judge of a Technical Competition. 
  19. A Technical Expert should attend Technical Conferences / Events. 
  20. A Technical Expert should be a Speaker at Technical Conferences / Events. 
  21. A Technical Expert should be able to guide / mentor new comers in the organization and the project team.
  22. A Technical Expert should be able to analyse technical reports / findings.
  23. A Technical Expert should have some preliminary business sense. 
  24. A Technical Expert should be aware of the various tools available in his/her field of expertise, or should be able to find out and figure out.
  25. A Technical Expert should take part in Techathons, Hackathons. 
  26. A Technical Expert should have in-depth knowledge of a particular topic / subject. He / she should be an authority on that subject. A Technical Expert should have broad knowledge of other areas. 
  27. A Technical Expert should have broad knowledge of the various Software Development Processes
  28.  A Technical Expert should be part of the Technical Evaluation / Promotion of Individuals. 
  29. A Technical Expert should improve the efficiency of the Team on Technical
  30. A Technical Expert should share his/her knowledge across multiple domains.
  31. A Technical Expert should share technical information with others.
  32. A Technical Expert should inspire others also to become a Technical Expert.
  33. A Technical Expert should do external Technical Certifications. 
  34. A Technical Expert should be an innovator. 
  35. A Technical Expert actively contributes on Social Media. 
  36. A Technical Expert knows how to build a technical team. 
  37. A Technical Expert challenges his / her peers with technical problems.
  38.  A Technical Expert comes up with other challenging problems. 
  39. A Technical Expert should be a curious person. He / she should be an early adopter of a new technology. 
  40. A Technical Expert comes out with challenging test papers / question papers for the next generation to solve.
  41. A Technical Expert should be able to talk to, articulate things to non-Technical folks like Human Resources, Business, Finance, Sales, etc.
  42. A Technical Expert should be able to simplify complex topics so that other non-technical folks or other technical folks are able to understand and comprehend the complex topics.
  43.  A Technical Expert should be able to take Technical Interviews. 
  44. A Technical Expert should be able to sustain a dialog with other Technical Experts. 
  45. A Technical Expert should be able to teach others about the Technical Skills which he/she has acquired.
  46. 48.  A Technical Expert should be sincere, perseverance, able to express, diplomatic, great inter-personal skills, approachable. 
  47. A Technical Expert should be an avid reader.
  48. A Technical Expert is a Guru.
  49. A Technical Expert is a Final Authority on Technical matters. 
  50. A Technical Expert is a Role Model for others.