The South African chapter of the global Software Process Improvement Network (Spin) aims for the country to be recognised as a dominant player in the international software market, by improving the quality, lead-time, cost and characteristics of software products.
Established in May, in Cape Town, the non-profit leadership forum is working towards transforming the South African IT sector into a major pillar of the economy by promoting world-class software development.
Pieter Nel, Spin member and Swist Group Technologies project manager, says the organisation was established due to a need to up the level of professionalism within the South African software engineering sector, as well as to develop best practices for the country.
Nel explains that Spin comprises members who wish to improve software engineering practices, and are organised into regional groups that meet and share their experiences regarding initiating and sustaining software process improvement programmes.
"As with the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering, at Wits, our intention is to build capacity and raise professionalism in the South African software industry. In Spin's case, the focus is specifically on the interchange of information between professionals in the field."
Nel says the Spin concept was initiated by the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute, and now has 160 chapters worldwide.
"One of our objectives is to grow this initiative and start other Spins, not only in SA, but all over the African continent. The ICT industry is a growth area with direct economic benefit - as proven in India, Brazil and other emerging economies - and initiatives like Spin are important in ensuring that best practices are followed to keep us globally competitive, but yet keeping in mind the unique challenges of Africa," Nel states.
He adds that the organisation aims to promote transformation via process improvement and by enhancing skills through an active programme of networking, presentations, publications, discussion groups, recognition of excellence and mutual support.
The group's primary goal is to create a network of peers who exchange views on the state of the South African IT and software industry for the international market, and cross-fertilise ideas and synergies for the development of co-ordinated ICT-enabled growth strategies.
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