Views expressed are entirely from the Founder’s perspective

1. BSPIN Founder’s Perspective – 20 years and beyond - By Indradeb P. Pal, at the 6th Annual BSPIN conference, celebrating 20 years of IMPACT of BSPIN Views expressed are entirely from the Founder’s perspective

2. Evolution of BSPIN • Relevant History • Birth of the idea of SPINs in India – May90 to Dec90 • What it took to get SIG-SQA started? – Jan91 to May92 • The Launch of SIG-SQA (then name of BSPIN) – 15Jun1992 • The First (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Jun92 to Mar95 • The Second (Education, Awareness) Phase of SPIN – 1994 to 1998 • The Third (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Benchmarking Initiation – 1999 - 2002 • The Fourth (Growth) of BSPIN – Scaling up the IMPACT – 2002 till date • Social Impact of BSPIN • Contribution to the Industry • Impact on and by the BSPINNERS • Imagine for a moment if there was no BSPIN • Future Vision for BSPIN – Founder’s Inputs • Current Challenges and Scenario • How can BSPIN further contribute • Further institutionalization of BSPIN

3. History – Birth of the idea of SPINs in India – May90 – Dec90 • 1950s to 1990s - Japan did the manufacturing & economic revolution • India missed the Manufacturing opportunity to Grow its economy • Saw functioning of SPINs in the US and realized such mobilization could help • The Analogy between JUSE and 1950s to 1980s – to what SPINs could do to Software Industry • Inputs from Roger Bate (close colleague of Watts S Humphrey) and realization that S/w Process Improvement is impossible to do in a single company (Dec90) • Development of Core Concepts and Ethos of SPIN • Must be Neutral, • Must be Learning, Sharing, Collaboration, • Must be driven selflessly – by selfless professionals • Preferably a Non-Profit body • Participation, participation, participation …….

4. What it took to get SIG-SQA started? – Jan91 to May92 • The message of advances in S/w Engg was taken to multiple forums: • IISc – CSA dept • Presentations to several companies at Bangalore • Some of the IITs • Dept. of Electronics organized events • Professional Bodies – CSI, IEEE, IETE • It took Indradeb in all SEVEN attempts – before a proper `Neutral’ host was found. The search ended in May 1992 with DoE’s STQC. • S. Haridas of DoE’s STQC helped out by providing a platform for getting SIG-SQA started. • Very difficult to find a body which would meet all the requirements for a successful replication of “JUSE” for India’s S/w Industry. • It took great patience and perseverance to `Even Agree to Get Started’.

5. The Launch of SIG-SQA (then name of BSPIN) – 15Jun1992 • Why SIG-SQA? • - Because the SQA community which was very new did not have any identity • Most of them were largely given almost no importance within their company • Mobilizing this group would help `Penetrate’ into more organizations for a common cause • Sharing amongst this group would help making each of them competent and would eventually earn respect which was so much missing for SQAs at that time • In India – no one would have understood the term SPIN at that time. • 15th June 1992  History was made at DoE STQC office on Peenya Road near Yeshwanthpura, where 9 people met and the 1st SIG-SQA meeting was held. The topic of the presentation was CMM and its Impact. The presentation was done by me. It was titled – “Software Crisis is Dead”.

6. The First (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Jun92 to Mar95 • Get visibility to the Senior Management of various companies about Software Quality Issues • How to get attention of the PMs which is so fundamental to make improvements happen? • Like the JUSE got Deming to Japan – WE SHALL GET WATTS S HUMPHREY to India in the next 3 years. • I made this statement in the 1st SIG-SQA meeting when one attendee in this meeting pressed me for a purpose or a goal to shoot for. • In Jun1994  We rebranded SIG-SQA as SEI SPIN Bangalore. Work on getting SPINs started in other cities of India was taken up. • We truly arrived as an INFLUENTIAL FORCE when in Jan 1995, Watts S Humphrey addressed SPIN Bangalore and 200 people attended it at Hotel Holiday Inn (as it was called then). • Watts S Humphrey’s impression about SEI SPIN Bangalore 

7. The Second (Education, Awareness) Phase of SPIN – 1994 to 1998 • Sponsorship in the form of Technical Literature, SEI design of BS CS and MS CS course curriculum, advances in Software Engineering, provided by Texas Instruments. • Indradeb worked closely with SEI’s SPIN coordinator and got about a dozen SPINs started all over India. As of today, about half of these SPINs are active and functional. (e.g., SPINs at Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai) • Big push led by C Rama Rao and Sreeshaila to educate more than 1000 people on CMM L2 and L3 practices • Roping in `Who’s who’ of S/w Engg across the world to present at SEI SPIN Bangalore • Companies at Bangalore – queuing up to Sponsor the monthly SPIN talk • Bangalore SPINNERs getting opportunity to present at other SPINs – in India as well as abroad • Recognition from various quarters of the world that Bangalore SPIN is the most active SPIN and one of the best run SPINs. • More PMs were SPINNERS than QA people + CXOs learnt about Bangalore SPIN.

8. The Third (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Benchmarking Initiation – 1999 - 2002 • Climbing up the Maturity ladder would be aided if there are Metrics Benchmarks which makes sense for the Outsourcing industry. • Benchmarks did exists – however, none served the way the CMM model looked at as applied to outsourcing and offshoring. • We decided to initiate Metrics Benchmarking and SIG-BEN was formed in 1999. • The idea was to “Help/ Facilitate 100+ High Mature Software Organizations in India’ in the next 3 to 4 years.” • NDA was a crucial point to get started. Vishu Hegde was a great pivot to get this going. At least 20+ die hard BSPINNERS worked for about 3 to 4 years to see through the 1st and the 2nd round of BSPIN Benchmarking study. • IMPACT: Almost all companies in the Asia Pacific region started using the BSPIN Benchmarking reports to get guidance and comparison when targeting L3, L4 and L5. • BSPIN decided to continue with rounds of Benchmarking – roughly one cycle in a two year period and we did the 6th one in 2012.

9. The Fourth (Growth) of BSPIN – Scaling up the IMPACT – 2002 till date • Scaling up the BSPIN, how to make a greater impact was seen as key • Increased participation in related conferences or events • Set up multiple chapters in various parts of the city • Reaching out to CXOs and CXOs presenting at BSPIN • BSPIN Membership composition: • PMs, Delivery people - 70% • QA profile - 23%, • Senior Mgmt - 7% • More institutionalized way of functioning • Got registered as a society • Initiated the annual BSPIN conference

10. Evolution of BSPIN • Relevant History • Birth of the idea of SPINs in India – May90 to Dec90 • What it took to get SIG-SQA started? – Jan91 to May92 • The Launch of SIG-SQA (then name of BSPIN) – 15Jun1992 • The First (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Jun92 to Mar95 • The Second (Education, Awareness) Phase of SPIN – 1994 to 1998 • The Third (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Benchmarking Initiation – 1999 - 2002 • The Fourth (Growth) of BSPIN – Scaling up the IMPACT – 2002 till date • Social Impact of BSPIN • Contribution to the Industry • Impact on and by the BSPINNERS • Imagine for a moment if there was no BSPIN • Future Vision for BSPIN – Founder’s Inputs • Current Challenges and Scenario • How can BSPIN further contribute • Further institutionalization of BSPIN

11. Social Impact of BSPIN - Contribution to the Industry • Many more people took to the SPI profession, • BSPIN – a forum where people got guidance, • Fostered and supported Process Maturity development across the Software Industry, • Impact tangible and visible in cities where SPINs are not active or weak, • Capture of `Sticky knowledge’ which is so important for Productivity improvements, • India seen as a High Quality and Value player – while being cost competitive, • Provided people opportunity to be leaders – by contributing to BSPIN activities, • Recognition of BSPIN forums by many other professional bodies – including Big4 consulting • Other bodies – emulating BSPIN • PM’s network – with support from PMI • Society of Technical Writers • Knowledge Management Forum, and several more ….. • People (proudly) write about their association with BSPIN in their RESUMEs: • E.g., Attends BSPIN meets, was part of Benchmarking SIG, was a presenter at BSPIN, was a panelist at BSPIN, etc., etc.

12. Social Impact of BSPIN - Impact on and by the BSPINNERS • When the cause is NOT Humanitarian, Hunger Alleviation, Religious, or a Temple trust  Very few societies survive actively beyond 2 to 3 years • The Ethos of Collaboration, Learning, Sharing, Innovation and serving Selflessly has been key to the Sustenance and Energy of BSPIN. • A large number of professionals got the opportunity to perform team work across company, a good number of professionals developed them as leaders, thousands learnt from BSPIN talks, presentations and reports • BSPIN helped develop an image of the Indian IT Industry and has been a key facilitator for a large number of companies to achieve High Process Maturity

13. Social Impact of BSPIN - Imagine for a moment if there was no BSPIN • Perhaps – we would not have had any Benchmarking report comparing projects from relatively High Mature companies • People from Bangalore/ India would not have got opportunity to learn or share from other SPINs • SPINs in other cities may not have formed • Many eminent people when visiting Bangalore – would not have presented at BSPIN and hence a lot of sharing that they have done – would not have been done • People from the Big4 who are sometimes panelist at BSPIN discussions would have had to find other forums to do the same • Many professionals who developed Leadership while contributing to BSPIN may not have got a similar opportunity • The positioning of India’s Software Industry could have been different that what it is today, ……… • And this list can go on and on ……..

14. Future Vision for BSPIN • Relevant History • Birth of the idea of SPINs in India – May90 to Dec90 • What it took to get SIG-SQA started? – Jan91 to May92 • The Launch of SIG-SQA (then name of BSPIN) – 15Jun1992 • The First (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Jun92 to Mar95 • The Second (Education, Awareness) Phase of SPIN – 1994 to 1998 • The Third (Practical) Vision of BSPIN – Benchmarking Initiation – 1999 - 2002 • The Fourth (Growth) of BSPIN – Scaling up the IMPACT – 2002 till date • Social Impact of BSPIN • Contribution to the Industry • Impact on and by the BSPINNERS • Imagine for a moment if there was no BSPIN • Future Vision for BSPIN – Founder’s Inputs • Current Challenges and Scenario • How can BSPIN further contribute • Further institutionalization of BSPIN

15. Future Vision for BSPIN - Current Challenges and Scenario • Today’s scenario – very different from that in 1992 time frame as well as 2003 time frame • The cost arbitrage advantage is almost gone/ going away • Quantitative way to show benefits and value addition is even more important today than ever before • Value and Cost Expectations have changed • Business models have changed

16. IT Outsourcing Services Model • Already commoditized • High Process Maturity contributes to competitiveness • Quality • Predictability & • Cost • Business Model - `Value Creation’ sold only once • Companies trying to do the same thing in more niche areas Value creation and value realization for the Indian IT industry structure Custom Solution Services Model Product Business Model • About 5 years away from becoming commoditized • High Process Maturity must be leveraged for systematic Re-Use, Architectural & Design services, Innovation • Business Model - `Value Creation’ sold few (2 to 10) times • Companies realize this – but find it hard to afford or develop skills to get there. Those who are there have challenge sustaining it. • Due to specialization, High Process Maturity is relatively less important. • Depending on what Product, avoid being commoditized for longer time • Needs focus on People, Process, Technology, Domain knowledge, Entrepreneurship, VC funding/ nurturing, Design skills, Innovation • Business Model - `Value Creation’ sold many times • There MUST be an institutionalized way to incubate companies to get into this mode • Can be Managed with a L3 Process Maturity. Often, High Process Maturity seen as overhead.

17. Future Vision for BSPIN - How can BSPIN further contribute • Promote proven Best Practices to improve by type of Business Model • Utilize the strength of the Quantitative Management knowledge to help organizations Quantify the Benefits which can be input to business case • How can we dramatically reduce the cost of Testing? • Why can’t proven methods like ODC be popularized by BSPIN? • Why can’t we institute a Prestigious Award for Proven Quantitative Improvement for the industry?

18. Future Vision for BSPIN - Further institutionalization of BSPIN • Form BSPIN Foundation • Augment ways to earn revenue for BSPIN • Rich Web Site to increase impact of BSPIN • Leverage Presentations at BSPIN to share the same thoughts via Webinar • BSPIN collaborates with other organizations to gain further leverage and mindshare • License BSPIN developed webinars via effective models • Continue to be on the path of Ethics and Integrity which is bedrock of this great organization

19. Dedication • This presentation is dedicated to the BSPINNERS & their immediate Family – for Past, Present and Future BSPINNERs • With thanks to all who have presented and supported BSPIN, SEI SPIN Bangalore, or SIG-SQA • With thanks for Corporates, association and bodies who have sponsored and/or supported BSPIN at various times.