CONTACT DETAILS€¦ · Themba Khumalo – dti • Vumani Mangali – City of Joburg • Zolani...

Promoting investment

Supporting transformation

Encouraging innovation

Joburg Centre for Software EngineeringTel: +27 11 717 6390 | Fax: +27 86 553 7128 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.jcse.org.za

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Building capacity and skills

Improving processes

JCSE Annual Report 2012 – 2013

OBJECTIVESThe Joburg Centre for Software Engineering The Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) is a three-way partnership between government, academia and industry. Based at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the JCSE is multifaceted with various programmes and facilities that position it as a focal point of the ICT industry in South Africa and the rest of the continent.

The JCSE strongly supports the City of Johannesburg’s developmental priorities, which sees Joburg becoming a world-class Smart City with service delivery and efficiencies that meet global best practice. It supports this goal by promoting best practice in software development in an African context, growing the country’s capacity to deliver world-class software, and developing research and training initiatives to strengthen the local software development industry.

Its objectives are as follows:• Improving processes: Promoting international best practice in Software Engineering within an African context.

• Promoting investment: Establishing a business friendly environment that attracts investment in the local ICT industry.

• Supporting transformation: Aligning with the objectives of the ICT Charter, to create new leaders and to encourage the growth of SMMEs in the sector.

• Encouraging innovation: Applied research, technology incubation and IP development.

• Building capacity and skills: Educating experts to lead Africa’s software development sector.

25JCSE Annual Report 2012 – 2013

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Gijima • Opsi Systems


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introductory messages

Message from the Director ............................................................ 2

Chariman’s Message ..................................................................... 3

Message from the Dean ................................................................ 3


Setting up the Tshimologong Precinct ........................................... 4


Wits Institute for Data Sciences ....................................................... 6

Research activities at the JCSE ...................................................... 7

Improving processes

Presenting training courses in process improvement ..................... 8

Delivering high-quality software in a predictable, repeatable manner .......................................................................................... 9

Nedbank’s Team Software Process (TSP) rollout ............................. 10

Navigating smart power grids in Africa ........................................ 12

Promoting literacy with mobile devices ........................................ 13


CoachLab@JCSE ........................................................................ 14

Turning students into work-ready graduates.................................. 15

Increasing the pool of young computer programmers in the country ........................................................................................ 16

Forging a career in the exciting field of computer programming 17

Encouraging learners to pursue a career in software development .............................................................................. 18

Continuing professional development ........................................ 19

The CIO Practice Programme 2013 ............................................. 19

Keeping abreast with top-class forums and events ..................... 22


ICT Industry Support ..................................................................... 20

General

Communication and Marketing ................................................... 23

Finance and Administration ......................................................... 23

Partnering for success .................................................................. 24

Board members

Mark Harris – IBM (Chairman) • Barry Dwolatzky – JCSE • Beatrys Lacquet – Dean: Engineering and the Built Environment, Wits University Barry Vlok – Vodacom • Duncan Rafthesath – Wits Enterprise • Fernando Moreira – FNB • Fazel Mayet – Psybergate • Sean McLean – IBM

Themba Khumalo – dti • Vumani Mangali – City of Joburg • Zolani Matebese – City of Joburg • Clifford de Wit – Microsoft

2

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Two words characterise the work of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) in 2012 and 2013. They are “SITA” and “Braamfontein”.

Between November 2011 and March 2013, the JCSE delivered a massive amount of Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) and People CMM training to the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). More than 1 000 SITA employees attended official Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)-certified training courses in Pretoria, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and other parts of the country. This training was successfully and efficiently planned, presented and managed by the JCSE.

The other significant activity undertaken by the JCSE over the past year has been positioning Braamfontein – the run-down inner-city urban area neighbouring Wits University’s East Campus – as a strong candidate for the role as Africa’s most exciting digital technology hub.

Premises were secured to house the proposed Tshimologong Precinct in Juta Street.

This precinct will soon become the new home of the JCSE and a site for most of its key activities. It also has the potential to transform Joburg’s inner city, which includes both Wits University and the JCSE.

Apart from these two areas of major focus, the JCSE has made significant progress in strengthening existing programmes, such as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme and CoachLab@JCSE, and initiating new ones, such as the launch of our High-maturity (Hi-Mat) Units and the ImpaCT programme for school children.

I am looking forward to another exciting and productive year ahead, aimed at progressing the JCSE’s key goals and objectives.

Prof Barry DwolatzkyDirector: JCSE at Wits University

The launch of the Tshimologong Precinct in Juta Street, Braamfontein, is set to transform the inner city of Johannesburg, which includes both Wits University and the JCSE.

INTRODUCTORY MESSAGES

JCSE Annual Review 2012


CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

INTRODUCTORY MESSAGES

The JCSE can be rightly proud of what it has achieved during 2012 and 2013. With its particular focus on job creation, skills development, fostering entrepreneurship and reinforcing best practices in the industry, the JCSE is an example of how to make an economic impact through best practices and excellence in execution. By aligning its strategic objectives with the national agenda, the JCSE is playing a significant role in the ICT sector and it has a significant impact on the economy and innovation agenda in South Africa.

The support of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) is critical in helping the JCSE achieve its objective of creating

1 000 new software development jobs over the next three years through the development of a series of high-maturity (Hi-Mat) software development units. These units will ensure that South Africa’s software development skills are on a par with that of the best development teams in the world.

Through the JCSE’s continued partnership with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, USA, it is able to provide internationally recognised training pro-grammes using local instructors. It has also created local capacity to perform SEI-recognised CMMI appraisals. The JCSE’s collaboration with industry and with other stakeholders creates an innovative,

entrepreneurial environment where inter-national best practices and qualities of scale combine to enhance economic development. This environment is con-ducive to the development of a world-class ICT sector.

I believe that the JCSE is a wonderful vehicle to bring people together to col-laborate around innovation, entrepre-neurship and job creation. The initiatives it has launched during the past year are not only critical in helping private enter-prise, but also in driving the South African economy.

Mark HarrisChairman: JCSE at Wits University

Through its association with the School of Electrical and Information Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, this multifaceted centre con-tributes to positioning Wits University at the focal point of the software development industry in Gauteng.

The outputs of the JCSE have continued to play an important role in developing the appropriate ICT skills base that the coun-try needs to achieve the objectives of the National Development Plan, particularly in terms of improving the quality of educa-tion, skills development and innovation, and creating employment through fastereconomic growth.

The JCSE’s strategy of accelerating the development of ICT skills, coupled with project-based experience and leader-ship skills, has continued to deliver results through CoachLab@JCSE, which is turning students into work-ready graduates.

It is not only graduates that benefit from these capacity development pro-grammes. The JCSE sponsored 15 young-sters to undergo training, increasing the pool of young computer programmers in the country. Through programmes such as these, the JCSE is developing a cred-ible skills base that can take the software industry forward so that South Africa can become an international player.

It therefore makes a unique contribution to skills development in the country.

The initiation of the Tshimologong Precint is certainly another highlight. This strategic intervention will not only revitalise the inner-city Braamfontein area, but signifies a new phase for the JCSE in its collaboration with and involvement in the software industry.

We are looking forward to the develop-ment of this revolutionary approach to ICT development in South Africa.

Prof Beatrys LacquetDean: Engineering and the Built

Environment, Wits University

4 JCSE Annual Report 2012 – 2013

SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION

SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATIONSetting up the Tshimologong Precinct

The dynamic development, which will see programmers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs congregating in a half city block along Juta Street between Station and Henri Streets, is the dream of Prof Barry Dwolatzky, who heads up the JCSE at Wits University.

He is in the process of setting up shop in a series of five unused buildings where, after some extensive refurbishments, one-time night club floors will become meeting space and server rooms, warehouses will be converted into computer labs and retail outlets will reincarnate as development pods. Appropriately, tshimologong is the seSotho phrase for ‘place of new beginnings’.

Braamfontein’s many advantages have made the neighbourhood an obvious location for the precinct – it is convenient

to two universities (Wits and the University of Johannesburg); it is centrally located with good transportation; it is the site of local government departments and many non-governmental organisations (NGOs); and it is within easy reach of banks and mining houses, as well as a multitude of corporate headquarters, such as those of SAB Miller and Transnet.

Prof Dwolatzky points out that Gauteng generates 40% of the country’s gross domestic product. Much of it emanates from within a 15 km radius of Braamfontein. Furthermore, all these businesses require software and digital services.

In addition, as a vicinity characterised by student life, the suburb is young and vibrant. There are estimated to be some 5 000 young people resident in Braamfontein.

“We are creating a hub space where people can get together, brainstorm and work on creative projects, and take part in workshops. Tshimologong will be a start-up incubator and source of skills,” he says.

Prof Dwolatzky envisions 24/7 activity in the new precinct, with courses running day and night, as well as hubs where ideas are hatched and creativity has a space to breathe.

Plans include formal and informal membership-based groups where like-minded and creative techies can connect, take courses, locate tutors and advisors, and access Wi-Fi zones and hot desks.

He sees specialised forums and conferences taking place, as well as video evenings, career fairs and master classes.

Braamfontein, the scene of much urban renewal in recent times, is now the site of an exciting new-age software skills and innovation hub, the Tshimologong Precinct. The Precinct is part of an ambitious ICT cluster development programme, Tech-in-Braam, that has swung into action and is making the once dilapidated suburb the new technical heart of South Africa and beyond.

Revitalising the inner city

In his State of the City address on 10 May 2013, Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Clr Parks Tau, presented a vision for “Corridors of Freedom”, linking working and living spaces and encouraging economic development. Braamfontein lies on one of these corridors. Creating a digital technology hub in the heart of Braamfontein supports the Mayor’s vision and is a logical extension of the role of the JCSE, being a partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Wits University.

Wits University’s Tshimologong Precinct will occupy half a city block and involves the renovation of five buildings – owned by the University – to create a combination of open-plan co-working areas, meeting and refreshment zones, laboratories, training rooms, creative content development environments, and administrative and infrastructure support offices.

Activities within the precinct will include App Factories, the Banking Software Skills Academy, the Hi-Maturity Software Development Unit, the Games and Digital Content Hub, the CoachLab@JCSE, the ImpaCT Schools Programme, the presentation of short courses and night school classes, forums and other events, formal and informal hub space, and enterprise development support.

Seed funding to begin the rehabilitation of the premises is being sourced and initial occupation will take place in the fourth quarter of 2013. Discussions with partners, sponsors and funding organisations will continue to ensure that the remaining capital requirements are achieved.


SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION

As skills development is a major aspect of the development, the precinct will have a banking software skills academy, a hi-maturity software development unit and a games and digital content hub, all with internship schemes for graduates and job placement possibilities.

Short courses and a night school will be established, while holiday programmes will be conducted for high school learners as part of the JCSE’s ImpaCT Schools Programme.

Lured by the prospect of this intense con-centration of software capability and its potential for collaboration, businesses have begun to move into the precinct. This includes Microsoft’s Windows 8 App Factory Programme, which has relocated from Sandton. The programme offers three- to six-month courses for programmers.

Prof Dwolatzky’s goal is shared by Wits University, which has provided the buildings and some seed funding, as well as the City of Johannesburg, which has extended its B-Wired fibre network into the precinct to enable seamless wired and wireless connectivity. Internet connectivity is obviously key to the success of the precinct, which must also have speedy connectivity to the Wits campus network. Thin-client devices will be used to link precinct workers to cloud services at high speeds, avoiding the use of expensive computers and servers.

The development of Tshimologong, under the direction of architect Gunther Wagner, will take place in phases, with an official opening envisaged in 2014.

Full fruition will be achieved at an estimated cost of R40 million, and joint ventures,

sponsorships and donations are actively being courted, with the branding and naming rights offered in return.

Prof Dwolatzky is excited about the regener-ation of Braamfontein and the revitalisation of the inner city.

He hopes that it will be the local version of London’s “Tech City” or “Silicon Roundabout”, which saw the emergence of a record number of start ups and small businesses.

He says, “The broad vision is not for the Tshimologong Precinct alone, but for the whole of Braamfontein.

I really see it as a technological revolution of sorts, with Braamfontein becoming the tech centre of the province and maybe even the continent.”

Tshimologong Precinct at a glance

• SituatedonJutaStreet,betweenStationandHenryStreets

• Braamfontein’snewdigitaltechnologyhub

• AkeycatalystincreatingtheTech-in-Braamdigitalcluster

• Co-working/hubspaces

• Meetingsandevents

• Enterprisedevelopment

• Skillsdevelopmentandinnovation:MicrosoftWindows8AppFactory,BankingSoftware Skills Academy, Hi-Maturity Software Development Unit, Games and Digital Content Hub, short courses and night school, ImpaCT Schools Programme, CoachLab@JCSE

“Appropriately, tshimologong is the seSotho phrase for ‘place of new beginnings’.”


ENCOURAGING INNOVATION


One of the JCSE’s core objectives is to encourage innovation through applied research, technology incubation and the development of intellectual property. One of the highlights for 2012/13 was the progress made in establishing the Wits Institute for Data Sciences, which will contribute to the body of academic knowledge in the field of ‘big data’ and data analytics. It will also position Wits as Africa’s leading centre for skills development and research in Data Sciences.

“Big data” is the term describing the vast amounts of data being collected in today’s digital world. “Big data” refers to the very large datasets drawn from multiple sources that are typically beyond the ability of our current generation of computing systems to capture, store, manage and analyse. The size of these datasets is measured in petabytes and exabytes (1 petabyte = 1015 bytes; 1 exabyte = 103 petabytes). The entire Internet currently creates about 500 petabytes, or half an exabyte, of new data in a single day. Examples of “big data” are associated with “big science” programmes, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, Switzerland, and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, involving institutions from over 20 countries to develop a next-generation radio telescope. The LHC collects 25 petabytes of data a year, while the SKA is projected to collect a mind-boggling 1 exabyte of data on a daily basis.

What is big data?

The proposed new Wits Institute for Data Sciences will not only provide a “big data” service to many other academic disciplines at Wits University. It will also contribute to the body of academic knowledge in this field. The Institute will be built on the recognition that, in today’s world, collaboration is the most effective way to generate meaningful knowledge. The Institute will seek partnerships locally and globally with universities, governments, corporates and other stakeholders. The JCSE has been leading the effort to establish the new Wits Institute for Data Sciences. Through the JCSE, short courses will be offered to upskill established professionals. The Institute will also work with various schools at the University to establish new degree programmes with analytics and data sciences as focus areas, or to introduce these topics into existing degree programmes.

The reason for the JCSE’s interest in leading this initiative stems from an observation by Jim Gray, Turing award winner and pioneer in the field of Data Science, that 30% of the budget for large research projects goes to software development.

Furthermore, much of the coding is done by individuals in a disjointed and suboptimal fashion. There is a potential to do this much more efficiently by applying best software engineering practice. Promoting these best practices is a key JCSE objective.

The JCSE’s role in the work of the Wits Institute for Data Sciences will also focus on developing specialist skills in the areas of Big Data and Analytics.

Short courses will be offered to both researchers and practitioners in the commercial and industrial worlds.

Wits Institute for Data Sciences



Applied Research

The Applied Research Unit of the JCSE was formed in 2008 with the objective of underpinning the Centre’s activities with strategic knowledge of trends in the ICT sector, both locally and globally. Research outputs take the form of surveys, reports, presentations and commentaries.

A core feature of the Unit is the annual ICT Skills Survey Report, the fifth edition of which was published early in 2013, based on data collected in 2012. For the second time in the five years of publication, the survey was funded by the Media Information and Communication Technologies Sector and Education Training Authority (MICT SETA), within the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the JCSE, the MICT SETA, the e-Skills Institute and ITWeb in 2010.

The ICT Skills Survey Report is popular among decision-makers seeking guidance about critical skills trends, as it fills a gap in the data available about the sector.

Other outputs of the Applied Research Unit include the independent software vendor census, an assessment of provincial and municipal broadband, contributions to the JCSE’s Source Code magazine, and responses to ad hoc enquiries.

In 2013, the Unit intends to carry out a joint research project with the Software Engineering Competency Centre (SECC) in Cairo to assess the impact of process improvement initiatives in Egypt and South Africa, and to assess the potential for such initiatives in Africa. It will also evaluate the outcomes of the Hi-Mat Units project, in conjunction with the University of Cape Town.

The City of Joburg’s 2030 vision is for Johannesburg to become a world-class city with service delivery and efficiencies that meet global best practice. The activities of the Applied Research Unit support this goal by promoting best practice in software development within an African con-text, growing the country’s capacity to deliver world-class software, and developing research and training initiatives to strengthen the local soft-ware development industry.

Since its establishment in 2005, the JCSE has sought to fill the need that existed in the country for applied re-search in software engineering, so that decision-makers in the ICT sec-tor (government, academia and the private sector) could gain a better understanding of the environment, identify trends and make informed decisions. Through its activities, it also identifies areas in which research needs to be carried out, reports com-piled, articles published and confer-ence presentations delivered.

Annual ICT Skills Survey

The purpose of the annual ICT Skills Survey, which the JCSE has been conducting since 2008, is to deter-mine the installed base of ICT techni-cal personnel in South Africa, as well as the skills development needs and preferences of employers of ICT tech-nical personnel in the country, the skills development needs and preferences of South African ICT practitioners, and skills development trends within the sector. It assists role-players in the sector to determine the exact extent of the ICT skills shortage, and the trends that are developing in response to the changing global environment.

The research underpinning the Annual Skills Survey supports the focus of the Applied Research Unit to improve the software development capacity of institutions in South Africa. Its involvement in this project contributes to raising awareness and contributing to the general upliftment of the ICT sector in South Africa.

Research activities at the JCSEThe JCSE’s Applied Research Unit carries out research projects related to the status, growth and development of the ICT sector. Some recent projects include its partnering with ITWeb for the Annual Skills Survey, with the Wits Business School to assess the broadband infrastructure in provincial governments, and with Wits Enterprise to profile ICT research institutions. The Unit also provides executive consulting on many topics relevant to the ICT industry in Africa.

Adrian Schofield is the Manager of the JCSE’s Applied Research Unit.

About the ICT industry in South Africa

The entire South African ICT market is valued at over $35 billion. The software portion (including proprietary packages and bespoke development) is a $2.8 billion market, growing at 11.5% (compound annual growth rate) over the next five years (mobile, gaming, mining, education, government and ERP application upgrades).

The local ICT market comprises less than 8 000 companies (mostly small); 85% of software companies have less than 50 employees; 10% have less than 10 employees; overall, it employs approximately 180 000 people, of which an estimated 15 000 are software developers. The market is dominated by only five vendors, who have 40% of the market share. The ICT sector exports $70 million, 75% of which is into Africa, followed by Europe.


IMPROVING PROCESSES

IMPROVING PROCESSES

Capability Maturity Model Integration

Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a process improvement model that is used to rate the maturity of an organisation’s processes. It was developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, USA, to assist companies from a broad range of sectors to improve their ability to develop high-quality software and systems, and to deliver high-quality services. The model, which is now managed by the CMU’s CMMI Institute, has become widely accepted across the world. The SEI has conducted research on numerous projects performed by CMMI-rated companies throughout the world. This research reveals that companies with mature processes have a far lower error rate, which improves their ability to meet their targets on time and within budget.

Presenting training courses in process improvement

The JCSE has partnered with the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in the USA to offer a range of process improvement courses, presented by certified instructors to facilitate the achievement of high-quality, on-time and in-budget software development projects in South Africa. The JCSE has formal partnership agreements with the CMU through its CMMI Institute and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI).

The JCSE has also reached an agreement with the Software Engineering Competency Centre (SECC) in Cairo, Egypt, to synergise their combined resources to promote excellence in software development across Africa. Agreements are in place with the CMMI Institute for the JCSE to deliver training and services in three CMMI models.

Thesemodelsarethefollowing:

•CMMIforDevelopment(CMMI-DEV)•CMMIforServices(CMMI-SVC)•CMMIforAcquisition(CMMI-ACQ)

There is also an agreement in place to provide support for local companies using the CMMI Institute’s People CMM (P-CMM) model. While CMMI models provide a “top-down” improvement framework, the SEI has also developed a “bottom up” software development methodology called Team Software Process (TSP) and Personal Software Process (PSP). The JCSE also operates an authorised in-house testing centre to enable candidates to sit for the SEI and CMMI Institute’s online examinations.

State Information Technology Agency

In October 2011, the JCSE entered into an agreement with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to support its ambitious turnaround strategy by providing process improvement training and other services. Government has set SITA a target to become a Certified Prime System Integrator (PSI). SITA’s Board decided to meet this objective by adopting CMMI and People-CMM as its process improvement framework. SITA contracted the JCSE to present certified CMMI training and to lead a number of process appraisals.

Participants in the Personal Software Process (PSP) programme of software development methodology presented by the JCSE.

Said Nurhan, PSP coach, interacts with delegates.


IMPROVING PROCESSES

Developing high-maturity software development units

The High-maturity Software Development Unit (Hi-Mat Unit) is a concept that was developed by the JCSE.

The aim is to set up units and equip them with skills and processes drawn from the SEI’s best practices. Working in accordance with a JCSE-developed standard operations manual (based on several tried and tested process improvement models), the Hi-Mat Units aim to deliver high-quality software in a predictable and repeatable manner.

After a lengthy process to obtain funding from the European Union’s Employment Creation Fund via the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) a programme has been initiated to set up four Hi-Mat Units by the end of 2013.

Each Hi-Mat Unit will be established within an existing company or organisation, such as a bank, software development company, government department or parastatal.

A total of 100 people will be employed in these units. Of these, 60 will be existing employees in the parent companies. The other 40 will be new recruits, most of whom will be unemployed graduates or recent ICT graduates. All employees (existing and new) will receive process and quality training. The aim is to set up 40 units by the end of 2015, which will create about 400 new jobs.

Delivering high-quality software in a predictable, repeatable manner

Since 2005, the JCSE has been working in partnership with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to promote the adoption of a number of best practice models and methods in South Africa. As the official partner of the SEI in South Africa, the JCSE supports progammes such Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), which assist companies from a host of sectors to mature their processes in order to develop high-quality software and systems. All the JCSE’s CMMI instructors and appraisers are accredited with the SEI, and all CMMI ratings performed locally are registered with the SEI.

The team management consultant, Said Nurhan, is a Personal Software Process (PSP) and Team Software Process (TSP) coach, accredited by the Software Engineering Institute. He believes that the first step in the development of a software development team capable of performing at the highest level of quality and predictability is to increase the pool of software engineering professionals who are trained in PSP and TSP.

Once they have grasped the principles of PSP and TSP, software engineers and other professionals will be in a position to manage the quality of their projects, make commitments they can meet, improve their estimating and planning activities, and reduce defects in their products, thereby improving their software team performance.

PSP Fundamentals

By presenting the PSP Fundamentals training course, which has been developed and certified by the SEI, the JCSE enables individuals to achieve consistent levels of excellence, which they can use within their organisations to develop teams that strive for similar levels of excellence. This training forms the foundation for the development of “High Maturity” (Hi-Mat) Software Development Units within companies.

The concept of the Hi-Mat Unit is being developed by the JCSE. It is a team that can deliver on its commitments. “Such a unit can control its own destiny,” according to Nurhan. By making use of the PSP methodology (at an individual level) and the TSP methodology (on a team-based organisational level), senior managers, team leaders and software developers can ensure that they deliver work of a high quality, in order to eliminate the need for rework.

Individuals in organisations who have completed PSP training are able to apply the principles of data collection and process discipline, and can function as a Hi-Mat Unit within their organisation to deliver high-quality software in a predictable and repeatable manner.

Improving team performance

One of the JCSE’s first TSP pilot projects was launched at Nedbank in 2009.

Two of the Bank’s software development teams used the TSP methodology to make significant behavioral changes that not only improved the quality of the software, but also improved team members’ work lives by decreasing the need for evening and weekend overtime.

The teams were able to make these improvements because they had project-specific measurements to

guide their decisions, and had the authority to implement those decisions.

As the pilot projects improved the Bank’s software quality, reduced costs and enhanced estimation accuracy, Nedbank decided to implement TSP throughout the entire organisation.

In addition to providing training in the PSP and TSP, the JCSE also supports the SEI’s People Capability Maturity Model (P-CMM) in South Africa.

Dr Bill Nichols of Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute presents in-house TSP training to delegates of the JCSE and Nedbank.


IMPROVING PROCESSES

Nedbank’s Team Software Process (TSP) rollout

In 2009, the JCSE worked with Nedbank and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to pilot the adoption of the Team Software Process (TSP). The Bank was so encouraged by the outcomes of the TSP pilot, that in 2010 it decided to include this methodology in its standard software development life cycle (SDLC). With the support of JCSE and the SEI, Nedbank has undertaken an ambitious programme of training software developers in the Personal Software Process (PSP). Team leaders and their managers have been trained in TSP, while a number of candidates have been trained and certified as TSP coaches. A TSP Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been established in Nedbank’s Group Technology. The JCSE works closely with Nedbank’s CoE to train and develop PSP and TSP capacity.

Higher work quality in less time

Nedbank was one of the large companies to successfully pilot TSP and undertake an organisational rollout with the assistance of the JCSE. According to Dr Bill Nichols of the SEI, scaling TSP to larger organisations uncovers new challenges, and introducing the agile concept of empowered teams across organisations requires attention to change management.

Nedbank addressed the challenges related to the logistics of the rollout, while incorporating TSP into its development methods. A number of pilot projects had been completed, which had improved Nedbank’s software quality, reduced costs and enhanced estimation accuracy. The key to these improvements were realistic planning, disciplined and empowered teams that followed defined processes, early and objective feedback, and validation. These qualities were required throughout the rollout to ensure that management remained committed to TSP.

Centre of Excellence

Nedbank established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) to manage the TSP rollout. The CoE provided a home for the TSP team that includes the TSP CoE Implementer, TSP Coaches, PSP Instructors and Process Engineers. It also facilitated explicit budgeting for rollout activities across the organisation, and provided a focal point for managing the change internally, while addressing issues such as resource allocation, project selection, the coordination of training, coach selection and training, development team support, and rollout evaluation.

According to Dr Nichols, this choice of organisational structure was unique, but also effective, and it became clear as the project moved forward that the organisation was prepared for rollout.

As part of the rollout, it was necessary to communicate the success of the pilot projects by means of positive ref-erences from the pilot participants.

Nedbank’s TSP team (seated from left): Chris Rathebe, Eunice Dlamini, John Bourhill, Tamasin Bossert (Process Executive) and (standing) Alok Goswami. Insert: Catherine Sealby (Cape Town).

Nedbank did this by producing a video from the first pilot project. Another internal marketing approach used by the CoE was to provide the developers with a com-fortable and supportive work environment, and reinforce the sense that this was an important change. The CoE scheduled space, ensured the allocation of specific work time for training and team launches, provided lunch and snacks, and prepared welcome packs in order to provide a credible demonstration to staff that the TSP initiative was a priority.

Building coaching capacity

Nedbank is selecting and training coach candidates in its CoE, and providing them with an organisational career path. As the organisation continued to roll out TSP, the JCSE and SEI recommended that the Bank should identify candidates from working TSP teams, as those employees had enough experience to make fully informed decisions. One member of the pilot teams therefore entered the coaching programme.

Improving software team performance with TSP

Since the launch of the JCSE’s pilot project in 2009,Nedbank has run several software development projects. Measurements collected from these projects have demonstrated significant benefits in terms of predictablility and quality. TSP is now getting institutionalised as part of Nedbank’s software development DNA.

The Nedbank experience

According to Ms Tamasin Bossert, Process Executive at Nedbank, the Bank is constantly on the lookout for innovative methods and tools that can give it the competitive advantage in terms of better qual-ity products, in order to add value to the service it provides its clients.

Nedbank’s software development team soon saw the benefits of using TSP following their first encounter with this methodology in 2009. It enabled them to improve their productivity and thrive in an agile environment. With the establishment of a Centre of Excellence, Nedbank’s Group Technology is able to mentor developers and other role-players. Candidate coaches are hand-picked and trained by the SEI and the JCSE, which enables the Bank to develop the skills of its staff, while ensuring that the training is customised to its own needs.

“With TSP, team members are empowered to play different roles, while implementing the latest cutting-edge methodologies. This ensures that Nedbank’s products are cheaper and reach the market faster, to the benefit of the client,” concludes Ms Bossert.


IMPROVING PROCESSES

Candidate TSP coaches Chris Rathebe (left) and Eunice Dlamini (right) of Nedbank receive training from Dr Bill Nichols of the CMU’s SEI as part of Nedbank’s TSP rollout.

Training the coaches

During the early rollout, most project teams were using TSP for the first time. These teams required a coach for launch planning, stakeholder facilitation, the actual launch, weekly coaching sessions, process checkpoints and post-mortem discussions. While staff of the JCSE and SEI provided the coaching for the pilot projects, Nedbank had to identify and train internal coaches for the rollout. The TSP coach had substantial extra work during this period, as TSP was new to the teams, line management, project managers, team leaders, business analysts and other stakeholders. It was the coach’s responsibility to ensure TSP was used properly.

Due to the time required to fully certify a coach, coaching is a major constraint in the rollout process, according to Dr Nichols. Nedbank selected the coach candidates, secured funding, scheduled training, and deployed coaching and training to the projects.

TSP coaches receive instruction in organisational change management, but operate mostly at the individual and team level. The CoE addressed change management at the organisational level, first ensuring that management, team leaders, developers and other staff have received the standard TSP training. The CoE would then offer specific seminars or ongoing sessions for developers, team leaders, senior management, and non-developer team members.

A common mistake made in organisations rolling out TSP is to provide training to everyone in the organisation. However, Nedbank decided to adopt a “just-in-time” approach to the training. Marketing to management

Nedbank’s TSP implementation is strongly supported by the Bank’s Executive Management, including Fred Swanepoel (Nedbank’s Chief Information Officer) and Patricia Maqetuka (Executive sponsor). For any TSP

project to succeed, it needs the buy-in of management. Nedbank maintained this buy-in with the CoE-based approach which established a set of organisation-wide expectations that are aligned with the organisation’s business goals of reducing cost and cycle time for the TSP projects. The coaches provide project summaries, including counts of projects completed, cost and schedule estimation accuracy, data quality, resource estimation accuracy, schedule accuracy and issues found in quality assurance and production.

Nedbank’s Process Executive explains the project’s progress to executive management, as well as how the TSP measurement dashboard aligns to the organisation’s goals.

The Bank’s COE-based approach therefore allowed it to verify at the organisational level that the rollout was on track, provide credible data, and maintain sponsorship with the executive management.

Nedbank uses TSP in all new software development projects. This effort is led by the CoE, which estimates needs and supports teams with coaching and training. In addition to providing operational support, it collects data to track organisational progress and provides relevant planning data for its teams.

Nedbank uses this data at the organisational level to assess the overall cost-efficiency of work, plan projects and improve performance.


IMPROVING PROCESSES

Navigating smart power grids in Africa

Smart Grid

The Smart Grid Maturity Model (SGMM) was originally developed in the USA by IBM. It describes eight domains, which contain logical groupings of incremental Smart Grid characteristics and capabilities, that represent key elements of Smart Grid strategy, organisation, implementation and operation.

The SGMM assesses a power utility’s current state of Smart Grid implementation, defines its goals for a future state, and generates inputs into its road mapping, planning and implementation processes. It therefore measures the utility’s readiness to adopt Smart Grid technology, and supports utilities to develop strategic plans for Smart Grid adoption.

IBM handed over custodianship of the SGMM to the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). As an SEI partner in Africa, the JCSE has agreed to promote the use of this model among South African and African power utilities.

In May/June 2013, the JCSE arranged a “Navigation” (an assessment of Smart Grid readiness based on the SGMM) at Eskom. A JCSE Navigator, Prof Ken Nixon, is being trained to conduct SGMM assessments.

Electrical power grids are designed to transport electrical energy from generators to consumers. Smart grids aim to combine the flow of information with the flow of energy across the grid. This information will enable utility operators and consumers to improve energy efficiency and reduce consumption. By making use of the Smart Grid Maturity Model (SGMM), utilities can plan their Smart Grid journeys, prioritise their options and measure their progress as they move towards the realisation of a Smart Grid.

When Eskom identified the need to embark on an evaluation of its readiness to implement a Smart Grid strategy, it decided to partner with a vendor-neutral party. As part of a tertiary education institution, the JCSE was seen as the ideal partner for Eskom in this work. Through its long-standing formal relationship with the SEI and Carnegie Mellon University in the USA, the JCSE was also able to access expertise in the use of the SGMM, which is under the custodianship of the SEI.

Prof Ken Nixon of Wits University’s School of Electrical and Information Engineering and the JCSE, is in the process of being trained by the SEI to become an accredited SGMM Navigator in order to assess the Smart Grid readiness of utilities in South Africa. Part of this certification process, involved guiding a utility (in this case, Eskom), through a Smart Grid Navigation process.

The SGMM Navigation process is a five-step process, which starts with a utility realising the need to become more aware of its Smart Grid status, and ends with an informed baseline from which it can build an actionable plan. The ultimate objective of the Navigation process is to help all the role-players in the organisation to reach an agreement about where they are at present, and where they would like to be.

Prof Nixon was assisted through this Navigation process by Mr Ray Jones, who is affiliated with the SEI, and who came to South Africa in June 2013 for the purpose of taking Eskom through the SGMM Navigation process. Prof Nixon assisted with the Navigation as part of the process of being certified as an SGMM Navigator. This will enable him to conduct similar SGMM Navigations for other utilities in South Africa and other countries on behalf of the JCSE.

Through the SGMM Navigation process, Eskom was assisted to understand its current state against the SGMM. It was also assisted in setting its Smart Grid aspirations. The Navigation requires the completion of the SGMM Compass Survey. This entails a six-hour workshop, incorporating experts from the whole organisation, who conduct a form of facilitated self-evaluation, in which they examine the utility’s current status on the basis of eight domains, ranging from performance

information and the utility’s organisational structure to its grid operations, customer services, value chain integration, and societal and environmental issues. It is a very interactive process, and reinforces consensus building. The Navigation team is then in a position to analyse the utility’s SGMM data and provide insights, based on their expertise and knowledge of the SGMM, the utility and its context. The Aspirations Workshop is where the results of the Compass Survey are presented and interpreted. This is followed by the utility’sstakeholderssettingtheiraspirations:wherewouldtheylike to be and how long will it take them to get there, which entails a certain level of strategic thinking. According to Prof Nixon, the Navigation process provides several benefits

to utilities who make use of the SGMM, the Navigator who supports the utility, and the SGMM community as a whole. Utilities report significant value from the data included in the detailed reports that inform their strategic planning process.

Utilities also benefit from the improved communication and consensus-building that is promoted by the workshop discussions on current and desired Smart Grid status.

As more and more utilities around the world are participating in the SGMM experience, the model will become an increasingly valuable resource for helping to inform the industry’s Smart Grid transformation.

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Prof Ken Nixon of the JCSE, who is being trained to become an accredited SGGM Navigator in order to assess the Smart Grid readiness of utilities in South Africa.


IMPROVING PROCESSES

Using technology to create an appetite for literacy

Technological developments in recent years have expanded the reach of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to include a wider audience than ever before. This has led to a dramatic increase in the use of ICTs to provide assistance in a variety of social activities. This trend is particularly visible in the education sphere, especially in townships and rural areas, where increased accessibility to mobile devices has been identified as an opportunity to develop innovative teaching and learning strategies.

Aveer Ramnath, who joined the JCSE in February 2013 as Software Development Manager, is currently engaged in a software development project together with Wits University’s School of Education on the use of mobile devices to promote literacy among Grade 5 learners.

He is passionate about the use of technology to improve society and to help tackle problems related to education and poverty, which is why he found this project particularly appealing

Empowering disadvantaged learners

Researchers in the School of Education, Prof Hilary Janks and Prof James Stiles, were concerned that learners in township and rural schools who speak African languages are taught all their subjects through the medium of English. This is despite the difficulties they experience in understanding what they read, and their limited ability to write in English. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of libraries and access to books.

Many communities, particularly in rural areas, have been described as being “print poor”, as they have no newspapers, billboards, magazines or books. In the information age, access to the World Wide Web no longer requires access to print, but for this, schools need to be wired.

This led the researchers in the School of Education to explore the potential of mobile phone technologies for the development of literacy. The advantage of mobile phones is that, unlike computers and tablets, the technology is widely used and most homes have access to it. The iPod Touch was chosen in this case, as it is a phone-like device. Because the practice of text messaging is so widespread, it was decided to build on it to promote literacy education. The focus of the project is on developing children’s literacy, with an emphasis on text production. Writing is therefore used as a point of entry to promote literacy, which is supported by reading online.

Aveer was nominated to supervise the software development aspect of the project on behalf of the JCSE. He involved two final-year students in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Philip Armstrong and Allaudin Sheikh, who used this as the topic of their final-year project. Patrice Toussaint, who is also a Wits Software Engineering graduate, is further developing the software for the JCSE.

Using mobile applications

The application developed by the JCSE, Touch Text, makes it possible for learners to create texts, comment on each other’s texts, and reply to the comments made. At the same time, all versions of the texts created by the learners are saved to a server, which is programmed

to provide a basic linguistic analysis of the texts according to sentence length, sentence type, use of words and text length, which will lead to a detailed qualitative analysis of the writing.

A Fog Index analysis is used to measure the readability level of texts – both those produced by the learners and those that they find on the device or the Internet to read. The Fog Index is a tool to measure the readability of English writing. It estimates the years of formal education needed to understand a specific piece of text on a first reading. A Fog Index of 12 requires a reading level equivalent to matric (around 18 years old). The Fog Index is commonly used to confirm that texts can be easily read by the intended audience. For the texts to be understandable to Grade 5 learners, they required a Fog Index of approximately 5.

A number of other applications were also downloaded onto the devices for learners to use. Aveer explains that while the teacher is teaching social sciences, and talks about world events, the learners can use Google Maps to locate the country that the teacher is referring to. This enables them to gain a greater understanding of the context of the learning material.

By observing the learners’ writing performance, the researchers in the School of Education should be able to assess the literacy levels of the learners. It will also help them to determine the usefulness of the applications. This project is currently being conducted at two schools in Orange Farm, an informal settlement near Johannesburg. If the research reveals that the literacy levels of learners in the target group improve through the use of these mobile applications, the project could be rolled out in other schools in Gauteng as well.

Patrice Toussaint (left) and Aveer Ramnath are developing software applications for mobile learning devices.

Promoting literacy with mobile devicesThe Wits School of Education is carrying out research into the use of mobile devices to promote literacy among Grade 5 learners. Programmers at the JCSE are developing the technology to support this research project.


BUILDING CAPACITY AND SKILLS

BUILDING CAPACITY AND SKILLSThe JCSE is involved in a number of programmes aimed at educating experts to lead Africa’s software development sector. These programmes are structured to address each potential skills source, with a view to developing the necessary capacity and skills to ensure that this sector can compete with the best in the world, while contributing to economic development and skills transfer both in South Africa and on the rest of the continent. • School learners in Grade 10 with an interest in software development are selected to participate in the ImpaCT Schools’ Project• Matriculants who are interested in pursuing a career in computer programming are sponsored to undergo training as part of the JSCE’s Skills

Development Internship Programme• Postgraduate students are selected to participate in the CoachLab@JCSE Postgraduate Leadership Development Programme.• Working professionals keep up to date with the latest developments in the field with the JCSE’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Chief

Information Officer (CIO) Practice programmes.

In a nutshell

The CoachLabTM is a nine-month leadership development programme, which aims to instill the principles of value-added innovation and entrepreneurship in all participants through mentorship by industry sponsors. The programme aims to bridge the gap that exists between the academic and business environment. Participants are developed into leaders in their field, through stimulating, action-learning projects where they are given real challenges within the actual workplace, while being encouraged to apply innovative thinking to deliver solutions that truly add value.

CoachLabTM offers the following:

• Workfrom08:00to13:00,MarchtoNovemberwhile earning a salary

• Anon-bindingbursaryuptoR15000

• Acquire“softskills”andcorecompetenciesforfunctioning effectively in the workplace, while developing leadership

• Practicalexperienceonrealprojectsthatoriginate from leading companies in industry

• Mentoringbyindustryexpertsandapersonalcoach

• Meetthemoversandshakers,entrepreneursand business leaders

• Benefitfromasupportivenetworktoguideeachstudent’s path to success, while developing technical and business skills

• Possible,butnotguaranteed,employmentatthe end of the programme

Name: Sheldon JosephPartner institution: University of JohannesburgStudy programme: BComHons in InformaticsSponsor: Hollard InsuranceProject role: Project managerIn a word: “Challenging”

“I found the programme to be a bit overwhelming at first, particularly working and studying at the same time, but the mentoring I received was of great value. I had to perform the role of Project Manager of the Reporting Team, where I had to attend client briefings, delegate tasks and oversee the work of the team. I now know that this is what I want to do.”

Name: Lady KokelaPartner institution: Wits UniversityStudy programme: MSc in Computational and Applied MathematicsSponsor: Hollard InsuranceProject role: Software developerIn a word: “Mindblowing”

“I joined the CoachLab programme to enhance my software development skills. I had a passion for modelling and statistics, but liked to work on my own. The programme taught me the benefits of teamwork. As we came from different academic backgrounds, we could learn from each other as we found a solution for the client’s problem. I grew both personally and professionally.”

Name: Bandile NdlelaPartner institution: Wits UniversityStudy programme: BScHons in Computer ScienceSponsor: BBDProject role: Software developerIn a word: “An eye-opener”

“I gained a lot of practical experience and technical know-how on this programme. It was an amazing experience, and I really enjoyed it. I really benefited from the soft skills that we were taught. Learning to work in a team and to handle conflict will definitely be to my advantage when I start working. Not many graduates can enter the job market saying that they have worked on an actual software project.”

Name: Tasneem JeenaPartner institution: University of JohannesburgStudy programme: BComHons in IT ManagementSponsor: .ZA Central RegistryProject role: Project managerIn a word: “Amazing”

“I can certainly say that the CoachLab programme took me out of my comfort zone. As the Project Manager of the User Interface Team, I had to organise the team and track everyone’s performance, which allowed me to excel in a totally different environment than I had expected. I gained a lot of confidence and experienced personal development.”

CoachLab@JCSE



Turning students into work-ready graduatesCoachLab@JCSE is a partnership between The Innovation Hub in Pretoria, the JCSE, the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA), Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), Gauteng Province Economic Development, the Jobs Fund, the local ICT sector, Wits University and, the University of Johannesburg. It is aimed at top postgraduate students studying in IT-related disciplines.

Participants receive training in soft skills (time management, presentation skills conflict management and teamwork), with the focus on developing future leaders. Graduates benefit from work-place exposure with some of the best companies in the industry. As a result, they leave the programme with the knowledge, experience, tools, discipline and confidence to make their mark in the dynamic, fast-moving ICT sector.

The aim of the programme is to instil business principles and the value of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking in the participants through mentorship by the project sponsors, BBD, .ZA Central Registry, Hollard Insurance Company Limited, Wits Computer and Network Services, and the JCSE. The students benefit from a synergistic learning environment, while participating in real-world projects.

Solving real-world problems

What sets this programme apart from others is the fact that it includes a shared experiential project in which students work together to identify and work on solutions for an IT-related problem in industry. The focus of this project is to integrate students into the workplace.

This is followed by work on company-specific projects, assigned by each student’s individual sponsor, to develop a solution to a company-specific problem.

The programme also includes the development of business, leadership and emotional intelligence skills, coaching and mentoring, and ICT skills development through a certified best practice programme in project management, Personal Software Process (PSP) and development training.

Mortuary Management System: Shared Project 2013The Forensic Pathology Service Unit of the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health plays an important role in the investigation by the South African Police Service of all unnatural deaths. However, until now, all recordkeeping – from the dispatch of a vehicle to the scene of death to the transportation of the body to the mortuary and the post-mortem examination – has been done on a paper-based system. As a result, it was very difficult to extract statistics and management reports related to forensic pathology. Mr Mothobi Mokhethi, Deputy-Director: Information Technology, recognisedthe fact that existing software applications were unable to address the problem.

In search of a creative solution, he approached CoachLab@JCSE, and the development of the Mortuary Management System was selected as the students’ shared project for 2013. According to Mokhethi, the value of the students’ involvement in developing this solution lay in the fact that they were young and energetic, with creative ideas and keen to think “out of the box”.

The students were taken to the Diepkloof Mortuary, where the problem was explained to them. The users of the system were also involved in order to identify exactly what would be required from this new system. In developing their solution, the students approached the project as an IT consultancy would in a real-life project. Each student was assignedaparticularroleinoneofthreeteams:User Interface, Database and Reporting.

Each of these teams had a project manager, who was responsible for certain tasks in order to ensure the successful completion of the project. The project management team liaised with the client on a regular basis as the project progressed, analysing the client’s needs and making possible suggestions.

The solution that was developed enables an electronic database to be created. Each corpse is assigned a death record number, and all information related to the corpse is recorded. An added benefit is that the system is web-based, so all users can enter information wherever they are. A variety of management reports and other records can subsequently be generated.

Once the students had developed the system, they handed it over to the client, and a process of skills transfer took place, so that staff members could further develop the system. According to Mokhethi, this project represents an outstanding example of the value of collaboration between government and the public sector, which opened up a pool of knowledge and skills, as well as “a different way of doing business”.

The fact that the application was based on open-source software also supports the Department’s commitment to implementing the policy on using free and open-source software in government.

Past students

The following is a selection of graduates who completed the CoachLab Programme and are making a name for themselves in the ICT sector.

• RefilweMekgoe(2010):TestAnalyst,Silverbridge

• PelonomiMogotsi(2011):TestAnalyst,SQSGroup

• MawelaRampora(2011):SAPProgrammer, Accenture

• ZiphorahMosimane(2011):Technical Account Manager, Microsoft SA

• NomondeNgxola(2011):ITConsultant, Accenture

• SthembeleNgubeni(2011):Production Support, BBD

• OlivierMutombo(2011):Developer,Standard Bank

• AmyBricker(2011):BusinessAnalyst,Standard Bank

• RuddyRiba(2012):SoftwareDevelopment Trainee, BBD

• ShovanSwartz(2012):GraduateSAPConsultant, Iserve

• ThaboMphuthi(2012):TechnologyConsultant, Accenture

• ThuliNkosi(2012):JuniorSoftwareDeveloper, Hollard Insurance

• BonganeBuda(2012):SoftwareEngineer, Entelect

• NeeleshanThanthony(2012):Graduate SAP Consultant, Iserve

• JabulaniNhlapo(2012):Informationsecurity Analyst, South African Airways

• MeisieMochongoane(2012):Analyst, Home Grown CoachLab students, collaborating to develop a solution for

the Mortuary Management System.

Mothobi Mokhethi, Gauteng Provincial Health Department


Increasing the pool of young computer programmers in the country

Skills development for the banking sector

In an initiative to increase the number of young programmers gaining employment, the JCSE has partnered with Accenture and the Mentec Foundation in a skills development and job creation programme in the banking sector.

The programme is intended to take matriculants and those with some tertiary qualifications through an accelerated training regime that results in placement as a software developer.

Candidates must satisfy rigorous selection criteria to ensure that they have the aptitude for the tasks involved in programming. Their attitude is also assessed.

Successful candidates are taught to program in Java, C# or other development languages that are utilised in the local banking sector. The training is provided free of charge to the trainees.

Upon conclusion of the course, the successful trainees are placed in employment or join an advanced intern programme to further enhance their skills.

The two distinguishing features of this programme are that candidates are selected based on aptitude and attitude, and that training is done with a key focus on ensuring that all trainees are employed.


Youngsters with matric or some tertiary qualification, who are interested in pursuing a career in computer programming, are sponsored to undergo training as part of the JSCE’s Skills Development Internship Programme. These software development interns have a greater chance of obtaining employment.

The 2013 intake of JCSE interns are completing an intensive six-month full-day entry-level Java training programme at the Van Zyl & Pritchard Group in Houghton, Johannesburg, to increase their prospects of obtaining employment as computer programmers.


Forging a career in the exciting field of computer programming


Forging a career in the exciting field of computer programming

Tsietsi Ramakatsa, David Makaphela and Ziyaad Hendricks are three ot the JCSE’s software development interns who are completing the Java training programme.

In line with its objective to grow the ICT sector, the JCSE offers opportunities to matriculants and those with some tertiary qualifications to obtain the best possible training in computer programming in order to increase the number of youngsters gaining employment in the sector.

JCSE has partnered with South Africa’s top provider of training and development, with over 36 years of IT training experience, Van Zyl & Pritchard (VZAP), to present entry-level Java programming training to qualifying candidates.

Although prospective candidates need not have any previous experience or programming background, a matriculation certificate is a prerequisite.

Competency and aptitude

In order to be selected for the programme (and to qualify for a JCSE bursary), prospective candidates need to undertake a five-hour aptitude evaluation test in order to assess their natural abilities in programming. This determines whether they will be successful in this field or not.

This aptitude evaluation tests candidates’ concentration skills, their perception skills and their spec reading skills, as well as their understanding of the concept of tables and pointers. An achievement of more than 65% is required to qualify for further consideration as participants in the programme.

Intensive training programme

The entry-level Java programming course is an intensive five-month training programme. Students have a full-day programme, five days a week, which runs from February until the end of June each year.

The course is divided into five modules. The first module gives students an introduction to basic IT skills and knowledge of computers. The second module introduces

The opportunity of a lifetime presented itself to 15 youngsters who were awarded a JCSE scholarship to undergo training as computer programmers.

students to the fundamentals of Java. In the third module, students’ knowledge of Java is taken to the next level. They learn to design a system and write their very first Java application. In the fourth module, they learn about drivers and how to communicate to a database. The course is concluded with Module 5, in which students conduct a final project, in which they are required to create a fully functioning Java system project.

Practical system project

According to training facilitator, Stuart Fripp, one of the outcomes of the programme, is to develop a computer programmer who is ready to enter the job market, equipped with the knowledge and skills to design a variety of systems according to clients’ specifications.

The project that the 2013 group of interns worked on developing was the design of an Inventory Control System. The students spend four to five weeks working on this project, and utilise all the theoretical knowledge that they had acquired on the course in the preceding weeks.

The programme is concluded with a presentation to companies, which provides an indication of the well-rounded nature of the training that they receive.

Student testimonials

Three of the JCSE’s software development interns took some time out from their practical programming project to discuss their experience of the course, as well as their appreciation of the opportunity that the JCSE had afforded them.

The three students, Tsietsi Ramakatsa, David Makaphela and Ziyaad Hendricks, had all completed some tertiary training in information technology and computer programming, and knew that this is what they had in mind for their future career paths.

David had already done a Java programming course elsewhere, and was working as an IT technician. Tsietsi, on the other hand, had taught himself Java, as he knew that this was the program that would open doors for him in the exciting field of computer programming.

With this previous experience of programming, these two young men were in a perfect position to comment on the standard of the training offered.

“This is the most comprehensive Java training course available. It is truly awesome, and wouldn’t have been possible without the suppport of the JCSE,” says David. Ziyaad agrees. “The lecturers are very skilled, and

provide one with a full understanding of the material. The practical project has also improved my confidence of programming, and I know that I will be able to enter the industry fully trained and qualified to work as a programmer.”

Sought after in the market

According to Susan de Wet, Course Coordinator and Marketing Manager at VZAP, graduates of this programme are highly sought after in the market. Potential employers know that these candidates have what it takes, and are completely competent to tackle any challenge.


This initiative of the JCSE seeks to stimulate the interest of learners, particularly those from previously disadvantaged communities, in information and communication technology, and equip them with the necessary information and tools to enter the ICT industry.

It is aimed at high-potential Grade 9 to Grade 12 learners. The project was launched in December 2012, with 14 students from nine different schools from the Joburg and Ekurhuleni municipalities. It is hoped to expand the programme intake to 25 Grade 9 learners during 2013.

The programme includes academic, social and psychological enrichment. During the first intensive two-week Boot Camp, learners were given an accelerated introduction to the software industry. They also received technical training and soft-skills training, and participated in a number of group activities to enhance their social skills.

An added advantage of the ImpaCT Project is that it helps learners access bursaries to complete their tertiary education in ICT-related degrees. They also receive continued mentoring and support throughout their university careers to help them reach their full potential.

One of the key aims of the project is to promote positive role-modelling. The learners are therefore exposed to dynamic individuals in the industry who come from similar backgrounds, and they are also tutored by passionate Wits University students.

ICT awareness at schools

The project also includes an ICT awareness-raising component at schools. Talks are presented to make learners aware of the career options in the ICT industry. An ICT industry poster was developed for ImpaCT, with the assistance of the Coza Cares Foundation, which was distributed at schools. This poster included information about the South African ICT industry, including the uses of ICTs, the history of ICT in South Africa, trends in the sector and role-models, as well as information on salaries, career expectations, where to study and potential employers. This poster is used in some schools as a teaching aid in Life Orientation classes.

Encouraging learners to pursue a career in software development

ImpaCT Schools Project

The JCSE ImpaCT Programme is designed to encourage school learners, with the prerequisite aptitude, to select a career in a software-related discipline.

By involving the learner in a programming Boot Camp during the June and December vacations, the programme gives insight into the field of software development in practice.

The objective of the programme is to encourage learners in Grade 9 to consider choosing subjects that will enable them to enter a university programme in software engineering, computer science, information systems or information technology after finishing matric.

In the Boot Camp programme, learners are grouped into project teams. Each learner is assigned to various challenging and interesting software development project tasks. The learner takes part in every aspect of this project and is exposed to all phases of the software development life cycle.

During the programme, the learner is mentored by an experienced postgraduate student, who offers additional support to improve their academic performance and prepare them for university life. The learners also have access to computer laboratories. Each learner is required to write weekly reports and create a final poster and presentation on the project.

Boot camps are run in the December to January and the June to July school holidays. Between these holiday sessions, leaners in the programme come to Wits University every Saturday for extra lessons in Mathematics, Science, English and Information Technology.


The aim of the ImpaCT Schools Project is to encourage learners to select a software engineering-related career. Learners from township schools are invited to spend two weeks in the June and December holidays learning about software development and working on projects.

Learners in the first ImpaCT Schools Project Group promote the JCSE at the Microsoft Kids Spark Event at Wits University.

Highlights of the pilot project

During the pilot project, learners with no previous computer knowledge were able to create websites and computer games. According to Ms Xoliswa Ngxanga, Coordinator of the ImpaCT Project, the games showed the learners’ creative brilliance as they remixed existing games and created completely new games that were indigenous to the South African landscape. “One of the most interesting games was Tsotsi Warrior,” says Xoliswa. “This was a four-level game created from scratch, based on gangs in the streets of Jozi.”

The soft-skills component of the project provided the learners with the self-confidence to try out new things. Conflicts in the environment stimulated the real work space, and they learnt first-hand the value of teamwork.

Highlights of the Winter Boot Camp

The JCSE partnered with the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre to present the Winter Boot Camp. As a result, the organisers were able to increase the programme offering. In addition to teaching the learners scratch, html and soft skills, they also acquired photo and video editing skills, with which they could create more refined games and websites. They even developed educational games.

Highlights of the Saturday classes

The learners’ marks improved considerably as a result of the extra classes. The tutoring they received increased their confidence in their ability to perform in Physical Science, in particular. The one-to-one mentoring also helped them develop the habit of setting time aside to study effectively.


The JCSE’s CPD Programme is open to ICT profession-als who are aiming to fill positions in ICT management, software architecture and design, or leadership roles in software project teams.

The CPD Programme may, subject to certain conditions, also be used to provide a stepping stone into either the Wits University Master of Engineering (MEng) or Master of Science in Engineering (MSc(Eng)) degree in Software En-gineering.

CPD Programme

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme in Software Engineering is a two-year part-time programme presented by staff of the JCSE and Wits University’s School of Electrical and Information Engineering, as well as industry experts. It aims to grow the skills of working professionals who have 10 years’ experience or more, but may not have any post-matric qualifications.

The JCSE has identified the need to grow the pool of highly skilled and formally qualified software engineers who are capable of filling senior positions in the ICT industry. These software engineering specialists require both a strong theoretical foundation and an ability to apply this theory in practice.

Continuing professional development


The Chief Information Officer (CIO) should be a person with a combination of strong technical, business and leadership skills.

The multidisciplinary Certificate in CIO Practice is aimed at people aspiring to fill the role of CIO, and covers a mix of topics that deal with issues relating to technology, strategic (C-level) management, business and human capital management processes, and ICT policy.

The focus is to provide an integrated overview of issues and trends in all of these areas.

The programme is a collaboration between the follow-ingentitiesofWitsUniversity:

• The Graduate School of Public and DevelopmentManagement

• TheJCSE• TheSchoolofEconomicsandBusinessSciences(In-

formation Systems)• TheLINKCentre

The Professional Certificate in CIO Practice Programme consists of four one-week full-time sessions. Each week covers two course modules. Each module has an individual take-home examination and a syndicate assignment. In the time between the full-time sessions, delegates form syndicates, which meet regularly at a venue of their own choice to complete the joint assignment.

The programme runs over a 16-week period, and includesthefollowingmodules:

• TheCIO’slandscape,includinglegalandregulatoryissues

• SelectedCIOtopics•ManagementandcontroloftheICTorganisation• Strategicmanagementandleadership• ManagementofITbenefitrealisation• Casestudysyndicatereportandpresentation

In order to earn a Certificate of Competence for the programme, delegates are required to have passed all course modules.

The full programme consists of the following core courses, which correspond to a set of equivalent Wits University postgraduatecourses:

• Software Engineering Principles and Methods• Software Technologies and Techniques• Software Analysis and Design• Database Systems• Software Project Management

The CPD Programme in Software Engineering introduces students to key aspects of the software development life cycle. By the end of the programme, students will

The CIO Practice Programme 2013

understand and be able to apply key concepts and principles in software engineering and software project management.

The courses aim to present an up-to-date and modern perspective. The course content is therefore constantly reviewed in order to keep abreast with the latest developments in the field.

Delegates are typically professionals with an interest in improving their theoretical skills in order to become software architects, designers and project managers.

Barry Myburgh presents the CPD Programme and the CIO Practice Programme on behalf of the JCSE.


PROMOTING INVESTMENT

PROMOTING INVESTMENTICT Industry Support

The JCSE works to actively support the development of the ICT sector locally and across the African continent through participation in relevant initiatives and events. It also promoted the local ICT sector internationally through its participation in the Centre for Office Automation, Information Technology and Telecommunication (CeBIT) Trade Fair, which was held in Germany in March 2013.

International Trade Fair

CeBIT is the world’s largest trade fair, showcasing digital IT and telecommunications solutions for both the home and work environments. According to Gordon Glemius, Acting Director of Export Promotion in the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), it is the global meeting place of the IT industry. The key target groups are users from industry, the wholesale and retail sector, skilled trades, banks, the services sector, government agencies, science and all users who are passionate about technology. It offers an international platform for comparing notes on current industry trends, networking, and product presentations, and is held in Hanover, Germany each year.

It comprises an exhibition area of roughly 450 000 m² and this year attracted 285 000 visitors from more than 120 countries. Over 4 000 companies from 70 countries participated, with a number of the companies being

startups, looking for opportunities to market their high-tech innovations to international buyers. It comprised over five action-packed days of international business and networking opportunities.

Prof Barry Dwolatzky, Director of the JCSE, participated in the South African National Pavillion at the invitation of the South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC), a public-private partnership between South African business and the dti with the aim of facilitating the export growth and internationalisation of its members, who are manufacturers and providers of products and related services in the electrotechnical sector. This sector includes electrical engineering, electronics, IT and telecommunications.

The participation of 16 local companies at CeBIT 2013 was made possible with the financial support of the dti throughits Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme.

This initiative of the dti seeks to partially compensate exporters for certain costs incurred in respect of activities aimed at developing export markets for South African products and services.

Prof Dwolatzky provided invaluable support to exhibitors in the form of advice, manning the pavilion and meeting with potential partners among the delegates and other exhibitors. Some of the exhibitors generated a great deal of interest and even signed some deals. The general opinion was that the expo allowed exhibitors to see what other similar companies around the world are doing. It therefore allowed them to see their products and service offerings within a broader international context. The unani-mous opinion of the exhibitors was that the South African National Pavillion was magnificent, and would not have been possible without the financial and logistical support of the dti. During the Expo Prof Dwolatzky posted a daily blog on www.SoftwareEngineer.org.za

Supporting the local ICT sector

The JCSE embraces opportunities to support the South African ICT sector. A highlight in this arena was the involvement in the CeBIT Trade Fair in Hanover, Germany in March 2013.

Other initiatives include the JCSE’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Software Engineering Competency Centre (SECC) in Cairo, Egypt, to pursue their common interest in the value of process improvement methodologies in the African context. Following an initial visit by the JCSE to the SECC in 2012, their first joint project will be research on the topic and a conference during 2013.

The JCSE is also working with other tertiary institutions and the Computer Society South Africa to form an accreditation body for university programmes that will meet international standards using local resources.

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1 2

21JCSE Annual Review 2012

5Photographs (from left):1. South Africa’s National

Pavillion at CeBIT 2013.2. Gordon Glemius, Acting

Director of Export Promotion (the dti).

3. Pilot Fish, an exhibitor a the National Pavillion.

4. The exhibition of Poland, South Africa’s partner country at CeBIT 2013.

5. The South African National Pavilion at CeBIT 2013.



Highlights

The South African Agile Forums are currently organised by the JCSE and are held on a monthly basis at Wits University or a nearby venue. Representatives from both large corporates (such as the banks) to small software development companies and individuals meet to discuss topics around Extreme Programming (XP), SCRUM and other Agile methodologies and practices. Each meeting consists of a presentation on some topic from a knowledgeable expert, followed by lively debate on the issue. Forum members then enjoy drinks and snacks after the meetings to network and interact around software development challenges.

Similarly, the JCSE hosts the Software Architecture Forum, which is a community for IT architecture professionals. The Forum’s immediate objective is to create an industry awareness of the role of an IT architect and also the required skills, education and experience. Furthermore, the Forum aims to enable specialists in the industry to share their experiences and to educate interested individuals on emerging trends, practices and techniques.

A third regular event is the monthly video evening hosted by JCSE’s partner Opsi Systems. A selection of TED talks and other freely available video material is screened and discussed.

Details of the each event are available on the events section of JCSE’s website and the presentations from the speakers are posted on the site after each event.The JCSE also attracts high-quality international speakers, such as Dr John Kelly III of IBM, who spoke at the Wits Science Stadium in February 2013 about IBM’s latest list of five predictions for the next five years, specifically the move from programmed to cognitive computing.

An overview

Agile Africa 2013 Conference

The JCSE and ThoughtWorks hosted the inaugural Agile Africa Conference at the Alex Theatre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on 12 and 13 August 2013. The theme of the conference was Agility in Africa. Top international keynote speakers included Martin Fowler (USA), Ivar Jacobson (Sweden), Mitch Lacey (USA), Amr Noaman Abdel-Hamid (Egypt) and David Hussman (USA).

Agile forums 27June2012: WhatIwantfroma Web UI Framework20August2012: Simple Measurements15October2012: GoodUserStories18February2013: ContinuousDelivery16April2013: AgileAntiPatterns19June2013: HelpingTeams Become Agile

Architecture Forum21May2012: CloudComputing16July2012: Software Architecture17September2012:MadMimi:An Architectural Story20May2013: Architecture Recovery29July2013: ValueFlow-based Design

Video Evening2April2012: TheArtofAlgorithms7May2012: CloudComputing andNoSQL4June2012: SecretsofWorld- class Organisations; Testing2July2012: Privacy6August2012: Design

8October2012: TechnicalDebt; Economic Models for Development11February2013: RESTWebServices and APIs4March2013: NewSQL;Process Mining8April2013: FunctionalThinking; Process Mining13May2013: Behaviour-driven Development3June2013: Teachingand Learning1July2013: SecurityandPrivacy

Evening School Programme 20127May2012: PublicLecture: A Smarter Way – the SEMAT Initiative (Johannesburg)8May2012: MasterClass (Johannesburg)9May2012: PublicLecture:A Smarter Way – the SEMAT Initiative (Cape Town)10May2012: MasterClass(Cape Town)

Other events8May2012: SEMATLaunch21July2012: AndroidLive Wallpaper Workshop11September2012:BreakfastTalk:R&D Tax Incentives13–19October2012:JCSESoftware Week Exhibition19October2012: VisitofICTsector delegation from Sri Lanka5November2012: SEMATmeeting4February2013: PublicLecture:Big Data and the future of computing21May2013: ExecutiveBreakfast Seminar

Keeping abreast with top-class forums and eventsThe JCSE holds a number of forums and events during the course of the year to ensure that stakeholders and professionals in the ICT industry are able to keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector, and to provide networking opportunities.

Delegates at the Agile Forum hosted by the JCSE in February 2013.

Delegates at the executive breakfast seminar featuring Alan Willett and David Tuma.


In a nutshell

The JCSE communicates with its stakeholders through emails, its website, press releases, the Software Engineer blog and the annual Source Code magazine. These media have been reasonably successful, but fresh approaches will be made in 2013 to improve the impact. In particular, a more formal use of public relations skills in composing messages about the JCSE’s activities will be undertaken, supported by a re-engineering of the website to refresh content and increase user engagement.

Communications and Marketing

Finance and Administration

Communication and marketing initiatives play an important role in positioning the JCSE as a centre that promotes best practice in software development in an African context, grows the country’s capacity to deliver world-class software, and develops research and training initiatives to strengthen the local software development industry.

In 2011, the JCSE’s income was R12,3 million. Of this, R260 000 came from its partners. The balance represents income earned from the provision of training and other services to the ICT sector.

In 2012, the JCSE’s income was R24,3 million. Of this, R292,500 came from its partners. The balance represents income earned from the provision of training and other services to the ICT sector.

In a nutshell

The structure of the JCSE staff provides the full range of services necessary to maintain good governance and efficient administration. Financial management covers bookkeeping, invoicing, credit control, budgets, stock and asset control and financial reporting. Event management includes invitations, registration, billing, venue and catering arrangements, delegate materials and post-event evaluations. Formal courses and training seminars include the issuing of certificates of completion. Other administrative activities include support for the Director in terms of logistics, arranging, recording and minuting Board and other meetings, liaison with Wits University’s schools and service providers, and the procurement of supplies and equipment.

CMMI training

CMMI appraisals

TSP-related training

CPD courses

Courses and training

Research and interns

Partnerships

CoachLab

Other

JCSE income 2011 JCSE income 2012

Jassika Sheikh and Ashleigh Gormally provide administrative support to staff and clients of the JCSE.

An overview

Media coverage during the period under review focused on highlights of the JCSE’s activities. Progress made with the development of the Tshimologong Precinct received coverage in a number of online and print media, including an article in Mail & Guardian.

Press releases were issued on behalf of the JCSE to promote the Agile Africa Conference, while the joint venture with the dti, Nedbank and BBD to create High-maturity Software Development (Hi-Mat) units, was also a topic that received attention in the media. This project will create 1 000 new software development jobs over the next three years.

Prof Barry Dwolatzky’s Software Engineer blogs included thefollowing:

• Is it time to re-establish Software Engineering on firmer foundations? (12 April 2012)

• Reflections on CeBIT 2013 (9 March 2013)

Otherpublishedarticlesincludethefollowing:

• ThecoolestplacefortechinAfrica?(31May2013): htxt.africa

• Bridgingtheopportunitygap(2June2013):Sunday Weekend Argus, Workplace

• Braamfontein tech hub ready for liftoff (19 June 2013)TechCentral


Partnering for successThe JCSE provides companies with the opportunity to partner for the success of the future of the South African software development sector. These organisations not only partner with the JCSE to grow the sector, but also derive benefit from being involved with the JCSE.

Benefitting from partnership

The JCSE continues to seek more organisations who will not only partner with the Centre to grow the software development sector into the future, but who will also derive benefit from being involved with the JCSE.

There are several categories of partnership available, ranging from individual to platinum. Each level of partnership offers a set of benefits, depending on the level of investment in the JCSE. The principal benefits are in the form of points that can be used to participate in any of the JCSE’s activities throughout the 12 months following the signing of a partnership contract. Each point is equivalent to R1. Partners can purchase additional points at any time, at a 10% discount, but may not carry points over into the next sponsorship period.

The JCSE acknowledges the contributions of its cur-rentpartners:

Platinum: Eskom, First National Bank, IBM, Microsoft, Nedbank, Nokia, Telkom, Vodacom, MTN

Gold: Accenture, bbd, Hollard, Psybergate Silver: Krossover Technologies, UCS Software

Manufacturing, iSolvTechnologies Bronze: Gijima, OPSI Systems, Global Edge

Technologies

The JCSE Partnership Programme

The Partnership Programme offers participants several categories of partnership. Each level of partnership offers a set of benefits that is dependent on the level of investment with the JCSE.

Thecategoriesofpartnershipareasfollows:

Partnership Investment Points package

Platinum Investment of capital or resources intoJCSE to the value of R100 000 or more.

50 000

Gold R50 000 + VAT 25 000

Silver R25 000 + VAT 12 500

Bronze R10 ,000 + VAT 5 000

Individual R1 000 + VAT 1 000

All JCSE activities will ‘cost’ a specified number of points. A list of these costs and activities is available on the JCSE’s website at www.jcse.org.za. Partners can choose to use their points to purchase these benefits for themselves or may wish to allocate them to other smaller JCSE partners.

The benefits of partnership

Partnersenjoythefollowingbenefits:

• Differentiation from competitors. • Association with the JCSE and its objectives in events run

by the JCSE and third parties. • Promotion of this association with the JCSE in the press. • Development of best practices in the partner’s software

engineering workforce through training, master classes and user groups.

• Access to local and international software development expertise.

• Support of the partner’s BEE skills development/business development initiatives.

Co-brandingbenefitsincludethefollowing:

Partnership Branding benefits

Platinum • Logo on the home page of the JCSE website linked back to corporate page

• Logo at all JCSE events• Speaker at the annual colloquium • Free thought leadership page in

the annual JCSE report• Mention in all relevant press articles• Monthly programme management

meetings• Use of JCSE partners’ logo

Gold • Logo on the home page of the JCSE website linked back to corporate page

• Logo at all JCSE events• Mention in all relevant press articles• Quarterlyprogramme

management meetings• Use of JCSE partners’ logo

Silver • Logo on the partner page of the JCSE website linked back to corporate page

• Use of JCSE partners’ logo

Bronze • Logo on the partner page of the JCSE website (no link)

• Use of JCSE partners’ logo

Individual Use of JCSE partners’ logo Platinum and Gold partners will have an account manager that will meet with them at least quarterly to discuss their partnership and ensure optimal use of the benefits of partnership.

Allpartnersreceivethefollowing:

• Online points statements via a login section • A monthly newsletter highlighting JCSE’s recent and

upcoming activities

Points can be spent on the following options. The point system not only provides measurable investment for partners with the JCSE, but also an opportunity to utilise the JCSE’s services at a discounted rate.

Item Points

Delegate at CPD course24 hours over 8 weeks

10 500

Professional certificatesthree one-week blocks over four months

40 000

CMMI introductory coursethree days

9 918

CMMI executive courseone day

2 000

Executive breakfast briefings 800

Consulting time with experts from the JCSE or a partner (per hour)

±1 000


OBJECTIVESThe Joburg Centre for Software Engineering The Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) is a three-way partnership between government, academia and industry. Based at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the JCSE is multifaceted with various programmes and facilities that position it as a focal point of the ICT industry in South Africa and the rest of the continent.

The JCSE strongly supports the City of Johannesburg’s developmental priorities, which sees Joburg becoming a world-class Smart City with service delivery and efficiencies that meet global best practice. It supports this goal by promoting best practice in software development in an African context, growing the country’s capacity to deliver world-class software, and developing research and training initiatives to strengthen the local software development industry.

Its objectives are as follows:• Improving processes: Promoting international best practice in Software Engineering within an African context.

• Promoting investment: Establishing a business friendly environment that attracts investment in the local ICT industry.

• Supporting transformation: Aligning with the objectives of the ICT Charter, to create new leaders and to encourage the growth of SMMEs in the sector.

• Encouraging innovation: Applied research, technology incubation and IP development.

• Building capacity and skills: Educating experts to lead Africa’s software development sector.


PARTNERS

PartnersPlatinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Gijima • Opsi Systems




Joburg Centre for Software EngineeringTel: +27 11 717 6390 | Fax: +27 86 553 7128 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.jcse.org.za

CONTACT DETAILS

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Improving processes

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