QuAcks

I have often wondered why we never have quality in real terms in the IT service industry. In other industries, you have theories on Quality management and we see those theories being put to use.
We have theories IT Service industry too but it never seems to work!!!
I decided to look at QA teams that I work or worked with and analyze why they never worked!! I realized that we don’t really care for the profile of the people working as Quality management personnel.

Story 1

A mid level HR person was bored with her role as a HR. She decided it’s the time to go to Amreekka. After all all the people that she has recruited go to US. She tells her boss (Head of HR) of her concern.
Boss: Hmm...In what capacity will we send you to US? You are not technical and neither were in Project Management before......Hmmm..Lemme think....Yes !!! You can go as a QA. Since you are a HR you can be a QA for Peoplesoft projects. Wait, let me call Prakash....the head of Peoplesoft group

Boss dials Prakash's cell phone....

Vijay: Prakash, this is Vijay Sinha
Prakash: Hello sir...What’s happening?
Boss: I need a help sir..
Prakash: Whats it sir?
Boss: Do you have a requirement for a HR functional person for an onsite position?
Prakash:Hmm...Not really. Anyways who is the person Vijay?
Boss: You know Meghna Rawat don't you?
Prakash: Oh yah yah...but she is a HR rite?
Vijay: Yes. Exactly..She has domain knowledge in this area. She needs onsite exposure.
Prakash:Hmm..Actually we want someone with some Techno-functional background you know...(Thinks for a second...) I think I can fit her in a role as a QA..
Boss: (Excited..) Exactly Prakash...This is what I though too...Great minds think alike Sir.
Prakash:(Hesitantly)..Ok..Does she have a visa?
Boss: We can start the process. (Puts phone on speaker)...Meghna, get started with it will you? Will you contact Shanta. She will help you get started… ( I had to run behind my boss for 50 days to get a Invitation letter…HRs always have their way...)
Prakash: She will need to be trained here in offshore for sometime in basic peoplesoft HRMS...You see we have people who are with experience and you know it will be a bit difficult for us to push her to an onsite role bypassing them.You know that right?
Boss: I know that..Anyways its for a QA role.
Thus a HR who used to sign experience letters and give fundas to new joinees on their benefits gets transformed into a Peoplesoft functional expert by just one call.
One Call That’s All…

Story 2

Ramesh and Jyothi are a couple in the same company. They both have US visas but they stay in different cities in the US. It has been that way and they are fed up. They want to stay in the same place together in the US.
Ramesh is a critical resource. The company cannot afford to lose him. He tells his boss of his concern. And says that he will need to look for other opportunities where they pay him more so that his wife can quit her job and join him.
Boss gets concerned...

Boss: Hey Ramesh..dont take any hasty decisions man...we can work it out..
Ramesh: How ?
Boss: Let me see if we can place your wife in this project?
Ramesh: How? She is a mainframe resource and this is all ERP.
Boss: We can make her the QA...(laughs triumphantly having found a solution)
Ramesh: Cool...
Boss: Lets target for the end of this month...

What a quick solution !!!

If a person does not know anything, then in the IT industry he can be a QA. If a person does not know technology or functionality...No problem. Make him the QA.

This is how companies appoint “Quality” people to projects.