Executive Summary

Happy New Year! 2001 is truly an exciting time to be in the field of technology. Although HAL 9000 may not be running your IT Space Odyssey, there's no doubt we're at the cusp of an era of revolutionary progress in technology as compared to even a few years ago.

Many ITMS readers have asked for more information on organizational learning, so the first article in this issue takes an in-depth look at this topic. Cisco Systems Chairman John Chambers once said that Cisco's secret weapon is not time to market -- it's "time to learning." Metrics play a key role at Cisco. To me, organizational learning is truly where companies either succeed or fail. When metrics emerge, companies can act in a productive, learning way and improve. Of course, if they don't like the numbers, they can kill the messenger or the message with cover-ups, denials, and antilearning defense mechanisms. Some companies choose the latter, but I make clear in my article that you don't have to.

In "Defect Metrics, Inspections, and Testing," I look at applying organizational learning to reduce software defects. Many firms think about quality in terms of testing out bugs toward the end of a project. But if you implement inspection processes earlier, IT reliability can be improved by not injecting defects in the first place. I also discuss how you can measure benefits.

These two articles fit together well; the first articulates fundamental management principles, and the second is about taking the theory into practice from a defect management perspective.

We hope that ITMS has shed new light on managing IT "by the numbers." Many dedicated people work hard to produce the content -- thanks to my guest authors, whose practical wisdom is invaluable, and to the readers, without whom none of this would be possible. Finally, thanks to the folks at Cutter who make it all come together! Happy holidays!

Contents

• What Makes Your Organization Fast? Metrics and Organizational Learning -- Part I
• Defect Metrics, Inspections, and Testing: Pay Me Now, or Pay Me Later

Michael Mah, Editor
michaelm@qsma.com