About SQNZ
The Software Quality New Zealand Incorporated (SQNZ) is an Incorporated Society, dedicated to improving the standard of quality within New Zealand computer organizations. It evolved from the Software Quality Group, which was formed in 1990.
SQNZ holds regular members' sessions throughout the year. These meetings are for the interchange of ideas and normally consist of presentations from one or more members or guest speakers. It is the intention of the SQNZ committee to continue to organise full and half day seminars on subjects related to software and computer quality.
Membership is open to individuals or organizations. Our membership page has details about joining SQNZ.
Mission
"To share and advance knowledge of quality and best business practices relating to software, to be the New Zealand focal point on matters relating to software quality, and to enhance the competitiveness of New Zealand software"
Objectives
To meet this mission SQNZ has the following aims and objectives:
- Become the focal point for software quality expertise.
- Provide a focus for the development of software quality awareness and practice from both the computer and quality disciplines. Lobby for the aims and needs of software quality.
- Establish a basis for information sharing, via a database of experienced personnel who could be potential advisers/mentors to others, and a newsletter or section within an existing publication.
- Provide the expertise to help set up an education addition to quality certification and awareness courses, and university and polytechnic courses.
- Assist organizations to develop generic and specific standards and guidelines for quality in the software life-cycle.
Committee
Committee Members - Software Quality New Zealand 2007:
| Name | Office |
|---|---|
| Marien de Wilde | President |
| Mark Carroll | Vice President |
| Togia Lui | Treasurer |
| Yolanda van Dorrestein | Secretary |
| Jim Walmsley | Website |
| Niels Jonker |
Constitution
The SQNZ Constitution is here.
Performance Criteria
To enhance its focus on its Mission Statement and to measure its own performance against its objectives, SQNZ uses the following set of performance criteria:
Customer Satisfaction
| Measure | Target | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation Quality | >60% Good/Excellent | Ensure that "quality" levels are perceived as high. Influences likely return. |
| Presentation Quality | <1% Waste of Time | High probability loss of attendance and bad publicity if exceeded. |
| Useful Tips | >30% Many | Objective is useful and valuable to attend - are we delivering? |
| Useful Tips | <5% None | High probability loss of attendance. |
| General Survey | Set separately | Send out a general survey every 6/12 months with flier Covers those who don't regularly attend - what do they want - is SQNZ doing its job for them? |
| Unsolicited written compliments | >0 per meeting | Direct indicator of "customer delight". |
| Complaints to Committee Members | >0, <5 per meeting | Indicator of credibility, attendees care enough to complain, complaints will be acted upon, indicates that SQNZ sets high expectations |
Excellence
| Measure | Target | Purpose |
| APs completed on time | >90% | Ensure that the committee is getting through its work in a timely fashion. |
| Meeting Time devoted to Strategic Issues | >33% of meeting time | Committee meeting time must address strategic issues to ensure the SQNZ moves forward - ensures enough time is spent on this. |
| Committee Meeting Frequency | <3mths between | Ensures that the organisational work is being done. |
| Meeting Attendance / No. on Mailing List | > 15% | Are fliers working? Is mailing list working? Are topics relevant? |
Improvement
| Measure | Target | Purpose |
| Performance Review Frequency | <8mths between reviews | Ensure that the SQNZ is meeting its objectives and measurement targets If not, review and analyse the deficient areas and act appropriately. |
| The Review | Includes review of performance, procedures, measures, operations, and assessment of future capability and risk assessment. |
Results
| Measure | Target | Purpose |
| Dollars in the Bank | > 6mths operational costs | Ensure that a sudden loss of revenue doesn't compromise operational capability. |
| Revenue/Costs | >100% | Endeavour to be self-sustaining. |
| Meetings per year | >5 | |
| Meeting Attendance | >30 | Ensure numbers stay up |
| Number on Mailing List | >200 | Ensure numbers stay up |
| Total Annual Meeting Attendance | >15% over previous year | Maintain growth. |
| Internet - Web Site - Measures | A set of measures to ensure web-site is contributing to objectives and is cost-effective (eg. hits, hits/dollar, amount of content, frequency of content update, emails via site...) |
President's Report
The SQNZ President's Report for 2005 - 2006 is here.
Postal Address
Software Quality NZ Inc,
PO Box 5199,
Wellington,
New Zealand.