HEADLINES
JOBS
COM:PORT
POLICY POLICE
ARCHIVES

GNIIT to include quality management

Four modules on quality management concepts, tools of quality management, ISO 9000 for software and the SEI-CMM model, software quality assurance and personal quality have been added to the GNIIT curriculum.

L Balasubramanian, general manager, NIIT, said the curriculum had been expanded in response to the results of a survey of employers. The results showed that seven of the 10 additional skills employers wanted in software professionals they hired pertained to quality management rather than technology.

Balasubramanian also pointed out that, with the increasing cost of manpower, India would be hard put to sustain its low cost of labour advantage for very long. "It is therefore important that we compete on quality," he said.

Among the other topics that are covered in the quality modules are software testing, documentation standards, time management, prioritisation and planning and problem solving methodology. The module has been created through extensive inputs from the work of Philip B Crosby, the quality expert associated with the 'zero defect' concept.

NIIT itself has experimented internally with Crosby concepts such as the 'Complete Quality Management System'.

The change in the curriculum comes a year after the GlobalNet curriculum for GNIIT was introduced. NIIT says its continuous interaction with the industry as a consultant and software developer for various companies helps it modify curriculum to suit current requirements within a short time.

The company has also separated curriculum development - which is done through the instructional research and design department - from curriculum delivery. This division enables NIIT to deliver a standardised model across the globe (the company now has operations in several East and West Asian nations), and across self-managed and franchise centres.

NIIT has also developed CD-ROMs on Crosby concepts such as personal quality management and problem solving tools. While these will be used in the GNIIT programme, they will be also be marketed separately.

- Compiled from the Indian media

Tell us what you think of this story