Introducing QUAL IT and kloIQ

This webpage alerts you to the existence of Qual IT while providing you with awareness concerning a new term: ‘kloIQ’.

Qual IT (pronounced Quality) refers to Appendix C of the manuscript which provides a foundation for generating a quality IT survey to help with your continuous improvement initiatives. It is suggested you read the manuscript from front to back and therefore arrive at Appendix C in due course. 

Hello my name is Ron Richard.  As Founder of the InherentQuality.Com website and as author of its namesake / title manuscript, I am pleased you are reviewing site content and perhaps conceptualizing applications relative to present day and the future generations of Inherent Quality. As the site’s chief officer (i.e. quality, e-communications and e-information officer) I am also pleased to provide you with the following additional insight concerning the website and its central theme, Inherent Quality. Soon you will be introduced to a new term that I call kloIQ. First however I will share three items for your awareness. 

The agenda for the remaining content of this webpage is as follows:

0. InherentQuality.Com
0. Inherent Quality
0. Inherent Quality Solutions Architect
0. kloIQ

1) InherentQuality.Com

This past weekend (June 04, 2006) we shared the following with a few search engines to eventually help others find our website…beyond the standard submission noted below, we hope you will share brief positive mention about our site to others.  Thank You in advance for your anticipated kindest, professionalism and cooperation. 

Figure 1

Current meta tags of InherentQuality.Com

Meta Tag Current Content Title Home, Inherent Quality Excellence - frameworks, technologies and collaborative capability showcasing of software and IT professionals Keywords quality, technology, software, inherentquality, inherent, information technology, software and information technology, capability maturity, software quality, lifecycle technology, frameworks, inherent quality Description Inherent Quality - assurance, control, improvement, management and excellence through lifecycle innovation and collaboration showcasing software and information technology professionals

2) Inherent Quality

Several months prior to the launch of our site, and while wearing another of my regular hats (Inherent Quality Solutions Architect), I embarked on providing a colleague with additional information (as he contacted me with interest using these words “making contact to gain added insight into your work”).  The process of providing the additional information, actually led me to creating the InherentQuality.Com website.  In this regard, I thank: the author and featured visionary of “Interview with David Sanders, MVP: Founding Visionary and President of Culminis — Bringing IT Together (By Stephen Ibaraki, Date: Sep 23, 2005)”; Mylene Sayo (CIPS Manager, Public Relations) and others (e.g. Handbook of Software Architecture, Somasegar's Weblog), for indirectly motivating me to plateau my research and create a related website for shared thinking with industry members.  This of course brings us to the present, and hopes for collaborations to spark ingenious discoveries and profoundly enriching next generations.  Which is where the Inherent Quality Weblog enters as a contributor or enabler, and it is my hope in this regard that you and others periodically review and comment on related posts.  For example such as with respect to upcoming COBIT weblog articles that will be announced with brief weekly posts referring to the related article stored on the Deliverables webpage of our site.  Certainly in this regard we thank ISACA and other individuals noted within our site's ecommunications for helping us start our participatory weblog, which we are delighted will include a COBIT article co-authored with ISACA.  In fact beyond that which you are about to read on this page, we encourage you to review all site content, which collectively will help you see that: Inherent Quality is a supporter of such things as COBIT, within which examples of inherent quality can be found; however also that Inherent Quality is intended to go beyond, and thereby advocates engaging collective talents and imaginations of vast audiences to help among other make quality increasingly more inherent.  As a result I may draw upon various forms of additional information that I have stored to deliver weblog articles associated with Inherent Quality.  The paragraphs you are about to read could be considered example weblog article excerpts.  I hope reading the following will help you further see the need for making quality more inherent.  In fact I hope your reading of the full content of this site will motivate you to contribute to making quality more inherent. With such I therefore encourage you to review the full content of the site to gain further e-insight (i.e. insight provided via ecommunications and with excellence first and foremost in mind).

3) Inherent Quality Solutions Architect

Inherent Quality Solutions Architects... What are they? Do they exist? How can I become one? The first question can be answered in a single word, "Professionals"; however we will expand upon this by saying: Professionals who can build or contribute to the building of innovative software and information technology based solutions that contain, are a result of, and produce value from inherent elements of and for quality. To ensure clarity we will expand further, but rest assured they (IQSAs) do exist, and you can become one by referring to yourself as one, after first reading the following and agreeing as a Professional to walk the talk.

To be an IQSA means you are independently competent in many respects yet operate collaboratively while recognizing the need for and value of specialist and stakeholder contributions to materialize from two-way mentoring and teamwork.  In other words, you are an expert, but know you can't be an expert for everything, and that this is ok. Being an IQSA also however means that as a versatilist you can be hands-on and add value through participatory dialogue and activities with relevant stakeholders, and during the course of speaking the language of the customer, and while converting expressed desires into technical artifacts. By the latter we mean into objects made by a human being, or produced by technology with only what is the absolute essential amount of human input necessary to achieve characteristic near perfect or perfect matches to the customer conveyed problem or statement of needs. Note however that the essential amount of human input is variable and dependent therefore upon such things as the given point in time, and the given environment in which you currently find yourself operating within. To be an IQSA also means you have had achievements that include progressive successes in varied software and IT roles following having prior successfully (a) completed related college and/or university programs, (b) obtained professional certifications and/or designations specifically associated with operating as a software and information technology professional. To be an IQSA also means wanting to make a positive difference, and at times even being willing to give yourself away if doing so might generate a greater possibility of changing lives in a positive and powerful way. As an IQSA you attempt to regularly e-interact with the global software and information technology community, you also seek to do what is right, and/or to direct others to do what is right, while being humble and honored to be part of something greater than yourself, and while interacting with others that you regard as being of a high level of quality and character. Furthermore as an IQSA you are quick to sincerely say and show 'Thanks'... and even when you are operating from a position of leadership, you make sure that those contributing to success are acknowledged for providing you with leadership, support and advice.

To obtain a further appreciation we encourage you to read "Interview with David Sanders, MVP: Founding Visionary and President of Culminis - Bringing IT Together" (By Stephen Ibaraki Sep 23, 2005) and then to continue your reading here. (pause) ... "Welcome Back!" We trust you enjoyed the words expressed by Mr. Sanders.  A number of which we have creatively pieced together as we found them powerful enough to touch and motivate us and wanted to keep them close to review anytime we needed a bit of a lift.  If you'd like to review them, they are at the bottom of this page, simply click: Creative List, Drawing from the words of Mr. Sanders (where as you finish reviewing the list, there will be a link to return you here, yet position you on the next line so you can continue reading... we hope Mr. Sanders' words, that we have creatively pieced together, touch or motivate you in some positive direction as well).

We particularly want to draw your attention to these words expressed by Mr. Sanders in the noted Ibaraki article...

"I have been encouraging all IT Pros to see themselves as Solution Architects. Ron Gandiza of my staff came up with the term and the idea and I believe it is a solid and profound one. Solution Architects are professionals who are not only proficient in the technology, but professional in the understanding of the business practices and premises driving the technology. Being a certified technology professional is great. It provides you with an opportunity to be of value to a business for fixing the ills of networks, servers and pc's. However, if you combine that ability with intrinsic business knowledge and understanding, you increase your value exponentially."

And now, we wish to humbly suggest that software and information technology professionals perhaps see themselves instead as, inherent quality solution architects (i.e. as an IQSA), whereby using CIPS as an example, if you hold an ISP from CIPS (and consider yourself an inherent quality solutions architect type professional) then your SOP would include working towards ensuring that inherent quality is intrinsically and pervasively within and throughout that which is in your realm of responsibility or influence. Of course at one extreme your responsibilities and influence may include an organization's practices, resources, tools and overall success formulas (see IQ10125 page 45, and otherwise review all pages... note IQ10125 refers to the manuscript, Inherent Quality, 101, version 2.5). In fact if you consider yourself an inherent quality solutions architect type, then you also would have the skills to be able to draw from and build upon the manuscript as well as published/awarded material of fairly recent times (e.g. in the current year of 2006, fairly recent times would particularly include 2004-2005). An example here might help. We will use manuscript pages 435-436 for the example, and more specifically our example will build upon the concept of aspect-oriented programming by relating it to, merging it with, or extending it by inclusion of process and QMS development. Whereby as of today, June 7, 2006 (or the date you read this), you can start using a new term or acronym, namely: Aspect-Oriented Programming and Process and Qms Development - AOPPQD. Whereby Qual IT (see IQ10125 Appendix C) among other inherently (and indirectly) challenges readers ('professionals') to create, maintain and/or contribute to a corporate specific QMS that contains such aims as:

• Ensuring (or working towards progressively ensuring greater levels of) professionalism, inherent quality and value, and earliest point inherent risk management
• Inherently ensuring adherence, enforcement and/or compliance to one or many external icons (such as demonstrated in a QMS appendix to map statements of the QMS to statements of external icons, e.g. COBIT, CMMI and so on)
• AOPPQD, such as by applying modern programming concepts to the domain of process development and documentation with intentions to enable corporations to show usage (and adoption in some form), and as to demonstrate a form of acceptance and compliance. For example as demonstrated in the QMS by 'Refactoring a QMS appendix', so as to also ensure it maps statements of the corporate specific QMS to particular aspects or patterns of one or many externally offered rigor, agility or other quality related considerations provided by the now sea and sky of enrichment that exists (and is growing), and was created for (or can be applied to) ensuring software and information technology quality

In fact the latter points now provide us with an opportunity to move into the next topic. However before we do, we will inject a related but slightly off topic comment... "we would not be surprised if soon Culminis established many more sections and grew well beyond the June 5, 2006 record mark of over 1,000,000 members"... in fact, one opportunity for a new or expanded section is very likely in places like the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia. Where in June 2006 there exists a fairly decent sized pool of talented professionals and academic programs, that likely does not have many (if any) who are members of Culminis, well not yet anyway... and we are sure this will change dramatically between the years 2007 and 2010 as related activities unfold and as an inaugural section website is established... in fact regardless of whether or not InherentQuality.Com helps in some way with related suggestions or activities. 

In any event, it is time we introduce 'kloIQ', so without further delay...

4) kloIQ

You have likely heard of the term KLOC, e.g. reference one, two and three. Well today (June 7, 2006... or the date you read this) you are about to hear about kloIQ... written in this way to emphasize the "I" (inherent).

KLOQ and KLOIQ can be described as measures similar to KLOC. Whereby kloQ : thousands of lines of quality; kloIQ : thousands of lines of inherent quality. Both refer to thousands of lines of process and product (code etc.) quality, however the latter would be used in attempts to further differentiate "quality" from "inherent quality". For example, processes which are overlaid to check quality (aka quality control measures) are a measure of quality, but most likely not a measure of inherent quality. The latter instead is more intrinsic and cost-reductive / value-inducing such as related to personal and team quality practices which limit risks and defects from moving on for capture at later stages by other team members, and/or later by separate test and audit groups. Both kloQ and kloIQ are non-traditional measures related to "gauging quality" (though gauging both, particularly inherent quality, may be inherently complex, evolving and difficult to completely or accurately do presently to the point that companies could immediately make use of either as benchmarks or process improvement metrics). Conceptually however both do have an immediate implementation benefit, as derived from related emerging goals. Since the focus of our website is primarily Inherent Quality we will explain from this perspective.

• The lower the kloIQ of the corporate QMS pages prior to the appendix the better. That is, corporations should only need to actually author very few QMS lines and thereby have a QMS that inherently contains value-add, through as thinly as possible containing the fewest pages possible prior to the appendix. In fact tool and template supported, the creation of the QMS pages prior to the appendix should be a quick process and permit creation of a custom / corporate specific QMS that from one extreme can be quite lose; and at the other can through the appendix be mapped to many icons for quality (and through the technology which embeds the QMS, can provide automated means for ensuring on-going adherence).

• The higher the kloIQ of the corporate QMS appendix the better. That is, through refactoring the appendix, the QMS should inherently embrace concepts such as reusability and inheritance... And therefore include mappings to show interrelationships, usage and/or degrees to which aspects or patterns of processes and/or products relate the corporation's standard operating best practices (and associated principles, values, policies, resources, tools, assets, human resources, certifications, awards and so on) to external prominent icons associated with quality (such as MOF/MSF, ISO, CMMI, XP, COBIT and so on including enterprise software products, i.e. lifecycle technology) and thereby exhibit the corporation's degree of, commitment to, enforcement of and/or compliance with quality ideals and programs. In this manner kloIQ is not a measure of the number of lines in the appendix, but a measure of the number of lines represented in that which the appendix maps to.

Therefore an Inherent Quality mindset (used in conjunction with Qual IT and kloIQ concepts) has tremendous potential to produce tremendous gains. Recognizing that external prominent icons associated with quality will further mature and to some degree harmonize, the kloIQ associated with the corporate QMS appendix will be relative. That is, similar to the reality that today we can accomplish much more with fewer lines (or characters) of code, it is entirely possible that in future the kloIQ associated with the corporate QMS appendix will decrease while value actually increases. Given such things, kloIQ as understood today, and/or as imagined to mature in future, may be less valuable as a metric and more valuable as a concept. For example, as related to QMS inherent quality reusability and inheritance... and/or as related to evaluating the inherent quality levels of enterprise lifecycle technology in relation to the prediction within our Wikipedia paper... Inherent Quality

If one were to produce a number representing the kloIQ found within (and/or associated with) our industry today, it would be a very high number. While the high number should be considered positive (e.g. evidence of quality), it however should also be viewed as a concern, or at least as an opportunity. A reduction therefore is needed to make things simpler, while increasing value and reducing fog index and other associated risks. Perhaps future versions of COBIT will further help in this regard. Perhaps the insights and creativity of members of Culminis and various professional associations / societies (e.g. like CIPS) will also help to contribute to expediting forward progress. Perhaps future generations of lifecycle technology will build upon both and enable tremendous gains even beyond the gains they provide to the world today.

Working from a desire to, and need to, evolve quality (and with intentions of ideally ensuring clarity), it may be appropriate to explicitly state at this juncture that the high degree of KLOQ today (as related to process and kloc) is positive, in the name of quality, but not necessarily in the name of inherent quality. Quoting page 359 of IQ10125, that the thousands of lines of quality material that exists today is “progress in the name of quality, but not necessarily in the name of Inherent Quality”.  In fact from the material generated and continuously being generated as related to such matters as quality control, one might say the quality movement itself is a bit (or many bytes) out of control.  However we humbly submit that this trend of increasing KLOQ and/or kloIQ is likely very necessary presently and may continue rising for years and years to come, perhaps upwards of 2020 for example, before true clarity permits a significant turn to occur within many organizations and countries, whereby quality has reached a tremendous inherent level of pervasiveness and is so intrinsic that the kloIQ begins to suggest a global pattern of leveling with corresponding increases in value and corresponding reduction to risk.

Of course many benefits will continue to occur along the journey to 2020 and beyond, and this will only further encourage the quality – inherent quality movement and related ideals, and therefore should present further strong reasoning (and a convincing position) why now is the right time for professionals and professional associations to really begin driving forward related initiatives.

We look forward to watching such unfold, and add this bit of additional food for thought to perhaps ignite your creative genes…

• Today’s World: Despite the wonderful examples of integration that exist, today’s world is far from integrated, as it contains a steadily growing range of technology, certification and process options. Furthermore while such things may in some cases be created with integration in mind, the world is constantly evolving and adding to related challenges. With such optimizing the quality and value equation is inherently highly complex. Also potentially highly complex, is dealing with a world of likes and opposites, which include those who are: a) technical experts (though within this class variance may be significant, as some are technical experts with respect to a specific vendor technology, while others have a technical expertise scope the is wide and deep); b) the non or less technical expert (e.g. the process and/or management types who no longer have the coding and related abilities they once had; c) those who exist within various degrees between the ‘a’ and ‘b’ types and have perhaps characteristics of a versatilist or solutions architect. The reality is in today’s world you not only have these types, you need them. Just as you need experts in something like COBIT or CMMI, and just as you need financial experts, and just as you need visual development by those that are experts (ideally in more than one or few languages).

• The Integrated Future: kloIQ is a representation that pertains to process and other more technical elements of inherent quality (i.e. the actual code). We believe a more integrated future will reduce kloIQ and add value. In fact we feel that particular items rightly of importance today, will be progressively less important in the future thanks to increased integration. By this we mean that the industry will move gradually back to its roots (i.e. gradually be less top heavy and gradually have a greater focus on the technical quadrant which will inherently contain the elements of once needed other quadrants such as perhaps a Process quadrant).  Simplified greatly, the industry will spend less time and energy on process because they have invested in maturing process and in embedding (integrating) it into the lifecycle (capability maturity) technology.  Furthermore because industry initiatives will have led to advancing the talents of members and future generations. Note: getting to the integrated future will likely included incremental enhancements and increased levels of harmonization relative to frameworks/icons of quality, and relative to the integration of such within lifecycle technology. 

• The Next Generation: Beyond the Integrated Future and into the next generation, the gains (relative to that which is represented by inherent quality, Qual IT and kloIQ) will be so tremendous that the technology will become a true technical resource and partner, that permits even software and information technology professionals to achieve their activities with less thought to the code or framework, and therefore with more thought relative to what is actually trying to be solved for… further this thinking will be at progressively higher levels as it will combine the wisdom and creative genius of ‘colleagues and technology’ (aka persons and machines).

We of course would also be delighted if contacted to provide you with assistance regardless of what may be your present point along an inherent quality journey.

Ron Richard

InherentQuality.Com

Creative List, Drawing from the words of Mr. Sanders

Solutions Architect…

Be deeply honored…and… humbled by the awesome opportunity and responsibility…thank everyone… for their time and attention…it is my hope that something that I or someone…has said or done…will positively change someone's life and inspire them to reach out and change other lives…make a difference…raise the status of IT Pros, increase awareness…make a positive difference in the communities in which we live and work…IT Pros, by their nature want to help people…IT Pros deserve the same level of respect as other disciplines… they are high quality professionals who work diligently to deliver quality work and are continually studying and learning, on a daily basis, to keep up with dramatically changing technologies… don't regard self as remarkable…just blessed…such as…through various defining moments…e.g. became a Christian…birth of my children…had to start my professional life over…day I escaped death…and so on… be open…open your mind and your heart…open your mind to ideas…your heart to love and compassion...allow yourself to be filled with the great goodness…give yourself a huge boost in your ability to learn and grow…see the world not as it was, but as it could be…be open to everyone and everything around you to expand your mind and to achieve your dreams…be humble…we are constantly told to achieve, to market ourselves and to claw the way to the top, this idea seems to run contrary to the "natural" order…however…you will achieve everything in life if you can help enough other people…and not care who gets the credit…you are here to serve…this was Einstein's answer to the question of "Why are we here?...he was a great deal more intelligent than I… have persistence…nothing is as powerful as a person who never gives up…you can and will achieve your dreams if you never let them go…look at Lance Armstrong…in spite of overwhelming odds that he would even survive, he kept up his drive to achieve his dream and won the Tour de France 7 times…in all of your dealings…keep an open and loving heart…it sets the tone for open and honest communications…there is gold in every one of us…if we are open to looking for it, we will find it…passion…the seed that grows great ideas and delivers on wonderful promises…confidence…see yourself at your best…forgiveness…forgive yourself…forgive everyone...believe…in yourself…there are countless examples in the history of the human condition where individuals have overcome unbelievable odds and succeeded in the face of experts who said it could not be done…believe in the value of others…believe in a higher purpose for your life…you are a unique individual of great value here to achieve great things…seize the opportunity every day and make the most of it…trust…only you can control how you feel, think and act…take responsibility for your own actions, your thoughts and your life… learn business processes and keep technology skills current and sharp…share your expertise and mentor others to raise the quality of all…

and be sure along the journey to celebrate quality!

Click here to Return and continue reading

 This page was last updated June 09, 2006