[kictanet] Expensive software systems?

Thu Jun 26 10:38:12 EAT 2008

Bingo!

No wonder u won that award.

Congrats.

walu.

--- On Wed, 6/25/08, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 1:28 PM
> Two issues:
> 
> I would say that Dr. Ndemo repeats an entrepreneurship
> class targeting local
> software developers like at the Barcamp.
> 
> This is not a thumps up for the guy that billed for this
> system but costing
> models are developed by the businesses selling.
> 
> What do you make of Microsoft who are due from Kenya: 
> (decent price of Ms
> Office and Windows) * (Estimated Number of Computers in the
> country)
> 
> $500 * 500,000 = $ 250,000,000
> 
> KES. 15,500,000,000
> 
> A whooping KES. 15.5 billion for commodity software. I
> guess you can tell
> why Gates is tops. By the way Open Source can squarely
> substitute this. Even
> with a blended software market, we can afford to save the
> country in foreign
> exchange about KES. 7 billion. These savings would most
> likely go into
> developing the local software industry in that businesses
> and government can
> use the savings in getting custom software that responds
> effectively to our
> business processes. Open Source software available can also
> be customized by
> local software companies for fit unique/peculiar business
> processes in
> Kenyan private and public sectors.
> 
> This is a perspective i would like to add to this software
> debate.
> 
> Muthoni
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 9:56 AM, wesley kiriinya
> <kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > Ladies and Gentlemen,
> >
> > How come most of the software systems Kenya gvnmt and
> related bodies
> > purchase always cost 100s of millions if not a few
> billions?
> > Like this one for KPA:
> >
> >
> http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8383&Itemid=5860
> >
> > This is not meant to hit anyone hard. I'm trying
> to see whether there is a
> > better solution.
> >
> > So far this year I've heard of 3 systems:
> > 1. KRA
> > 2. Immigration
> > 3. KPA.
> >
> > This KPA system costs a total of 450M, but the
> software bit is 200M. From
> > the software features described I feel they could have
> got better value for
> > their money.
> >
> > May be these systems really cost that much. May be
> there is someone in the
> > list who can shed more light on these systems.
> >
> > BTW: To make this even more interesting various
> developers in the list can
> > suggest a software solution component for each problem
> these systems solve,
> > estimated development time and estimated cost. That
> way it's not just
> > talking the talk but walking the walk.
> >
> > I'll take a shot:
> > Case 1:
> > From the newspaper article, one of the port guys is
> quoted as saying:
> > "One unique thing about the system is its
> capacity to capture data in real
> > time. The moment a vehicle rolls out of a vessel, its
> data is captured. This
> > makes it easier for us to track such cargo and
> containers as well," said
> > Osero.
> >
> > My take:
> > Analysis: The machines which are costing 250M
> (It's 250M machines + 200M
> > software = 450M entire system) have sensors that
> measure different
> > qualities/properties of the item in the machine e.g.
> weight. These machines
> > have an API to link them to a computer system. Using
> the API get the
> > measured quantity and display/store in database etc.
> This isn't really the
> > hardest thing to do as the manufactures of the 250M
> machines should provide
> > documentation and support to the software developers.
> >
> > Estimated work force and time: 3 developers, 3-4
> months.
> >
> > Cost: 200K * 3 developers * 4 months = 2.4M. + 20%
> (any other expenses) =
> > 2.88M.
> >
> > Case 2:
> > Another feature is keeping track/audit trails/
> historical data.
> >
> > My take:
> > Analysis: This is basically from:
> > 1. Collection of good requirements from the port.
> > 2. Designing the right architecture that fits the
> requirements.
> > 3. Creating the right designs from the architecture.
> > 4. Pass the designs to the programmers for
> implementation.
> >
> > 1-3 are Key and this is where the bulk of the money
> will go.
> >
> > Estimated work force and time: 3 system
> requirements/analysis collectors, 4
> > months. The actual time depends on how well KPA know
> the problems they are
> > facing, and how well they can describe them.
> >                                               3
> system/software architects,
> > 3 months.
> >                                               4
> system/software designers,
> > 5 months.
> >
> > Cost: (Requirements) 100K * 3 * 4 = 1.2M+20% = 1.44M
> >     (Architecture) 350K * 3 * 3 = 3.15M+20% = 3.78M
> >     (Design) 250K * 4 * 5 = 5M+20% = 6M.
> >
> > So far the total is 14.1 M. And these are some of the
> most important roles.
> > Even with 15 programmers @ 100K for 12 months (+20%) =
> 21.6M for a current
> > toral of 35.7M.
> >
> > OK I'll stop there. I'm not writting a report.
> Feel free to correct me. I
> > could be very wrong.
> >
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> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Muthoni
> 
> My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/
> --------------------------------------------
> Mahatma Gandhi once said:-
> 
> First they ignore you,
> Then they laugh at you,
> Then they fight you,
> AND THEN YOU
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