[kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed?

Wed Mar 6 15:56:07 EAT 2013

Listers,

My view is that we cannot keep refusing to perfect what we do. No doubt that systems fail but it is a terribly lame excuse considering that the article in The Star confirms that the prior tests failed. Why did they proceed to use a problematic system? We must learn to accept where we fail if we are to improve I future. How else do other democracies vote electronically if we are excusing ourselves that systems fail? It is because they plan, plan, plan and test, test, test way beforehand to ensure all is well and all back-ups will work. 
Remember we are still going to have elections in 5 years time so let us face the truth and discuss here what should or should never happen again.

Regards,

Gilda Odera

On Mar 6, 2013, at 10:20 AM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:

> Roland
> 
> The governance experts are saying - lack of governance
> 
> The networking experts are saying - lets get better VPNS
> 
> The server experts are saying - we should have used HP or SUN or IBM
> 
> The database experts are concerned Oracle was used (Open Source Guys would want MySQL)
> 
> Software Developers - why use language X and not you
> 
> Software Testers - want more testing
> 
> Everyone is pitching their wares ... no one is sure what happened ....... ... and the job is over this week :)
> 
> On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Roland Omoresemi <roland at tezzasolutions.com> wrote:
> Can we really blame ICT when the true culprit appears to be the lack of proper testing of the systems in play?
> 
> IEBC could have performance tested (both load and stress) their systems to see how they would react under varying loads.
> 
> The tools and human resources were right there in Kenya but it is obvious we failed to apply them to help create a different result than what we currently face.
> 
> What we are witnessing is a classic case of what happens when we fail to adequately test our applications. Our non-conformance cost skyrockets...IEBC now has to worry about the cost of doing damage control on the biggest stage ever when it could have spent a fraction of the same cost to perform load or stress tests which would have helped them identify issues/bottlenecks in their systems long before now.
> 
> This is also not much different from what some of our local companies do...we deploy critical systems without proper testing and we then pray and hope nothing happens.
> 
> It is saddening that we don't see much value in setting aside adequate time for testing our applications (most especially those that are customer-facing) or we push whatever little testing we do to the very last minute when its practically too late to make any difference...or until the "s..." hits the ceiling and we then start to wonder why any of our issues could be happening.
> 
> Could we really blame ICT here or should we be looking closely at our lack of proper software testing?
> 
> - Roland
> ------Original Message------
> From: Edith Adera
> Sender: kictanet
> To: Roland Omoresemi
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: [kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed?
> Sent: Mar 6, 2013 12:55 AM
> 
> Listers,
> 
> It is a shame that for the first time in Kenya's history when IT is given a chance to bring credibility and efficiency in the electoral process, ICT has failed SPECTACULARLY!
> 
> what went wrong?
> 
> Edith
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> ---------------------------------------------
> Roland Omoresemi | CEO
> Tezza Business Solutions Ltd
> p: +19139612234
> e: roland at tezzasolutions.com
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
> 
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
> 
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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