Programming quality improvement in IBM [Technical forum]
D. L. Bencher · IBM Systems Journal · 1994
A management system was established in IBM to improve the quality of its software products. It represents a nontraditional approach to quality improvement. The approach is based on empowering programming development teams, guided by a set of principles that were defined by the programming community and driven by aggressive goals established to improve quality and enhance customer satisfaction. In turn the experiences of the newly empowered teams led to a set of good programming practices that were shared across the programming community in IBM. The result has not only been a dramatic improvement in the quality of IBM's program products, but also the fostering of a work environment based on creativity and excellence that engenders pride of ownership for work performed.