The Southern California Quality Assurance Association (SCQAA) San Fernando Chapter presents

******* Frode L. Ødegård!*******

Kick-off Chapter Meeting

“Improving the Software Product Development Process:

How to Avoid Seven Mistakes That Hamper Change Initiatives”

Wednesday, September 17, 2003 Networking @ 5:45; Business Meeting 6:30; Program @ 7:00 PM

Countrywide, 2900 Madera, Simi Valley, CA 93065

Why are software companies having so much difficulty improving their product development process? And why is there such a gap between how executives think and conventional wisdom about "best practices"? In this lecture we will discuss how and why conventional approaches to software process improvement fail to bridge this gap. We will identify seven key mistakes that software companies can make when they embark on a change effort and discuss how to avoid them. Problem areas discussed will include how to get buy-in on all levels, how to retain continuing leadership support, how to effectively manage the change process, and how to get quantifiable bottom line results.

Frode L. Ødegård is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ødegård Labs, Inc. In addition to his management responsibilities, he also leads consulting engagements with clients. Frode is a frequent speaker on software engineering, software engineering management, and leadership. He is also the author of a forthcoming book on world-class software product development. Frode is a member of IEEE, ACM, ASL, ASQ, AFCEA and the Corporate Director's Forum. Prior to founding Ødegård Labs in 1991, Frode was the CEO of M2CS, a Norwegian start-up company developing next-generation software engineering tools.

Ødegård Labs, Inc. helps leaders transform their organizations to achieve world-class software product development. We help design, launch, and execute organizational change initiatives that produce breakthrough business results. We provide training and consulting services related to software engineering best practices, benchmarking, process improvement, leadership, strategy, and talent management. Ødegård Labs has helped clients in a wide variety of industries, from consumer electronics to internet applications and public safety. Organizations we have worked with include AT&T Wireless, Conexant Systems, NASA, Vinca, Plantronics, Sony Electronics Inc., MindSpeed Technologies, Positron, and TriTech Software Systems. Company URL: http://www.odegard.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Wednesday, October 1, 2003 First Monthly Meeting in Countrywide, 2900 Madera, Simi Valley, CA Speaker: Frank Reynolds Topic: “Integrating Project Quality and Risk Management: Guangzhou Airport Fuel Distribution Project Example” Wednesday, November 5, 2003 November Monthly Meeting in Countrywide, 2900 Madera, Simi Valley

Fee: No Cost to Attend! Questions? Contact ekrunyon@yahoo.com

Message from your Chair: Judy Cheves

The San Fernando Chapter of SCQAA (SCQAA-SF) proudly joins the SCQAA family of Federated QAI chapters.

The new SCQAA-SF Board was formed in May 2003. Thirteen individuals volunteered to take on the formidable task of establishing a new chapter that will serve IT professionals in the Northern LA County, San Fernando Valley & Ventura County areas. They have worked hard over the summer to identify our mission, set up the infrastructure of the chapter ,find meeting locations and arrange for quality speakers.

The goal of SCQAA-SF is to serve IT professionals with networking and educational opportunities. Our focus will be on quality as it relates to all facets of IT.

Our first monthly meeting will be held on September 17th and every first Wednesday evening of the month thereafter. I am pleased to report that we have already scheduled some great speakers for our first meetings.

Our speaker for the September Kick-Off meeting is Frode L. Ødegård. Frode has been a recent speaker at both the LA and Orange County chapters of SCQAA and an invited speaker at the Annual SCQAA Vender Showcase & Conference. You won't want to miss his presentation on improving the software product development process.

I encourage you to visit the SCQAA-SF website at www.scqaa.us for more information regarding our Chapter, meeting location, and scheduled speakers.

We hope that you will value the quality programs that SCQAA-SF provides and plan to attend our meetings on a regular basis.

Regards,

Judy Cheves

Our Corporate Sponsors

Serena, Corp. at 20920B Warner Center Lane, Woodland Hills, is our very first Corporate Sponsor. We very much appreciate their sponsorship, which provides the SCQAA San Fernando Board with a fine workspace for our Board meetings.

Countrywide, Corp. is our second Corporate Sponsor, as they are providing Membership meeting space starting with this month’s meeting in Simi Valley on September 17, 2003.

ABOUT the new SCQAA

San Fernando Chapter Board

The new Board slate is composed of:

Position	Board Member	Backup Member
Chapter Chair	Judy Cheves	Karina Gamble
Vice Chair	Karina Gamble
Treasurer	Deanna Witrack	Judy Cheves
Secretary	Suzanne Mullen	Julie Borland
Sponsor/PR Chair	Lenni Lara	Bill Hackenberg
Membership Chair	Ron Winters
Food Service Chair	Peter Reidy
Webmaster	Lenni Lara
Mail List Chair	Gerry Caruso	Karina Gamble
Newsletter Chair	Elizabeth Runyon	Deanna Witrack
Meeting Chair	Julie Borland	Suzanne Mullen
Program Chair	Karina Gamble	Lenni Lara
Chapter Advisor	Jim Stoumpos

Would you like to be a speaker and have a topic of interest to the quality community? Contact the Program Chair (karina@qainsight.com) or Chapter Chairperson (Judy.cheves@Countrywide.com) and let us know what you would like to contribute.

Would you like to contribute information to this Newsletter? Contact the Newsletter editor at this address: scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com.

The SCQAA San Fernando Board holds monthly Board Meetings at Serena Inc. in Woodland Hills. If you would like to attend the Board meeting and would like to help this chapter, please contact Judy Cheeves at E-Mail (Judy.cheves@Countrywide.com ) to obtain the meeting schedule and location.

Quality News and Articles of Interest

SCQAA-SF Chapter at the Conference!

The San Fernando Chapter very happily shared a booth with the SCQAA-LA Chapter at the 4th annual SCCTC Vendor Showcase and Conference. We put on a fine show and succeeded in identifying our fledgling chapter to everyone present. Within a short timeline we prepared a grand poster display, our own business cards and even highly visible balloons floating proudly above our table! Starting with early morning registration, we distributed flyers about our new chapter. During the entire day we handed out our own business cards to speakers, vendors and attendees. We received verbal feedback and even a few surveys indicating preferences for coming attractions. Even with all the booth responsibility, our members attended seminars in the 5 tracks and had time to hobnob with the vendors in attendance. And we even managed to organize a lively raffle of a new CD Burner (Thank You, Jim) which attracted a share of the end-of-the-day activity at our booth.

QAI Certification Programs

To request more information, send email to certify@qaiusa.com.

Earn CPEs

Are you a CQA or CSTE? Earn some of your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points by attending SCQAA-SF meetings. Earn even more by helping with our committees!

Southern California Quality Assurance Association San Fernando Chapter (SCQAA-SF)

Subscription Information

You are subscribed to the SCQAA-SF "QUALITY IN BLUE” newsletter mailing list because you either signed up for it or otherwise expressed interest in SCQAA-SF.

You will soon be able to read past issues of our "QUALITY IN BLUE" newsletter on our website.

To unsubscribe, send just the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to: scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you want your own free subscription, e-mail to scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com

Would you like to advertise in our "Quality in Blue" newsletter? Contact scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com for details.

We'd love to hear from you. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please help us respond to your requests and input by writing to us at: scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com or visit our Web site: www.scqaa.us and you can contact a Board member.

Privacy policy: We will not distribute your name or e-mail address to anyone, other than for SCQAA or QAI chapter purposes.

Directions to Our Meeting Location in Simi Valley:

You might want to check out driving directions from your starting point on yahoo.com, but here is how you will finish the trip:

Make your way to CA-118 and go to Simi Valley

Exit CA-118 on Madera Road North

Go 0.3 miles then turn right on North Madera Road

Go 0.3 miles to 2900 North Madera Road