A RECENT REPORT INTO NSW HOSPITALS HAS FOUND THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM USED IN 56 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IS PUTTING PATIENT CARE AT RISK. THE SYSTEM OFTEN REQUIRES INPUT OF REDUNDANT INFORMATION, RENDERING IT INEFFICIENT AND NOT SUITED TO THE BUSINESS OF SAVING PEOPLE’S LIVES. THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CONCEPT OF ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL WHEN IT COMES TO SOFTWARE IS NOT IDEAL IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHERE PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
“Delivering software that makes the lives of its users better is just like an art. It requires collaboration, commitment, elaboration and re-work,” commented Kareem Tawansi, CEO of software development provider, Solentive Software.
“The challenge with using a packaged piece of software as a foundation for customisation is akin to renovating a building that must match your exact needs. If the foundation is not ideal, the building will never be.
“The notion of ‘best practice’ often runs contrary to continuous improvement and does not always cater for different nuances in individual situations such as region, demographics, age ranges and the like,” explained Kareem.
“Having delivered numerous custom software applications in my career, it is very clear to me that all stakeholders involved need to be engaged. Failed software implementation often alienates the user community and is reflective of a more old-world Waterfall delivery approach. This is why the Agile Methodology has gained popularity and why slowly, more and more organisations have begun to realise its benefits and are using it as the basis for developing software,” concluded Kareem.