Something About Soft-Ed

• i. Yousuf M Islam had been working as consultant and systems analyst in the market after completing his PhD from Strathclyde University in 1988. During working on a World Bank project, he came across findings that professed 90% of all software projects fail in Bangladesh. This depressing finding challenged him to find ways to solve implementation problems of software projects. To fill the gap, he first took to teaching the subject of Systems Analysis and Design (SAD). On his first major consultancy job (FSRP - USAID) in 1994 he taught 45 people from Bangladesh Bank and the four NCBs (Sonali, Janata, Rupali and Agrani Banks on SAD techniques and PC programming. All five banks now have highly successful PC software departments that till today use the techniques taught.

• ii. Since that time he continued his research into implementation problems and has fathered a ‘live prototyping' technique that he teaches to all his students as Associate Professor. In his classes, he uses ‘active learning' techniques to teach his students as opposed to the familiar ‘passive learning' techniques.

• iii. Following this philosophy he believes that the only way to ultimate success in any software project is to inculcate ‘ownership' on part of the client and empower the client to continue upgrading the software as the organization grows. A classic example in point is the success of Grameen Communications. He started this department as Computer Services Unit (CSU) in 1995 and empowered them to develop and grow. CSU is now one of the largest organizations in terms of data volume handled in Bangladesh. Another example is production of the Annual Development Plan produced in the Planning Commission of Bangladesh Government. This department now runs independently and handles all Government queries themselves.

More about Soft-Ed

• Name: Soft-Ed Limited

• Nature: Private Limited Company
• Date of Registration: August 21st, 1995 (Certificate of Incorporation)
• Joint-Stock registration No: C 29069(357/95)
• Trade License Number: 114442 word no. 49
• Vat Registration No: 9131054474 Area code: 90403