VietNamNet Bridge – The difficulties in the workforce, budgets and implementation time have made many software companies become “short of breath” in the race to obtain CMMi (Capability Maturity Model Integration) certificates, while many other enterprises dare not join the project.

Experts have warned that the project on supporting businesses to build up and apply the production procedure, in accordance with CMMi standards worth 60 billion dong may fail to be completed, because to date, after one year of implementation, only 16 businesses have applied CMMi. Meanwhile, the project will terminate in just one more year.

Impossible mission?

There are nearly 1000 enterprises operating in the fields relating to software production and outsourcing. However, only 10 of them have stated they have met the CMMi standards, and two of them have met the CMMi level 5, the highest level.

In 2010, the project on supporting 90 companies to obtain CMMi standards level 3 and higher in 2010-2012 was kicked off. It was estimated that in order to meet CMMi standard, it would cost every enterprise 35,000-50,000 dollars. Every enterprise, which joins the project, can send staff to CMMi training courses, and get the prop-up of 25,000 dollars from the project, of which 15,000 dollars budgeted for building production process in accordance with CMMi, and 10,000 dollars for getting CMMi certificate.

The Ministry of Information and Communication, which chairs the project, hoped to choose 30 companies to give support for CMMi certificate in 2010. However, it could only choose 16.

A source from the ministry said that they have sent 60 documents introducing about the project, but it has received 60 registrations only, and 16 companies have been shortlisted.

The ministry hopes that 14 more enterprises will join the project in 2011. If so, the target of having 90 companies obtaining CMMi certificates by 2012 proves to be out of reach.

Nguyen Trong Duong, Director of the Information Technology Department of the Ministry of Information and Communication, said that enterprises, especially small and medium ones, cannot join the project, even though the state provides financial support, because of the difficulties in the workforce, budget and the implementation time.

Nguyen Thanh Chau, Project Director of ECCI Group, representing the consultancy firm, also said that the biggest problem for enterprises is the lack of qualified staff. i.e that enterprises do not have the officers qualified and experienced enough to join the project. Some other companies have qualified officers, but software outsourcing contracts have gobbled up all the time of the officers.

Enterprises complain that it takes a long time and thorough preparation to obtain CMMi. Therefore, two years prove to be a too short period for them to make preparations. Also, the requirements set on enterprises are too strict, which makes many enterprises unable to join the project.

According to Chau, the fact that enterprises have to spend 50 percent of the total expenses (the state props-up 50 percent), is one of the main reasons which makes enterprises hesitate to join the project, once their financial capability remains limited.

Who needs CMMi certificate?

Experts believe that Vietnam would have 30 enterprises meeting CMMi standards level 3 and higher in the next three years at maximum.

CMMi certification is actually the “visa” for Vietnamese software companies to penetrate the global software production chain.

However, experts say that obtaining the CMMi certificate still depends on the experiences and maturity of enterprises.

Ngo Van Toan, Deputy General Director of Globa Cybersoft Vietnam, said that if the systematic capability of enterprises has not become mature, the quality of their products will not be high, even if the company strives to build up the production process to make it compatible to CMMi.

Besides, he said, CMMi still depends on the willing and the commitments of enterprises’ leaders who decide the budget and the workforce for the project.

Source: TBKTSG