It struck me that the role played by the media in respect of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) is very akin to that of QA.
In software companies QA is part of the organization. It does have visibility into the process being followed. But, as often happens, management pays it lips service while concentrating on somehow "staging the games". When the schedule is under threat QA goes out the window. Being a part of the organization, it would be an extremely dedicated QA which would inform the customer.
On the other hand the media, though a part of the establishment, in India, is independent. Being independent they do not have official visibility into CWG organizing committe's processes. But they have their sources of information. However, no sources are needed when the result of the process is there for all to see. The media just have to report it. Where the result is not plainly visible, as in the case of the games village, it will be seen by the customer - the participating teams.
Did the CWG organizing committee have an internal watch dog? Did they listen when the watch dog barked? They could have had a good external QA if they had allowed the media visibilty into their process. By not having an effective QA the organizing committee did not get the bad news early.
Lesson for Software Companies:
Allow QA full visbility into the process. Get the bad news early. Do not shoot the bearer of bad news. Do not indulge in self-delusion.
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