InnovationLab, appointed by the Meraka Institute, has developed the South African National Software Development Capability Initiative Survey.
The online survey gives software developers and users the opportunity to reveal their knowledge and experience in research and development of free and open source software in government policy and strategy.
According to Dr Anthon Botha, InnovationLab executive director, it is consulting with experts in the IT industry as well as the government, which has partnered with InnovationLab to run the survey. International developments in the field will also be taken into consideration when compiling the final results of the survey.
The initiative is run in conjunction with the South African Department of Science and Technology.
In the questionnaire, software developers are asked questions on the types of software they develop, the processes and technologies they use, and asked to identify the problems and opportunities they face in the local software market. This will create an open source knowledge base to learn from past strategies and build on software concepts.
"In this way, it's hoped to build national software development competence while encouraging local software innovation," says Botha.
InnovationLab will provide feedback to developers on software development trends revealed by the survey.
Herman Tulleken, computer engineer from InnovationLab, says: "Answers to the survey questions will inform a skills roadmap and plan, which will ultimately shape the way the government will address the key goals of the National Software Development Initiative."
Participants must register their name and details, and will be given a confidential password to log onto the questionnaire.
The survey must be completed by 12 September.
Register at Meraka Software Survey, phone Herman Tulleken on (012) 844-0475, or e-mail herman@innovationlab.co.za.
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