Saquib Yusuf Director BPO / Human Resource Manager
Saquib Yusuf joined the Systems Limited in 1986, initially managing major software development projects for the Government of Pakistan. In various roles, he has pioneered ISO 9000 certification in the Company, established training facilities and managed the administration and human resource functions. Currently, he is the Director Business Process Outsourcing, responsible for the establishment and operation of data centers in Karachi and in Lahore, together employing nearly 400 personnel. He served on the board of the Company for several years and was also on the Board of Management of the Vocational Training Institute, Lahore and a member of the Curriculum Committee of the Punjab Vocational Training Council.
Saquib has an Honours degree from University College London, and before joining Systems Limited he worked with the National Fertiliser Corporation in Pakistan, the Bank of Oman in Dubai and Schlumberger Technical Services in Oman.
An Interview With Saquib Yusuf
CodeWeek: Briefly tell us about you, your family background, your education from beginning to the last highest degree earned?
Saquib Yusuf: I went to school in the UK and graduated with an Honours degree in Statistics and Computer Science from University College London in 1976
CodeWeek: What attracted you to the specific field of Software Development?
Saquib Yusuf: I entered the SW development field quite fortuitously. When I came back to Pakistan after university, I joined the National Fertilizer Corporation’s Planning Department in Lahore and a few months into the assignment the corporation decided to automate some of its systems. I was asked to take the IBM aptitude tests and did quite well and so my software career began! However having entered the domain, I felt that it gave me the opportunity to contribute to the change that was taking place in the manner in which not just the NFC but all organizations carried out their work. Some of the outputs of the software we wrote enabled the organization to improve its efficiency and helped formulate strategy. I then made the decision to continue in this line and moved to the Bank of Oman in Dubai and then Schlumberger in Muscat. At both organizations IT was leading change and providing the management with the tools for informed decision making and future planning.
CodeWeek: What would you tell budding Software enthusiasts as to what is Software Development?
Saquib Yusuf: Software development is creativity bound by process. Software development is the art of analyzing a problem, formulating a repeatable process for resolution of that problems and embedded processes and then having the luxury of moving on from the institutionalization of repetition to applying your mind to an entirely new situation and constructing a new solution. It challenges the mind constantly but also institutes discipline in that the most efficient and worthwhile software is developed according to a rigorous process.
CodeWeek: Tell us about major personal achievements in your life.
Saquib Yusuf : I have been fortunate enough to have been associated with Systems Limited for over 20 years now. Systems Limited is an organization that has pioneered IT in Pakistan and has been the nursery for many of the individuals who now lead other major players in the arena. At the same time Systems Limited has maintained its position in the top tier of IT companies and this has been the result of innovation, adaptation and constant rediscovery and repositioning. It has been an honour to have been associated with this company for so long and to have played a small part in its growth and success.
As a company we have endeavoured to give back to society and some of the most rewarding moments in my career have been though our association with vocational training institutions, and the absorption of the children in these institutions, and other institutions for helping the poorer segments of society, into successful careers at Systems Limited and beyond.
CodeWeek: How would you advise youngsters who wish to join and pursue Software Development as a career?
Saquib Yusuf: There are many stereotypes about people in the SW development profession mostly developed through interaction with the output of Hollywood. In fact Software Developers tend to be stable, educated, professional people, just as others on different career paths.
There are however some demands of the profession that new entrants should be well aware of. Not only because of the demands of the work, but also because increasingly there is a need in the everyday routine to interact with clients and partners and co-workers half way across the world, the work involves some crazy schedules, dealing with unrealistic demands, and coping with one of the fastest changing industries in the world. On the bright side you can expect huge opportunities for growth, beyond average pay, and never a dull moment.
To succeed you will need to know how to fill many roles such as modeling systems, defining standards and mentoring the constant inflow of new colleagues into your teams. You will also need to adapt to the frequent changes necessary in your own learning as new technologies and tools and development environments are the order of the day rather than a once in a while affair.
CodeWeek: What is your broad perception about the Software Engineering community in Pakistan as it stands today?
Saquib Yusuf: It would be difficult to state that a well-organised and defined software community exists in Pakistan today. There is a community in the looser sense of the word as individuals who are in touch with each other directly or through the various social networking sites.
Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (P@SHA) is basically a trade association for the IT industry in Pakistan, with several hundred member organizations, and its activities also foster the sense of community, but there is very little else that could be stated to be promoting a sense of community amongst the members of the profession.
CodeWeek: What would be your advice to the GoP regarding enhancement of the IT Sector?
Saquib Yusuf: I believe that the government has already done a lot for the industry and it is for the industry to bring in the returns. Tax holidays and reduction in rates for bandwidth and communications have helped entrepreneurs. The IT parks that the government continues to sponsor are also useful in attracting new entrants to the sector. The only other and rather major issue is the country image that has taken a severe beating in the last few years, and dampens the prospects for a boom in export led returns. What the government can or cannot do about this is the subject of daily debate but currently there seems to be no clear strategy for rectifying this particular dilemma
CodeWeek: What are critical points for sound Software Development?
Saquib Yusuf: Have a clear understanding of what is expected. Ensure that the client also has the same expectations as you are trying to deliver. Establish a realistic timeframe and attempt to follow, as much as possible, the critical path by proper execution of planning, implementation, testing and deployment phases. Adhere to processes.
CodeWeek: What are major responsibilities of Development Manager or Project Manager heading a Team?
Saquib Yusuf: The development manager has a focus on longer-term objectives. He must constantly evaluate ways to improve the skill set of the group., and ensure that the group is not only up to the tasks at hand but is also prepared for what might be around the corner. Additionally his role is to prioritize multiple, usually conflicting, priorities across software development projects. The development manager also is a motivator for the development team, reminding them of the vision and the broader goals, and emphasizing the value of the work that they are doing.
One other primary concern of the Development Manager is to communicate with the business leadership and adapt software development priorities to match business goals.
CodeWeek: What are your personal professional plans for the immediate future for the next 10 years?
Saquib Yusuf: My personal professional plans are tied in with those of Systems Limited. We are hoping to continue the phenomenal growth that we have experienced over the last several years, in both software and in outsourcing. We expect shortly to enter markets other than North America and these will continue to be challenging times. It is the constant need for innovation and adaptation that make this industry so intriguing and worthwhile for all levels of professionals who work in it.
Tailpiece: Apart from P@SHA, the GoP is playing a very special and significant role through the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) in the promotion of export of Software by providing a ‘One Stop Shop’ for information, guidance about the available opportunities both within and outside Pakistan to all the registered member Software Companies and in turn to all the IT Professionals of Pakistan. Visit: www.pseb.org.pk