Toyota's Software Glitches: 2005 and 2010. Lack of IT Governance?
Posted by Jeff Papows on Thu, Feb 04, 2010 @ 09:53 AM
I can't imagine being in Toyota's shoes right now as journalists, customers and consumer advocates are demanding more information as to how exactly they built and shipped so many cars with faulty brakes.
This PR nightmare will continue for quite a while and Toyota's ability to recapture what was once a very strong brand is questionable. There have already been some discussions as to whether they should change their name.
While the details continue to be rolled out, I have to wonder how that software glitch got into the system in the first place.
According to Toyota, the company changed its braking system software in January as part of what it called "constant quality improvements." Company officials are describing the problem as a 'disconnect' in the vehicle's complex anti-lock brake system (ABS) that causes less than a one-second lag. Now one second may not seem like a lot of time to you. However, if you're driving 60 miles per hour, it will be about 90 feet or so before the brakes take hold.
Now you know where I stand on the importance of IT governance. I'm also not going to pretend to know the specifics of the Toyota situation beyond what you've likely read. However, the issue does call into question the broader issue of IT governance and the level that is applied in the software development process at Toyota.
This is not the first time that Toyota has been hung up by a software glitch. In 2005, CNet reported that a software glitch was affecting the performance of the Prius. At that time, Toyota asked 75,000 owners of Prius hybrids to have the vehicle's software checked. Apparently, a software glitch causes the warning light to come on for no reason and in some cases shut down the gas engine.
This story will continue to unravel in the coming days and weeks though perhaps we shouldn't isolate Toyota as glitches are ubiquitous. It's the lack of IT governance that may make the difference in the way that the public views and consumes your product.