Murali Krishna Chemuturi Interview
Murali Krishna Chemuturi, an author, consultant, and expert in software development, industrial engineering, and spirituality. With a background in engineering and management, He dedicated his career in software development including project management, successful delivery, and quality assurance. His contribution includes development of new measures Software Size Units (SSU), Software Test Units (STU), Composite Customer Satisfaction Rating (CCSR) using internal data and Composite Product Quality Rating (CPQR), which have helped organizations enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Beyond technology, he has a deep passion for spirituality and ancient scriptures. He has translated the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, and other Hindu texts into English, making them more accessible to a global audience. He also shares spiritual knowledge through free video lectures on YouTube.
He authored 9 published books in information technology and 2 books on management, which are used as “prescribed reading” at postgraduate level on over 60 countries worldwide. His contribution was recognized by inducting him into the Hall of Fame of IT Excellence by the computer Society of India in 2016, Outstanding Industrial Engineer in 2012, Life Time Achievement Award in 2023 and Lillian Gilbreth Award in 2024.
We (The World Times) spoke with him (Murali Krishna Chemuturi (MC)) about his life and contributions. Here are the excerpts.
From Rural Roots to Global Recognition
We started the interview by asking, “Thanks for speaking to us. You have had an achievement-filled life. Can you tell us about your early life?”
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “Thanks for speaking to me. I was born in a tiny village that did not even have a high school in the rural area of the state of Andhra Pradesh of India. I was the middle child in a family of six. My father was a farmer who tilled a small 5-acre land and barely made the ends meet. So I had to finish education with a diploma in electrical engineering and took up a job in Electronics Corporation of India Limited as an engineering assistant. I took up evening classes to complete a degree in Industrial Engineering, a post-graduate diploma in Computer Programming and the postgraduate degree in the Master of Business Administration.”
Innovating Without Boundaries
The Worlds Times: You had some groundbreaking contributions to the field of software development. How could you accomplish that given that you did not have any formal background in research?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “The discipline of Industrial Engineering inculcates the habit of looking for possible improvements in your area of work. It became my second nature. I was always thinking “how can I improve this and deliver faster and better results at a lesser cost?” It became my second nature. This had made me look for better methods and techniques that led my developing some new methodologies and measures.”
Innovative Software Methodologies
The Worlds Times: Can you tell us about the new methodologies you developed?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “I developed a new methodology for measuring customer satisfaction. The practice in the software development industry was to send out a CSR (Customer Satisfaction Survey) after a project was completed and obtain the customer’s satisfaction with our execution. While an executive interacting with the project team fills it out, the real customers are the end users. The issues of the completed work would not come out upon delivery but they would come out after putting the product to use. The ratings on the CSR depend on the relationship between the project manager and the customer rep. This CSR gives the management how the customer representative was managed than how well we executed the job. So, I developed a metric using the quality, schedule, cooperation, cost escalation and issue resolution. This was well received by the industry and I was invited by the UKSMA (UK Software Metrics Association) to present this in their annual conference and I presented it. I made available a paper and a software tool free of cost from my webs site to anybody desirous of using it. Another methodology I developed was for measuring the quality of a delivered software product in the similar manner.”
Revolutionizing Software Measurement
The Worlds Times: Can you tell us about the software size units you developed?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “Industrial Engineering stands on two pillars, namely, method study and work measurement. Software development is considered a creative and complex job and its cost estimation was paradoxical. There is always a conflict between the vendors and the principals. The most popular software size measure is Function Points developed in the IBM. It suffers from using a notional complexity factor which is in fact a guess-timate. Secondly nobody measures anything using “points”. Enzymes are measured in “Units” but not in points. A point has no magnitude or vector! So, I developed a software size measure SSU (Software Size Units). I also developed a methodology Task-based Estimation without using software size but using the activities performed in the development useful especially for software maintenance projects. Then Software Testing projects have become common place. I developed STU (Software Test Units) to measure the software testing project size and cost based on few factors. I made available a paper and a free software tool to use it effectively.”
Transforming Software Development
The Worlds Times: How have you impacted the software industry with your methodologies?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “My work has transformed software development by emphasizing quantitative measurement, efficiency, and cost reduction. I openly challenged the industry’s inefficiencies, arguing that software projects were often mismanaged, leading to unnecessary expenses and poor-quality outcomes. My methodologies introduced structured ways to measure software quality and productivity, helping organizations optimize resources and improve overall performance. My advocacy for the division of labor in software development encouraged a more streamlined and specialized approach, reducing project timelines and improving output quality. My research and books, published by Springer Science+Business, CRC Press, and J. Ross Publishing, have been widely recognized as essential resources for IT professionals. My influence extends beyond theoretical concepts—my frameworks have been practically applied by organizations worldwide to enhance software project efficiency. My ideas have positioned me as a thought leader in the field, much like Ralph Nader was for the automotive industry.”
Murali Krishna Chemuturi’s Notable Books
The Worlds Times: What are some of the notable books authored by you?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “I have authored 7 books, covering software development, management, 2 books on management and 6 books on spirituality. One of my most influential works is “Mastering Software Quality Assurance, Best Practices, Tools & Techniques” for ensuring quality in the developed software, a book “Mastering Software Estimation Best Practices, Tools and Techniques which provides detailed methodologies for predicting software project costs and timelines. Another significant book, “Mastering Software Project Management”, co-authored with Thomas M. Cagley Jr., is a go-to resource for managing software projects effectively. I also wrote “Personality Engineering”, offering a unique approach to personal growth and self-improvement. Beyond technical writing, I have contributed to spirituality by translating Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Rudra Geetha, Garuda Puraana, Shanthi Parva, Anushaashana Parva from Sanskrit into English, making these ancient scriptures more accessible to modern readers. My works have been published by leading publishers in the United States and have been widely cited in academic and industry research. My books are known for their practical insights and real-world applications, making them invaluable for both professionals and scholars.”
Honors and Accolades
The Worlds Times: What recognition and awards have you received for your contributions?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “My extensive contributions to software development and industrial engineering have earned me numerous prestigious awards. In 2016, I was inducted into the Hall of Fame for IT Innovation and Excellence by the Computer Society of India, recognizing my groundbreaking work in software measurement and project management. I was also awarded the Outstanding Industrial Engineer Award in 2012 by the Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering for my impact on efficiency and quality in IT. Additionally, I became a Senior Member of the IEEE (2010) and the Computer Society of India (1998). More recently, I was honored with the Life Time Achievement Award in 2023 at Taj Dubai and received the Lillian Gilbreth Award in 2024 for my contributions to industrial engineering. My influence in the field is further validated by over 400 citations on Google Scholar, demonstrating the lasting impact of my research and methodologies.”
Bringing Ancient Wisdom to the Modern World
The Worlds Times: How have you contributed to the spiritual world?
Murali Krishna Chemuturi replied, “Beyond my contributions to software engineering, I have made a significant impact on the spiritual world by translating and interpreting ancient Hindu scriptures. My notable works include the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Rudra Geetha, Shanthi Parva, Anushaashana Parva, and Garuda Purana, where I have provided in-depth explanations to help readers understand the meaning and philosophy behind these texts while adhering to the original in toto. I have also recited and explained several other Hindu scriptures, including Manu Smriti, Uddhava Gita, and Uma Maheshwara Samvaadam, making them available as free video lectures on YouTube. I also recited the entire 650 chapters of Raamayana, 350 chapters of Bhagavatha Maha Puraana in Sanskrit and uploaded them on to YouTube for any interested listeners. My dedication to preserving and sharing Hindu wisdom has made these sacred texts more accessible to modern audiences, particularly those who may struggle with the original Sanskrit. Through my translations, recitations, and explanations, I have helped bridge the gap between ancient knowledge and contemporary understanding, allowing people around the world to explore and appreciate Hindu spiritual teachings.”
Life after Achievements
Lastly we asked, “How are you spending your time now?”
“I shifted to USA in December 2018 to spend time with my grandchildren. Here too I engage in some activity or the other is it technical or spiritual. I provide guidance to youngsters in the matters of spirituality or technology. I also read extensively in both the fields. Even though I am physically in USA, my heart and soul live in Bharat, the sacred land of my ancestors and real spirituality.” Murali Krishna Chemuturi Concluded
Read more about Murali Krishna Chemuturi on his Wikipedia page
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