Software as a Corporate Asset

In recent years software has so pervaded the internal and external systems in organisations that it is now considered a vital asset without which the organisation may not survive. The impact of software must be taken into account in the successful implementation of significant developments in the organisation - new product or service launch, organisational change, re-engineering of the business processes, expansion or contraction in the size of the enterprise, change in direction of the business.

	software is being used as a key agent in bringing about change
	software is being used as a key means of communication in organisations, especially at a time of change
	software reuse is a growing aspect of the industry
The effects of failure of software in an organisation may have far reaching implications. The rating of software for evaluation includes major economic effect such as business failure, major social upheaval, major environmental damage, and injury or loss of life. Many changes to software involving a significant investment are carried out as a re-engineering exercise. Each addresses one or more of the software product quality characteristics and is carried out using a re-engineering paradigm.