Internet: a strategic tool for the software enterprise

Thl, articlr mark\ the begming of n new Commw~ro~~onr column rhat will f&us “n the exploration and discussi”n of currrnt issues, trends, and best practicrs within the software enterprise. The term software enterprise refers to all aspects of a software “rgani~ation-including R&D, s&s and marketing, product maintenance and support, business planning, managmmt, and LO forth. This column will have a distinctly industrial flair, with a primal-y emphasis on the c”“cer”s of the COnlmerCial sotiwarc enterprise. Karher than c”ncentratr “11 programming and implementation issues, this c”lumn will look more broadly at issues facing the software enterprise at large from a practical, industrial perspective. Of all the topics we could cover I” this initial column, nothing seemed m”rr timely than a discussion of the Internet and the opportunities and challenges it presents t” the software e,Xel-prlSe.