Analysis of the Role of e-Business in the Emerging Software Component Markets

Reuse of standard software components is a contemporary trend not only in the software industry, but also in many other industries that make use of software in their systems and products. For example, modern automation, telecommunication and electronics products are based heavily on software. A software component can be defined as a piece of reusable and independent computer program that is accessible through specified interfaces [e.g. Szyperski 1997]. Due to their reusable and independent nature, software components are expected to make software development more effective by offering cost and time savings and quality improvements.