Software Asset Management: Need of the hour
Posted on September 7, 2009
Filed Under Technology | 9 Comments
Software Asset Management is a business practice involving managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, utilization, and disposal of software applications within an organization. Software asset management is one of the facets of a broader business discipline known as IT asset management, which includes overseeing both software and hardware that comprise an organization’s IT platform
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), UK, defines Software asset management as the infrastructure and processes necessary for the effective management, control and protection of the software asset in an organization. The goals of Software asset management are to reduce information technology (IT) costs and limit business and legal risk related to the ownership and use of software, while maximizing IT responsiveness and end-user productivity.
Software asset management serves various functions within organizations, depending on their software portfolios, IT infrastructures, resource availability, and business goals. In many organizations, the goal of implementing a Software asset management program is very tactical in nature, focused specifically on balancing the number of software licenses purchased with the number of actual copies installed.
While doing so, organizations can minimize liabilities associated with software piracy in the event of an audit by a software vendor or a third party such as the Business Software Alliance (BSA). Software asset management, according to this interpretation, involves conducting detailed software inventories on a periodic basis to determine the exact number of software installations, comparing this information with the number of licenses purchased, and establishing controls to ensure that proper licensing practices are maintained on an ongoing basis.
This can easily be accomplished through a combination of IT processes, purchasing policies and procedures, and technology solutions such as software inventory tools. Microsoft maintains a list of Software Asset Management (SAM) providers to help customers manage their software.
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The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management?The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management?
Executive Summary
We design and deliver the systems, software
and services that drive next-generation communications
networks. Backed by Bell Labs
research and development, we use our
strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and
voice networking technologies, as well as
services, to create new revenue-generating
opportunities for our customers, while
enabling them to quickly deploy and better
manage their networks. Our customer base
includes communications service providers,
governments and enterprises worldwide.
We have three segments organized
around the products and services we sell.
The reportable segments are Integrated Network
Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions
(“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services
(“Services”). INS provides a broad range
of software and wireline equipment related
to voice networking (primarily consisting
of switching products, which we sometimes
refer to as convergence solutions, and voice
messaging products), data and network
management (primarily consisting of access
and related data networking equipment
and operating support software) and optical
networking. Mobility provides software and
wireless equipment to support radio access
and core networks. Services provides deployment,
maintenance, professional and managed
services in support of both our product
offerings as well as multi-vendor networks.
Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global
telecommunications market deteriorated,
resulting from a decrease in the competitive
local exchange carrier market and a significant
reduction in capital spending by established
service providers.This trend intensified
during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal
2003. Reasons for the market deterioration
included general economic slowdown, network
overcapacity, customer bankruptcies,
network build-out delays and limited availability
of capital.
We believe that the market for telecommunications
equipment has stabilized
and is starting to grow in certain areas. The
growing demands of enterprises and consumers
for additional services tailored to
their needs is creating the need for a new
convergence of networks, technologies and
applications.
Required
1. Using the Consolidated Balance
Sheets for Lucent Technologies for
September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare
a common-size balance sheet.
2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity
structure of Lucent Technologies, as
well as trends and changes found on
the common-size balance sheet.
3. What concerns would investors and
creditors have based on only this
information?
4. What additional financial and nonfinancial
information would investors
and creditors need to make investing
and lending decisions for Lucent
Technologies?
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in Millions, Except per Share Amounts)
September 30, September 30,
2004 2003
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821
Marketable securities 858 686
Receivables 1,359 1,511
Inventories 822 632
Other current assets 1,813 1,213
Total current assets 8,231 7,863
Marketable securities 636 —
Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593
Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188
Other assets 928 1,608
Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911
Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072
Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080
Debt maturing within one year 1 389
Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393
Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934
Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669
Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494
Long-term debt 4,837 4,439
Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152
Other liabilities 1,132 1,594
Total liabilities 18,342 19,282
Commitments and contingencies
8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868
Shareowners’ Deficit
Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares:
250; issued and outstanding: none — —
Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares:
10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of
September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169
outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42
Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252
Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738)
Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock
and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911
* 1 month ago
About Author
Paul Benjamin is a freelance writer on ecommerce. He has written articles and blogs on eCommerce solutions, CRM applications and Inventory management.
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9 Responses to “Software Asset Management: Need of the hour”
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I've sent the Excel file to the email address you gave me.
I've sent the file to the address you gave me.
I've sent the Excel file to the address you gave me.
I've sent the file to that address you gave me.
I've sent the Excel file to that address you gave me.
Where I work, the Human Resources is at the end of the hiring process. The floor managers choose the candidates after they have been short listed. Then HR does the final background and education checks.
I do agree that many are not up-to-date on the workplace technology but I have also seen many persons with Master's degrees that have less PC skills than a high school graduate taking evening continuing ed. computer classes at a community college part time.
I've sent the Excel file to the email address you gave me.