SWINNG

Process innovations in the software industry

The software companies within the cluster region have unique competitive and innovative capabilities in relation to corporate software, which are truly unique the world over. Maintaining and extending this key position is one of the objectives of the project "SWINNG – process innovations in the software industry".

In order to achieve this objective, the following aspects are to be developed and tested: (1) new methods for managing innovation processes during software development, (2) innovative business models for the commercial exploitation of software, (3) modern practices for aligning software investments with corporate strategies, and (4) concepts for improving structural frameworks in relation to innovative performance. The procedures are to be used in practice during the actual cluster period and evaluated in living labs – in part to ensure the success of the cluster projects themselves.

The result will be the availability of modern management methods, which will be able to support both current and future developments within companies and corporate networks. This, in turn, is something the entire German software sector will benefit from.

Objectives

Software will remain a key innovation in many sectors. However, the development and marketing of software often fails due to insufficient methodical and economic know-how. Technologically trend-setting products can only reach the market with a delay, with inadequate product quality or with an increased amount of costs. Or they completely miss the mark, as the business model has not been designed correctly.

The agile value adding structures within the corporate software sector requires differentiating business models and processes. The experimental research of software development methods from an economic perspective make the practical benefits more transparent and highlight potential areas of improvement. The utilization of governance standards provides a structured path from the strategic business model to the operation and controlling of IT services.

The constructive examination of business models and processes, systematic innovation management, IT governance standards and the basic conditions for innovation (from the availability of specialists to the transfer of science and technology) are therefore the decisive elements for ensuring the economic success and competitive edge of the cluster. Only this will enable the cluster to maintain and improve its leading role in the area of software development while reducing commercial exploitation risks and establishing attractive working conditions for employees in this sector.

SWINNG

Process innovations in the software industry

Objectives

Participating Software-Cluster partners: