Even dot-coms with little tangible equity are concerned about software quality. After all, when a business spends millions to build its brand, it makes sense to invest in reliable, safe and secure software to protect that brand. Brand awareness and consumer confidence are all too easily eroded, and often software problems are to blame. 7 Online music retailer CDUniverse's reputation was damaged when a security flaw in its software was exploited by a hacker who stole 300,000 credit card numbers and published them online, complete with the cardholders' names and addresses. Fortunately, business people understand how to manage risk.
Executives do it every day when they make calculated decisions.
Given the right data about software behavior, managers can control software risk as they would any other business risk. In order to be successful, any software risk management approach must apply an advanced, proven methodology, appropriate technologies, and specialized expertise in software risk identification, mitigation and management. If a software package is essential to your business, either because it is embedded in your products or because your operations platform relies upon it, the risks inherent in flawed software may be unacceptably high. The software reliability issue boils down to determining how much risk your company is willing to accept by counting on a product that includes potentially damaging, even dangerous, software. Put succinctly, the fundamental software question is one of software risk assessment and management.