2024/2025
Software Business Management
Type:
Mago-Lego
Delivered by:
School of Software Engineering
When:
3, 4 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Besides being an engineering discipline, software development is a $300+ billion industry in which software companies strive to be a successful business. Understanding of key aspects of software business is important for building a career in software companies in both management and technology paths. This course provides mostly technology-focused students an overview of the key aspects of software companies business touching such aspects as Product Management, Marketing, Sales, Finance etc. helping them build successful careers.
Learning Objectives
- Besides being an engineering discipline, software development is a $300+ billion industry and any software company is a part of it. Knowledge and skills required for managing a software company or a department within a software company significantly differs from knowledge and skills required for software engineering itself. This course provides mostly technology-focused students with an overview of the key aspects software company business.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Be able to analyze software company operations
- Be able to analyze strategies of software companies
- Be able to apply basic product management techniques including needs definition, roadmapping, features prioritization
- Be able to identify which business models are used by a company
- Know the difference between software and software-driven companies
- Understand Adizes corporate lifecycle model
- Understand different market research techniques: primary/secondary, exploratory/confirmatory
- Understand investment concepts: types of investors, investment stages
- Understand key concepts of product management for startup and established companies
- Understand key concepts of software marketing including technology adoption lifecycle, positioning, buying cycle
- Understand key leadership theories
- Understand key methods of financial management metrics for software companies: MRR, ARR, CAC etc.
- Understand key motivation theories
- Understand knowledge transfer models
- Understand main software sales methods: direct sales, online sales
- Understand modern trends in software development: best of breed vs. integrates solution, platforms
- Understand software business models: professional services, product business models
- Understand team work principles
- Understand typical operations challenges of software companies: cross-departmental collaboration, internal services
- Understand when different sales methods should be applied
Course Contents
- Introduction to the course, foundations of software business
- Business models in software business
- Product management for software products
- Market research and software product marketing
- Software products and solutions selling
- Operations management for software companies
- Financial management for software companies
- People management and leadership for software companies
- Organizational management for software company
- Business strategy for software companies
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Childers, R., & Moore, G. A. (2012). Quicklet on Geoffrey A. Moore’s Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High Tech Products to Mainstream Customers : Key Terms and Definitions. [San Francisco, California?]: Hyperink - Crossing the Chasm Quicklet. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1011706
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Crawford, C. M. (2012). New products management. Slovenia, Europe: Irwin. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.38FAE087