For further information contact: Steven Russman, 734/930-1925 E-mail: Services@IBSMA.com
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 24, 2010) IBSMA's Executive Director, Steven Russman, is to deliver an update on software asset management (SAM) standards development at a member meeting March 29 in Mountain View, Calif.
IBSMA has done much to support development, raise awareness and promote SAM in the U.S. and Europe. The association launched efforts to promote 19770-1 in the fall of 2005 and soon after initiated work on the predecessors to the 19770-2 and 19770-3 standards. IBSMA published and distributed thousands of copies worldwide of its publication, SAM Standards Explained, and held more than 50 informative sessions at conferences, webinars and business gatherings.
IBSMA recruited hundreds of members from its ranks to contribute to SAM standards development. Many of these individuals, too numerous to list here, continue today as active participants in standards development. Steve Klos of TagVault.org and John Tomeny of Sassafras Software led IBSMA's efforts and later were named conveners of the ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC7 working groups responsible for 19770-2 and 3.
IBSMA is a voting member of U.S. national ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC7 standards body and represents member interests to this group. Today, the association offers education, training and books on 19770-1 and its tools and courseware have been used to conduct upwards of hundreds of 19770-1 assessments.
"IBSMA fully supports the work of the international standards community," says Steven Russman and, "the emergence of TagVault as a certification authority for 19770-2 software identification tags, plus ongoing development of the 19770 series, are all indications of progress. The hard work of developing 19770-2 is done, and I applaud the efforts of the dedicated community of contributors and tireless work of Working Group 21 convener David Bicket."
Adoption of 19770-2 and, when complete, 19770-3, can help transform the way organizations manage software inventory and licensing and lead to new and better tools for software life-cycle management. SAM has come a long way since 2005 and there's much still to be done. Russman states, "It's going to take time for standardized software identification tags to catch on. There are technical, political, financial and organizational obstacles to overcome."
Today, a small community of dedicated experts work to make this dream a reality. Russman believes it's not enough. Corporate buyers of software—for companies large and small around the world—also need to voice their support and tell software companies that standardized software identification and licensing tags are requirements for doing business.
Russman advises software buyers to, "Let your software vendors know why standardized tagging is important. Businesses listen to their customers and software buyers worldwide should speak up."
For those who want more active involvement, join IBSMA's SAM Standards Committee or one of the groups involved in developing and promoting SAM standards. For more information on how to join, visit IBSMA.com.
The March 29 IBSMA member meeting will be held at KPMG LLP's offices in Mountain View, Calif. Cynthia Farren Consulting and Oracle are also presenting. For more information on the event, visit ECPmedia.com/events.html.
About IBSMA The International Business Software Managers Association (IBSMA) is the world's largest nonprofit association of business-focused software management (SAM) professionals working together to develop and promote SAM best practices and address issues of common concern. Visit www.IBSMA.com for details.
