Software in an Age of

June 16, 2010

Software in an Age of “AND not OR”

Vinnie Mirchandani provides software companies tips on how to evolve into a “Renaissance organization” from his upcoming book “The New Polymath.”

By Maryann Jones Thompson, SandHill.com

A look at the most dynamic companies in the business world today — Google, GE, BASF — and reveals a common denominator: none are specialists. All excel in a variety of fields and combine this expertise to innovate new market opportunities and a competitive advantage.

IT and innovation expert Vinnie Mirchandani explores the advantages of these companies in his new book, The New Polymath. The good news? He says all software companies have an opportunity to become Polymaths — or to become valued partners to these leading organizations.

SandHill.com recently caught up with Mirchandani to discuss the themes of the book and his advice for software companies on how to be a part of the Polymath phenomenon.

Software Executive Networking Dinner:
“Achieving Technology Leadership in the Cloud”

Join a select group of your peers for an evening of networking and discussions on “Cloud Implications for ISVs and Software Centric Organizations” taking place Tuesday, June 29 at 6:00pm at Perry's steakhouse in Austin Texas. You’ll get an opportunity to discuss emerging cloud trends with key executives from Dell, Rackspace, Spiceworks and as well as get some valuable takeaways from the “Leaders in the Cloud” report’s authors, M.R. Rangaswami and Kamesh Pemmaraju of Sand Hill Group. Click here to register now. This event is co-sponsored by Ness Technologies.

Ballmer Bye-Bye?

Guy Smith of Silicon Strategies Marketing says it is time for Microsoft’s CEO to step down. Read why in this post to the SandHill.com Blog on megavendors.

10 Tips for Hiring a Senior Exec

Bob Norton of C-Level Enterprises shares best practices for bringing in a new corporate leader in this post to the SandHill.com Blog on software recruiting.

Collaboration in the Cloud: Is the “Collaboration Backbone” the New Lock-In”?

Kamesh Pemmaraju discusses highlights from Enterprise 2.0 Conference’s “Evening in the Cloud” session this post to the SandHill.com Blog on cloud collaboration.

A CEO Transition Story

The head of Juniper Networks discusses his strategy for making the transition into the CEO role. Read more in this article from The McKinsey Quarterly.

Poll: Polymath Power?

Can software companies become Polymaths — or should they?
Take our Pulse Poll >>

The Latest Software Business News on SandHill.com

All Headlines: Saas and its evolving role in enterprise systems.

VC Activity: Silicon Valley’s Kaazing Receives $4,000,000.

M&A Deals: HP to Buy Slim Linus OS From Phoenix.

Executive Moves: Acsis Inc. named Stacy McDowell as Vice President of Worldwide Sales.

Quote of the Week

“With AdviceAmerica’s lightweight CRM product, [Fiserv] now has an entryway into the independent broker-dealer and RIA space that they didn’t have before.”

- Research director at The Tower Group Inc., Sean Cunniff on Fiserv’s acquisiton of AdviceAmerica.

This Week's Sponsor

OpSource delivers a complete Web operations solution for software as a service and web companies. Many of the largest software companies and the most innovative web companies have selected OpSource as their Web operations partner. By doing so, they are able to focus their resources on building on-demand businesses, rather than investing in and managing the complex and costly infrastructure 24x7, staff and services necessary for successful web application delivery. Providing everything but the application itself, OpSource is the only Web operations company whose customers pay only for what they sell, not for the resources they consume. Find out more.

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SandHill.com is published by Sand Hill Group, which provides investment and management advice to emerging leaders in the $600 billion enterprise software, services and solutions market. Sand Hill Group produces the Software and the Enterprise series of conferences for industry executives, and authors research reports on cutting-edge technology topics.

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