How leading companies practice software development and delivery to achieve a competitive edge

Purpose – Increasingly companies recognize that effective and rapid software development – from ideation to delivery – is crucial to achieving competitiveness. This article looks at how leading companies are establishing an enterprise capability for accelerated software delivery to differentiate themselves in the market. Design/methodology/approach – This research looks at how leading software organizations focus on software investments that efficiently and speedily deliver marketplace results. Findings – Successful companies build comprehensive skills in Agile and lean software development methods and for fostering extensive collaboration among business users, IT professionals and customers throughout the software development and delivery lifecycle. Practical implications – Advanced organizations are more likely to apply more mature development practices, such as service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Agile iterative development methods. Originality/value – Advanced organizations collaborate much more with customers and business partners to improve software development outcomes.