Logical Friction : Some Lessons from the Automotive Industry to the Software Industry

Even a perfectly manufactured vehicle requires periodic maintenance in order to function properly throughout its life cycle. Software also requires periodic maintenance to function as expected. The absence of maintenance against wear-and-tear (mechanical or logical) eventually breaks down any system. Logical and mechanical frictions are not identical; yet their effects are the same. Logical maintenance is as important to software as mechanical maintenance is to machines. The availability, quality, and cost of software maintenance should be considered during the purchase decision and included as part of the total cost of acquisition