The Software Business OpenCourseWare: A Free Graduate Study Course by MIT on Software Entrepreneurship

Published Jan 23, 2009

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Explore the software industry in this free online OpenCourseWare from MIT. In 'The Software Business,' students will learn about the unique challenges of running a software company in an era of fast-paced technological development. This graduate-level course is intended for students interested in Business, Computer Science, Entrepreneurship and other related fields.

The Software Business: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Graduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

The Software Business: Course Description

In an environment where rapid technological development can make it impossible to plan more than a year ahead, managing a technology company presents many unique challenges. MIT's 'The Software Business' OpenCourseWare introduces students to the business and marketing strategies employed by successful software companies. The course begins by using technology giant IBM as a case study to examine the history of how software development became a business, from early software services to the open source movement. This is followed by a discussion of Microsoft and the strategies and organization that led to the successful growth of one of the world's largest software companies. The course emphasizes that a software company's two most important assets are its products and the people who develop them. This course is recommended both for software business professionals and for companies that rely heavily on the use of business software, such as e-commerce or industrial applications. Professor Michael Cusumano from the Sloan School of Business at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology teaches this graduate-level course.

A list of suggested readings, lecture notes and assignments are made available for download. If you're interested in taking this free online course, visit the software industry course page.

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