[warwickphil]

Hi,

I'm newly registered on these forums, and I'm hoping that someone can help me out. I think this is a fairly basic question.

I'm doing a final year university module, and I'm speaking about how the supply chain for IT software has changed in the last few years (ie. companies like Microsoft now allow applications inc. windows to be downloaded direct from their website).

What I'm trying to figure out, though, is what is the traditional supply chain in the software industry?

I figure it's something like:
Programmer > Tester > CD manufacturer > Distributer > Retailer > Consumer

but I'm really just basing that on an assumption. If there is a diagram or something that someone has, then that would be massively useful.

I have obviously spent quite a bit of time googling this, but it is a tricky search due to the amount of 'supply chain management software' on the market!

Thank you for any advice,
Phil

[Bubba]

LOL with Vista I think the chain went more like:

Monkey with a keyboard (programmer)> Manufacturer>Distributor> Retailer> Tester (IE Consumer).......

[Hybr!d]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain

[warwickphil]

I have a pretty thorough understanding of supply chains, I just need to know what the process is in software.

What effect do you think Electronic Software Fulfillment (ie downloading direct from company website) is having on the actual programming teams? Increased profits? Faster response times in certain areas?

[Hybr!d]

Aside from the basics it probably differs company to company.

[4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie]

Originally Posted by warwickphil

I have a pretty thorough understanding of supply chains, I just need to know what the process is in software.

What effect do you think Electronic Software Fulfillment (ie downloading direct from company website) is having on the actual programming teams? Increased profits? Faster response times in certain areas?

Faster response for sure. As for their profits I doubt it makes any different - or, that is I don't think it'd overall make any difference to number of sales, but then I doubt they're paid per unit sold. I can't see there'd be a correlation at all between programmers profits and whether or not the software is distributed online.