IT managers with a desire to understand software testing can quickly become overwhelmed by the various types of testing, all seeming equally important. However, when attempting to improve the functional quality of software, only six primary goals need to be met. To meet these goals, six basic types of testing can cover the gamut and effectively contribute to application quality.

Software configuration management (SCM) is a necessity for any enterprise engaging in software development. Understand the six key activities of configuration management and determine whether or not development teams need to revise their processes.

Effective change management has an important role in protecting the business operation. The path to successful IT change management begins with senior management support and a solid process based on ITIL best practices.

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is growing in popularity among IT leaders. However, many IT leaders don’t truly understand ITIL basics. Those new to ITIL must establish specific goals for ITIL prior to initiation.

Projects, through development or procurement, create a software asset that must be maintained. Enterprises spend 50 to 80% of the development budget maintaining existing software. While costs per application vary, an application is often two to four times more expensive to maintain over its lifetime than the initial development costs.

Some open-source software configuration management (SCM) tools are as good as their commercial counterparts – without the licensing fees. Use this Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) comparison tool to capably determine the cost difference between the two licensing options.

Enterprises are completely reliant on software to enable their core business processing. While software maintenance is often associated with larger enterprises, in fact no enterprise – big or small – can afford to ignore it. Maintenance is often the largest part of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for a software application.

Prioritization of maintenance requests is a critical aspect of managing the maintenance budget. The ITA Premium "Software Maintenance Request Prioritization Worksheet" provides a standard and consistent method for setting the priority of enhancement requests to ensure IT application maintenance efforts and budget are put to the best use.

IT teams looking to improve software configuration management processes should standardize on an appropriate software solution. Assess platform needs, development approach, and geographic distribution to choose the tool that best meets the organization’s needs.

During procurement, evaluate application vendors on a variety of disruption risks to identify problems that, while easy to spot, might otherwise be missed. Up-front risk awareness provides important input to the selection process. Scouting vendors first will better prepare the organization for unpleasant surprises.

An enterprise looking to invest in a comprehensive Software Configuration Management (SCM) solution should follow a formal RFP process. Employ this SCM Solution RFP Template to save time and ensure that all key areas are addressed.

Many enterprises find themselves having to streamline a very large IT applications portfolio because of application redundancy, application aging, and unnecessary complexity. Use this tool to put the right applications out to pasture and maximize the value of the application portfolio.

Many enterprises find themselves having to streamline a very large IT applications portfolio because of application redundancy, application aging, and unnecessary complexity. Use a three-phase approach to application retirement to put the right applications out to pasture and maximize the value of the application portfolio.

As part of the ongoing vendor management process, IT professionals should monitor the business and application health of vendors. Use this tool to detect increased risks before they materialize into negative events.

Develop vendor risk profiles to anticipate disruption proactively, and have an action plan ready with application alternatives for the various disruptive scenarios that can occur.

Effective change management has an important role in protecting the business operation of the enterprise. The path to successful IT change management begins with senior management support and a solid change management policy. Use this template to define a consistent approach to manage changes to the IT environment of your enterprise.

The Change Master Log provides visibility to key stakeholders on the status of ongoing changes to IT applications (or infrastructure). Ideally, the Change Master Log should be part of an automated configuration/change management or IT service desk solution. If such a solution does not exist, employ this template.

Network infrastructures must consistently deliver reliable, quality services to enterprise users. To achieve this, application developers must work closely with the network team to verify that the network quality of service (QoS) and an application’s required performance metrics are in sync. Cross-functional teams should be formed and assigned this task.

The Forward Schedule of Changes (FSC) is the document that contains the list of approved changes and proposed implementation dates for IT applications. Ideally, the FSC should be part of an automated configuration/change management or IT service desk solution. If such a solution does not exist, employ this FSC template.

Changes to IT applications (or infrastructure) must be managed properly to avoid disrupting the normal operation of the company. Use this tool to assess and enhance the maturity of your current IT change management process.

The creation of a request for change (RFC) form for the enterprise can be a time consuming and daunting task. Save time by customizing this form to the context of your enterprise.

IT managers that are unhappy with the often excessive money they are paying for software Maintenance and Support (M&S) can replace their apps vendor with a third-party provider. When third-party M&S is the right fit for the enterprise, it can lead to savings of 50% or more.

Although copyright infringement in the form of software piracy is an enterprise-wide concern, IT is on the hook to ensure that software is properly managed and fully compliant with licensing agreements. When auditors come knocking on the door, IT’s problems instantly become much worse. This Management & Staffing research note discusses methods for surviving a software audit.