[qppo]

A question I like for non-tech businesses is: "do you see this as a software business or transitioning to become one?"

Because these days every business has to be investing into software products, and the ones that don't recognize that the software is key to all their products are the ones that are dead folks walking. They're also great targets for SaaS consultant vultures.

[arexxbifs]

I dearly hope my cast iron skillet will never require a firmware upgrade.

[jedberg]

A company that makes cast iron skillets can still have software as a core part of their business. Logistics, monitoring the manufacturing process, forecasting demand. All of these things can be software that is core to business. Or even more important, having a useful website for selling their products.

[bigiain]

Sure, but Le Creuset will never describe themselves as "a software business"...

(And if they did, I'd immediately be looking for a different cookware supplier.)

[jedberg]

Ah yeah I don't think asking if they are a "software business" is actually a good question.

But I'd still be wary of working for them if their software engineers were in IT.

[bigiain]

On the other hand, would you _ever_ have even _considered_ working for Juicero? <smirk>

[jedberg]

Haha I would not, but that has nothing to do with where their software engineers were classified in their org. ;)

[pjmlp]

This kind of companies don't have software engineers per se, they outsource everything and just keep management around, even IT.

[OJFord]

But it's sold by a company with a website, and if it's in-house, (probably quite a big 'if') its developers probably don't want to be lumped in with its phone line, office PC etc. sysadmins (and I'm sure it's mutual).

I think that's the point. Cookware's just a further-from-tech example of it.

[RHSeeger]

I'd be perfectly happy being lumped in with the Sys Admins. They are, in most companies, the most misunderstood role. There's an expression that basically says "When things are going great, everyone wonders what sysadmin does. When things are going poorly, everyone wonders what sysdamin does". A good sysadmin team is amazing and, in many cases, vital to a successful business.

I think the only other role that gets ignored as much is the Executive Assistant(s). Much like sysadmin, good ones make sure everything runs smoothly, and should be prized like gold.

Being viewed as a value multiplier (like good instances of the above should be) is a fine goal in life.

[OJFord]

I wasn't saying their useless at all, I said the feeling's probably mutual, is just a different role, so if they're lumped together then as you say, at least one has been misunderstood.

[bcrosby95]

I think a better question is: do you consider your software systems a competitive advantage?

[analog31]

This can be carried too far. Every business now has a director or consultant whose job is to chart the company's progress towards becoming a software business. This can have any number of effects:

1. It's not a slam dunk that software development is an asset to a business. Entire books have been written on how to keep software projects from eating your business alive. Many software businesses fail.

2. The hardware people notice that they're being treated as second class citizens, and wander away. Remember, the best leave first, including the people who fully understand how your product works.