Is there ever a time when hiring an outside senior executive for a short-term assignment in a software or hardware company is the right thing to do? If you’re based in the US, the most typical response from tech company boards and senior leadership to using Interim Management seems to be NO. Obviously, there are […]
Selling SaaS through the VAR Channel
The move toward Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) has been the strongest trend in the software business in recent memory. It changed the software business model in several fundamental ways. For this article, I will assume the reader has a basic understanding of the SaaS business model. I’m also assuming a basic understanding of what a Value Added […]
Integrating Sales & Marketing at Software and Hardware Companies
In some, but not all, tech companies the Sales and Marketing functions are managed separately. They are separate, but closely related functions that some people without a strong background in either function tend to confuse. Normally, a VP or Director is heading up the Marketing department, and another VP or Director leading the Sales staff. […]
Integrating the Marketing and Engineering Functions at Technology Companies
In most tech companies, Product Marketing and Product Development/Software Development/Engineering are managed separately. There is usually one VP over the Product Development function and another VP over the overall marketing function. This usually (but not always) includes both current product management/marketing and future product planning. This is certainly an appropriate way to organize a software […]
Channel Conflict
In my consulting practice I do a lot of work with software and hardware companies in area of channel development. One of the hardest things to manage while growing a channel business is the inevitable conflict between all the players throughout your various distribution methods, including your direct sales force. Of course, my colleagues in […]
