A Bill Of Rights For The Digital AgeA Bill Of Rights For The Digital Age

IT buyers are mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore. That's why a group of CIOs, along with AMR Research and vendors such as Oracle and PeopleSoft, have penned the Software Bill of Rights, a document that outlines buyers' expectations. "There's a high level of frustration over software quality," AMR Research fellow Bob Parker says. As much as half of software costs result from ongoing maintenance and integration, AMR says. If IT departments could simplify those tasks and cut associated costs, companies could increase profits or invest in new areas, Parker adds.

The bill, which will be released this week, stipulates that buyers have the right to expect a quality product, accurate delivery schedules, explicit pricing, development accountability, and effective support. The document has no enforcement provisions, but it's a good first step in getting key industry players to agree to some ground rules in the buyer-seller relationship.