In a new project, there are always going to be challenges and delays, and when the end date is looming, you may be tempted to rush through the contracting and procurement process. But that can have dire consequences down the line if roles, responsibilities, and expectations aren't clear. Take the time to communicate.

Thanks to the development of cloud architecture away from a server-client pattern, those in the software industry will be able to embrace heterogenous cloud services that can only run when needed. Consequently, we are due for a cloud renaissance. Here are some predictions for what the future holds for cloud computing.

The first step in any significant software procurement is to assure there is a clear definition of the business problem being solved. If you don’t know what you want, you aren’t prepared to negotiate for it, so you'll end up with a system or tool that isn't what you need—and you'll likely be disappointed at delivery.