Software manager

Software managers oversee the acquisition and development of software systems in order to provide support to all organisational units. They also monitor the results and quality of the different software solutions and projects implemented in the organisation.

Includes people performing managerial activities.
Excludes people performing programming and coding activities.

The following job titles also refer to software manager:

software applications manager
applications manager
ICT applications manager
software managers
soft manager

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as software manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Software manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to software manager.

ICT consultant
ICT research manager
ICT project manager
ICT quality assurance manager
ICT system administrator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of software manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of software manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of software manager.

Systems development life-cycle: The sequence of steps, such as planning, creating, testing and deploying and the models for the development and life-cycle management of a system.
Organisational policies: The policies to achieve set of goals and targets regarding the development and maintenance of an organisation.
Unified modelling language: The general-purpose modelling language used in software development to offer a standard visualisation of system designs.
Ict project management: The methodologies for the planning, implementation, review and follow-up of ICT projects, such as the development, integration, modification and sales of ICT products and services, as well as projects relating technological innovation in the field of ICT.
Data storage: The physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet or cloud.
Ict project management methodologies: The methodologies or models for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals, such methodologies are Waterfall, Incremental, V-Model, Scrum or Agile and using project management ICT tools.
Quality assurance methodologies: Quality assurance principles, standard requirements, and the set of processes and activities used for measuring, controlling and ensuring the quality of products and processes.
Software metrics: The metrics that measure a characteristic of the software system in order to determine the development of the software and evaluate it.

These skills are necessary for the role of software manager.

Apply system organisational policies: Implement internal policies related to the development, internal and external usage of technological systems, such as software systems, network systems and telecommunications systems, in order to achieve a set of goals and targets regarding the efficient operations and growth of an organisation.
Execute analytical mathematical calculations: Apply mathematical methods and make use of calculation technologies in order to perform analyses and devise solutions to specific problems.
Create software design: Transpose a series of requirements into a clear and organised software design.
Manage ict project: Plan, organize, control and document procedures and resources, such as human capital, equipment and mastery, in order to achieve specific goals and objectives related to ICT systems, services or products, within specific constraints, such as scope, time, quality and budget.
Manage business knowledge: Set up structures and distribution policies to enable or improve information exploitation using appropriate tools to extract, create and expand business mastery.
Use ict ticketing system: Utilise a specialised system to track registration, processing and resolution of issues in an organisation by assigning each of these issues a ticket, registering inputs from involved persons, tracking changes and displaying the status of the ticket, until it is completed.
Monitor technology trends: Survey and investigate recent trends and developments in technology. Observe and anticipate their evolution, according to current or future market and business conditions.
Apply ict system usage policies: Follow written and ethical laws and policies regarding proper ICT system usage and administration.
Manage data: Administer all types of data resources through their lifecycle by performing data profiling, parsing, standardisation, identity resolution, cleansing, enhancement and auditing. Ensure the data is fit for purpose, using specialised ICT tools to fulfil the data quality criteria.
Evaluate cost of software products: Apply methods and techniques to estimate and evaluate the cost of software products during their life-cycle phases, including development and acquisition costs, cost of maintenance, incorporated cost of quality – compliance and non-compliance associated costs.
Ensure adherence to organisational ict standards: Guarantee that the state of events is in accordance with the ICT rules and procedures described by an organisation for their products, services and solutions.
Analyse software specifications: Assess the specifications of a software product or system to be developed by identifying functional and non-functional requirements, constraints and possible sets of use cases which illustrate interactions between the software and its users.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of software manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Agile project management: The agile project management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.
Windows phone: The system software Windows Phone consists of features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems designed to run on mobile devices.
Mobile operating systems: The features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems designed to run on mobile devices, such as Android or iOS.
Blackberry: The system software BlackBerry consists of features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems designed to run on mobile devices.
Ict system user requirements: The process intended to match user and organisation’s needs with system components and services, by taking into consideration the available technologies and the techniques required to elicit and specify requirements, interrogating users to establish symptoms of problem and analysing symptoms.
Ios: The system software iOS consists of features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems designed to run on mobile devices.
Process-based management: The process-based management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.
Android (mobile operating systems): The system software Android consists of features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems designed to run on mobile devices.
Lean project management: The lean project management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of software manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Coach employees: Maintain and improve employees’ performance by coaching individuals or groups how to optimise specific methods, skills or abilities, using adapted coaching styles and methods. Tutor newly recruited employees and assist them in the learning of new business systems.
Manage schedule of tasks: Maintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.
Apply conflict management: Take ownership of the handling of all complaints and disputes showing empathy and understanding to achieve resolution. To be fully aware of all Social Responsibility protocols and procedures, and to be able to deal with a problem gambling situation in a professional manner with maturity and empathy.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Provide user documentation: Develop and organise the distribution of structured documents to assist people using a particular product or system, such as written or visual information about an application system and how to use it.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Manage tender processes: Organise the process of writing and designing proposals or bids for tenders.
Utilise methodologies for user centered design: Use design methodologies in which the needs, wishes and limitations of end users of a product, service or process are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process.
Interact with users to gather requirements: Communicate with users to identify their requirements and collect them. Define all relevant user requirements and document them in an understandable and logical way for further analysis and specification.
Manage software localisation: Organise the transfer process of a certain software from one localisation to another, in order to expand the number of users, by modifying content through the use of an user interface translation, while taking into consideration the properties of the future country the software will be introduced into.
Analyse ict technical proposals: Compare and assess technical requirements of an ICT product, service or solution in terms of quality, costs and compliance to specifications
Give live presentation: Deliver a speech or talk in which a new product, service, idea, or piece of work is demonstrated and explained to an audience.
Monitor ict research: Survey and investigate recent trends and developments in ICT research. Observe and anticipate mastery evolution.
Identify ict user needs: Determine the needs and requirements of ICT users of a specific system by applying analytical methods, such as target group analysis.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
Negotiate buying conditions: Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.

1330 – Information and communications technology service managers

 

 

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References

1. Software manager – ESCO