Three types of software:
- Academic / Research (Abaqus, Mathworks, ESRI etc.)
- Administrative / Desktop (Microsoft Office, Filemaker, Adobe
Acrobat etc.)
- Operating Systems (Mac OS, Windows, Linux etc.)
Three main services provided:
- Acquisition / Renewals
- Distribution / Ordering
- Communication / Support
Acquisition / Renewals
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Inquiries or demand for new software may come from within IS&T or from
larger community. Acquisition and renewals typically done by Software
Acquisition Coordinator in conjunction with stakeholders, sponsors,
IS&T financial staff and Procurement.
- We assess viability of taking on product (do we add value?) and put
business plan together with other stakeholders.
- We negotiate the contract (may involve General Counsel) and
negotiate business terms and pricing.
- We may explore several funding models - central funding by IS&T,
cost sharing with other departments, charging per transaction.
- A product should be in demand by more than 1 dept. before we pursue.
- We sometimes act as broker / aggregator when several depts want to
combine forces to purchase a site or volume license.
- If we do chargebacks to depts., amount we charge is always lower
than what the dept. would pay on its own.
- Overall cost to MIT is always lower than it would be if dept.s
purchased separately.
- We negotiate contracts and pricing for purchases out of other IS&T
groups - e.g., Oracle for OIS and SAIS.
- We process maintenance renewals, which may involve new contract or
price negotiation.
Distribution / Ordering
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Distribution method is often determined based on the terms of our
agreements with vendors, and what the vendor is willing to offer.
Distribution is primarily done by the Service Desk (former VSLS group)
and by FSX (former Academic Computing Group) - often in conjunction
with OIS.
- We put software up for download on software grid.
- Work with OIS and ISDA (former Software Release) to build and
support download sites.
- We provide portal for customers to download software directly from
vendor sites.
- Create custom installers (with vendor)
- We duplicate media.
- We set up floating / concurrent license servers.
- Perform "middleman" functions between customer and vendor, e.g.,
validate users as active staff or students and distribute activation
keys.
- We set up order forms and maintain customer / product information.
- We process orders and bill customers.
- Administer Microsoft Volume License Site
Communication / Support
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- We maintain software product web pages
- We answer customer questions such as "Does MIT have a site license
for...?"
- We provide or direct customers to software technical support
providers (e.g., vendor, MIT expert)
-We provide training on specific applications