Ict Topics

PROPOSED MBA RESEARCH TOPICS
SOFTWARE ANALYSIS
BUSINESS DECISION IMPACT ON PEAK FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

CONTACT INFORMATION
Primary Contact:

Dawn Simon
Director, Co-Manager
Equity Technology Team
Merrill Lynch Investment Managers
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Secondary Contact:
Martin Seyffert
Research Associate
Equity Technology Team
Merrill Lynch Investment Managers
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION
We specialize in technology equity portfolio management. As a subset of this work, we also examine the timing and relationships within software companies of the following variables:

1) R&D cycle;
2) product deployment period;
3) sales cycle;
4) contract duration; and
5) "disposable life" of software.

Our assumptions may, or may not, be valid. Our assumptions are as follows:
The technology industry is in a state of flux with the duration of the above listed items completely mismatched within companies. The mismatched time horizons are causing more volatile stocks, stemming in part from, less stable financial performance for software companies. We believe that faster development cycles and Internet-based distribution channels have accelerated parts of the business, while R&D cycles and contract duration have not yet been adjusted - or even recognized as an issue within many companies.

Below are the specific areas we would like to have addressed in an MBA research project:

POTENTIAL RESEARCH TOPIC #1
Does rapid implementation and niche software solutions lead to accelerated market penetration and faster "time to peak" revenue performance for today's young software companies?

HERE IS OUR PREMISE
It is our contention that investors are constantly "looking for the next Microsoft" by chasing rapidly growing new technology companies. What investors may have overlooked is that software has become more