As if the software industry was short of three-letter acronyms, a new one has emerged in recent years that acts as a catch-all for all sorts of software development methodologies and styles: application lifecycle management (ALM). With the argument that growing levels of software development complexity - combined with external pressures and more distributed teams - mean a more rigorous and planned approach to software development is needed, ALM is now hotter than a car bonnet on a very hot day.

Meanwhile, services oriented architecture (SOA) remains as big as it ever was. While the implications of a more loosely-coupled approach to software development are many, analysts would be quick to point out that SOA is not confined to application development: it talks to business process design, management and deployment; the organisation, behaviour and cultures of both IT and business people; and can even act as a bridge between business and IT.