The Software Industry needs employees who:

1. Can manage knowledge and information, as well as tasks and things. Software is a knowledge-based industry, as opposed to a product-based industry.
2. Can identify and manage interrelationships between many different component parts. Software development is not a linear process.
3. Are willing to be flexible and creative as they face new challenges. Software products are constantly changing to meet changes in the global marketplace.
4. Can operate effectively in a team environment. Taking a product from concept to the customer requires intense interrelationships between many individuals of diverse expertise.
5. Enjoy the process of learning and thrive on intellectual challenges. The software industry is constantly creating new products and pushing up against technological barriers.
6. Have versatile skills, can perform more than one job function, and are able to accomodate a changing work environment. Software companies start small, then grow in size as they find markets and become successful. This evolution is vital to our industry.

--The Washington Software Alliance