IBM's Software Group VP Meg Selfe talks about how software is the "invisible thread" of today’s product and service innovation. A new generation of "smarter" products — embedded with increasingly sophisticated software -- is able to connect to other devices and respond intelligently to user needs and is transforming the way the world works. These products are the building blocks of smarter solutions in every industry, from hospitals to manufacturing to the energy grid. Managing the invisible thread of software and systems that makes these smarter products possible requires an unprecedented level of coordination among the companies, partners and customers who design, deliver and manage them.