Once the likes of IBM, CA and Oracle take over a market leader, the level of innovation drops to a standstill (IBM to acquire Cognos for $4.9bn, www.computing.co.uk/2203235).

The little guys, still run by an enthusiastic owner, keep innovating and providing value added service. In three years’ time firms will be leaving the likes of Cognos, just as they left and are leaving Lotus, Rational and all the others.

Greg Soulsby