This IDC update summarizes key findings of the IDC Software Leadership Council (SLC) spring 2007 meeting. This meeting was attended by 20 senior professionals with strategy responsibility for their respective organizations. The main theme for the event was "understanding emerging methods to acquire business process." While software as a service (SaaS) firms and market opportunity are gathering a great deal of industry attention, SLC members believe a more profound shift is under way as new business models emerge to address the needs of customers seeking innovative methods to acquire business process. Members sought to better understand the nature of innovation and consolidation cycles in light of some of these important trends.