This article focuses on the significance of benchmarking European software management practices. According to the author, the strategic importance of software has long been understood by practitioners and policy makers all over the world. Software in modern times, forms the backbone of various industries like banking, airlines and publishing. Moreover, software has come up for a long time now, as an increasingly important value-adding component of most consumer products, including television, cameras, cars and mobile phones. In view of the recurrent problems in software development, a significant effort has been invested over the last decade in developing models and identifying practices that can lead to more effective software management. Keeping the same purpose in mind, European Software Institute, established by leading European companies, initiated multiple pan-European surveys on European software management practices. But findings of surveys seem to be dubious as many organizations may have adopted certain practices on paper, other than the ones they actually practice. INSET: How the Survey Was Done..