Microsoft is adding a feature to its controversial software asset management (SAM) program that it claims will benefit corporate IT users by giving them a scorecard for evaluating their internal asset management processes.

The SAM Optimization Model, which is being announced at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston this week, is a free tool that can be used by corporate customers or by value-added resellers and other Microsoft business partners. Companies undergoing an evaluation — always performed internally or by partners, never by Microsoft directly — are given a rating for their SAM efforts on a four-stage scale, from Basic for worst to Dynamic for best.

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