SOFTWARE LICENSE OPTIMIZATION

A more cost effective way to manage the availability of software licenses (a nd associated software) while addressing the needs of users of the software is provided by way of a method, system and program product. Instructions are provided in comput er readable program code means for a computer system for managing and deploying a plurality of software with a plurality of associated licenses in the computer system. In operation, software allocation workflow requests are obtained from a requester for a target server referencing specific software and then redirected to a license broker. The license broker determines availability of the plurality of associated licenses referenced i n the request and provisions the target server with said plurality of software. The requester of software allocation is then notified of the results. The workflow need not be concern ed with monitoring resource status and providing requester feedback. Provisioning is handled on a just in time basis by the license broker as requested by the workflow making necessary licenses available (and software) only on as needed basis.