INFO340 off-the-shelf
Review the criteria for selecting off-the-shelf software presented in this chapter. Use your experience and imagination and describe other criteria that are, or might be used to select off-the-shelf software in the real world. For each new criterion, explain how its use might be functional (i.e., it is useful to use this criterion…), dysfunctional, or both.
Once you have decided to purchase off-the-shelf software rather than write some or all of the software for your new system, how do you decide what to buy? Several criteria need consideration, and special ones may arise with each potential software purchase. For each standard, an explicit comparison should be made between the software package and the process of developing the same application in-house. The most common criteria, highlighted in Figure 2-2, are as follows:
Comparison of Six Different SourcesSotware Components
Producers
When to Go to This Type of Organization for Software
Internal Staffing Requirements
IT services firms
When task requires custom support and system can’t be built internally or system needs to be sourced
Internal staff may be needed, depending on application
Packaged software producers
When supported task is generic
Some IS and user staff to define requirements and evaluate packages
Enterprise solutions vendors
For complete systems that cross functional boundaries
Some internal staff necessary but mostly need consultants
Application service providers and/or managed service providers
For instant access to an application; when supported task is generic (ASP only)
Few; both ASP and MSP free up staff for other IT work
Open-source software
When supported task is generic but cost is an issue
Some IS and user staff to define requirements and evaluate packages
In-house developers
When resources and staff are available and system must be built from scratch
Internal staff necessary though staff size may vary
■ Cost
■ Functionality
■ Vendor support
■ Viability of vendor
■ Flexibility
■ Documentation
■ Response time
■ Ease of installation
■ Cost
■ Functionality
■ Vendor support
■ Viability of vendor
■ Flexibility
■ Documentation
■ Response time
■ Ease of installation
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