Systems Acquisition Process Acquiring software The Business Perspective Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Introduction In the previous presentation we considered the grow your own approach Now we consider the issues of obtaining software from others Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Why? Possible situations: –Limited IS staff –IS staff has limited skill set –IS staff is overworked –Problems with performance of IS staff When this is the case, there are two options: –External acquisition of a prepackaged system –Outsourcing systems development Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Process Similar to the software development process in its initial stages Typically use these step: Systems planning and selection Systems analysis –In order to buy something you must know exactly what is needed Development of a request for proposal (RFP) Proposal evaluation Vendor selection Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Request For Proposal Needs A summary of existing systems and applications Requirements for system performance and features Reliability, backup, and service requirements The criteria that will be used to evaluate proposals Timetable and budget constraints Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Evaluation of RFP Evaluation should include: –Viewing system demonstrations –Evaluating system performance –Judging how system lives up to important criteria Use of system benchmarks –Benchmarks estimates the performance of the system in several realistic scenarios –These should be developed by the buyer Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Selecting the Vendor Often multiple feasible solutions Prioritize or rank competing proposals Weighted scoring system works well for this Other approaches include –Simple checklists –Subjective processes Once vendor is selected, external acquisition is almost complete –Integrating it into enterprise remains Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

The License Varying degrees of restrictiveness or freedom Types of licenses –Shrink-wrap or click-wrap licenses Typical for off-the-shelf and system software –Enterprise or volume licenses Usually negotiated Software asset management –Performing a software inventory –Could be part of an Enterprise Architecture operation Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill

Finally In general acquiring COTS is less expensive It is more likely that this will cause the enterprise to do the task the way the software expects and not the reverse This task should not be entered unless there is a confidence that everyone does a similar process Copyright © 2016 Curt Hill