Someyy issuesyy toyy consideryy whenyy decidingyy betweenyy buildingyy inyy houseyy
softwareyy oryy purchaseyy commercialyy off-the-shelfyy softwareyy (COTS)yy isyy cost,yy
customizationyy needs,yy andyy time.yy COTSyy canyy beyy ayy quickeryy andyy moreyy cost-
effectiveyy solutionyy thanyy buildingyy in-houseyy software,yy butyy thereyy isyy lessyy abilityyy
toyy customizeyy toyy exactlyyy whatyy youyy wantyy fromyy theyy software.yy Whenyy
decidingyy whetheryy toyy purchaseyy COTSyy oryy buildyy in-houseyy software,yy companiesyy
alsoyy needyy toyy consideryy ifyy theyyy haveyy theyy resourcesyy toyy properlyyy developyy
andyy supportyy theyy software,yy oryy ifyy theyyy canyy beyy betteryy servedyy usingyy pre-
developedyy andyy testedyy software.yy Howyy muchyy controlyy isyy neededyy overyy theyy
functionalityyy ofyy theyy software,yy andyy howyy muchyy theyy initialyy costyy ofyy
developingyy vsyy longyy termyy costyy ofyy maintainingyy areyy twoyy ofyy theyy biggestyy
factorsyy inyy myyy opinion.yy In-houseyy softwareyy willyy carryyy ayy greateryy upfrontyy
investment,yy asyy ityy takesyy timeyy andyy resourcesyy toyy developyy andyy testyy theyy
software.yy Whileyy COTSyy mayyy endyy upyy costingyy moreyy inyy theyy longyy term,yy
withyy theyy upfrontyy costyy ofyy theyy softwareyy andyy possibleyy licensingyy feesyy thatyy
follow.yy Whenyy decidingyy toyy purchaseyy commercialyy off-the-shelfyy softwareyy (COTS)yy
oryy developyy softwareyy in-house,yy manyyy factorsyy needyy toyy beyy considered,yy
includingyy customizationyy needs,yy cost,yy expertise,yy andyy time.yy Ityy hasyy beenyy
foundyy thatyy developingyy softwareyy in-houseyy canyy beyy time-consumingyy andyy
expensive,yy butyy ityy helpsyy toyy controlyy andyy offeryy customizationyy optionsyy overyy
theyy finalyy product.yy Onyy theyy contrary,yy purchasingyy COTSyy softwareyy canyy beyy
ayy quickeryy andyy moreyy cost-effectiveyy optionyy toyy implement,yy butyy ityy mayyy notyy
helpyy toyy achieveyy theyy specificyy requirementsyy ofyy theyy organizations.yy
Whenyy decidingyy toyy purchaseyy ayy COTSyy applicationyy oryy buildyy in-houseyy byyy
evaluatingyy differentyy COTSyy applications,yy ityy isyy crucialyy toyy focusyy onyy certainyy
criteria,yy including;yy integration,yy security,yy support,yy functionality,yy andyy
customization.yy Thereyy isyy ayy needyy toyy askyy –yy Isyy thereyy ayy customizationyy
optionyy foryy theyy COTSyy applicationyy toyy fityy theyy specificyy needsyy ofyy theyy
organization?yy Doesyy theyy COTSyy applicationyy ableyy toyy achieveyy theyy requirementsyy
ofyy allyy organizations?yy Doesyy theyy COTSyy applicationyy ableyy toyy achieveyy theyy
securityyy requirementsyy ofyy theyy organizations?yy Doesyy theyy vendoryy offeryy ayy highyy
levelyy ofyy technicalyy support?yy Willyy theyy COTSyy applicationyy integrateyy withyy
differentyy existingyy systemsyy oryy software?yy Theyy decisionyy toyy purchaseyy ayy COTSyy
applicationyy oryy buildyy ityy in-houseyy shouldyy beyy madeyy inyy termsyy ofyy ayy thoroughyy
evaluationyy ofyy theyy availableyy resources,yy budget,yy andyy requirementsyy ofyy theyy
organization.yy Here,yy conductingyy ayy cost-benefityy analysisyy canyy beyy effectiveyy inyy
comparingyy theyy benefitsyy andyy costsyy ofyy eachyy optionyy andyy ayy teamyy withyy
relevantyy experienceyy inyy procurementyy andyy softwareyy developmentyy mustyy beyy
consideredyy toyy makeyy anyy informedyy decision.yy Someyy issuesyy toyy consideryy whenyy
decidingyy toyy eitheryy buildyy inyy houseyy softwareyy oryy purchaseyy commercialyy offyy
theyy shelfyy softwareyy isyy budget,yy time,yy expertiseyy levelyy andyy customizationyy /yy
control.yy Whenyy consideringyy inyy houseyy software,yy ityy canyy endyy upyy beingyy moreyy
expensiveyy becauseyy youyy haveyy toyy payyy theyy teamyy designingyy theyy softwareyy
versusyy ayy one-timeyy costyy ofyy commercialyy offyy theyy shelfyy software.yy Ityy willyy
alsoyy beyy moreyy timeyy consumingyy toyy haveyy ayy teamyy takeyy theyy timeyy toyy buildyy
anyy inyy houseyy software.yy So,yy ifyy youyy areyy lookingyy foryy lowestyy costyy andyy
quickestyy timeyy thenyy youyy areyy goingyy toyy wantyy toyy goyy withyy COTS,yy howeveryy
someyy thingsyy toyy consideryy are:yy willyy ityy growyy withyy youryy businessyy needs,yy
willyy thereyy beyy softwareyy updateyy issues,yy howyy longyy andyy howyy interruptiveyy
willyy theyy updatesyy be?yy .Takingyy allyy thingsyy intoyy consideration,yy ifyy ayy businessyy
couldyy affordyy toyy buildyy inyy houseyy softwareyy Iyy wouldyy definitelyyy goyy withyy
that.yy Ityy allowsyy foryy businessyy customizationyy andyy ityy canyy growyy withyy theyy
businessyy needs.yy Althoughyy theyy costyy willyy beyy higheryy initially,yy longyy termyy
costyy wouldyy beyy loweryy becauseyy youyy wouldyy avoidyy anyyy subscriptionyy costsyy
thatyy mayyy beyy associatedyy withyy COTS.yy Theyy issuesyy thatyy ayy businessyy shouldyy
consideryy theyy mostyy whenyy determiningyy toyy buildyy softwareyy oryy purchaseyy
commercial-off-the-shelf-softwareyy isyy budgetyy andyy expertise.yy Ityy isyy importantyy toyy
reviewyy allyy theyy detailsyy ofyy ayy COTSyy provideryy soyy thatyy onceyy it'syy integratedyy
ityy doesn'tyy createyy issuesyy withyy theyy currentyy system;yy ifyy problemsyy ariseyy withyy
systemyy compatibilityyy ityy couldyy beyy costlyyy toyy resolve.yy Budgetyy tiesyy inyy withyy
ayy business'syy abilityyy toyy supportyy ayy skilledyy ITyy team.yy Relyingyy onyy in-houseyy
ITyy professionalsyy thatyy areyy notyy specificallyyy specializedyy toyy buildyy softwareyy
customizedyy toyy theyy systemyy couldyy resultyy inyy configurationyy issuesyy thatyy willyy
impactyy theyy business.Iyy wouldyy firstyy evaluateyy theyy fundsyy availableyy foryy thisyy
projectyy nextyy isyy toyy reviewyy theyy businessyy goals;yy whatyy theyy businessyy expectsyy
andyy intendsyy toyy achieveyy withyy theyy newyy software.yy Anotheryy significantyy
criterionyy toyy exploreyy isyy theyy currentyy system,yy wouldyy ityy beyy moreyy difficultyy
toyy designyy inyy houseyy oryy easieryy toyy outsourceyy softwareyy basedyy onyy theyy
detailsyy ofyy theyy currentyy system.Iyy wouldyy chooseyy COTSyy ifyy theyy businessyy
can'tyy supportyy ayy teamyy toyy buildyy softwareyy andyy doesn'tyy requireyy muchyy
customization.yy Otherwiseyy buildingyy softwareyy inyy houseyy wouldyy beyy theyy bestyy
option,yy becauseyy theyy businessyy canyy makeyy sureyy thatyy theyy softwareyy willyy beyy
fullyyy customizedyy toyy theyy currentyy system.yy Whenyy ityy comesyy toyy choosingyy toyy
buildyy youryy ownyy personalyy software,yy oryy toyy useyy commercialyy software,yy thereyy
canyy definitelyyy beyy ayy lotyy ofyy prosyy andyy consyy toyy eachyy side.yy Onyy oneyy
hand,yy oneyy ofyy theyy greatyy advantagesyy isyy customization.yy Becauseyy you’reyy
buildingyy theyy softwareyy you’reyy ableyy toyy makeyy ityy howeveryy youyy wantyy andyy
you’reyy ableyy toyy getyy theyy exactyy ideayy thatyy you’reyy thinkingyy ofyy whenyy
workingyy withyy theyy developers.yy Oneyy ofyy theyy issues,yy however,yy isyy basedyy onyy
youryy ownyy codingyy abilitiesyy isyy goingyy toyy limityy howyy practicalyy oryy effectiveyy
ityy mayyy beyy foryy security.yy Onyy theyy otheryy hand,yy ifyy youyy purchaseyy ayy
commerciallyyy madeyy application,yy thenyy you’reyy goingyy toyy haveyy theyy advantagesyy
ofyy havingyy ayy presumablyyy betteryy securityyy system.yy Whenyy majoryy companiesyy
rollyy outyy largeyy scaleyy applicationsyy ityy hasyy normallyyy beenyy testedyy severalyy
timesyy toyy makeyy sureyy thatyy theiryy areyy asyy leastyy amountyy ofyy vulnerabilitiesyy
asyy possible.yy Howeveryy youyy doyy haveyy toyy workyy withyy whateveryy GUIyy theyyy
giveyy youyy andyy giveyy upyy theyy customizationyy flexibilityyy thatyy youyy would’veyy
hadyy ifyy youyy hadyy builtyy ityy yourself.yy Iyy personallyyy wouldyy goyy withyy oneyy
thatyy wasyy madeyy byyy largeyy companyyy onlyyy becauseyy youyy canyy transferyy liability,yy
ifyy somethingyy badyy happens,yy toyy theyy manufactureryy becauseyy it’syy theiryy productyy
andyy you'reyy normallyyy justyy usingyy ayy licenseyy for.yy Whenyy consideringyy homeyy
buildingyy softwareyy oryy acquiringyy theyy rackyy softwareyy business,yy anyy associationyy
mustyy takeyy intoyy accountyy systemyy requestsyy andyy associationyy requests.yy Anyy
organizationyy mustyy examineyy whetheryy anyy activityyy requiresyy tailoredyy assistanceyy
andyy whetheryy theyy programyy canyy beyy developedyy internally.yy Theyy clientyy willyy
analyzeyy whetheryy theyy approvedyy orderyy isyy nonexclusiveyy andyy whetheryy theyy
programyy requiredyy foryy ayy cross-functionalyy businessyy requirementyy isyy appropriate.yy
Inyy addition,yy ifyy traditionalyy andyy immediateyy accessyy isyy neededyy foryy theyy
supportedyy assignment,yy minimumyy ITyy personnelyy areyy required.yy Theyy associationyy
alsoyy needsyy toyy determineyy ifyy theyy entireyy costsyy areyy ayy concern.yy Inyy addition,yy
theyy associationyy willyy determineyy whetheryy theyy systemyy neededyy isyy subjectyy toyy
specificyy requirementsyy thatyy areyy notyy accessibleyy inyy currentyy systemsyy andyy hasyy
theyy properties,yy andyy theyy personnelyy andyy canyy produceyy theyy systemyy withoutyy
planning.yy Theyy associationyy hasyy toyy determineyy whereyy ayy systemyy canyy beyy
obtainedyy followingyy anyy examinationyy ofyy theyy accessibleyy alternatives.Inyy orderyy
toyy achieveyy anyy association'syy system,yy theyy servicesyy providers,yy packagedyy softwareyy
suppliers,yy consultants,yy distributors,yy open-sourceyy software,yy oryy in-houseyy engineersyy
mustyy scan.yy Theyy companyyy ofyy rackyy softwareyy (COTS)yy isyy theyy subjectyy ofyy
mostyy associations.yy Price,yy availability,yy selleryy support,yy merchantyy reasonability,yy
adaptability,yy documentation,yy reactionyy time,yy andyy easeyy ofyy installationyy areyy theyy
requirementsyy toyy decideyy onyy theyy bestyy COTS.yy Theyy costyy ofyy creatingyy anyy
optimalyy structureyy isyy important.yy Ayy companyyy hasyy toyy thinkyy aboutyy theyy wholeyy
licensingyy andyy revisionyy costs.yy Featureyy refersyy toyy theyy system'syy highlightsyy toyy
executeyy theyy requiredyy basicyy andyy mandatoryyy undertakings.yy Ifyy theyy programyy
isyy re-appropriated,yy merchantyy assistanceyy isyy crucial.yy Thisyy includesyy installation,yy
training,yy staff,yy andyy afteryy installationyy continuousyy support.yy Theyy profitabilityyy
ofyy merchantsyy shouldyy beyy takenyy intoyy accountyy onyy theyy groundsyy thatyy smallyy
companiesyy andyy businessyy visionariesyy produceyy ayy creativeyy vastyy amountyy ofyy
softwareyy andyy applicationsyy foryy theyy techyy industry.yy Ayy companyyy shouldyy beyy
awareyy ofyy ayy certainyy seller'syy continuedyy support.yy Adaptabilityyy isyy importantyy
toyy ayy programyy asyy ityy definesyy theyy suitabilityyy andyy versatilityyy ofyy theyy
organization.yy Documentationyy consistsyy ofyy manualsyy andyy technicalyy archivesyy
whichyy areyy hardyy toyy followyy byyy theyy workersyy ofyy theyy association.yy Reactionyy
timeyy refersyy toyy theyy timeyy requiredyy toyy reactyy toyy ayy customer'syy request.yy
Finally,yy theyy simplicityyy ofyy installationyy makesyy theyy softwareyy difficultyy toyy
operate.yy Thisyy baseyy needsyy toyy beyy assessedyy urgentlyyy inyy orderyy toyy giveyy theyy
companyyy ayy seriousyy edgeyy overyy rackyy software.yy Iyy doyy apologizeyy aboutyy theyy
lateryy entryyy here,yy Iyy hadyy ayy roommateyy issueyy andyy isyy nowyy sortedyy outyy asyy
inyy theyyy willyy beyy removedyy fromyy theyy property.yy Anyways,yy toyy theyy
discussion.Buildingyy inyy houseyy softwareyy vs,yy usingyy softwareyy thatyy wasyy madeyy
byyy ayy softwareyy makeryy already,yy isyy notyy alwaysyy badyy atyy weighingyy outyy whatyy
toyy do.yy Let’syy startyy byyy lookingyy atyy theyy buildingyy youryy ownyy software,yy ityy
wouldyy beyy ayy goodyy ideayy toyy buildyy youryy ownyy softwareyy withinyy ayy companyyy
ifyy youyy needyy likeyy ayy POSyy system,yy dependingyy onyy youryy abilities,yy youyy mayyy
oryy mayyy notyy beyy ableyy toyy actuallyyy haveyy ayy credityy cardyy processingyy system,yy
oryy mayyy endyy upyy withyy ayy preexistingyy pieceyy ofyy software.yy Nowyy lookingyy atyy
usingyy premadeyy software,yy thereyy mayyy beyy ayy softwareyy outyy thereyy thatyy mayyy
workyy wellyy withyy youryy applicationyy butyy mayyy needyy toyy payyy ayy monthlyyy dueyy
toyy useyy theyy software,yy oryy youyy mayyy haveyy toyy purchaseyy ayy fullyy versionyy
foryy eachyy computeryy thatyy willyy haveyy theyy softwareyy onyy it.yy Thisyy wouldyy beyy
theyy downsideyy toyy usingyy prebuiltyy software,yy becauseyy thereyy isyy alwaysyy ayy
cost,yy thereyy isyy notyy reallyyy anyy open-sourceyy marketyy anymore,yy sinceyy everyoneyy
figuresyy justyy liftingyy thereyy fingeryy evenyy onceyy isyy worthyy ayy dollar.
Whatyy Iyy wouldyy do,yy isyy Iyy wouldyy personallyyy developyy myyy ownyy in-houseyy
software,yy thenyy useyy ayy credityy cardyy processingyy softwareyy andyy integrateyy ityy inyy
withyy myyy POSyy system.yy Theyy criteriayy toyy keepyy theyy longyy termyy costyy lowyy
isyy theyy goalyy andyy theyy immediateyy costyy mayyy beyy ayy littleyy upyy there,yy butyy
thatyy isyy onlyyy temporary.yy Thatyy isyy toyy buildyy andyy developyy theyy software.
Personallyyy Iyy wouldyy ratheryy buildyy thanyy useyy premade,yy buildingyy youryy ownyy
makesyy ityy easieryy toyy notyy payyy foryy subscriptionsyy oryy otheryy piecesyy ofyy
software.yy Iyy believeyy thereyy areyy ayy fewyy issuesyy toyy consideryy whenyy decidingyy
toyy buildyy ayy in-houseyy software.yy Theyy issuesyy beingyy mainlyyy controlyy andyy cost.yy
Theyy ultimateyy aimyy isyy toyy makeyy theyy costyy asyy smallyy asyy possibleyy byyy
providingyy highyy control.yy Ifyy ityy isyy foryy ayy internalyy reasonyy thenyy theyy in-houseyy
buildyy softwareyy isyy theyy bestyy dueyy toyy theyy amountyy toyy beyy spentyy onyy ayy
particularyy projectyy beingyy knownyy inyy advance.yy Implementationyy timeyy willyy alsoyy
beyy loweryy foryy thisyy kindyy ofyy software.yy Theyy mainyy concernyy withyy thisyy isyy
theyy requirementyy ofyy veryyy goodyy developersyy whoyy don'tyy comeyy atyy ayy cheaperyy
rate.yy Ayy COTSyy productyy isyy generallyyy ayy softwareyy oryy hardwareyy productyy
specifiedyy foryy ayy particularyy useyy toyy people.yy Theseyy areyy developedyy foryy
immediateyy use.yy Foryy theyy purposeyy ofyy betteryy functionality,yy allyy theyy smallyy
scaleyy productsyy areyy groupedyy asyy ayy biggeryy one.yy Theyy variousyy strategiesyy toyy
consideryy whileyy purchasingyy ayy COTSyy applicationyy areyy Integrationyy issuesyy
,vendoryy support,yy compatibilityyy issues,yy functionalyy requirementsyy andyy qualityyy
levelyy ofyy theyy applicationyy becauseyy theyyy provideyy ayy overallyy outlookyy ofyy theyy
developedyy andyy finishedyy application.yy Iyy thinkyy ofyy courseyy thereyy areyy ayy lotyy
ofyy thingsyy toyy consideryy whenyy tryingyy toyy decideyy whichyy wayyy toyy go.yy Theyy
mainyy onesyy areyy timeyy andyy money.yy Ifyy weyy areyy inyy ayy timeyy crunchyy maybeyy
weyy chooseyy toyy goyy withyy ayy commercialyy productyy andyy hopeyy thatyy ityy fitsyy
withoutyy havingyy toyy tweakyy ityy voidingyy anyyy supportyy youyy mayyy needyy downyy
theyy line.yy Iyy believeyy moneyyy inyy theyy senseyy thatyy ifyy youyy goyy oneyy wayyy
overyy theyy otheryy ityy costsyy more.yy Buildingyy youryy ownyy seemsyy likeyy ityy wouldyy
costyy moreyy butyy isyy thatyy justyy anyy upfrontyy costyy thatyy paysyy offyy moreyy withyy
time?yy Isyy thisyy ayy smallyy companyyy thatyy maybeyy wantsyy itsyy ownyy teamyy toyy
buildyy theyy knowledgeyy ityy takesyy toyy createyy andyy maintainyy it.yy Oryy isyy ityy ayy
companyyy thatyy hasyy ayy highyy turnoveryy andyy needsyy thisyy systemyy inyy placeyy asyy
soonyy asyy possible?yy Iyy personallyyy wouldyy goyy withyy buildingyy ityy myselfyy toyy
haveyy andyy retainyy thatyy knowledgeyy butyy againyy whatyy ifyy ityy failsyy andyy youyy
couldyy haveyy gottenyy ityy rightyy outyy ofyy theyy boxyy andyy hadyy everythingyy workyy
aroundyy ityy insteadyy ofyy theyy otheryy wayyy around.yy Whenyy tryingyy toyy determineyy
whetheryy toyy utilizeyy purchasedyy COTSyy oryy buildyy in-house,yy thereyy areyy ofyy
courseyy theyy costsyy toyy compareyy andyy consider.yy Theyy otheryy thingsyy needingyy toyy
beyy takenyy intoyy accountyy wouldyy beyy time,yy resources,yy theyy organization'syy needs,yy
andyy theyy abilityyy toyy rideyy outyy theyy inevitableyy wavesyy whenyy ityy allyy launches.yy
Byyy time,yy Iyy meanyy theyy organizationyy needsyy toyy eitheryy decideyy toyy takeyy ayy
longeryy timeyy toyy developyy in-house,yy oryy goyy theyy fasteryy routeyy withyy COTS.yy
Resourcesyy refersyy toyy whetheryy theyy organizationyy happensyy toyy haveyy someyy
talentedyy ITyy onyy boardyy toyy developyy oryy ifyy they'reyy lackingyy andyy needyy toyy
hireyy outyy foryy suchyy things.yy Thenyy thereyy areyy theyy needsyy toyy consider;yy ifyy
theyy organizationyy hasyy long-termyy complexyy goalsyy inyy mind,yy anyy in-houseyy
systemyy mayyy beyy ayy saferyy investment,yy whereasyy theyy simpleryy businessesyy canyy
beyy veryyy successfulyy usingyy COTS.yy Inyy eitheryy case,yy thereyy areyy goingyy toyy beyy
growingyy painsyy andyy asyy someyy ofyy usyy learnedyy inyy securityyy systemsyy classes;yy
theyy organizationyy needsyy toyy haveyy theyy abilityyy financiallyyy andyy systemicallyyy
toyy functionyy regardlessyy ofyy theyy newyy developingyy systems.yy Weyy shouldyy lookyy
atyy someyy prosyy inyy consyy whenyy ityy comesyy toyy buildingyy softwareyy inyy comparisonyy
toyy buyingyy commercial-off-the-shelfyy (COTS)yy software.yy Whenyy decidingyy toyy goyy
inyy house?yy You'reyy gonnayy haveyy toyy spendyy ayy lotyy ofyy moneyyy andyy timeyy
andyy care,yy seeingyy thatyy everythingyy isyy doneyy correctlyyy andyy efficiently.yy
Accordingyy toyy Mendix,yy "companiesyy haveyy typicallyyy lookedyy towardyy buyingyy
commercial-off-the-shelfyy (COTS)yy softwareyy overyy theyy pastyy 20-plusyy years."
Butyy isyy ityy theyy rightyy decisionyy foryy you?yy
Wellyy toyy many,yy ityy makesyy senseyy toyy goyy theyy COTSyy route.yy
Benefitsyy ofyy COTS:yy
• It'syy readilyyy availableyy (productyy alreadyyy built)
• Highyy valueyy foryy solvingyy simpleyy solutions
• Loweryy initialyy investmentyy
Consyy ofyy buyingyy COTS:
• Frequentyy potentialyy delaysyy inyy softwareyy updates
• Extensiveyy customizationsyy foryy ITyy integration
• Difficultyyy inyy adaptingyy ityy toyy youryy business'syy changingyy needs.
Factorsyy ofyy choosingyy COTS:yy
• Needingyy predictableyy cost
• Needingyy anyy immediateyy softwareyy solution
Iyy wouldyy probablyyy goyy theyy COTSyy route.yy Theyy reasonyy whyyy isyy thatyy withyy
theyy increaseyy inyy difficultyyy inyy fillingyy softwareyy developeryy rolesyy (80yy daysyy
toyy fillyy inyy comparisonyy toyy 42yy daysyy foryy non-developeryy roles),yy Iyy can'tyy waityy
thatyy longyy toyy haveyy ayy systemyy upyy andyy running.yy Duringyy theyy designyy phase,yy
ityy isyy importantyy toyy consideryy theyy acquisitionyy strategiesyy foryy theyy system.yy
Eachyy acquisitionyy strategyyy hasyy itsyy advantagesyy andyy disadvantages.yy Buildingyy
theyy softwareyy inyy houseyy offersyy theyy benefityy ofyy designingyy theyy softwareyy
exactlyyy howyy youyy want,yy ityy canyy alsoyy helpyy toyy giveyy theyy inyy houseyy
programmersyy moreyy experience.yy Onyy theyy contrary,yy thisyy approachyy canyy beyy
timeyy consuming,yy ityy canyy alsoyy beyy expensive,yy oryy theyy projectyy mayyy beyy
outsideyy ofyy theyy scopeyy ofyy whatyy theyy inyy houseyy teamyy isyy familiaryy with.yy
Withyy commercialyy ofyy theyy shelfyy products,yy theyy businessyy willyy getyy theyy
advantageyy ofyy havingyy anyy alreadyyy knownyy andyy vettedyy product,yy thisyy willyy
alsoyy translateyy toyy moreyy savingsyy foryy theyy businessyy andyy asyy wellyy asyy time.yy
Theyy contrastyy toyy thisyy approachyy isyy thatyy theyy companyyy willyy beyy forcedyy toyy
relyyy onyy supportyy fromyy theyy vendor,yy andyy thisyy productyy mightyy notyy fityy asyy
seamlesslyyy asyy needed,yy althoughyy thereyy mayyy beyy limitedyy customizationyy availableyy
foryy theyy product.yy Ifyy Iyy wereyy askedyy toyy evaluateyy betweenyy choosingyy ayy
COTSyy oryy developingyy in-house,yy Iyy wouldyy takeyy intoyy considerationyy theyy timeyy
alottedyy foryy theyy project,yy theyy cost,yy customization,yy andyy howyy ifyy developedyy
inyy house,yy theyy skillsyy thatyy couldyy beyy acquiredyy andyy honed.yy Whenyy decidingyy
toyy buildyy softwareyy in-houseyy oryy toyy purchaseyy COTS,yy thereyy areyy severalyy
issuesyy thatyy shouldyy beyy considered.yy Firstly,yy buildingyy softwareyy in-houseyy
involvesyy ayy certainyy levelyy ofyy expertiseyy andyy resources.yy Anyy organizationyy
shouldyy haveyy theyy necessaryyy skills,yy capacity,yy andyy fundsyy toyy maintainyy theyy
softwareyy andyy itsyy updates.yy Onyy theyy otheryy hand,yy purchasingyy COTSyy softwareyy
requiresyy one-timeyy paymentyy andyy maybeyy lessyy expensiveyy comparedyy toyy
developingyy in-houseyy software.yy Secondly,yy theyy organization’syy needsyy shouldyy
alsoyy beyy considered.yy Ifyy theyy organization’syy needsyy areyy uniqueyy andyy requiresyy
ayy highyy levelyy ofyy customizationyy andyy flexibility,yy thenyy developingyy in-houseyy
couldyy beyy theyy bestyy option.yy However,yy ifyy theyy organization’syy needsyy areyy
general,yy thenyy purchasingyy ayy COTSyy applicationyy mayyy beyy moreyy practical.
Whenyy evaluatingyy severalyy COTSyy applications,yy variousyy criteriayy shouldyy beyy
considered.yy Theseyy mayyy includeyy theyy flexibility,yy levelyy ofyy customization,yy
integrationyy capabilities,yy andyy user-friendlinessyy ofyy theyy software.yy Compatibilityyy
withyy theyy organization’syy existingyy systemsyy andyy hardware,yy theyy vendor’syy
reputation,yy andyy theyy totalyy costyy ofyy ownershipyy shouldyy alsoyy beyy considered.yy
Otheryy criteriayy mayyy includeyy security,yy scalability,yy reliability,yy andyy technicalyy
support.
Toyy decideyy betweenyy developingyy in-houseyy softwareyy oryy purchasingyy ayy COTSyy
application,yy anyy organizationyy shouldyy conductyy ayy cost-benefityy analysis.yy Theyy
analysisyy shouldyy highlightyy theyy advantagesyy andyy disadvantagesyy ofyy <