INF3708 – Software Project Management
Chapter 4
Selection of an appropriate project approach
4.1 Introduction
The development of software in-house usually means that:
The developers and users belong to the same organization;
The application will slot into a portfolio of existing computer-based systems;
The methodologies and technologies are largely dictated by organizational standards and
policies, including the existing enterprise architecture.
4.2 Build or buy
The advantage of obtaining off-the-shelf software includes:
The supplier of the application can spread the cost of development over a large number of
customers and thus the cost per customer should be reduced;
The software already exists and so
• It can be examined and perhaps even trailed before acquisition,
• There is no delay while the software is being built;
Where lots of people have already used the software, most of the bugs are likely to have been
reported and removed, leading to more reliable software.
However there are disadvantages, which include the following.
As you have the same application as everyone else, there is no competitive advantage.
Modern off-the-shelf software tends to be very customizable: the characteristics of the
application can be changed by means of various parameter tables.
You will not own the software code.
Once you have acquired your off-the-shelf system, your organization may come to be reliant
upon it. This may create a considerable barrier to moving to a different application. The
supplier may be in a position to charge inflated license fees because you are effectively a captive
customer.
4.3 Choosing methodologies and technologies
The term methodology describes a collection of methods.
Techniques tend to involve the creation of methods.
A model is a representation of a system which abstracts certain features but ignores others.
The chosen methods and technologies will affect:
The training requirements for the development staff;
The type of staff to be recruited;
The development – both hardware and software;
System maintenance arrangements.
We are now going to describe some of the steps of project analysis
Chapter 4
Selection of an appropriate project approach
4.1 Introduction
The development of software in-house usually means that:
The developers and users belong to the same organization;
The application will slot into a portfolio of existing computer-based systems;
The methodologies and technologies are largely dictated by organizational standards and
policies, including the existing enterprise architecture.
4.2 Build or buy
The advantage of obtaining off-the-shelf software includes:
The supplier of the application can spread the cost of development over a large number of
customers and thus the cost per customer should be reduced;
The software already exists and so
• It can be examined and perhaps even trailed before acquisition,
• There is no delay while the software is being built;
Where lots of people have already used the software, most of the bugs are likely to have been
reported and removed, leading to more reliable software.
However there are disadvantages, which include the following.
As you have the same application as everyone else, there is no competitive advantage.
Modern off-the-shelf software tends to be very customizable: the characteristics of the
application can be changed by means of various parameter tables.
You will not own the software code.
Once you have acquired your off-the-shelf system, your organization may come to be reliant
upon it. This may create a considerable barrier to moving to a different application. The
supplier may be in a position to charge inflated license fees because you are effectively a captive
customer.
4.3 Choosing methodologies and technologies
The term methodology describes a collection of methods.
Techniques tend to involve the creation of methods.
A model is a representation of a system which abstracts certain features but ignores others.
The chosen methods and technologies will affect:
The training requirements for the development staff;
The type of staff to be recruited;
The development – both hardware and software;
System maintenance arrangements.
We are now going to describe some of the steps of project analysis
