Question

The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to examine both an in-house software development and a commercially purchased software package.

Scenario: CSU has a sporting goods shop that sells sports equipment, as well as hiking and camping supplies. The CSU shop owner, Peter, wants to develop a customer-order entry system and has hired your IT consulting firm to advise him about software alternatives. Peter is leaning toward in-house development because he does not want to depend on a third-party vendor and supplier for technical support and upgrades. Peter does not want to sell on the Internet, but this could change in the future. Peter wants to meet you tomorrow to make a decision.

To determine what you tell Peter, begin by researching the advantages and disadvantages of in-house software development and a commercial software package.

In two pages, explain at least three advantages and three disadvantages for each of the alternatives: in-house software development and commercial software package. Then, explain which direction you recommend for Peter, either in-house software development or a commercial software package.

Include at least one reference in your paper.

System Analysis and Design

Answer 1

Advantages and Disadvantages of both the practices are as follow:

1) In-House Software Development:

Advantages:

1) Communication: In In-House Software Development, the communication regarding the resultant software is better. If any change is to be made in the prototype or we want to add more features in our Software, we can just share that idea with the developer.

2) Effectiveness: In this type of development strategy, as the developer know his organisation better, then there are less chances of mis-understanding and developer has clear mindset which results in an effective and efficient software .

3) Less chances of bug: As all the developers are working for same In house development, they can share their technical knowledge and can perform testing at their respective level, so that their are less chances of having a bug in the resultant software.

Disadvantages:

1) No-Fixed Working hours: As developers are creating software for their own oragnisation , there is no fixed working hours, they tends to work more than the standard time set up in the market that may reduce the creativity of the developers.

2) Shortfall of Tech-talent: If during the In-bulit Software development, any developers went sick or cannot came due to any other reason, then it may result in the slowdown of the development process which in-turn increase the date of completion. Finding the Tech-talent with same experience ,understanding him all the in-Built process is a big deal.

3) Out of Budget: In the In-House Development , their will be more cost as compared to third-party vendor as the oragnisation will need the required software tools, various hardware setups and other resources as well.

References: Companies like Oracle, Amazon are having their In-House Software Development.

Commercial - Software Package:

Advantages:

1) More Tech-Gigs: The third party vendor  always have huge amount of Tech-Gigs available. Their will never be lack of any technology specialist., so their will never be any stoppage in between the project.

2) Flexibility: The Commercial Organisation always provide you with the flexibility . It means they provide the options to choose between the multiple technologies.

3) Higher Potential: Commercial Organisation provides you with the highly skilled tech-employees. They follow the procedural approach from requirement gathering to the project delivery.

Disadvantages:

1) Less Interference: As the third vendor is involved in Commercial Software Package, so their is less involvement of the client, and any instant change in software is not possible as compared to In-House Development where it can be easily done.

2)Data-Leak: In the modern world,data is a crucial thing. When the client shares it's data with the Commercial-Organisation , there are higher chances of leakage of data.

3) Communication-Gap: Lesser the communication , higher chances of not getting the resultant software.

I would like to suggest Peter that he should go with the In-House Development because:

1) Developers here have the core knowledge of their respective domain.

2) They should be provided with the good compensation.

3) The In-build development only have to increase their tech-pool.

4) The important thing is data is not leaked.