Chapter 9

Systems Design Strategies

Purchasing ready-made software packages

More efficient because they are already created, tested and proven Can be purchased and install in a relatively short period of time Package system incorporate the experience of vendors who created the software Horizontal market software software package that can be used by different types of organization. Eg: accounting software

 Vertical market software handle requirements of a specific type of organization. Eg: bank, college, airline Org wants software that support integration between functional dept Enterprise software consist of program that manage vital operations of org Enterprise software vendor produce less expensive based on industry std compatible with other vendor products and easy to configure and install

i.

It is less expensive, require less time and fewer errors. However, buyer does not understand what is involved in acquiring and installing an application package 4 steps of software package procurement:
Evaluate the IS requirement

Analyze requirement of IS by identifying key features that should summarize the systems transaction volume, expected growth figure and ext constrain Analyze also the functional and technical requirement of the system

ii. Identify potential vendors Locate vendors selling packages that might satisfy needs It is advisable to limit the final group of vendors to save time Once the vendor is short listed, request for proposal is distributed to vendors describing the current situation and the detail requirements of the organizations The proposal responses received from vendors are evaluated Organizations arrange for on-site visit and presentation to gather info to see the vendors system running in actual environment

iii. Select and purchase software package

After selecting a vendor, it is necessary to agree to a contract that protects both parties Vendor installs the package considering the built-in functionality, the degree of uniqueness of companies need and willingness of the org and vendor to compromise

iv. Install the software package

The system will have to be tested, users trained and a conversion strategy to move from old to new system Major difference between package software and custom-built one is that the construction. Eg: programming and testing should take less time. It is necessary to create software to integrate the new application with org existing legacy system

Outsourcing
Facilities management An agreement by which an org contracts for the prov of IS services from another company Turn to outsource to cope with rapid technological changes and the resulting obsolesce of computer equipment. Outsourcers can do the job faster, better or less expensive than in-house, full time staff

 Types of outsourcing contract

Fixed-price contract: pay no more than the expected if your outsourcer exceeds the agreedupon price. Outsourcer will have to absorb the cost. There is little flexibility for change. Value-added contract: outsourcer reaps some percentage of the completed systems benefits. Very little risk but expected to share the wealth once the system is in place Short-term contract: help leave room for reassessment if needs change or if the relationship is not working as expected. Relationship is viewed as partnership in which both parties benefit and communicate openly

End User Dev Approach

User develop their own application Users who are not system professionals There maybe risk because of lack of skills and exp Using fourth generation programming language (4GL) quicker to write, test and maintain than 3GL

 Advantages: Communication prob reduced Development speeds up Likelihood of user requirement changes is reduced

Areas where user application dev is not appropriate: Changing the content of databases Application with high volume transactions Application requiring processing efficiency and multiple processing steps Application involving several dept in an org Application requiring formal documentation Application requiring long dev process Application requiring detail formal specifications Does not eliminate the needs of system professionals