Modern Systems Analysis
and Design
Fourth Edition
Jeffrey A. Hoffer
Joey F. George
Joseph S. Valacich
Chapter 2
The Origins of Software
2-1
Learning Objectives
Explain outsourcing.
Describe six different sources of
software.
Discuss how to evaluate off-the-shelf
software.
Explain reuse and its role in software
development.
2-2
Global Sourcing
• The process of deciding where in the
world a firm’s activities will be
performed and who will perform the
activities.
– Fundamentally any activities that does
not require direct customer contact,
extensive local knowledge, or complex
interactions can be sourced anywhere
2-3
Global Resourcing
2-4
Outshoring and Outsourcing
2-5
Definition of Outsourcing
• IS outsourcing is the commissioning of part or
all of the IS activities an organization needs,
and/or transferring the associated human and
other IS resources, to one or more external IS
suppliers
• IS Offshoring is the commissioning of part or all
of the IS activities an organization needs to one
or more other countries
• IS Insourcing is the sourcing of a business
function within the firm (e.g., Kingland Systems)
2-6
System Acquisition:
Outsourcing
• Reasons to outsource
– Cost-effective
– Take advantage of economies of scale
– Free up internal resources
– Reduce time to market
– Increase process efficiencies
– System development is a non-core activity for
the organization
2-7
Sources of Application
Software
2-8
Hardware Manufacturers
• IBM is the leader in software sales
and services.
• Hardware manufacturers tend to
focus on system software and
utilities.
2-9
Packaged Software
Producers
• Microsoft is the leader in
prepackaged software production.
• Prepackaged software is off-the-shelf
software.
• Often, prepackaged software is
turnkey software (i.e. not
customizable).
2-10
Criteria for Choosing Off-the-
Shelf Software
• Cost
• Functionality
• Vendor support
• Viability of vendor
• Flexibility
• Documentation
• Response time
• Ease of installation
2-11
Custom Software
Producers
• Firms like Accenture and EDS are
leading custom software producers.
• Consulting firms develop software to
meet the client’s specific requirements.
• Consulting firms are usually called when
the client company does not have in-
house expertise or manpower available
to develop the system.
2-12
Enterprise Solutions
Software
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
systems that integrate individual
traditional business functions into modules
enabling a single seamless transaction to
cut across functional boundaries.
• SAP AG is the leading vendor of ERP
systems.
2-13
ERP System Example
2-14
Application Service
Providers
• ASP: an organization that hosts and
runs computer applications for other
companies, typically on a per-use or
license basis
2-15
What is ASP?
• ASP- Application Service Provider
– ASPs buy, install, and manage
enterprise applications at remote data
centers and host them for customers
via a broadband connection, usually
over the Internet.
– User only purchases “use” of
application not an installation license
– User pays for “use” depending upon the
specific arrangement with the ASP
2-16
ASPs
Lee, Huynh, Kwok, and Pi, 2003
2-17
In-House Development
• If sufficient system development expertise
with the chosen platform exists in-house,
then some or all of the system can be
developed by the organization’s own staff.
• Often, there are a variety of sources used,
with in-house staff playing a role as well
as consultants or ERP vendors.
2-18
2-19
Validating Purchased Software
Information
• Use a variety of information sources:
– Vendor’s proposal
– Running software through a series of
tests
– Feedback from other users of the
vendor’s product
– Independent software testing services
– Articles in trade publications
2-20
What is an RFP?
• Request for Proposal: a document
provided to vendors to ask them to
propose hardware and software products
or services that will meet the requirements
of a new information system.
• Based on vendor bids, analyst selects
best candidates.
2-21
Reuse
• The use of previously written software
resources in new applications
• Primary enabling technologies
– Object-oriented development
• Object class encapsulates data and behavior of
common organizational entities (e.g. employees)
– Component-based development
• Components can be single objects or functional
groupings of objects
2-22
Costs and Benefits of
Reuse
2-23
Approaches to Reuse
low
• Ad hoc: individual, unplanned use
Cost and commitment
• Facilitated: use informally managed and
disseminated by expert guru evangelists
• Managed: organizationally enforced reuse
policies and practices
• Designed: reusable components
high developed and maintained in-house
2-24
Summary
• In this chapter you learned how to:
Explain outsourcing.
Describe six different sources of
software.
Discuss how to evaluate off-the-shelf
software.
Explain reuse and its role in software
development.
2-25
