System Acquisition & Software Development

Acquiring Systems Components from Vendors

 Selecting compatible hardware
 Familiar with the computer industry
 Selection procedure
 Capabilities of different computers
 Familiar with various vendors
 Decide whether to purchase or lease a system
System Acquisition & Software Development

Few other Issues ……………….

• Equipment selected should not be approaching
obsolescence
• Should not get locked into a particular vendor’s equipment
• Avoid dead-end system
• System configured to maximum capacity to be avoided
• NOT the fastest and cheapest system
• H/W  safe, comfortable and easy to use
System Acquisition & Software Development

Financial Factors
Rent

Purchase

Lease
Acquisition option

Plans Characteristics
System Acquisition & Software Development

Steps involved in Selection of a Computer System

(a) Requirement analysis

(b) System specifications

(c) Request for proposal (RFP)
RFP should include.,
1. Complete statement of system spec’s, price range, terms and time
frame
2. Request for vendor’s responsibilities for conversion, training and
maintenance
3. Warranties and terms of licence or contractual obligations
System Acquisition & Software Development

Steps involved in Selection of a Computer System

RFP should include.,
4. Request for financial statement of vendors
5. Size of staff available for support system
(d) Evaluation and Validation
(e) Vendor selection
Best combination of reputation, reliability, service record, training,
delivery time, price etc.
(f) Post-installation review
CHECKS, how closely the new system confirms to plans
System Acquisition & Software Development

Performance Evaluation
Hardware evaluation
• System availability (Time required to produce the system)
• Compatibility (With existing programs)
• Cost (lease/purchase, maintenance and op. cost)
• Performance (capacity of the system)
• Support (competence and availability of vendor support)
System Acquisition & Software Development
Software Development (Six stages)
 Program Maintenance
 System Maintenance is…
monitoring,
evaluating,
modifying
of software
for
IMPROVEMENTS