MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

ASSIGNMENT
Packaged Software:

Packaged software that is often called software package is a commercial program that’s
obtainable to the general public and sold to them at explicit costs. Package software is
developed by computer technicians. it is the compilation of programs which are grouped
together in order to provide publicly with different tools in the same group. It can’t be modified
or altered even if there is need. The essential definition says that, once several software package
are grouped during a bundle and supply solutions to people, then it gets the specified name.
The best example of package software is Microsoft Office, that has many tools grouped
together for example Office, Access, Excel, Note and Power Point.
Advantages of Packaged Software:

 Packaged software solutions are designed for both horizontal and vertical markets. In
order to cater for the needs of many, vendors have to spend an enormous amount of
effort and expense to incorporate world-class functionality into their products.
Duplicating such expense to develop similar functionality in custom developed
applications, in many cases, is prohibitively expensive.

 Packaged solutions tend to be far more configurable than custom developed

applications. In other words, they can accommodate change by adjusting table values
to a far greater degree than is usual for custom developed applications. Moreover,
package environments often come with capabilities that a customer does not to use
immediately but are there for future exploitation as and when required.

 A packages solution can be implemented in significantly less time than a custom

application and often at substantially less cost. You also don’t have to dedicate any of
your time to the development process (e.g. helping with requirements specifications,
testing etc.)

Disadvantages of Packaged Software:

 Packaged software solutions can be highly complex and usually include many features
that you will never us. Given the software tends to be large and complicated it may take
a long time to learn properly. You may also have to alter the way that you work in order
to fit in with the way that the software has been designed.

 If your organisation’s business processes are truly unique then the packaged software
may need to be customised to accommodate them or you may need to change your
processes to accommodate the package.

 Given the same system can be bought by your competitors it is very difficult to gain
any competitive advantage from its use.
Custom Software:

Custom software is a specific program that are advanced for a goal in a department or in a
company. Its cost is higher than package software because custom software are made for a
specific purpose. Unlike package software, custom software can be modified or changed if
there is need because these software are custom-built.
The best example of custom software is that a company that wishes to own a management
system for their employees and keeping track of their working hours. whenever one task is
performed during a specific condition, as an example, folks obtaining the task of planning a
calculator through C++ language, then it’ll become a custom product.

Advantages of Custom Software:

 Custom software solutions is designed specifically to your requirements and built to

operate exactly as you need. Moreover, it can be changed as your business changes or
altered to further improve its performance. Custom software can also be integrated with
your existing systems and any future systems as required.

 With custom software, you get every function that you need and none that you don’t
need. It should also operate in the way that you are used to working which means that
it will be easier to use.

 Being able to perform tasks that your competitors cannot do means that you gain real
competitive advantage with custom software solutions. Given that custom software can
be listed as an asset of your organisation, it can add value to the business.

 Disadvantages of Custom Software:

Custom software is usually more expensive to start with requiring a large initial
investment. Once in place though the software may cost nothing further to use. In
addition to this, the development process for custom software solutions can take a long
time and the input from the business can be considerable
In-House
It is a software that is produced by a corporate entity for purpose of using it within the
organization. In-house software however may later become available for commercial use upon
sole discretion of the developing organization. The need to develop such software may arise
depending on many circumstances which may be non-availability of the software in the market,
potentiality or ability of the corporation to develop such software or to customize a software
based on the corporate organization's need
Advantages:
 Independence
 Easier planning and changing up to recent requirements
 Less to be spent on logistics
 Shorter communication routes
 Opportunity to gain experience and learn – developing products by knowledge on
how to make them

Disadvantages:
 More staff needed to complete all the tasks
 Specialist knowledge required
 New challenges to be faced (resource planning, new infrastructure, management of
storage space etc.

Outsourcing
Software Outsourcing is the practice of selecting a 3rd party service provider of software
development services that is capable of managing all the tasks involved in a software development
project. In essence, outsourcing is a company’s practice of delegating control of a specific business
area or project to a qualified, external enterprise that has the resources, talent, capabilities, and
time to handle the required business needs. As far as global trends in Information Technology,
software outsourcing is definitely at the top of the list. The concept of software outsourcing is
accelerating now more than ever, as more and more companies choose this road to travel towards
efficient, cost-effective, swift, and successful software development projects

Advantages:

 Not as much staff needed by the company

 Less specialist knowledge needed by the staff
 Less money to be invested in machinery, fixtures and fittings etc.
 No pressure to operate at full capacity
Disadvantages:
 Needs much more work in finding the right companies to outsource to
 Dependent on the external supplier's deadline (risk of delaying the project)
 Cost of logistics