IL 636 take-home assignment

You have been commissioned to automate a library system belonging to one ministry in the
Government of Tanzania. The library had once automated its services but a previous analysis
proved that the system was not according to the required ILS standards. You are aware that any
category ILS software, i.e. proprietary or open source is capable of meeting their needs;
however when you suggested to them to choose one of the systems, they seemed to be unaware
of any. It has eventually been decided that before embarking on the automation project, there is a
need for you to prepare a talk about the two types of software (proprietary and open source).

In not more than 3000 words, write an essay to the ministry discussing the two types of software
mentioned above. Provide your opinion on which one of the two would be the most suitable to
the ministry, owing to limited resources (i.e. human, reading resources and financial). In your
essay, the following should be included:

1. The meaning of Open source and Proprietary software

2. Major characteristics of each category of software
3. Advantages and disadvantages of each category of software
4. Recommendations on the suitable software that the ministry should opt for based on the
size and available resources by the Ministry (please mention the name of the ministry
chosen, provide its background information in not more than one paragraph).

NB: This is an essay therefore bullet points or numbers are not accepted. You may however
arrange your points according to sub headings. Literature about proprietary and open source
software are available on the Internet BUT under no circumstances are you expected to copy and
paste as this will deny you with a lot of marks. This assignment assumes that there is no right
answer/point therefore provide your personal opinion based on your previous experiences (and of
course with support from the available literature).

Submission date: The second week after New Year.

GOOD LUCK.
The Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health is a government ministry of Tanzania. Its central offices are located in
Dodoma. Its mission is to "facilitate the provision of basic health services that are good, quality,
equitable, accessible, affordable, sustainable and gender sensitive