Bespoke Development: For Complex User Requirements

2007-03-08 10:33:40

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In the early years of information technology, most software tended to be bespoke developments. In recent years, however, you have seen a huge increase in the number and quality of packaged software. If you wish to implement systems for your company, you are now faced with a choice between a bewildering array of packaged solutions (none of which may fully fit your needs) or a bespoke development.

It is commonly believed that competitive advantage can be obtained only by developing bespoke systems. However, you know that it is not the technology that will deliver competitive advantage but the use of the information generated by the technology.

It is also widely held that bespoke software provides more flexibility and achieves a closer match to user requirements. However, you know that many bespoke development projects run into difficulties and delays and, by the time the bespoke systems are delivered, the business requirements have moved on.

Packaged solutions have the advantage of lower cost, faster deployment, and less chances of problems since these have been tried and tested. But these have the disadvantage of being compromise solutions, and your organization may later be forced to upgrade if the supplier stops supporting earlier versions of the package.

You could undertake a bespoke development either by an in-house team or by an independent software developer. In either case you can ensure that the bespoke software development has the capability to fully meet your business requirements and be capable of easy modification. This has the disadvantage of higher cost, slower deployment and a greater chance of problems since it is not tried and tested.

For most situations, a packaged solution is a real option. Even if requirements are complex and unusual, and you prefer bespoke software solutions, packages may be used as short-term partial solutions while the more comprehensive bespoke systems are being developed.


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