The decision of whether to develop a software application
in-house or buy a commercially available software
package is a common dilemma faced by information
technology (IT) professionals in the water and
wastewater industries. The right choice has become
even more elusive with recent IT developments such as
open-source software (OSS) and application outsourcing
options like pay-for-subscription products and
direct outsourcing of custom-built solutions. Application
outsourcing has dramatically reduced the overall
costs of developing software in recent years, and OSS
applications also have substantial advantages that are
worth considering.
This article explores the software implementation
decision process and the effect of OSS and application
outsourcing in the water and wastewater industries.
There are pros and cons to the various solutions, which
is why, more than ever, a hybrid solution that combines
features of both "build" and "buy" alternatives
may be the best course of action. Includes 3 references, figure.
| Edition : | Vol. 98 - No. 11 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 280 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 10 |
| Published : | 11/01/2006 |
