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Integrating Off-the-Shelf Software Solutions

3 days - £1195 + vat

Many organisations chose to fulfil their information system requirements through purchasing and implementing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software package solutions. This Integrating Off-the-shelf Software Solutions training course provides a focus and a framework for selecting, customising and implementing COTS software packages.

Integrating Off-the-shelf Software Solutions is an innovative course presented in two distinct phases. The first part of the course is concerned with developing a framework for package selection and identifying the requirements of a particular case study problem. The participants are then presented with a potential packaged solution to their requirements and are asked to evaluate this package using the framework developed in the course.

Integrating Off-the-Shelf Software Solutions Training Course Content

Strategic Issues

Historical perspective
Relationship of COTS packages to business strategy
Relationship of COTS packages to IT strategy
Relationship of COTS packages to business processes
Legal issues, legal requirements (e.g. EU rules) and standards (e.g. IEEE1062)
Configuration and customisation
System integration issues
Advantages and disadvantages of the COTS package approach
Risks of the COTS software package approach and customisation
Distinguishing between requests for proposals (RFP), requests for information (RFI) and requests for quotation (RFQ)

COTS software package selection and system Integration selection

A framework for software package selection and system integration
Fact finding in the context of COTS package selection
The requirements catalogue
COTS packages and prototyping
Published COTS package requirements and matrices
Defining the structure of weighted matrices
Defining the weights and content of the high level matrix
Iteration in COTS package selection

Functional and non-functional requirements

High level functions for functional scoping
Business functions and significant events
Significant input and output requirements
Identifying static structures
Identifying relationships between those structures
Defining non-functional requirements

Product and supplier requirements

Technical requirements and conformance
Product design requirements
Supplier stability requirements
Supplier citizenship requirements
Implementation requirements
Infrastructure requirements
Integration protocol issues
Cost and time requirements

Structuring the Request For Proposals (RFP)

Identifying potential suppliers
Structuring Requests For Proposals (Invitations to Tender)
Structuring the evaluation of initial supplier responses
First-cut evaluation of competing COTS packages

Evaluating and comparing competing COTS packages and customisation / integration requirements

Evaluating the functional match
Scripted demonstrations and user-driven evaluation
Evaluating the non-functional match
Evaluating the product requirements match
Evaluating the implementation requirements match
Finalising cost and time elements of the evaluation
Investigating suppliers
Negotiating and amending supply contracts
Maintenance and support agreements
Summarising the requirements fit (GAP analysis)
Determining bespoke and integration considerations
Agreeing business change recommendations
The potential role and value of the prime contractor
Presenting a final recommendation

Procuring and implementing the software solution

Implementation considerations
Planning and undertaking data conversion
Support arrangements for the package
Support elements for any bespoke elements of the solution
Integration implications
Training and documentation
Upgrade arrangements and management
Managing the long-term relationship with the supplier

ISEB Certificates

Integrating Off-the-shelf Software Solutions prepares candidates to sit the examination for the ISEB Certificate in Evaluating & Procuring Software Packages. This involves a one-hour, open book examination that may be taken at the end of the course.

This certificate is a specialist module for the ISEB Diploma in Systems Development

In association with Metadata Training