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Key
Messages
Developing
software has hidden costs/dangers
- Be
wary!
Be wary - in our experience, developing your own
software should be a last resort! It's really best
suited to businesses that are at the leading edge
and are doing something that hasn't ever been done
before. It may seem cheap if development is done
by a student as a nixer for example, however people
soon load it with more and more work and start demanding
additional features; soon costs spiral and problems
proliferate.
- Establish
the full cost of developing your own software
The initial development
cost may only be a fraction of the true investment in developing software in-house.
Establish the annual costs of further development, technical support and maintenance
contracts. Also, consider the costs of integrating bespoke developments with your
existing systems - integration will usually add significantly to development and
support costs, as well as introducing a potential area of contention if things
go wrong, since each vendor will typically assign blame to the other.
- Investigate
Off-The-Shelf options
Whatever you want to do, it's highly likely that
there's already software out there to do it. Investigate existing options, ask
your suppliers what your competitors use and look around the marketplace. Remember
that if you buy off- the-shelf, technical support and upgrades will be readily
available.
- Ringfence
the Scope of Development
If you still decide to develop bespoke software,
make sure that the scope of the project is tightly defined by developing a clear
specification and having it signed off by all key users. Resist all attempts to
add subsequently to the specification until the system has been developed and
delivered to the original specification.
Check
out these How To Guides for more information
Managing
an eBusiness Project
Choosing
eBusiness Suppliers and Systems
Integrating
your IT Systems
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