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Choosing Software Applications

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Choosing Software Applications

Choosing Software Applications
As an employee of a large state government agency, it is very important to have hardware and software that allows employees to complete business processes in a more efficient and timely manner. Often the decision has to be made whether or not to purchase new software or develop it in-house by the IT department. If new software applications are developed, it is important that the software can easily integrate with pre-existing applications if a total overhaul is not being executed. Software development can be a very costly venture; therefore, the upfront and long-term cost of developing software in-house must be carefully considered as an option. Not only are there costs associated in developing the software, but there is also a cost related to the ongoing support and infrastructure required to operate and maintain the applications. When making the decision to develop new software in-house there are several different mechanisms that come into play, which are handled by a steering committee through the process of a system development life cycle (SDLC).
From the viewpoint of an employee, the agency can utilize the IT department to help formulate the exact requirements of the system and can compare the different features that may be available within an software package that is already created. Thereafter, a cost-effective breakdown of developing the same software in-house is provided. The way the newly developed application functions should consist of a noncomplex set of features to ensure that each software package can be evaluated correctly and without bias.
The cost and other financial conditions of the software should also be of concern as the initial cost to develop internally may be very high. If the agency decided to utilize a leased software package, the cost would then be spread

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