Software Selection and Software Contracts

Evaluation of Software:
- Application Requirements Questions:

1. What transactions and what data about each transaction must be handled?
2. What reports, documents, and other output must be system produce?
3. What files and databases drive the system?
4. What transaction files are needed to maintain them?
5. What is the volume of data to be stored?
6. What volume of transactions will be processed?
7. What inquiry requirements must be software support?
8. What are the limitations of the software?

- Flexibility:
- The ability to meet changing requirements and varying user needs.
- Areas where flexibility wanted are – Data Storage, Reporting and option

Data Input, Types of hardware it supports.

- Audit and Reliability Provisions:
- Auditor must have the ability to validate reports and output and to test the
authenticity and accuracy of data and information.
- System Reliability means that the data are reliable ,that they are accurate
and believable.
- Example: Password should not be displayed whenever they are used.

- Capacity:
- System Capacity refers to the Number of Files that can be stored and
the Amount each file will hold.
- We have to also consider the Specific Hardware on which the software will
be used.

- Vendor Support
- Software also needs to be maintained, and the analyst must determine
Who will perform the maintenance and for what cost before purchase.
- It also includes the training that is supplied when a system is acquired.


Software Contracts:

- Contract negotiations is a legal process and should involve an organization’s
legal and financial experts.

- Two types of Software contract are drawn.
1. Outlining the terms of leasing a software package. (Paid-up license)
2. Outlining the terms of custom programming assistance.(Fixed Fee)

- The contract should clearly fix the ownership of the software.
- Development schedule and Mode of payment also included in it.
- Protection needed when dealing with some software firms.