Choosing an Application Software Package

• Does the data processing department have the needed system analysts and/or
  programmers with the needed skills to develop the package in-house?
• Is there commercial application software that can meet the stated needs (or at least be easily modified to meet these needs)?
• Will the appropriate commercial software run on the available computer system?
• Is there adequate documentation?
• Will the vendor or manufacturer provide the needed support?
• Is there time available to write the software in-house, or is obtaining a package
  that can be quickly implemented a critical factor?

If after carefully considering the above factors it has been decided to purchase a commercial application package, it then must be determined which package will best meet the user's needs. If possible, the user should arrange to try the package on a trial basis to determine how well it will work day in, day out. Another source of information on the quality of application software is user surveys. Several publications conduct such surveys on a regular basis. For example, DATAMATION conducts a yearly survey of data processing managers called the Applications Software Survey, asking them to evaluate packages they are using. The results of this survey can be a very helpful guide in choosing software. According to DATAMATION, there are four areas of primary concern in evaluating these packages: performance, operations, I/O functionality, and vendor support.

Performance is concerned with such factors as the efficiency of hardware utilization and the ease of use. I/O functionality covers data entry provisions and how quickly and easily output format changes can be made. The applications software packages covered in the survey fall into business categories such as general accounting, payroll and personnel, and business management and forecasting.

When choosing application software packages, customers often turn to resources within their specific field. Another method of evaluating application packages is simply word-of-mouth. Company management within a specific industry often have frequent contact with management in similar companies and can ask these people what types of packages they are using and how they would evaluate the performance of the software.

Probably the best method of choosing a package is to use a number of them on a trial basis to determine how each will actually perform on the job. Because the application package will probably be used for some time to come, the time spent in making an informed choice is well spent.