Integrating Off-the-shelf Software Solutions
Categories: ISEB Training
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Integrating Off-the-shelf Software Solutions

Duration:
3 days

Price:
The price includes the ISEB examination fee

Integrating Off-the-shelf Software Solutions
Increasingly, organisations are seeking COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) solutions to their IT system needs since these can offer more features, faster implementation, greater resilience and industry best practices. However, for these benefits to be realised it is important that the right solution be selected – which is where this course comes in.

Integrating Off-the-Shelf Software Solutions provides a usable and auditable process for software package selection. It combines weighted matrices with appropriate modeling techniques from the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to produce requirements specification that can be used as part of an Invitation to Tender (Request for Proposal). It then describes a two-phase process for evaluating response to the Invitations to Tender, culminating in the selection and implementation of an appropriate solution.

It looks at integration from a variety of perspectives. Integration with business strategy, IT strategy, the procurement process, the business process and the IT architectural requirements are five of the integration themes.

A very comprehensive course manual is provided. The course may be tailored to reflect the circumstances and requirements of a specific customer.

This course prepares participants to sit a one-hour, open book, examination leading to the certificate in Integrating Off-the-Shelf Software Solutions offered by the Information Systems Examinations Board (ISEB). This certificate is a specialist module for the ISEB International Diploma in Solution Development.

Course Contents:
- Strategic Issues
Historical perspective
Relationship of packages to business strategy
Relationship of packages to IT strategy
Relationship of 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 package approach
Risks of the software package approach and customisation
Distinguishing between requests for proposals (RFP), requests for information (RFI) and requests for quotation (RFQ)
- Software package selection and system Integration selection
A framework for software package selection and system integration
Fact finding in the context of package selection
The requirements catalogue
Packages and prototyping
Published package requirements and matrices
Defining the structure of weighted matrices
Defining the weights and content of the high level matrix
Iteration in 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
- Requests for Proposals (RFP)
Identifying potential suppliers
Structuring Requests for Information
Structuring Requests For Proposals (Invitations to Tender)
Structuring the evaluation of initial supplier responses
First-cut evaluation of competing packages
- Evaluating and comparing competing 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
Determining bespoke and integration considerations
Agreeing business change recommendations
The potential role and value of the prime contractor
Presenting a final recommendation
- Procuring, implementing and upgrading 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
Licensing arrangements
Training and documentation
Upgrade arrangements and management
Managing the long-term relationship with the supplier
 
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Key Details
Duration3 days
 
£1,195
per delegate
 
 
Bookings Helpline: 01933 233884 (Monday to Thursday - 8:00am to 5:30pm and Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm).