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SDLC Phase 2: Selection. Dania Bilal IS 582 Spring 2009. Project Selection. Identify project selected based on priority Identify environment for selected project Review existing hardware & software Review options for automation software selection Off-the-shelf Open source
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SDLC Phase 2: Selection Dania Bilal IS 582 Spring 2009
Project Selection • Identify project selected based on priority • Identify environment for selected project • Review existing hardware & software • Review options for automation software selection • Off-the-shelf • Open source • Shared vs. non-shared with other agencies/libraries • Networked vs. stand-alone configuration
About Open Source Software • Review existing OSS suitable for the identified environment • Consider • Programming language requirements • Staff availability to program in language software is written? • Operating system for OSS • Software and existing OS
About OSS • Maintenance of OSS • Internal and external support • Who else is using OSS in nearby community? What about virtual community? • Outsourcing maintenance? • Maturity of OSS (what version has been released? • More versions/releases exist, better is software • Modification required to customize software
About OSS • Evaluation of OSS in literature • Rigorous exploration recommended • Reviews in LJ and other related literature • User evaluation • Rigorous exploration recommended • Interviews • On-site visits • Blogs, listservs, etc.
Off-the-Shelf Software • More mature than OSS • Long list of vendors in marketplace • Market evaluation • Sources for reviews • Rigorous exploration recommended • User evaluation • Rigorous exploration recommended
Revisit • Project costs • Tangible cost • Intangible costs • Feasibility assessments • Economic • Political • Legal • Technical
Library Environment: Selection Process • Review LJ latest survey of Automation System Marketplace • Visit Library Technology Guides • Identify six software packages available for your agency/library • Find further evaluation of each package in Library Technology Reports (latest issues) • Use additional sources as needed
Consult these Vendor Sites and Products • http://www.libinfo.com/vendors-systems.html • A list of commercial software vendors and their websites • http://www.librarytechnology.org/VEND-search.pl?SID=20060215455505371&UID=&auth= • Library Technology Guides. Key resource in library automation. • Maintained by Marshall Breeding • Has links to topics on trends, Automation System Marketplace, next-generation ILS, and up-to-date information about library automation • Latest survey about international automation marketplace
Library Environment: Selection Process • Acquire demos of each package to view and evaluate • Take notes and/or use a checklist and indicate features you like, dislike, lacking, etc. in each package • Write down questions to ask of vendor or software rep.
Library Environment: Selection Process • Invite a sales rep. from each of the 6 software companies for onsite presentation of company software. • Take notes about strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, etc. • Ask questions and don’t be intimidated
Library Environment: Selection Process • Read literature (e.g., brochures) from each company and identify further features supported, hardware requirements, software, networking license, maintenance support, etc. • Meet with appointed Committee members, discuss sales reps. presentations, & compare notes or checklists.
Library Environment: Selection Process • Consider the options you have • Off-the-shelf vs. OSS • Narrow choices to 3 best software packages Class activity • How will you narrow the choices?
Library Environment: Selection Process • Strengths of each module provided: • Overall software capabilities (Web-based, Windows-based, expandability, etc.) • Compliance with latest standards • Architecture and operating systems supported (e.g., NT, Unix, Linux)
Library Environment: Selection Process • Software update, documentation, training and cost, maintenance and technical support • Weigh these criteria for off-the-shelf vs. OSS • Decide on either type • If off-the-shelf is desired: • Develop a Request for Information (RFI) • Develop a Request for Proposal (RFP)
Request for Proposal (RFP) • Develop one RFP packet to send copies of to each of the three software vendors you selected • RFP describes needs and priorities • Each vendor’s response to RFP provides basis for comparing specifications and other services software company provides
Organization of the RFP • Instructions to Vendor • Introduction to the library • Software specifications • Essential and desired for overall system • Essential and desired for each module to be purchased • Hardware specifications • Request for price quotation • Notice of intent to respond
Organization of the RFP • Committee to • review the RFP before sending it to the 3 software vendors • Evaluate responses to RFP from each vendor • Rank RFPs and decide on top-rated proposal • Inform project manager about decision
Content of RFP • Divided into sections • Essential and desired specifications included for each module • Use specific symbols or codes for software and rating • Use specific verbs • Visit websites about sample RFPs
Legal/Contractual Agreement • Project manager consults with supervisor(s) • Software vendor of winner RFP may be invited again for a final demo. • Final decision reached • Software co. contacted • Formal contract issued (attorney and other Agreement details) • Schedule for software delivery, installation, testing, and implementation • Schedule for training personnel • Vendor’s promise to deliver the package that meets the specifications stipulated in the final RFP
Legal/Contractual Agreement • Payment plan • Consider paying in three installations: • 1/3 upon signing contract • 1/3 upon successful installation and performance testing • Rest paid upon successful performance over specified period of time
Sample RFPs and RFIs • Visit • http://www.ilsr.com/sample.htm (Integrated Library Systems Reports) • Has links to how to write an RFP and sample full-text RFPs • Sample RFPs are used to write your own RFP based on your agency’s user requirements.
Class Activity • You’ve been appointed the project manager for evaluating and selecting an automated system to replace the existing one. • Develop a plan for project planning, initiation, and selection • The plan should include team assignment, tasks, projected timeline, tangible and intangible cost, system options and a justification for off-the-shelf or OSS, among other factors • Your team is your classmates.