Buy, Build or Adapt
Ken Lunn · 2003
Before you build any IT system, it is important to consider whether it is appropriate to start from scratch, buy a solution, or buy part of a solution. Today the vast majority of business application developments utilize computer packages for part or sometimes all of their computer systems. The policy that most companies adopt today is to buy a package before building one. Only if the software package market cannot produce an adequate solution do they consider writing a software package. This has shifted the emphasis in many organizations away from pure development towards software integration with bespoke development primarily as a means of covering the gaps in the package market. The role of the IT developer in such organizations has changed in recognition of this. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.