Apply criteria established earlier to each of the proposed packaged software solutions and evaluate the findings.
¤ Assess each packaged software solution against the pre-defined product criteria.
Does the packaged software solution possess enough of the business process functionality desired? Will the databases established and maintained by the packaged software solution be compatible with existing databases? Can data in the proposed databases be obtained from existing databases? To what degree will the proposed packaged software solution integrate with existing data and systems?
Will the packaged software solution operate in the current as well as planned University technology environment? Consider requiring a demonstration of the product in the University technology environment.
¤ Assess the vendors against the pre-defined vendor criteria.
What is the vendor's track record of product enhancements, product maintenance and product support? Will this vendor be financially viable for the period that the University is dependent on them?
¤ Check the references of both the products and the vendors.
Consider on-site visits as well as telephone checking of references.
Conduct a two tier evaluation
Initially assess the vendor proposals using a coarse grain version of the evaluation criteria. The object is to eliminate from further consideration those vendor offerings which will definitely not satisfy the University's criteria. This initial evaluation should be done quickly by assessing the proposals against only a few critical criteria. This first assessment will identify a "short list" of vendors.
Apply the full set of criteria against all the proposals making the "short list." After a thorough assessment, identify the packaged software solution most suitable to satisfying the criteria previously established.
In the event that no packaged software solution is suitable, consider changing methodology paths or folding the project.
Advise vendors of the University decision.
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Activity Overview : A3.8
Stage Overview : Analysis Stage
Overview : Table of Contents