Developing Software In-House
With an enormous variety of software packages available to handle horizontal and vertical business operations, why would a firm choose to develop its own software? Typically,
companies choose in-house development to satisfy unique business requirements, to minimize changes in business procedures and policies, to meet constraints of existing systems
and existing technology, and to develop internal resources and capabilities.
SATISFY UNIQUE BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS Companies often decide to develop
software in-house because no commercially available software package can meet their
unique business requirements. A college, for example, needs a course scheduling system based on curriculum requirements, student demand, classroom space, and available instructors. A package delivery company needs a system to identify the best combination of routes and loading patterns for the company’s fleet of delivery trucks. If
existing software packages cannot handle those requirements, then in-house developed
software might be the only choice