Quantitative Methods for Software Selection and Evaluation

When performing a buy analysis and selecting a product as part of a software acquisition strategy, most organizations will consider primarily the requirements (the ability of the product to meet the need) and the cost. The method used for the analysis and selection activities can range from the use of basic intuition to counting the number of requirements fulfilled, or something in between. The selection and evaluation of the product must be done in a consistent, quantifiable manner to be effective. By using a formal method, it is possible to mix very different criteria into a cohesive decision; the justification for the selection decision is not just based on technical, intuitive, or political factors. This report describes various methods for selecting candidate commercial off-the-shelf packages for further evaluation, possible methods for evaluation, and other factors besides requirements to be considered. It also describes the use of a decision analysis spreadsheet as one possible tool for use in the evaluation process.

PDF [136 KB]

Author

Michael S. Bandor

This report is related to the following area(s) of work:

Acquisition Support

Technical Note
CMU/SEI-2006-TN-026
September 2006

Cite This Report

SEI:

Bandor, Michael; Quantitative Methods for Software Selection and Evaluation (CMU/SEI-2006-TN-026). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 2006. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/06tn026.cfm

IEEE:

M. Bandor, "Quantitative Methods for Software Selection and Evaluation," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Technical Note CMU/SEI-2006-TN-026, 2006. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/06tn026.cfm

APA:

Bandor, M., (2006) . Quantitative Methods for Software Selection and Evaluation (CMU/SEI-2006-TN-026). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from the Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University website: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/06tn026.cfm

CHI:

Bandor, Michael, Quantitative Methods for Software Selection and Evaluation (CMU/SEI-2006-TN-026). Pittsburgh, PA: Software Engineering Insitute, Carnegie Mellon University, 2006. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/06tn026.cfm

MLA:

Bandor, M., 2006. Quantitative Methods for Software Selection and Evaluation (Technical Report CMU/SEI-2006-TN-026). Pittsburgh: Software Engineering Insitute, Carnegie Mellon University. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/06tn026.cfm

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