Artifact: Market Segment Information
This captures the broad characteristics of the market represented by a set of competing COTS packages that are under consideration for use in the solution.
Domains: Requirements
Purpose

The purpose of the Market Segment Information is to accumulate and organize information sufficient to:

  • Verify that the general marketplace represented by the COTS package(s) is appropriate for the project (e.g., appropriately stable, innovative, customer-centered, organized, etc.)
  • Verify that active acquirers and users of the capabilities produced in the marketplace have needs similar to those of the project
  • Verify that active acquirers and users of the capabilities produced in the marketplace are employing marketplace offerings in a manner similar to that anticipated by the project
  • Identify the strategies used by active acquirers and users for acquiring COTS packages produced by the marketplace
  • Identify the competitive pressures that drive market and COTS package improvements and changes, marketing strategies, etc.
  • Verify that COTS packages can be appropriately placed in the system
  • Establish the veracity of one or more potential solutions incorporating COTS packages

This information includes vendors and acquirers participating in the market, COTS packages offered, processes automated, technologies represented, procurement strategies practiced, and competitive market forces.

The focus of the artifact is on large-scale market dynamics rather than in-depth analysis of individual COTS packages.

Relationships