At this point, it is not important to learn as much as possible about each COTS package and vendor (that will be done
in the elaboration phase) but to understand, in general, how COTS packages and vendors under consideration differ in
how they approach the critical use cases and critical nonfunctional requirements within the boundaries of candidate
solutions.
Look for any market trends that might affect either the architecture or the user business processes in the solution.
Consider vendors' long-term support of the COTS packages used in the relevant market segments (technology maturity,
component obsolescence, vendors going out of business, buy-outs, and so forth). In addition, look for COTS packages
that might drive the definition of the solution.
This is accomplished by the following:
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Identifying market segments solving similar problems and requiring similar capabilities to those needed for this
solution
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Determining the size and distribution of each relevant market segment
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Identifying organizations that have similar needs for COTS packages
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Identifying and understanding the behavior of similar organizations in terms of their needs, their user business
processes, and their use of available technologies and COTS packages
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Identifying candidate technologies that are applicable and the leading COTS packages in each technology area
Then, using the Market Segment Information, recording the:
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Market segments solving similar problems and requiring similar capabilities to those needed for this solution
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Size and distribution of each relevant market segment
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Organizations that have similar needs for COTS packages
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Behavior of similar organizations in terms of their needs, their user business processes, and their use of
available technologies and COTS packages
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Candidate technologies that are applicable and the leading COTS packages in each technology area
Optionally, in order to help identify relevant COTS package sources, an Request For Information (RFI) could be produced and sent to identified vendors. Vendors
would then be invited to demonstrate their COTS package in the context of an evaluation workshop (see the tasks Prepare for Vendor/COTS Package Evaluation Workshop
, Conduct Vendor/COTS Package Evaluation Workshop.)
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