---
title: "Software selection and purchase"
subject: "Instrumentation II"
chapter: 9
key: "semester_5/instrumentation_ii:software-selection-purchase"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/instrumentation_ii/software-selection-purchase
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Software selection and purchase

Instrumentation II · Chapter 9: Software For Instrumentation And Control Applications

- Asked in: 2068 Baisakh (old course), 6 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5 on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/instrumentation_ii/software-selection-purchase
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/instrumentation_ii/chapter-9

## Question

Write a short note on Software selection and purchase.

## Short answer

Selection involves defining requirements, surveying options, evaluating function, reliability and cost, and checking vendor reputation and support. After a trial and total-cost analysis, negotiate a contract. Purchase includes installation, training and maintenance; choose the most reliable, best-supported package, not just the cheapest.

## Answer

When an organisation needs software (for example an instrument-control, accounting or SCADA package), it can develop it, customise it, or purchase a ready-made package. Careful selection is needed because a poor choice wastes money and time and reduces reliability.

#### Steps in selection
1. **Define requirements:** functions, performance, interfaces to existing hardware/software, operating system, users, security and budget.
2. **Survey the options:** off-the-shelf products, vendors, open-source software and custom development.
3. **Evaluate against criteria:** functionality match, reliability and bug history, ease of use, scalability, compatibility and standards, documentation and training, security, and licence terms.
4. **Check the vendor:** reputation, references, financial stability, quality process (ISO/CMMI), technical support, warranty, update policy and source-code escrow.
5. **Test:** demonstration or trial version, pilot installation, benchmarks and acceptance test.
6. **Cost analysis:** total cost of ownership (licence, installation, training, maintenance, upgrades, hardware).
7. **Negotiate and sign:** a contract with service levels, delivery, payment, support and exit terms.

#### Purchase and after
Installation, training of users, parallel running with the old system, maintenance contract, licence tracking and regular updates. Prefer the product that meets the requirements with the best reliability and support, not just the lowest price.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. First step in selection?
   A. Sign contract
   B. Negotiate price
   C. Install
   D. Define requirements
   Answer: D. Requirements guide evaluation. (Key point: First step)

2. Source-code escrow is part of?
   A. Checking the vendor
   B. Cost analysis
   C. Training
   D. Installation
   Answer: A. Protects if vendor disappears. (Key point: Vendor check)

3. Before purchase, what is done?
   A. Nothing
   B. Demo or trial, pilot and acceptance test
   C. Only paying
   D. Only advertising
   Answer: B. Verify the product. (Key point: Testing)

4. Which product to prefer?
   A. Lowest price always
   B. Newest
   C. Best reliability and support meeting requirements
   D. Most popular
   Answer: C. Not just lowest price. (Key point: Choice)

## Related in Instrumentation II

- [Good programming practice and software selection](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Agood-programming-software-selection) — Instrumentation II, chapter 9, asked 2×