A Classification and Summary of Software Evaluation and Selection Methodologies

With a multitude of software products available for many applications, the evaluation and selection of computer software has become increasingly difficult for consumers. The lack of industry standards for judging competing products and the differences in performance of these products contribute to this difficulty. Additionally, consumers often lack the knowledge and experience to make an informed choice. A systematic approach is needed in order to evaluate and select the product that best meets the needs of the customer. This report is the result of a project motivated by an organization with the responsibility of advising clients who are purchasing applications software. Presently, recommendations are made in a less than optimal manner, and the organization is searching for an evaluation methodology on which to base this recommendation. The purpose of the project is to identify, characterize (summarize), and classify existing methodologies for the evaluation and selection of software products. This project has identified, characterized, and classified the following eleven distinct software evaluation and selection methodologies: * The Adeli and Wilcoski methodology * The Anderson methodology * The Brownstein and Lerner methodology * The USACERL methodology * The Edmonds and Urban methodology * The Eskenasi methodology * The Kuan methodology * The National Bureau of Standards methodology * The Subramanian and Gershon methodology * The Talley methodology * The Williams methodology