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Two aspects of the selection and evaluation of software packages are reviewed: the strategy for evaluation and selection, and criteria that might be applied in selection. The evaluation and selection of a software package should be approached as a project. Appropriate strategies for the selection and evaluation of software packages can be based on information systems methodologies. The main stages in the project are: definition of objectives, evaluation of options, definition, selection and design, implementation and evaluation and maintenance. A system requirements specification is an important document in this process. Software selection must be guided by appropriate criteria. General criteria are cost, lifetime and life history, originator, supplier, support, maintenance, technical considerations and compatibility, ease of use, interfaces and integration. In addition specific criteria must be developed for specific categories of packages. A checklist of criteria for database packages is given.

Software has become increasingly important in business. However, the value of aggregate in-house and packaged software investments and the influence of an industry's software investment opportunities (SIOs) are poorly understood in the literature. This study addresses this research gap and proposes that an industry's SIOs play an essential role in the economic impacts of industry in-house and packaged software investments.

A model of the economic impacts of in-house and packaged software investments at the industry level under different SIOs is developed and empirically tested based on a panel dataset of private industries in the USA between 1998 and 2020.

The results show that with the increase in the number of SIOs in an industry, the economic performance of in-house software investments increases, while that of packaged software investments decreases.

By highlighting the role of SIOs in moderating the economic performance of in-house and packaged software, this study shows the critical role of the information technology (IT) environment in understanding software's economic value.

This paper examines the impact of team factors in software development, such as the domain and language experience of the team members and the personnel capability of the team, on the costs and quality of the software products. The measure of the quality of the software products is based on the number of unique field problems that customers reported. The analysis, based on data collected on 37 software projects from a leading firm in the packaged software industry, indicates that software teams with higher levels of personnel capability exhibit significantly higher productivity and quality in the software products they deliver. A case study of one of the most successful package software development efforts at this firm highlights the important aspects of team dynamics in a highly successful software project.

The bibliographic record is the link between the software packages discussed in this article: cataloguing and acquisitions. Cataloguing software ranges from sophisticated online public access catalogues to cheaper and simpler software designed to produce catalogue entries for an existing manual system (e.g. cards). The range of acquisitions software is equally wide encompassing packages which simply print an order from data which is keyed in to those which incorporate the whole process of acquisitions from the recommendation stage through to receipt and full fund accounting. This article, the fourth in the series, describes the different features with examples, and concludes with a discussion on the nature of integrated systems.

Computer software, and indeed hardware, has not as yet captured the imagination of many practising valuers. There are a number of reasons for this. But micro‐computer software is available for property valuation, appraisal and analysis, and this software takes a number of forms. Care should be taken in choice, especially if the firm in question uses ‘traditional’ methods of valuation. It is clear that for those not already computerised the overall strategy of a firm, as regards its function and scope of practice, should be carefully considered. For those already computerised it is hoped that the article will provide valuable advice on software availability for valuation, appraisal and portfolio analysis, with particular reference to development appraisals.

The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative study of selected existing library automation software available in India.

The literature search was carried out to collect the data regarding library automation, library software. Survey, questionnaire and personal visit to local library software developer, method were used. The questionnaire was designed on the basis of software application, operating system used, hardware requirement and modules provided. These questionnaires were sent to all software developers. On receiving of the ten questionnaires, data were analyzed and tabulated. The last step was report preparation and drawing conclusions.

It is observed that total ten software provided acquisition, cataloguing, online public access catalog (OPAC), circulation and serial control facility. Only five library softwares provide online facility. Out of ten library software; LibSys is the highly rated one having 37 software features followed by SOUL software having 36 points followed by 35 points of Wolk Soft Tech software. SLIM 21 and SLM+ + has 34 points. It is necessary to improve the quality of software for providing effective services. In circulation, 18 features are added. Out of 18 features, SOUL has all the 18 features and is highly ranked followed by Libman, SLIM 21, SLIM+ +and Wolk Soft tech have 17 point each, respectively. Libtech has 16 circulation features. In the OPAC module, 20 features have been studied. Out of 20 features, Libman has all the 20 features and is highly rated followed by SOUL software, which includes 19 features. Out of 20 features, LibSys has 18 software features. Out of 11 features, LibSys, SLIM 21 and SOUL has all 11 features followed by DELPLUS, Libman and Libtech having ten points each. In serial control, six features are added. Out of six features, I‐Lib, Libman, LibSys, Libtech, SLIM 21, SLIM++, Softlib and SOUL have all the six features followed by four features in DELPLUS, and Wolk Soft tech. The credibility of library software packages is evaluated on the basis of their salient features and the facilities available in the software. On the basis of the salient features, and the facilities provided, the software is ranked by giving points to each facility as per features. SOUL software scored first rank (90 points) among all ten software followed by Libman (84 points) and LibSys (83 points).

In total, 72 library automation software packages have been developed in India. But for this study, ten selected software packages have been chosen on the basis of their usability and implementation to libraries.

After this study, one can enable to evaluate the library automation software packages and ranks them according to their features so that they can implement the particular software for library automation to their own library.

The paper provides a comprehensive picture of features, facilities available and services rendered by various library automation software packages in India. None of the research has been done till now on evaluation of these ten library software in India.

This paper seeks to analyse the process of packaged software selection in a small organization, focussing particularly on the role of IT consultants as intermediaries in the process.

This is based upon a longitudinal, qualitative field study concerning the adoption of a customer relationship management package in an SME management consultancy.

The authors illustrate how the process of “salesmanship”, an activity directed by the vendor/consultant and focussed on the interests of senior management, marginalises user needs and ultimately secures the procurement of the software package.

Despite the best intentions the authors lose something of the rich detail of the lived experience of technology in presenting the case study as a linear narrative. Specifically, the authors have been unable to do justice to the complexity of the multifarious ways in which individual perceptions of the project were influenced and shaped by the opinions of others.

Practitioners, particularly those from within SMEs, should be made aware of the ways in which external parties may have a vested interest in steering projects in a particular direction, which may not necessarily align with their own interests.

This study highlights in detail the role of consultants and vendors in software selection processes, an area which has received minimal attention to date. Prior work in this area emphasises the necessary conditions for, and positive outcomes of, appointing external parties in an SME context, with only limited attention being paid to the potential problems such engagements may bring.

Applications software of two types is discussed. First communications, file transfer and search assistance software which enables the microcomputer to be used for intelligent access to external databases. Second, software designed to support database creation and searching on local microcomputers. The facilities which may be offered by each type of software are described with examples of commercial packages.

There are now a number of microcomputer packages intended for almost every library routine and application, although in some cases the choice is limited. The principal features of many of these packages are discussed and related to the requirements of the routines for which they are intended. These include information retrieval, online searching, catalogues, acquisitions, serials control and circulation control.

Automated text retrieval and library management systems have not yet taken a desired shape in Indian libraries, though efforts are being made in this direction. A number of software packages for this purpose have come out recently through government and private agencies. Published sources assessing this technology are yet to appear, therefore choosing the right software is difficult. This paper aims to high‐light the present Indian scenario by presenting a brief overview of 10 selected indigenous packages, namely CATMAN, CDS/ISIS, LIBRARIAN, LibSys, MAITRAYEE, MECSYS, NIRMALS, SANJAY, TULIPS, and WILISYS. The underlying framework and text retrieval and library management facilities in these packages are briefly discussed. Considering the cost aspect, it is concluded that CDS/ISIS, along with SANJAY with some further modifications, might prove to be the most suitable package for most Indian libraries.