Methodology for demand-supply selection of commercial off-the-shelf software-based systems : contextual approach of leading contractors in Portugal

Lima, JB

Abstract

This research study aims to contribute to the discussion around Information Systems, more
precisely on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software Based Systems, as a Business Process
and as a Supply-Chain enabler tool, within the construction industry in Portugal. Concerned with
efficiency improvement of management theory in the construction arena, central discussions of
this study are about developing a methodology for demand-supply selection of COTS-Based
Systems for leading contractors in Portugal and analysing market offerings of COTS-Based
Systems covering Operations Management functional needs of leading contractors in Portugal.
Demand-side and supply-side research is undertaken, eliciting contractors' needs and analysing
market offerings of COTS-Based Systems at Operations Management-level from a functional
perspective. A multicompany informing case study approach contributes to a better
understanding of COTS-Based Systems selection practice, within the demand-supply context of
leading contractors in Portugal. Several other appropriate research methods and techniques are
employed to collect rich field data.
A specific Demand-Supply Selection (DSS) Methodology of COTS-Based Systems is
developed, based on methods and techniques in use by practitioners and on review of literature,
considering context/stakeholders interaction of leading contractors in Portugal. A systematised
list of functional high-level requirements for COTS-Based Systems evaluation is obtained to
produce a comprehensive Requirements Reference (RR) Model, so that the effort to elicit the
(functional) needs of leading contractors' Operations Management through further development
of requirements models from scratch is reduced. A benchmarking report of leading contractors
systems in use and a demand-supply cross analysis delivered on a COTS-Based Systems
Market Offerings (MO) Report, answers the question about 'which are the actual market
offerings of COTS-Based Systems supporting Operations Management functional needs of
leading contractors in Portugal'.
Based on these three perspectives, the research study aims to provide an original contribution
to knowledge, developing a comprehensive study covering supply and demand viewpoints.
In this respect, the direct and practical purpose of this study is to facilitate the planning phase
at the beginning of a project and offer comprehensive information to construction industry
players (e.g. consultants, COTS-Based Systems providers) that could lead to better products
(e.g. changes in functions of COTS-Based Systems) and services (e.g. Requirements
Engineering services, COTS-Based Systems selection services) for leading contractors in
Portugal.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2021
• Award Date: May 1, 2008