Build Differentiators

If functionality is a differentiator for the Partnership then we should prefer to build, rather than buy and/or customise.

Rationale

Customisation of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) packages, and misuse of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) beyond its designed-for use cases, can be costly in comparison to building equivalent functionality. It also has a longer-standing impact on the future pace of change, requiring maintenance and development on top of often-complex customisations that require specialist knowledge.

Implications

• Extract what value we can from existing COTS packages and SaaS.
• Use COTS packages and SaaS for their specific strengths,and compose differentiating systems around them as appropriate.
• Legacy systems, where we can differentiate, may need a wrapper layer to facilitate strangulation and subsequent replacement.
• Prepare for today’s differentiator becoming tomorrow’s commodity. We should watch the market and change our approach when there is value in doing so.