G063 - Custom-written v Off-the-Shelf Software questions

1. / The products of a computer accessories company are sold in shops. The company uses a computer database to store information about its products.
The company intends to use the Internet to sell its products A decision has to be made between using of-the-shelf software or custom-written software developed by a software house for this task.
(a) / Describe three advantages of purchasing of-the-shelf software. / [3]
(b) / Describe two advantages of using custom-written software. / [2]
2514 January 2001 Q1
2. / A small mail order company has decided to upgrade its computer system. It currently stores
  • records of customers in a flat database file;
  • records of purchases and sales using a spreadsheet.

The company decides to store all the data using new software. It needs to decide whether to have the software custom-written or to use an off-the-shelf package.
(a) / Describe three advantages to the company of purchasing an off-the-shelf package. / [3]
(b) / Describe two advantages to the company of having the software custom-written. / [2]
2514 May 2002 Q1
3. / A company needs to upgrade its database software. They can buy off-the-shelf software or have the software specially written for them.
(a) / Describe two advantages of buying off-the-shelf software.
(b) / Describe two advantages of having the software specially written. / [8]
2514 January 2004 Q5
4. / Details of properties for sale at an estate agency are to be held in a database. The database can be either custom-written or developed using an off-the shelf package.
(a) / Identify and explain three advantages to the agency of having the database custom-written. / [6]
(b) / Identify and explain two advantages of using an off-the shelf package. / [4]
2514 June 2005 Q2
5. / Food 4 Pets has purchased an off-the-shelf relational database to hold data.
Give two advantages of purchasing off-the-shelf software rather than custom written. / [2]
2514 June 2006 Q1
6. / A business currently keeps manual records of regular customers. The records are to be transferred to a database.
The database can be developed using off-the-shelf software or it can be custom-written.
(a) / Describe two advantages of using off-the-shelf software. / [4]
(b) / Describe two advantages of having the software custom-written. / [4]
2514 June 2007 Q2
7. / Details of customers who use a delivery service are to be stored in a database. The database can be either custom-written or an off-the-shelf package.
(a) / Describe two advantages of having the database custom-written. / [4]
(b) / Describe two advantages of using an off-the-shelf package. / [4]
2514 June 2009 Q2
8. / The management of an airline wants to introduce new working practices and has asked a consultancy firm to create custom-written software-based training for employees.
Explain the advantages of selecting a custom-written solution. / [6]
G063 January 2010 Q10
9. / A new stock control system will be implemented throughout a wedding outfitter’s business.
Compare the use of custom written and off-the-shelf solutions for the new stock control system. / [3]
G063 January 2011 Q11
10. / Give two comparisons between custom written and off-the-shelf solutions for a replacement stock control system within a small business. / [4]
G063 June 2012 Q5
11. / A dental surgery has had a new custom-written patient database system written.
Explain three issues a dental surgery will have to consider when getting support for the custom-written system. / [6]
G063 June 2012 Q10
12. / A school requires a system that will allow the students to access their school work from home.
Explain threeimplicationsof selecting a custom-written solution for the new system. / [6]
G063 June 2013 Q11