Organization Weighs Use of Open Source Software. You began operating a small general electric contracting company two years ago. Originally, it was just you and your cousin, but it has grown to five licensed electricians, plus one office manager who takes calls from customers, schedules the work, and orders parts and supplies. Your company handles a wide range of work, including installing new circuit breaker panels, rewiring existing electrical systems for renovations and additions, and installing residential light fixtures, security lighting systems, swimming pool lighting, and ceiling fans. Business has really taken off, and your current manual systems and procedures can no longer keep pace. The office manager has been exploring several options and has identified three different software packages designed for small contractors. Each one of the packages includes software designed for managing parts and supplies inventory, scheduling jobs, and invoicing customers. One of the packages also provides the capability to perform accounts receivable and accounts payable functions. Two of the software packages are from large, well-known companies, and both have an initial licensing cost of roughly $550 plus $100 per year for software support. The other software package is open-source software, with no initial cost and no support cost. The office manager is unsure how to proceed, but has your agreement to spend up to $1000 on new software. Which one of the following should be your next step?
a. Define the basic business functions that you need the software to be able perform.
b. Determine the date by which you need the new software installed and operational.
c. Talk to your cousin Vinnie who is an accountant in a large manufacturing firm.
d. Set an exact limit on how much you are willing to spend on office software.