Achieving Better Buying Power Through Acquisition of Open Architecture Software Systems for Web-Based and Mobile Devices

Abstract

Many people within large enterprises rely on up to four Web-based or mobile devices for their daily work routines personal computer, tablet, and personal and work-specific smartphones. Our research is directed at identifying, tracking, and analyzing software component costs and cost reduction opportunities within the acquisition life cycle of open architecture (OA) systems for such Web-based and mobile devices. These systems are subject to different intellectual property license and cybersecurity requirements. Our research goal is to create a new approach to address challenges in the acquisition of software systems for Web-based or mobile devices used within academic, business, or government enterprises. Acquisition personnel in such enterprises will increasingly be called on to review and approve choices between functionally similar open source software (OSS) components, and commercially priced closed source software (CSS) components, to be used in the design, implementation, deployment, and evolution of secure OA systems. We seek to make this a simpler, more transparent, and more tractable process. Finally, this acquisition research supports and advances a public purpose by investigating acquisition challenges arising from the adoption and deployment of secure OA software systems for Web-based or mobile devices.