What is a primary benefit of using Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) software for a software acquisition program?

• A. Lower Total Lifecycle Cost
• B. Increased Customization Potential
• C. Higher Initial Risk
• D. Reduce Development Time

Answer: (D)

Using Commercial Off the Shelf software speeds things up because you’re starting with software that’s already developed, tested, and ready to use. That means you can deploy needed capabilities much faster than building them from scratch, configure them to fit your needs, and integrate them with existing systems. In a software acquisition program, hitting a tight schedule is often crucial, so the ability to realize functional components quickly is the biggest advantage. Of course, you may still face licensing costs, integration work, and potential limits on customization, but the time-to-delivery benefit is the primary reason COTS is chosen.