Software Acquisition Management. - book reviews

Healthcare Financial Management, June, 1991 by John P. deKoff

Software Acquisition Management

By John J. Marciniak and Donald J. Reifer

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, N.Y., 1990 300 Pages, $39.95

Although this book has applications for healthcare finance, it will not appear on most healthcare financial managers' bookshelves. The text specifically deals with the tasks involved in procuring customized software and the nuances of project management from the position of software designers and corporate buyers.

Unless a hospital is a large facility with an in-house system requiring esoteric features, it will purchase applications already designed by a vendor. Most designed systems have flexible configurations that allow hospitals to adapt them to their operating environments.

The book's 12 chapters walk readers through the acquisition process from a buyer's and vendor's perspectives. After introductory and general background information in the first two chapters, the third chapter discusses the strategies and selection factors found in the competitive, two-phase, and sole-source acquisition approaches. This chapter also addresses developing request for proposals (RFPs).

Chapter four examines the statement of work, which details a software buyer's requirements and is an integral part of an RFP, and chapter five offers a synopsis of contract law. The next three chapters discuss managing the acquisition process, including a look at individual actions necessary within buying and selling organizations. Chapter eight presents a team approach that can be used with the individual processes to help open the lines of communication and increase the potential for a mutually acceptable product.

The specific areas of acquisition management-costs, quality control, and future trends-are addressed in the last four chapters.

Because software acquisistion management is not in the mainstream of healthcare financial managers' responsibilities, this book has limited usefulness for most readers. It would be helpful, however, for those in large teaching facilities that cannot effectively use, or choose not to use, available commercial systems.

Reviewed by John P. dekoff, FHFMA, CPA, vice president, DeHey & Associates, Rochester, N.Y.