Applicationsuch

Applicationsuch is a term used to describe a structured approach to finding and selecting software applications that meet predefined business requirements. It encompasses activities such as requirements gathering, market scanning, evaluation, and decision-making, with an emphasis on transparency and evidence-based judgments.

Origin and usage: The coinage combines "application" with the German word Such (search). It appears in discussions around IT procurement and digital product management, particularly in multilingual contexts. It is not a widely standardized framework but a descriptive label for a family of methodologies.

Core concepts: Central to applicationsuch are explicit requirements, a defined evaluation criteria set, data-driven scoring, and a reproducible process. It often includes risk assessment, compatibility checks, security considerations, total cost of ownership, vendor viability, and pilot testing.

Process outline: 1) define objectives and success criteria; 2) gather functional and technical requirements; 3) identify candidate solutions; 4) collect data on features, pricing, security, and support; 5) evaluate using a scoring rubric; 6) create a short list; 7) conduct proofs-of-concept or pilots; 8) select solution and plan implementation.

Benefits and limitations: Benefits include greater alignment with business needs, repeatability, and auditability. Limitations include potential time and resource demands, dependence on high-quality data, and the risk of over-standardization that may mask innovative options.

See also: requirements engineering, vendor management, software evaluation, RFP process.