When Possible Not many years ago businesses relied primarily on software written for their own specific needs. Development of new programs frequently required several years to define inputs and outputs, prepare flow charts and detail coding, and finally test and debug the resulting products. Programs were frequently out of date when implemented, expensive to modify, and very costly. Today a variety of packaged software is available at prices comparable to a short business trip, in some cases less than a taxi ride from the airport. These programs seldom do exactly what employees would ideally like or are now accustomed to.
Computer software is somewhat like the automobile.
There are a variety of models available, and most users can satisfy their needs at a reasonable cost with delivery of a stock car in a short time period. If a user wishes to meet the ideal configuration for his or her particular needs by combining the trunk from one car with the engine from a second and an interior from a third, the resulting automobile would be many times more expensive and require months or years to custom manufacture. The new AMAX procedures were developed internally by employees. The ideas were generated mainly in discussions about the tasks to be accomplished and what could be done to simplify the job. Two accounting tools helped in reviewing procedures.