Gavin Scott wrote:
...
>  Does anyone hear the single vendor solution demand anymore?
>
> G.

Curiously and interestingly, I've heard strong opposition to single vendor IT
solutions, even though (HP) solutions had worked well historically, but then
the same people turned around and bought an "integrated, comprehensive"
software system from a "large" company because you could call one source for
support and avoid finger pointing - and the logic that a large company must
be better cause it has more programmers!  The software system turns out to
have a few strong areas, but many weak ones as well.

Personally, I don't think a general concept like "single source" or
"multi-vendor" (or NT compatible) works at all, instead, a knowledgable
architect type person is needed to design solutions by picking and choosing,
weighing the available commercial solutions, local technical talent, and
needs of the business integrating into the (hopefully) optimal solution.  One
of the most serious difficulties seems to be evolving these solutions over
time, through technology changes and innovations.

--
Richard Gambrell
Database Administrator and Consultant to Computing Services
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Dept. 4454
113 Hunter Hall, 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
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