Resumen
The management of customer/supplier relationships encompasses all the activities associated with the flow of goods and services from suppliers to end users. This article looks at the characteristics of software supply chains across a range of development/procurement paradigms, focusing primarily on the nature of the relationship between software customers and software suppliers, with insights into the changing role of the customer. The Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products approach to software procurement essentially involves the selection-usually from a small set of options of one substantial product (or software suite) that can be tailored to provide specific and substantial system functionality. Partnership is at the heart of the relationship between suppliers and customers of COTS products. Essentially, customers see suppliers as long-term partners as opposed to subcontractors--a view more typically held by procurers of bespoke systems. Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) refers to the development of software systems from pre-existing parts. Relationships between customers and suppliers are typically established through brokers providing a number of facilities to support both parties.