Not completed (REQUIRED) 2.1 Discussion Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom Software IT projects can be based on existing, off-the-shelf software that is customized to meet the needs of the project deliverables. Or, IT projects can be built from the ground up, in-house. magine you and your colleagues are consultants who have been asked to weigh in on the custom vs. off-the-shelf question at the beginning of an IT project at a Fortune 500 company. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of choosing and customizing off-the-shelf software to meet your project's needs vs. building the entire project in house. Consider cost, the impact on the in-house team's development staff, the software's ability to grow with future project requirements, and how the choice will affect project support and maintenance