When developing embedded systems, the decision to build or to buy a subsystem is difficult. Most of the issues are not of a technical nature but of human failings. Commitment to one another and to the project, along with a negotiated plan is the only feasible antidote to biases and irrational thought-processes that lead to failure to meet schedule, budget, and requirements.

Topics covered in this talk will include:

• Identify some problems in developing embedded systems
• Understand some cognitive biases
• Consider modeling and simulation of the development process
• Compare parameters that tend to be important in projects
• Suggest some ways to improve the decision process