Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) Practice Test 2025 - Free CBAP Practice Questions and Study Guide

The acronym COTS stands for "Commercial off-the-shelf." This term is used in the context of software to refer to products that are readily available for purchase and use by the general public, as opposed to custom-built or bespoke solutions. COTS software is designed to serve a broad set of requirements and is generally cost-effective and expedient to deploy. Organizations often choose COTS solutions because they can quickly integrate these products into their systems without the delay and expense typically associated with developing a custom application.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the term used in the software industry. "Clearly on target," for instance, does not relate to software packaging or procurement. "Commercial on-the-shelf" is a misrepresentation and would be a redundant variation of the correct terminology. Lastly, "Complete on time solution" is more abstract and does not convey any specific meaning about commercially available software packages. Thus, "Commercial off-the-shelf" is the correct and widely recognized terminology in the industry.