Software: Systems & Application Software Chapter 4

2 IS for Management Software basics 4 Software is a critical piece of making computers perform 4 Businesses typically spend more on software than hardware 4 Computer programs are sequences of instructions for the computer

3Chapter 4IS for Management Two broad classes of Software 4 Systems Software 4Set of programs that coordinate activities & functions of the hardware & various other programs 4 Application Software 4Programs that help users solve particular computing problems

4Chapter 4IS for Management Software classified by “sphere of influence” Personal Information Software : Systems that serve the needs of an individual user (e.g., wordprocessors, databases, spreadsheets) Workgroup Software: Systems that support two or more people who work together to achieve a common goal (e.g., group scheduling, conferencing) Enterprise Software: Systems that support the firm in its interaction with its environment (e.g., order entry, billing)

5Chapter 4IS for Management Software Issues & Trends 4 Software Licensing 4Protection by software vendors to prevent unauthorized use 4 Software Upgrades 4A revised version of software that usually includes fixes of known problems, plus enhancements to existing capabilities 4 Global Software Support 4Software that is distributed around the globe may require unique support mechanisms due to local political & economic conditions

6Chapter 4IS for Management Role of Systems Software 4 Role of Systems Software 4An interface or buffer between application software & hardware 4 Operating System 4Controls the hardware & acts as an interface with application programs

7Chapter 4IS for Management Operating System Functions 4 Perform common computer hardware functions 4 Provide a user interface 4 Provide a degree of hardware independence 4 Manage system memory 4 Manage processing tasks 4 Provide networking capability 4 Control access to system resources 4 Manage files

8Chapter 4IS for Management User Interfaces 4 User Interface 4A function of the operating system that allows individuals to access & command the computer 4Command-Based User Interface 4Requires text commands to perform basic activities 4Menu-Based User Interface 4Requires pointing to menus & clicking on command 4Graphical User Interface (GUI) 4Uses pictures (icons) & menus displayed on the screen to send commands to the computer system

9Chapter 4IS for Management Software Concepts (1) 4 Hardware Independence 4Operating systems provide hardware independence for application software 4The application software interfaces with the operating system which interfaces with the hardware OS Hardware Application

10Chapter 4IS for Management Software Concepts (2) 4 Memory Management 4Controls how memory is accessed & maximizes available memory & storage 4 Virtual Memory 4Memory that allocates space in secondary storage to supplement the immediate, functional memory capacity of RAM 4 Paging 4A function of virtual memory that allows the computer to store currently needed pages in RAM while the rest of these programs wait in secondary storage

11Chapter 4IS for Management Software Concepts (3) 4 Multitasking 4A processing activity that allows a user to run more than one application at the same time 4 Multithreading 4A processing activity that is basically multitasking within a single application 4 Time-sharing 4A processing activity that allows more than one person to use a computer system at the same time

12Chapter 4IS for Management Software Concepts (4) 4 Network capability 4Aids in connecting the computer to a network 4 Access to system resources 4Provides security for unauthorized access 4 File management 4Ensures that files in secondary storage are available when needed & are protected against unauthorized usage 4 Utility Programs 4Merge & sort sets of data, keep track of computer jobs being run, compress files of data before they are stored or transmitted over a network, & perform other important tasks

13Chapter 4IS for Management Types of Application Software 4 Proprietary Software 4Designed to solve a unique & specific problem 4Can be developed in-house or developed under contract by an outside software provider 4 Customized Software 4Blend of in-house & external development 4 Off-The-Shelf Software 4An existing software program that can be used without considerable changes expected

14Chapter 4IS for Management Personal Application Software 4 Word Processing Program 4Assistance in formulating, formatting, & printing documents such as letters, memos, & papers 4 Spreadsheet Program 4Built-in functions for statistical, financial, logical, database, graphics, & data & time calculations 4 Database Program 4Stores, manipulates, & retrieves data 4 Software Suite 4Collection of personal productivity software such as word processor, spreadsheet, & database 4 Graphics Program 4Assistance in making presentations, developing brochures, illustrations, etc. 4 On-Line Services 4Provide access to various information resources

15Chapter 4IS for Management Object Linking & Embedding 4 Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) allows user to copy text/graphics from one document to another or to embed text/graphics from one program into another program/document 4Server Application supplies objects user places in other applications 4Client application accepts objects from other applications 4Copy copies data from one application & places it in another 4Link is used when user wants changes made to the server object to appear automatically in all linked client objects 4Embed is used when user wants an object to become part of the client document

16Chapter 4IS for Management Workgroup Application Software 4 GroupWare 4Helps groups of people work together more efficiently & effectively 4 Collaborative Computing Software 4Helps teams of people work together toward a common goal

17Chapter 4IS for Management Enterprise Software 4 Enterprise Application Software 4Benefits the entire organization (e.g., accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, order entry, etc.) 4 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) 4A set of integrated programs that manage a company’s vital business operations for an entire multi-site, global organization (e..g., SAP, PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards, Oracle, etc.)

18Chapter 4IS for Management Programming Languages (1) 4 Machine Language 4The first generation programming language 4A low-level language because it involves a basic coding scheme using the binary symbols 1 & 0 4 Assembly Language 4Second generation language 4Replaced binary digits with symbols programmers could more easily understand 4 Third Generation Languages 4Continued trend to more symbolic code (e.g., COBOL, FORTRAN)

19Chapter 4IS for Management More Programming Languages 4 Fourth Generation Languages (4GLs) 4Less procedural & even more English-like than third-generation languages (e.g., FOCUS) 4 Query Languages 4Ask the computer questions in English-like sentences (aka database query languages) 4Structured Query Language (SQL) 4Standardized query language used to perform database queries & manipulations 4Most modern database management system applications use or support SQL 4 Fifth-Generation Languages 4Combines rule-based code generation, component management, visual programming techniques, & reuse management

20Chapter 4IS for Management Object Oriented Languages (Figure 4.17) 4 Object Oriented Languages: Small Talk, C++, Java

21Chapter 4IS for Management Object Oriented Languages 4 Object-Oriented Languages allow interaction of programming objects, including data elements & the actions that will be performed on them 4Encapsulation: The process of grouping items into an object 4Polymorphism: A process allowing the programmer to develop one routine or set of activities that will operate on multiple objects 4Inheritance: Property used to describe objects in a group of objects taking on characteristics of other objects in the same group or class of objects 4Reusable Code: The instruction code within an object that can be reused in different programs for a variety of applications

22Chapter 4IS for Management Visual Programming Languages 4 Visual Programming Languages 4Use a mouse, icons, or symbols on the screen & pull- down menus to develop programs 4Examples: Visual Basic, Visual C++, PC COBOL 4 Knowledge-based Management Approach 4User tells the computer what he/she wants the computer to do rather than how to do the job

23Chapter 4IS for Management Language Translation Language translator: Systems software that converts a programmer’s source code into its equivalent in machine language 4Interpreter: A language translator that translates one program statement at a time into machine code 4Compiler: A language translator that converts a complete program into machine language to produce a program that the computer can process in its entirety

24Chapter 4IS for Management Case 4 Gap uses object-oriented programming 4pp Next Class 4Chapter 5 - Organizing data & information 4Case: US West - Data warehousing