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Chapter

14

Computer Software

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Learning Objectives

Describe several important trends occurring in computer software.

Give examples of several major types of application and system software.

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Learning Objectives (continued)

Explain the purpose of several popular software packages for end user productivity and collaborative computing.

Outline the functions of an operating system.

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Learning Objectives (continued)

Describe the main uses of software programming languages and tools.

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Section I

Application Software: End User Applications

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Software

Types of softwareApplication softwareSystem software

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Software (continued)

Application software for end usersApplication-specific

General-purposePerform common information processing

jobsSometimes known as productivity

packages

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Software Suites and Integrated Packages

Suites are a number of productivity packages bundled togetherMicrosoft OfficeLotus SmartSuiteCorel WordPerfect OfficeSun StarOffice

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Software Suites and Integrated Packages (continued)

Advantages of suitesCostSimilar graphical user interfaceShare common toolsPrograms are designed to work together

Disadvantages of suitesLarge sizeMany features never used by many end

users

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Software Suites and Integrated Packages (continued)

Integrated PackagesCombine SOME of the features of several

programsCannot do as much as individual packages

or suites

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Web Browsers

Key software interface to the hyperlinked resources of the World Wide Web and the rest of the InternetInternet ExplorerNetscape Communicator

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Electronic Mail and Instant Messaging

E-MailHas changed the way people work and

communicate

Instant MessagingAn e-mail/computer conferencing hybrid

technologyAllows real time

communication/collaboration

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Word Processing and Desktop Publishing

Word ProcessingHas computerized the creation, editing,

revision, and printing of documents.Advanced features

Desktop PublishingDesign and print newsletters, brochures,

manuals, and booksPage design process

Page makeup or page compositionWYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)

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Electronic Spreadsheets

Used for business analysis, planning, and modeling

Involves designing its format and developing the relationships (formulas)

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Electronic Spreadsheets (continued)

Allows end users to perform:What-ifGoal-seekingSensitivity analysis

StrengthComputation and calculation

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Database Management

Performs four primary tasksDatabase development

Define/organize content, relationships, and structure of the data

Database InterrogationSelectively retrieve and display

information Produce forms, reports, & other

documents

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Database Management (continued)

Four primary tasks (continued)Database maintenance

Add, delete, update, and correct the data

Application developmentDevelop prototypes of web pages, queries,

forms, reports, and labels

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Database Management (continued)

StrengthStorage of large amounts of data

WeaknessComputation and calculation

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Presentation Graphics

Helps convert numeric data into graphic displays

Helps prepare multimedia presentationsEasy to use

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Personal Information Managers

For end user productivity and collaborationStore, organize, and retrieve information

Information about customersAppointmentsContact listsTask listsSchedules

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Groupware

Collaboration softwareHelps workgroups and teams work together to

accomplish group assignmentsCombines a variety of software features and functions

E-mailDiscussion groups and databasesSchedulingTask managementAudio and videoconferencingData sharing

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Other Business Software

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Section II

System Software: Computer System Management

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System Software Overview

Programs that manage and support a computer system and its information processing activities

Serves as the software interface between computer networks and hardware and the application programs of end users

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System Software Overview (continued)

Two major categoriesSystem management programs

Operating systemsNetwork management programsDatabase management systemsSystem utilities

System development programsProgramming language translators & editorsCASE (computer-aided software engineering)

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Operating Systems

Integrated system of programs thatManages the operations of the CPUControls the input/output and storage

resources and activities of the computer system

Provides various support services as the computer executes application programs

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Operating Systems (continued)

Performs five basic functionsProvides a user interface

Allows humans to communicate with the computerCommand-drivenMenu-drivenGraphical user interface

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Operating Systems (continued)

Five basic functions (continued)Resource management

Manages the hardware and networking resources of the system

Virtual memory capability

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Operating Systems (continued)

Five basic functions (continued)

File managementControls the creation, deletion, and access

of files of data and programsKeeps track of the physical location of files

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Operating Systems (continued)

Five basic functions (continued)

Task managementManages the accomplishment of the

computing tasks of end usersMultitasking

MultiprogrammingTimesharing

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Operating Systems (continued)

Popular Operating SystemsWindows

95, 98, MENT2000XP

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Operating Systems (continued)

Popular operating systems (continued)UNIXLinuxMac OS X

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Network Management Programs

Perform functions such asAutomatically checking client PCs and video

terminals for input/output activityAssigning priorities to data communication

requests from clients and terminalsDetecting and correcting transmission

errors and other network problemsSometimes functions as middleware that

allows diverse networks to communicate with each other

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Database Management Systems

Controls the development, use, and maintenance of databases.

Helps organizations use their integrated collections of data records and files

Allows different user application programs to easily access the same database

Simplifies the process of retrieving information from databases

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Other System Management Programs

Utility ProgramsPerform miscellaneous housekeeping and file

conversion functionsData backupData recoveryVirus protectionData compressionData defragmentation

Performance monitors and security monitors

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Programming Languages

Allows a programmer to develop the sets of instructions that constitute a computer program

Machine LanguageFirst generation languageWritten using binary codes unique to each

computer

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Programming Languages (continued)

Assembler LanguageSecond generationRequires language translator programs

called assemblersAllows a computer to convert the

instructions into machine instructionsFrequently called symbolic language

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Programming Languages (continued)

High-level LanguagesThird generationUses instructions, called statements, that

use brief statements or arithmetic expressions

Uses translator programs called compilers or interpreters

Syntax and semantics

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Programming Languages (continued)

Fourth-generation Languages (4GLs)More nonprocedural and conversational

than prior languagesNatural languagesEase of use gained at the expense of some

loss in flexibility

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Programming Languages (continued)

Object-Oriented Languages (OOP)Ties data elements to the procedures or

actions that will be performed on them into “objects”

Easier to use and more efficient for programming GUIs

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Programming Languages (continued)

HTML, XML, and JavaImportant for building multimedia Web

pages, websites, and Web-based applicationsHTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

A page description language that creates hypertext or hypermedia documents

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Programming Languages (continued)

XML (eXtensible Markup Language)Describes the contents of web pages by

applying identifying tags or contextual labels to the data

Makes the web site more searchable, sortable, and easier to analyze

JavaDesigned for real-time, interactive, Web-

based network applicationsApplets

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Programming Software

Helps programmers develop computer programs

Two basic categoriesProgramming language translatorsProgramming tools

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Programming Software (continued)

Language Translator ProgramsAssembler

Translates symbolic instruction codes into machine language instructions

CompilerTranslates high-level language statements

InterpreterTranslates and executes each statement in

a program one at a time

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Programming Software (continued)

Programming ToolsProgramming editors and debuggersProvides a computer-aided programming

environment or workbenchDiagramming packagesCode generatorsLibraries of reusable objects & codePrototyping toolsCASE

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Discussion Questions

What major trends are occurring in software? What capabilities do you expect to see in future software packages?

How do the different roles of system software and application software affect you as a business end user? How do you see this changing in the future?

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Discussion Questions (continued)

Why is an operating system necessary? Why can’t an end user just load an application program in a computer and start computing?

Should a Web browser be integrated into an operating system?

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Discussion Questions (continued)

Are software suites, Web browsers, and groupware merging together? What are the implications for a business and its end users?

How are HTML, XML, and Java affecting business applications on the Web?

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Discussion Questions (continued)

Do you think Windows 2000 and Linux will surpass Unix and Netware as operating systems for network and Web servers?

Which application software packages are the most important for a business end user to know how to use?

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Real World Case 1 – Intuit Inc.

Why has Intuit’s success improved under Bennett’s leadership?

What are several things Intuit could do to successfully compete with Microsoft and others in the future?

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Real World Case 1 (continued)

Why does Intuit dominate its small-business software market segment?

What software products and services does Intuit have that might support Bennett’s strategy to appeal to larger small businesses?

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Real World Case 1 (continued)

Do you agree with CEO Bennett’s strategy to have Intuit compete with Microsoft in the software market for larger small businesses?

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Real World Case 2 – Amazon, Orbitz, and Others

The Business Case for Linux

What are the business and technical benefits of switching from proprietary systems to Linux on Intel-based servers?

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Real World Case 2 (continued)

Why can Linux make a strategic difference in the profitability of some companies?

What are the limitations of Linux for business use?

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Real World Case 2 (continued)

Should most companies investigate the use of Linux for their businesses?

Why or why not?

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Real World Case 3 – Burlington Coat Factory and Others

Evaluating Software Suite Alternatives

What is the business case for switching from Microsoft Office to alternatives like Sun StarOffice or gobeProductive?

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Real World Case 3 (continued)

What is the business case against such a switch?

What are the weaknesses of the “Office” competitors?

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Real World Case 3 (continued)

What are several business or technical improvements the developers of Sun StarOffice or gobeProductive could make to better compete with Microsoft Office?

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Real World Case 4 – Clark Retail & Others

Evaluating Operating System Upgrades

Why do many companies have no plans to switch to Windows XP?

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Real World Case 4 (continued)

What is a business case for switching to Windows XP?

What is a business case against switching?

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Real World Case 4 (continued)

What are several improvements you would like to see Microsoft make in the next version of Windows?

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Real World Case 5 – Dollar Rent A Car & Imperial Sugar

Pioneering Web Services

What are Web services?

How are they used?

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Real World Case 5 (continued)

What is the purpose and business value of Web services?

What is delaying the implementation of Web services at many companies?

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Real World Case 5 (continued)

What can companies do now to prepare to implement Web services?

What do you see as the future for Web services?