Chapter 4

Software: Systems and Applications Software

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The Importance of Software in Business

High Software

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Hardware Low 1950

time

today

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An Overview of Software
What is Software? See Chapter 1! Consists of computer programs that control the
workings of computer hardware. Comp prog are sequences of instructions for the computer.

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Classes of Software
Systems software
Application software

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Spheres of Influence
Personal Information systems that serve the needs of an
individual user

Workgroup Two or more people who work together to achieve a

common goal

Enterprise Information systems that support the firm in its

interaction with its environment.
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Issues and Trends

Software licensing Protection by software vendors to prevent unauthorized use Software upgrades A revised version of software that usually includes fixes of known problems, plus enhancements to existing capabilities Global software support Software that is distributed around the globe may require unique support mechanisms due to local political and economic conditions
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 Open source software: freely to anyone that can be easily modified. Is nonprofit crporation dedicated to the development and promotion of opensource software.www.opensource.org. Can download source code, build software or developers can make executable versions available along with the source.eg: linux OS,Apache.

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 Software bug: defect in computer program that keeps it from performing as it is designed to perform

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Ownership
Freeware Shareware Public-domain software

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Freeware
Copyrighted software given away for free by the author. Although it is available for free, the author retains the copyright, which means that you cannot do anything with it that is not expressly allowed by the author. Usually, the author allows people to use the software, but not sell it. Inexprnsive or free.Ms. Windows defender: find and eliminate spyware. Open office: office suit word, spreadsheet, presentation program., picasa, sourceforge.net. Allows programmer to create, participate and evaluate program code.
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Ownership
Freeware Shareware Public-domain software

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Shareware (1)
Software distributed on the basis of an honor system. Most shareware is delivered free of charge, but the author usually requests that you pay a small fee if you like the program and use it regularly. By sending the small fee, you become registered with the producer so that you can receive service assistance and updates. You can copy shareware and pass it along to friends and colleagues, but they too are expected to pay a fee if they use the product.
Shareware is inexpensive because it is usually produced by a single programmer and is offered directly to customers. Thus, there are
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Shareware (2)
practically no packaging or advertising expenses.
Note that shareware differs from public-domain software in that shareware is copyrighted. This means that you cannot sell a shareware product as your own.

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Ownership
Freeware Shareware Public-domain software

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Public-domain Software
Refers to any program that is not copyrighted. Public-domain software is free and can be used without restrictions. The term public-domain software is often used incorrectly to include freeware, free software that is nevertheless copyrighted.

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Operating Systems
Activities performed by the operating system:

Perform common computer hardware functions Provide a user interface and input/output
management

Provide a degree of hardware independence Manage system memory

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Operating Systems (continued)

Activities performed by the operating system:

Manage processing tasks Provide networking capability

Control access to system resources

Manage files
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Operating system as interface between application software and hardware

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Executing a program

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Operating Systems (continued)

Common hardware functions

Get input from the keyboard or some other

input device

Retrieve data from disks Store data on disks

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Display information on a monitor or printer Information and Organizations

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Operating Systems (continued)

User interface and input/output management

User interface: allows individuals to access

and command the computer system

Command-based user interface: requires that

text commands be given to the computer to perform basic activities
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Operating Systems (continued)

Application program interface (API): allows applications to make use of the operating system Memory management: control how memory is accessed and maximize available memory and storage
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Application Program Interface Links Application Software to the Operating System

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Operating Systems (continued)

Processing tasks Multitasking: capability allowing more than one
program to run at the same time

Time-sharing: allows more than one person to

use a computer system at the same time

Scalability: ability of the computer to handle an

increasing number of concurrent users smoothly

Networking capability: features and capabilities of the OS that aid users in ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations Principles of Information Systems, Seventh Edition connecting to a computer network

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Operating Systems (continued)

Access to system resources

Protection against unauthorized access

Logins and passwords

File management: ensures that files in secondary storage are available when needed and that they are protected from ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations access by unauthorized users
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Three categories of operating systems

Stand-alone: A complete operating system that works on a desktop or notebook computer DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows
2000 Professional, Window Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS, UNIX, Linux

Network NetWare, Windows NT Server, Windows

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Principles of Information Systems, Seventh Edition

Popular Operating Systems Cross All Three Spheres of Influence

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Current Operating Systems

Microsoft PC operating systems Early DOS - several single user operating
systems developed in the early 1980s for personal computers Developed by Microsoft to meet the need for an operating system that had a GUI

Apple computer operating systems

A multitasking operating system available only for computers
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Workgroup Operating Systems

Windows Server UNIX A multitasking, multiuser operating system
developed in the early 1970s at Bell Laboratories The first operating system written in high level programming language C (could be installed virtually in any machine with C compiler) ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations Command line interface Principles of Information Systems, Seventh Edition 29

Role of Systems Software

System software Is an interface or buffer between application software and hardware Controls the computer hardware and acts as an interface with applications programs

Schematic
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Application software Users

Operating and systems software Hardware

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Operating System Functions

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Perform common computer hardware functions Provide a user interface Provide a degree of hardware independence Manage system memory Manage processing tasks Provide networking capability Control access to system resources Manage files

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User Interface
User interface
A function of the operating system that allows individuals to
access and command the computer

Command-based user interface

A particular user interface that requires text commands be
given to the computer to perform basic activities E.g., unix, DOS

Graphical user interface (GUI)

A user interface that uses pictures (icons) and menus displayed
on the screen to send commands to the computer system E.g. Windows, MAC OS
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Systems Software Concepts

Hardware independence Operating system (OS) provides hardware
independence for application software Application software interfaces with the operating system which interfaces with the hardware When the hardware is changed, the operating system is changed so that the application software is not required to be changed
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Software Concepts
Memory management Virtual memory & paging Multitasking Multithreading Timesharing

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Memory Management
Memory management Controls how memory is accessed and
maximizes available memory and storage

Schematic
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Application Software
What is the price of TIBA35 (TIBA35$)

OS
Fetch TIBA35$ from hard disk, track 1, sector 7

TIBA35$

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Software Concepts
Memory management Virtual memory & paging Multitasking Multithreading Timesharing

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Virtual Memory & Paging

Virtual memory Memory that allocates space in secondary
storage to supplement the immediate, functional memory capacity of RAM Paging A function of virtual memory allowing the
computer to store currently needed pages in RAM while the rest of the pages wait in secondary storage
Schematic
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Memory
Program 1 (a few pages)

Disk

Program 2 (a few pages)

Program 3 (a few pages) Program 4 (a few pages) Program 5 (a few pages) Program 6 (a few pages) Other memory requirements Operating system and system software Programs and other software

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Virtual Memory Discussion (1)

An imaginary memory area supported by some operating systems (for example, Windows but not DOS) in conjunction with the hardware. You can think of virtual memory as an alternate set of memory addresses. Programs use these virtual addresses rather than real addresses to store instructions and data. When the program is actually executed, the virtual addresses are converted into real memory addresses.
The purpose of virtual memory is to enlarge the address space, the set of addresses a program can utilize. For example, virtual memory
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Virtual Memory Discussion (2)

might contain twice as many addresses as main memory. A program using all of virtual memory, therefore, would not be able to fit in main memory all at once. Nevertheless, the computer could execute such a program by copying into main memory those portions of the program needed at any given point during execution.
To facilitate copying virtual memory into real memory, the operating system divides virtual memory into pages, each of which contains a fixed number of addresses. Each page is stored on a disk until it is needed. When the page is needed, the operating system copies it
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Virtual Memory Discussion (3)

from disk to main memory, translating the virtual addresses into real addresses.
The process of translating virtual addresses into real addresses is called mapping. The copying of virtual pages from disk to main memory is known as paging or swapping.

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Software Concepts
Memory management Virtual memory & paging Multitasking Multithreading Time-sharing

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Multitasking, Multithreading, Time-sharing

Multitasking A processing activity that allows a user to run more
than one application at the same time

Multithreading A processing activity that is basically multitasking

within a single application

Time-sharing A processing activity that allows more than one person

to use a computer system at the same time
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Software Concepts
Network capability Aids in connecting the computer to a network Access to system resources Provides security for unauthorized access File management Ensures that files in secondary storage are
available when needed, and they are protected against unauthorized usage
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Utility Programs
Utility programs

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Types of Application Software

Proprietary Designed to solve a unique and specific problem In-house Development of application software using the
companys resources

Contract Developed for a particular company Off-the-shelf An existing software program that can be used without
considerable changes expected
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Sources of Software
Customized package Blend of external and internal software
development In-house customized Contract customization

Schematic
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Application software

Proprietary software

Off-the-shelf software

In-house developed

Contract

Customized package

Standard package

In-house customized

Contract customization

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Examples

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Turbo Tax

Turbo Tax Provides automated assistance for tax preparation and submission.

(Figure 4.6)

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Quicken
Quicken An off-the-shelf software package that provides assistance for standard check writing and personal accounting.

(Figure 4.7)

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Word Processing
Word Processing Provides assistance in formulating, formatting, and printing documents such as letters, memos, and papers.

(Figure 4.8)

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Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet Provides a wide range of built-in functions for statistical, financial, logical, database, graphics, and data and time calculations.

(Figure 4.9)

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Database
Database Stores, manipulates, and retrieves data.

(Figure 4.10)
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Graphics

Graphics Program Helps make a presentation; develops brochures, illustrations, etc.

Usually called Presentation Graphics

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On-Line Services (Figure 4.12)

On-Line Services Provide access to various information resources.

(Figure 4.12)

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Software Suite

Software Suite Collection of personal productivity software such as word processor, spreadsheet, and database.

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Workgroup Application Software

Groupware Software that helps groups of people work
together more efficiently and effectively

Collaborative computing software Software that helps teams of people work

together toward a common goal

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Enterprise Application Software

Enterprise application software Software that benefits the entire organization Examples
Accounts receivable Accounts payable Cash-flow analysis Manufacturing control General Ledger
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Sales ordering Order entry Check processing Receiving Retail Operations

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Example

Integrated Supply Chain Management Software

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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) A set of integrated programs that manage a companys
vital business operations for an entire multi-site, global organization Vendor examples
SAP Oracle PeopleSoft Dun & Bradstreet JD Edwards
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Baan SSA Marcam QAD Ross Systems

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ERP Discussion
Short for enterprise resource planning, a business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has become more popular, software applications have emerged to help business managers implement ERP.

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