management information systems, sixth edition chapter 5: business software

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition

Chapter 5:

Business Software

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 2

Objectives

• Explain the difference between application software and system software

• Enumerate the different generations of programming languages and explain how they differ

• Cite the latest major developments in application and system software

• Identify and explain the roles of Web programming languages


Objectives (continued)

• Explain the types and uses of Web site design tools

• Clarify the differences between proprietary software and open source software

• List characteristics that are important in evaluating packaged software applications for business use

• Understand the problem of software piracy and how it affects businesses and consumers


Software: Instructions to the Hardware

• Applications: computer programs that contribute to productivity

• Software: a series of instructions to a computer to execute processes

• Two major categories of software:– Application software: enables task completion

– System software: • Enables applications to run on a computer• Manages components and devices


Programming Languages and Software Development Tools

• Programs are needed for every computer operation• Programming: process of writing programs• Machine language: the only language that

hardware understands– Consists of long strings of 0s and 1s

• Assembly language: easier to program than machine language because it uses words for commands

• High-level programming languages: use English-like statements


Programming Languages and Software Development Tools (continued)

• Software development tools: develop software with little knowledge of programming languages

• Third-generation languages (3GLs): known as “procedural” languages– Programmer must detail logical procedure

– Includes languages such as COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, RPG, Pascal, and C

– One 3GL statement = five to 10 assembly language statements


• Fourth-generation languages (4GLs): use more English-like statements – Speed up the development process

– Built around database management systems

– Include many preprogrammed procedures

– One 4GL statement = several 3GL statements

• Debugging: process of locating and fixing program errors



Visual Programming

• Visual programming languages: create graphical screen objects by selecting icons from a palette

• Common visual programming languages include:– Microsoft Visual Basic

– Borland Delphi

– Micro Focus COBOL

– ASNA Visual RPG

– Visual C++

• Developer can still work at the code level

Visual Programming (continued)



Object-Oriented Programming

• Object-oriented programming (OOP): modular approach to programming

• Advantages:– Ease of maintenance

– Efficiency in application development

• Object: contains data elements (data members) and the methods to manipulate that data– Data members can only be accessed through the

object’s methods


Object-Oriented Programming (continued)

• Objects are reusable and are combined to create complex programs

• Popular OOP languages include Smalltalk, C++, Object Pascal, and Java

• Increasing amount of software developed for the Web using languages such as Java, JavaScript, J2EE, and PHP

• Applet: code produced by a Web programming language– Runs same way on different operating systems


Object-Oriented Programming (continued)


Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters

• Source code: program as originally written by the developer

• Object code: program in machine language that can be run by the computer

• Procedural languages need programs to translate source code to object code

• Two types of language translators: – Compilers

– Interpreters


Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters (continued)

• Compiler: translates entire source code to object code but does not execute the code– Scans for syntax errors

– Generates error messages if syntax errors found

• Interpreter: scans one statement at a time– If error-free, interprets and executes the

statement

– Goes through the program until an error or end of program is encountered


Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters (continued)


Application Software

• Application software allows nonprogrammers to develop their own tools

• Application-specific software: programs designed to perform specific jobs

• General-purpose application software: programs that serve multiple purposes– Usually comes as packaged software

• Packaged software: software that is ready to install from external storage media such as CDs


Office Productivity Applications

• Productivity tools: assist normal office work– Include word processors, spreadsheets,

presentation tools, file/database software, graphics programs, desktop publishing tools, and project management applications

• Word processors: used to create text documents

• Spreadsheets: store numbers and perform complex mathematical, statistical, and financial analysis functions


Office Productivity Applications (continued)

• Presentation tools: develop impressive presentations quickly

• File/database management tools: create and manipulate local or shared databases

• Graphics programs: create intricate graphical images and manipulate digital photographs

• Desktop publishing tools: develop items for publication, such as pamphlets, newsletters, cards, calendars, etc.


Office Productivity Applications (continued)

• Project management tools: help plan projects and track progress

• Suite: collection of various applications that perform multiple interrelated functions– Includes Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite,

OpenOffice.org, ThinkFree


Hypermedia and Multimedia

• Hypermedia: a feature that enables users to access information by clicking text or graphics

• Web page authoring tools: enable hypermedia features– Often part of other applications such as word

processors and presentation tools


Hypermedia and Multimedia (continued)

• Multimedia software: handles many different types of data

• Often used in:– Education: lessons presented in multimedia

– Training exercises

– Compiling and integrating data for business situations

Mashups

• Mashup: an integrated application containing some or all features from several applications– Provides enhanced features for the end user

• Web site design tools: used to change the content of Web pages– Includes FrontPage, SharePoint Designer,

Expression Web from Microsoft, Adobe Dreamweaver, and GoLive



Groupware

• Groupware: an application that enables workers to collaborate in real time over Web– Integration of multimedia technology and Web

technology

– Allows for remote collaboration

– Eliminates travel times and facilitates expression and exchange of ideas


Virtual Reality• Virtual reality (VR): an application that mimics

sensory reality using software– Simulates sight, hearing, and touch

– Uses equipment such as goggles, gloves, earphones, and moving bases

• VR devices provide two elements:– Immersion: user senses that she/he is

surrounded by the simulated environment

– Interaction: allows users to simulate changes in the environment using VR devices


Virtual Reality (continued)

• VR environment senses movement, responds to signals, and provides feedback to user

• Businesses use VR to decrease cost of planning buildings, machines, and vehicles

• Avatar: an imaginary figure used to represent real person

• VR on the Web includes public gathering applications– Second Life: an imaginary world using avatars to

allow real people to meet and communicate


3D Geographic Software

• Similar to virtual reality

• Used to develop three-dimensional models of geographic locations

• Models are created from land and aerial photographs

• Helps with navigation when tied to global positioning system software

• Useful for city planners, service agencies, tourism, and travel agencies


System Software

• System software: deals with essential operations between the user and computer such as:– Loading, copying, and deleting files

– Managing memory resources

– Operating peripheral equipment

– Encompasses compilers and interpreters

• Applications must be compatible with system software


Operating Systems

• Operating system (OS): most important program on the computer– Recognizes input from keyboard and mouse

– Sends output to computer display

– Keeps track of files and directories

– Runs applications

– Manages memory

• Usually developed using low-level programming languages such as assembly languages

• Also known as “platforms”


Operating Systems (continued)

• Application program interfaces (APIs): software included in the OS that can be used by application program developers

• Utilities: perform other OS functions such as:– Hardware diagnostics

– Disk check

– File sorting



• OS’s position in logical operation of the computer:– User interacts with user interface using menus,

icons, and application commands

– Application converts user input into OS commands

– OS commands the CPU to carry out the operation



• OS must manage the system by allocating hardware resources to applications

• OS provides several services, including:– User interface

– Memory allocation, including the use of virtual memory (hard disk used as an extension of RAM)

– Plug-and-play (PnP): recognize and run a device as soon as it is physically attached


• Driver: software that enables OS to control a device

• Additional OS services include:– Database management

– Networking

– Security

• Different computers and types of microprocessors use different OSs




• Popular PC operating systems– Windows XP and Windows Vista

– Linux

– Mac OS

• Popular network OSs that are compatible with DOS, Windows, and MAC clients include:– Netware

– Windows Server

• Linux: a free OS based on UNIX


Other System Software• Other types of system software include:

– Compilers and interpreters– Communications software– Utilities– Database management systems

• Communications software: supports transmission and reception of data across computer networks

• Utilities include antivirus programs, firewalls, and antispyware/antiadware programs


Open Source Software• Proprietary software: sold/licensed for profit

– Source code is private and not available– Developer retains all rights to the software; user

purchases a license to use the software

• Open source software: free source code– Developed through voluntary collaboration of

programmers– Fewer bugs because many programmers review the

code

• Popular open source software includes Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, MySQL, and PERL


Open Source Software (continued)

• Not all free software is open source– Microsoft Internet Explorer is free but proprietary

• Linux: best known open source OS– Includes free versions and versions that charge

for support and additional features

– Popular because of its versatility, but has limited number of applications that run on it

– Runs on mainframes, PCs, handhelds, and electronic devices


Software Licensing

• Software is usually licensed• Licensed software: provides limited permission

to use the software– Time-limited license requires annual fees

• Several licensing models– Permissive model: anyone can use and sell

modified versions of the software– General public license (GPL): anyone can use

and make modified versions, but cannot sell modified versions for profit


Considerations for Packaged Software

• Many goals and custom requirements are considered during development process of in-house software

• Factors when purchasing large software packages are more complex, including:– Cost

– Time to implement

– Cost of interrupting operations

– Modification costs to customize the software


Summary

• Software: a collective term for computer programs

• Two categories of software: system or application• Programming languages and software

development tools are used to develop software• Increasing amount of software is linked to the

Internet• Code written in non-machine language must be

translated by compilers or interpreters


Summary (continued)

• Some application programs are custom designed, and many are packaged

• Office productivity tools such as word processors and spreadsheets help improve worker efficiency

• Hypermedia and multimedia technology are useful for training, education, research, and business


Summary (continued)

• Groupware combines hypermedia and multimedia with Web technologies for collaboration

• Virtual reality tools help build models of products and structures

• Three-dimensional geographic software helps model maps and locations

• Many applications support Web services and access to information on the Web

Summary (continued)

• Most important system software is operating system

• Open source software is distributed freely via the Web

• Software is either purchased or licensed• Purchase decisions should evaluate suitability,

ease of learning, ease of use, vendor reputation, expected quality of vendor support

• Software piracy is still a significant problem


management information systems, sixth edition chapter 5: business software

Documents

application software

business software slide

edition5 programming

edition6 programming

proprietary software

edition4 software

productivity software

programming advantages