Software:

Systems and Application

Software

Principles of Information Systems

Eighth Edition
 Principles and Learning Objectives
1. Identify and briefly describe the functions of the two basic kinds of
software
2. Outline the role of the operating system and identify the features
of several popular operating systems
3. Discuss how application software can support personal,
workgroup, and enterprise business objectives
4. Identify three basic approaches to developing application
software and discuss the pros and cons of each
5. Outline the overall evolution and importance of programming
languages and clearly differentiate among the generations of
programming languages
6. Identify several key software issues and trends that have an
impact on organizations and individuals

Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 2

 Why Learn About Software?
Software is indispensable for any computer system
Systems software needed for input, calculations,
and output
Application software aids in productivity
Personal tasks using software
Income tax preparation
Keeping a budget
Internet research
Games

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 An Overview of Software

Computer programs: sequences of

instructions for the computer
Documentation: describes program functions
Software system software and application
software

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 Systems Software
Systems software: coordinates the activities and
functions of hardware and programs
Computer system platform: combination of a
hardware configuration and systems software

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 Application Software
Application software: helps users solve particular
problems
In most cases, application software resides on the
computers hard disk
Application software can also be stored on CDs,
DVDs, and flash or keychain storage devices

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 Supporting Individual, Group, and
Organizational Goals
Organisation people, workgroup, enterprise supported with software and IS
Organisation needs to classify the software and IS uses to increase productivity
need to identify the scope of problems and opportunities
Sphere of influence: the scope of problems and opportunities addressed by a
particular organisation
For most companies, the spheres of influence are personal, workgroup, and
enterprise

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 Supporting Individual, Group, and
Organizational Goals (continued)

Table 4.1: Software Supporting Individuals, Workgroups, and Enterprises

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 Installing and Removing Software for
PCs
Before you can use software, it must be installed
on a computer
Software for personal computers typically comes
on CDs or is downloaded from the Web
Most operating systems have an add/remove
program feature for removing software
Does not work with all software
Does not always remove all elements of the software

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 Systems Software
Systems software
Controls operations of computer hardware
Supports application programs problem-solving
capabilities
Types of systems software
Operating systems
Utility programs
Middleware

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 Operating Systems

Operating system (OS): set of programs that

controls the computer hardware and acts as an
interface with application programs
Kernel: ties all components of the OS together and
regulates other programs

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 Operating Systems (continued)
Various combinations of OSs, computers, and
users
Single computer with a single user
Single computer with multiple users
Multiple computers
Special-purpose computers

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 Operating Systems (continued)
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
Manage processing tasks
Provide networking capability
Control access to system resources
Manage files

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 Operating Systems (continued)
The role of Systems Software interface between users,
application software and hardware

Figure 4.4: The Role of Systems Software

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 Operating Systems (continued)
OS acts as an intermediary between application
and hardware
OS converts basic request into a set of details
instruction that the hardware requires
Common hardware functions (e.g.)
Get input from keyboard or some other input device
Retrieve data from disks
Store data on disks
Display information on a monitor or printer

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 Operating Systems Functions

1. 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
Graphical user interface (GUI): uses icons and
menus displayed on screen to send commands to
the computer system

Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 16

 Operating Systems Functions
(continued)
2. Hardware independence
Application program interface (API): allows
applications to make use of the operating system
3. Memory management
Control how memory is accessed and maximize
available memory and storage

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 Operating Systems Functions
(continued)

Figure 4.6: Application Program Interface Links Application Software to

the Operating System

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 Operating Systems (continued)
4. Processing tasks
Multitasking: more than one program can 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
5. Networking capability
Features and capabilities of the OS that aid users in
connecting to a computer network

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 Operating Systems (continued)

6. Access to system resources and security

Protection against unauthorized access
Logins and passwords
7. File management
Ensures that files in secondary storage are available
when needed and that they are protected from
access by unauthorized users

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 Current Operating Systems

Table 4.2: Popular Operating Systems Cross All Three Spheres of Influence
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 Current Operating Systems
(continued)
Microsoft PC operating systems
PC-DOS and MS-DOS: early, command-driven OSs
Windows XP: greatly improved stability and security
over previous versions of Windows
Windows XP N: for European market
Windows XP Professional X64: for computers with
newer 64-bit capabilities
Windows XP Media Center Edition: incorporates
additional multimedia features
Vista: latest version of Windows

Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 22

 Current Operating Systems
(continued)
Apple operating systems
Often provide cutting edge tools in graphics and
music not available from Microsoft
Mac OS X
Jaguar (OS X.2)
Panther (OS X.3)
Tiger (OS X.4): support for 64-bit computing,
Dashboard, Spotlight, etc.

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 Current Operating Systems
(continued)
Linux
Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991
Open-source product
Only the kernel of an OS
Several distributions available with
capabilities/applications that form a complete OS
Examples: Red Hat Linux, Caldera OpenLinux

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 Workgroup Operating Systems
Windows Server
UNIX
NetWare
Red Hat Linux
Mac OS X Server

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 Enterprise Operating Systems
z/OS
MPE/iX
HP-UX
Linux

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 Operating Systems for Small
Computers, Embedded Computers,
and Special-Purpose Devices
Palm OS
Windows Embedded
Windows Mobile

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 Utility Programs
Help to perform maintenance or correct problems
with a computer sistem
Common types of utility programs:
Hardware utilities
Virus-detection and recovery utilities
File-compression utilities
Spam and pop-up blocker utilities

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 Utility Programs (continued)
Network and Internet utilities
Server and mainframe utilities
Other utilities
Manages and protects corporate documents
Helps people with visual disabilities use the Internet
Monitors employees
Searches for files and documents

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 Middleware
Middleware: software that allows different systems
to communicate and exchange data
Middleware can also be used as an interface
between the Internet and older legacy systems
e.g. ?

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 Application Software
Primary function is to apply the power of the
computer to give individuals, workgroups, and the
entire enterprise the ability to solve problems and
perform specific tasks
Application programs interact with systems
software; systems software then directs computer
hardware to perform the necessary tasks

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 Overview of Application Software
Proprietary software: one-of-a-kind program for a
specific application, usually developed and owned
by a single company
Off-the-shelf software: existing software program
that is purchased

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 Overview of Application Software
(continued)

Figure 4.13: Types of Application Software

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 Overview of Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.4: A Comparison of Proprietary and Off-the-Shelf Software

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 Overview of Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.4: A Comparison of Proprietary and Off-the-Shelf Software

(continued)
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 Personal Application Software
Serves the needs of an individual user
Includes personal productivity software
Enables users to improve their personal
effectiveness

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 Personal Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.5: Examples of Personal Productivity Software

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 Personal Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.5: Examples of Personal Productivity Software (continued)

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 Personal Application Software
(continued)
Software suite: collection of single application
programs packaged in a bundle
Microsoft Office: most popular general-purpose
software suite
Other general-purpose software suites: Corels
WordPerfect Office, Lotus SmartSuite, Sun
Microsystemss StarOffice
Integrated application packages: offer a range of
capabilities for less money than software suites
Example: Microsoft Works

Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 39

 Personal Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.6: Major Components of Leading Software Suites

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 Workgroup Application Software

Workgroup application software: support

teamwork, whether people are in the same location
or dispersed around the world
Groupware: software that helps groups of people
work together more efficiently and effectively

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 Workgroup Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.7: Ernst & Youngs Three Cs Rule for Groupware

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 Enterprise Application Software
Software that benefits an entire organization
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software:
set of integrated programs that manage a
companys vital business operations for an entire
multisite, global organization

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 Enterprise Application Software
(continued)

Table 4.8: Examples of Enterprise Application Software

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 Application Software for Information,
Decision Support, and Specialized
Purposes
Specialized application software for information,
decision support, and other purposes is available in
every industry
Examples
Genetic researchers use software to visualize and
analyze the human genome
Music executives use decision support software to
help pick the next hit
Decision support software is used to increase the
cure rate for cancer
Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 45
 Programming Languages

Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system of rules

for constructing statements by which humans can
communicate instructions to be executed by a
computer
Different languages have different characteristics
Syntax: a set of rules associated with a
programming language

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 The Evolution of Programming
Languages

Table 4.9: The Evolution of Programming Languages

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 The Evolution of Programming
Languages (continued)
Visual, object-oriented, and artificial intelligence
languages are easier for nonprogrammers to use
than older generation languages
Visual languages use a graphical or visual interface
for program development
Object-oriented programming languages are based
on objects
Compiler: a special software program that
converts programmers source code into machine-
language instructions consisting of binary digits

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 The Evolution of Programming
Languages (continued)

Figure 4.21: Reusable Code in Object-Oriented Programming

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 The Evolution of Programming
Languages (continued)

Figure 4.23: How a Compiler Works

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 Software Issues and Trends
Because software is such an important part of
todays computer systems, software issues have
received increased attention
Major software issues and trends discussed in the
text
Software bugs, copyright, software licensing, open-
source software, shareware and public domain
software, multiorganizational software development,
software upgrades, and global software support

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 Software Bugs
Software bug: defect in a computer program that
keeps it from performing as it is designed to
perform
Tips for reducing impact of software bugs
Register all software so that you can receive bug
alerts, fixes, and patches
Check the manual or read-me files for work-arounds
Access support area of the manufacturers Web site
for patches
Install the latest software updates

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 Copyrights and Licenses
Most software products are protected by law using
copyright or licensing provisions
In some cases, you are given unlimited use of
software on one or two computers
In other cases, you pay for your usageif you use
the software more, you pay more
Some software now requires that you register or
activate it before it can be fully used

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 Open-Source Software
Open-source software: software freely available
to anyone in a form that can be easily modified
Some widely used open-source software
packages: Linux OS, Free BSD, Apache, Sendmail,
Perl
Open-source software is often more reliable and
secure than commercial software
Open-source systems can contain hidden costs,
particularly for user support or solving problems
with the software

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 Open-Source Software (continued)

Table 4.10: Examples of Open-Source Software

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 Shareware, Freeware, and Public
Domain Software
Shareware and freeware: software that is very
inexpensive or free, but whose source code cannot
be modified
Public domain software: shareware and freeware
that is in the public domain

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 Software Upgrades
Software companies revise their programs and sell
new versions periodically
Revised software may or may not offer any major
additional capabilities
Revised software can contain bugs or errors
Software upgrades usually cost much less than the
original purchase price

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 Global Software Support
Vendors face the challenge of providing adequate
support for their software customers in all locations
of the world
Trend of outsourcing global support to one or more
third-party distributors

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 Summary
Computer programs: sequences of instructions for
the computer
Systems software: coordinates the activities of
hardware and programs
Applications software: helps users solve particular
problems
Operating system (OS): set of computer programs
that controls the computer hardware and acts as an
interface with application programs

Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 59

 Summary (continued)
Graphical user interface (GUI): user interface that
uses icons and menus displayed on screen to send
commands to the computer system
Time-sharing: allows more than one person to use
a computer system at the same time
Proprietary software: one-of-a-kind program for a
specific application, usually developed and owned
by a single company
Off-the-shelf software: existing software program
that is purchased

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 Summary (continued)
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software:
manages a companys vital business operations for
an entire multisite, global organization
Programming languages: allow humans to
communicate instructions to be executed by a
computer
Most software products are protected by law using
copyright or licensing provisions
Open-source software is freely available to anyone
in a form that can be easily modified

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