Transcript Foundations of information systems system Software

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
BIS 1202
2
Chapter
FOUNDATIONS OF
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Learning Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe several important trends occurring in
computer software.
Give examples of major types of application and
system software.
Explain the purpose of several popular software
packages for end user productivity and collaborative
computing.
Define and describe the functions of an operating
system.
Describe the main uses of computer programming
software, tools, and languages.
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System Software Outline

Application Software

Systems Software

Operating Systems
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Case 1: Microsoft is looking at how companies do
business

Microsoft has started focusing on different industries
and writing software products to support them
Examples, financial services, communications, government,
education, automotive, retail and hospitality, health care,
manufacturing, media
 Vertical segments: a specific industry
 Accelerators: software add-ons aimed at business processes
common to a given industry
 Software layers: software that serves the needs of a broad
base of companies in a particular sector inserted into
enterprise applications

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Case Study Questions
1.
2.
A common phrase among IT professionals is “The
world views its data through Windows.” Why does
Microsoft dominate the desktop and networked
software market? Visit its website at
www.microsoft.com, and review its broad range of
software products and services to help with your
answer.
How successful will Microsoft be in competing with
software vendors who specialize in specific market
applications like health care, retail and other specialty
services? Why?
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Case Study Questions
3.
Do you agree with Microsoft’s strategy to develop
industry-specific partners to capitalize on
opportunities in both large and small business
sectors? Is there an advantage or a disadvantage
to being one of Microsoft’s partners in this type of
relationship? Explain.
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Real World Internet Activity
1.
Industry-specific software applications are
everywhere. Despite this, many industries still do
not have a wide variety of software applications
to meet their needs. Using the Internet,


See if you can find one example of an industry that
has a wide variety of vertical applications,
One industry that does not have a variety of software
solutions to choose from.
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Real World Group Activity
2.
Using the industries who do not have a wide
variety of support applications that you found
from the first activity, in small groups,


Discuss what types of applications would be valuable to your
industries.
Why do you think the applications you came up with have
not been developed?
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Types of software by function
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Software types

Application software
 Performs

information processing tasks for end users
System software
 Manages
and supports operations of computer systems
and networks
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Software classifications by development

Classify based on how it was developed

Custom software / bespoke


Software applications that are developed within an
organization for use by that organization
COTS software
Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS)
 Software developed with the intention of selling the
software in multiple copies



Why would you choose Custom over COTS?
Why would you choose COTS over Custom?
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Software classifications by user
Personal
Workgroup

Two
or more people who work
together to achieve a common goal
enterprise

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A. Application Software


Gives users the ability to solve problems and
perform specific tasks
Interact with systems software
 Systems
software then directs the hardware to perform
tasks
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Application Software

General purpose
 Programs
that perform common information processing
jobs for end users
 E.g., word processing, spreadsheet, etc.
 Also called productivity packages

Application-specific
 Programs
that support specific applications of end users
 E.g., electronic commerce, customer relationship
management, etc.
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Types (by Functions) of Application Software

Proprietary software / bespoke soft ware
 One-of-a-kind

Off-the-shelf software
 Existing

program for a specific application
software program that can be purchased
Application service provider (ASP)
 Provides
the software, support, and computer hardware on
which to run the software

Software as a service (SaaS)
 Businesses
subscribe to Web-delivered business application
software by paying a monthly service charge or a per-use fee
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Types and Functions of Application
Software (continued)
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Types and Functions of Application
Software (continued)
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a) Personal Application Software






Word Processing
Spreadsheet Analysis
Database Applications
Graphics Programs
Personal Information Managers
Software Suites and Integrated Software Packages
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Personal Application Software (continued)
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b) Workgroup Application Software

Workgroup application software
 Designed
to support teamwork
Groupware
Helps groups of people work together
effectively
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Workgroup Application Software
(continued)
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c) Enterprise Application Software


Software that benefits an entire organization
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
 Programs
that manage a company’s vital business
operations for an entire multisite, global organization
as one.
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Enterprise Application Software (continued)
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Application Software for Information,
Decision Support, and Specialized Purposes

Available in every industry
 Example:
Genetic researchers are using software to
visualize and analyze the human genome
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Software Suites
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Software Suites

Software suites integrate software packages
 Advantages:
 Cost
less than buying individual packages
 All have a similar GUI
 Work together well
 Disadvantages
 Features
not used by all users
 Take a lot of disk space
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Web Browser




Software applications that support navigation
through the point-and-click resources of the Web
Surfing the web
Becoming a universal software platform for Internetbased applications
Microsoft Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Firefox,
Opera or Mozilla
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E-mail, Instant Messaging and Weblogs

E-mail
 Software
to communicate by sending and receiving
messages and attachments via the Internet, intranet or
extranet

Instant messaging (IM)
 Receive

electronic messages instantly
Weblog or blog
A
personal website in dated log format
 Updated with new information about a subject or range
of subjects
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Word processing and Desktop publishing

Word processing
 Create,
edit, revise and print documents
 E.g., Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro and Corel
WordPerfect

Desktop Publishing
 Produce
printed materials that look professionally
published
 E.g., Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher and
QuarkXPress
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Electronic Spreadsheets and Presentation
Graphics

Electronic Spreadsheets
 Worksheet
of rows and columns
 Used for calculations and charts
 E.g., Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, Corel QuattroPro

Presentation Graphics
 Convert
numeric data into graphics displays
 Prepare multimedia presentations including graphics,
photos, animation, and video clips
 E.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, Corel
Presentations
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Personal Information Manager and
Groupware

Personal Information Manager (PIM)
 Software
for end user productivity and collaboration
 Store information about clients, schedules, manage
appointments, manage tasks
 E.g., Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook

Groupware
 Software
that helps workgroups collaborate on group
assignments
 E-mail, discussion groups, databases, videoconferencing
 E.g., Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft
Exchange
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Software alternatives


Outsourcing development and maintenance of
software
Application service providers (ASPs)
 Companies
that own, operate and maintain application
software and computer system resources
 Use the application for a fee over the Internet
 Pay-as-you-go
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Software Licensing



All software (COTS, ASP) is licensed
You don’t buy software: you buy a license to use the
software under the terms of the licensing agreement
Licensed to protect the vendor’s property rights
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Case 2: Open-Source Software –
assignment 1 for BIS-2010 evening.

Open-source software
Also referred to as free software
 Software can be modified
 Typically acquired with a license
 License grant you the right to run the software, own the
source code, modify the source code and distribute copies
of the software
 Free but have to pay for training, support, documentation


Examples: Linux, Apache Web server, Sendmail, Perl
scripting language
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Case Study Questions
1.
2.
3.
What are the business benefits of adopting opensource software?
What are the risks associated with open-source
software? How can these risks be addressed?
Do you see open-source software eventually
replacing the current proprietary software model?
Explain your answer.
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Real World Internet Activity
1.
A wide variety of organizations have been
formed to advance the open-source initiative.
Using the Internet,


See if you can find information on these open-source
advocate organizations.
A good place to start is www.opensource.org
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Real World Group Activity – Group
work for discussion
2.
Supporters as well as detractors of open-source
operating systems such as Linux are quite
passionate about their feelings. In small groups,


Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of open-source
applications.
If any of your classmates have experience with systems such
as Linux, ask them to explain their feelings and experiences.
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B. Systems Software

Definition:


a type of computer software designed to operate the
computer hardware and to provide and maintain a
platform for running application software.
Critical function of systems software
 Controlling
operations of computer hardware
 Supports the application programs’ problem-solving
capabilities
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System software


Software that manages and supports a computer
system
System management programs
Programs that manage hardware, software, network, and
data resources
 E.g., operating systems, network management programs,
database management systems, systems utilities


Systems development programs

Programs that help users develop information system
programs
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Operating System

Integrated system of programs that
 Manages
the operations of the CPU
 Controls the input/output and storage resources and
activities of the computer system
 Provides support services as computer executes
applications programs
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Operating System basic functions
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User Interface


Part of the operating system that allows you to
communicate with it
Three main types:
 Command-driven
 Menu-driven
 Graphical
user interfaces (GUI)
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Resource management

Part of operating system that manages the
hardware and networking resources of a computer
system
 Includes
CPU, memory, secondary storage device,
telecommunications, and input/output peripherals

Virtual memory
 Swapping
parts of programs and data between
memory and magnetic disks
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File management

Part of the operating system that controls the
creation, deletion, and access of files of data and
programs
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Task Management


Part of the operating system that manages the
accomplishment of computing tasks of the end users
Multitasking
 Task
management approach that allows for several
tasks to be performed in a seemingly simultaneous
fashion
 Assigns
only one task to CPU but switches between tasks so
quickly looks like executing all programs at once
 Also
called multiprogramming or time-sharing
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Popular Operating Systems




Windows
 GUI, multitasking, networking, multimedia
 Microsoft’s operating system
 Different versions manage servers
Unix
 Multitasking, multiuser, network-managing
 Portable – can run on mainframes, midrange and PCs
Linux
 Low-cost, powerful reliable Unix-like operating system
 Open-source
MAC OS X
 Apple operating system for the iMac
 GUI, multitasking, multimedia
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Systems Software

Types of systems software
Operating System (OS)
Utility Software
Device Drivers
Programming languages
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B1. Operating Systems

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)
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Operating Systems (continued)

Activities performed by the operating system
include:
 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)

Common hardware functions
 OS
acts as an intermediary between the application and
the hardware

User interface and input/output management
 User
interface allows people to access and command the
computer system

Hardware independence
 Programmers
 API
can use APIs to create application software
–Application Programming Interface is an interface
implemented by a software program which enables it to
interact with other software
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Operating Systems (continued)
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Operating Systems (continued)

Memory management
 OS
controls how memory is accessed and maximizes
available memory and storage

Processing tasks
 Task

management allocates computer resources
Networking capability
 Computers
can join together in a network to send and
receive data – to share resources
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Operating Systems (continued)

Access to system resources and security
 OS
needs to provide a high level of security against
unauthorized access to users’ data

File management
 OS
manages files to ensure that files in secondary
storage are available when needed
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Current Operating Systems



Microsoft PC operating systems
 Windows 7 released in 2009, less than three years after the
release of its predecessor, Windows Vista. The OS was
intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the
Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with
applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is
already compatible.
Apple computer operating systems
 OSs have evolved and often provide features not available
from Microsoft
Linux
 An open-source operating system
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Current Operating Systems by user
Windows 7 Windows Server 2008
R2
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Workgroup Operating Systems

Definition:
A
workgroup OS is one that allows a collection of
individuals to work together on a task.
 Examples
 Server
2008 R2
 Windows Server
 UNIX
 NetWare
 Red Hat Linux
 Mac OS X Server
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Enterprise Operating Systems

Definition:


this is an OS that allows an organization to work as 1
regardless of the number of departments.
Examples :
 z/OS
 IBM’s
 HP-UX
first 64-bit enterprise OS
and Linux
 Robust
UNIX-based OS
 Supports Internet database
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Operating Systems for Small Computers, Embedded
Computers, and Special-Purpose Devices

Palm OS
 Operating
system used in over 30 million handheld
computers and smart phones

Windows Embedded
 Family
of Microsoft OSs embedded into small computer
devices

Windows Mobile
 Operating
system designed for smartphones and PDAs
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B2. Utility Programs

Miscellaneous housekeeping functions
 Example,
Norton utilities includes data backup, virus
protection, data compression, etc.


Help to perform maintenance or correct problems
with a computer system
Help to secure and safeguard data
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Utility Programs (continued)
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B3. Device Drivers

Definition:
a
device driver or software driver is a computer
program allowing higher-level computer programs to
interact with a hardware device.
 The function of a device driver is to allow the
communication between the computer operating system
and the device attached to it.
 Read more: Device Driver Examples | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_5345205_device-driverexamples.html#ixzz0wnoOj6L6
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B4. Programming Languages


Sets of symbols and rules used to write program
code
Programming
 Translating
what a user wants into instructions that the
computer can understand and execute
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Programming Languages (continued)
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Programming Languages
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Language Translators

Definition:
A
computer program which transforms source code into
object code
 Language Translators convert information from the
human language to machine language which is the
binary format.


It is also called a compiler.
Use the internet and various text books to get
examples and read further
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Language Translators

Definition:
A
computer program which transforms source code into
object code
 Language Translators convert information from the
human language to machine language which is the
binary format.


It is also called a compiler.
Use the internet and various text books to get
examples and read further
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Language Translator Programs


Translate instructions written in programming
languages into machine language
Assembler
 translates

Compiler
 translates

assembler language statements
high-level language statements
Interpreter
 compiler
that translates and executes each statement in
a program one at a time
 Java is interpreted
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Programming Tools

Help programmers identify and minimize errors
while they are programming
 Graphical
Programming Interfaces
 Programming Editors
 Debuggers

CASE tools
A
combination of many programming tools into a single
application with a common interface
 Used in different stages of the systems development
process
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Machine Languages



First-generation languages
All program instructions had to be written using
binary codes unique to each computer
Programmers had to know the internal operations of
the specific type of CPU
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Assembler Languages




Second-generation languages
Symbols are used to represent operation codes and
storage locations
Need language translator programs to convert the
instructions into machine instructions
Used by systems programmers (who program
system software)
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High-Level Languages






Third-generation languages
Instructions that use brief statements or arithmetic
expressions
Macroinstructions: each statement generates
several machine instructions when translated by
compilers or interpreters
Easier to learn than assembler
Machine independent
Less efficient than assembler
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Fourth-Generation Languages



Variety of programming languages that are
nonprocedural and conversational
Nonprocedural – users specify results they want
while computer determines the sequence of
instructions that will accomplish those results
Natural Language – very close to English or other
human language
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Object-Oriented Languages


Combine data elements and
the procedures that will be
performed upon them into
Objects
E.g., an object could be data
about a bank account and the
procedures performed on it
such as interest calculations
Object-Oriented Languages




Most widely used software development languages
today
Easier to use and more efficient for graphicsoriented user interfaces
Reusable: can use an object from one application in
another application
E.g., Visual Basic, C++, Java
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Web Languages



HTML
 A page description language that creates hypertext documents for
the Web
XML
 Describes the contents of Web pages by applying identifying tags
or contextual labels to the data in Web documents
Java
 Object-oriented programming language that is simple, secure and
platform independent
 Java applets can be executed on any computer
 J2EE - Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition - AllowS cross-platform
communication, J2EE was created to simplify...
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J2EE versus .Net
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Other types of system software
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Other system software

Performance monitors
 Programs
that monitor and adjust computer system to
keep them running efficiently

Security monitors
 Programs
that monitor and control use of computer
systems to prevent unauthorized use of resources
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Application servers


Provide an interface between an operating system
and the application programs of users
Middleware
 Software
that helps diverse software applications
exchange data and work together more efficiently
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Web Services




Software components
based on a framework of Web and object-oriented
standards and technologies
for using the Web
to electronically link the applications of different
users and different computing platforms
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How web services work
Source: Adapted from Bala Iyer, Jim Freedman, Mark Gaynor and George Wyner, “Web Services: Enabling Dynamic Business
Networks,” Communications of the Association for Information Systems, Volume11, 2003,BIS1202
p. 543.
Case 3: Amazon and eBay
New Face of Web Services



Amazon provides access to some of its data and
website functionality
eBay opened up e-commerce software
Opened to programmers and any company
interested in e-commerce
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Case Study Questions
1.
2.
3.
What are the purpose and business value of Web
services?
What are the benefits of Web services to
Amazon, eBay, and their developer partners?
What are the business challenges of Web
services? Visit the Web services websites of IBM
(www.ibm.com/solutions/webservices) and
Microsoft (www.microsoft.com/webservices) to help
with your answer.
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Real World Internet Activity
1.
The concept of Web services and the opportunities
they provide are growing everyday. Using the
Internet,

See if you can find ways in which companies are using
Web services beyond those listed in the case.
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Real World Group Activity
2.
Being able to integrate one organization’s website
with another’s poses some interesting questions of
privacy, intellectual property protection and
technical challenges. In small groups,


Discuss privacy, intellectual property protection and
technical challenges issues.
Do you think there is any risk associated with this type
of cooperation?
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Software Issues and Trends

Software issues
 Software
bugs
 Copyrights and licenses
 Global software support
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Software Bugs


Defects in a computer program that keeps it from
performing as it is designed to perform
Tips for reducing impact of software
 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 manufacturer’s Web site for
patches
 Install the latest software updates
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Copyrights and Licenses

Most software products
 Protected

by law using copyright or licensing provisions
Some software
 Require
that you register or activate it before it can be
fully used
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Software Upgrades

Software companies
 Periodically

revise their programs and sell new versions
Software upgrades
 Usually
cost much less than the original purchase price
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Global Software Support

Supporting local operations
 Biggest
challenge faced by IS teams when putting
together standardized, companywide systems

In today’s computer systems
 Software
is an increasingly critical component
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Considerations in Purchasing Software
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Summary (continued)

Application software
 Applies
the power of the computer to solve problems
and perform specific tasks

Operating system (OS)
 Set
of computer programs that controls the computer
hardware to support users’ computing needs

Approaches to developing application software
 Build
proprietary application software
 Buy existing programs off the shelf
 Combination of customized and off-the-shelf
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THE END
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The next topic is
Database Systems & Business
Intelligence
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