IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 TB-1 Technology Briefing Advanced Topics and Trends in Managing the Information Systems Infrastructure (software)

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Key IS Software Components Software is programs or sets of instructions that tell the computer to perform certain processing functions. It is also designed to allow all the computer’s hardware to ‘speak’ to each others. Written and tested by programmers Two basic types:  Systems Software: collection of program that control the operations of computer hardware. Have two types: Operating System & utilities program  Application Software: Software that let a user perform specific tasks, such as writing business letter, processing payroll, do presentation etc. 1-2

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Operating System (OS) TB-3 Controls the basic operations of computer hardware Common functions: 1) Booting, 2) Reading programs into memory, 3) Managing program and file storage, 4) Maintaining the structure of directories, 5) Formatting disks, 6) Controlling the computer monitor, 7) Sending documents to the printer Coordinates activities among peripherals, application software and users Provides Interface Types: 1)Command-based, 2) Menu interface, 3) Graphical user interface (GUI)

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Common Operating Systems TB-4

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Utility Programs Manage computer resources and files. Similar functions as operating system. It is ‘a can do without program’ when running the computer. Currently, some are includes in the operating systems or part of computer purchase, while other must be bought separately and installed in the computer Ex: Backup; File de-fragmentation, Data compression; Media players, device drivers, antivirus, spam blockers, spyware detection software etc. 1-5

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Common Types of Computer Utilities Software TB- 6

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Application Software Written to tell the computer to perform specific user tasks. Ex. writing a business letter and processing payroll. Have two types: 1) Customized (proprietary) software: Developed specifically by or for a particular organization; Software developed “in-house”. Advantages: a) Customizability (A kiosk in a retail store to help shoppers) ; b) Problem specificity (the company pays only for specific features. Unique types of required reports). 2) Commercial software: Purchased off the shelf. A.K.A. packaged software. Support common business processes. Advantages: a) Less costly; b) Faster to produce; c) Higher quality; d) Less risky Customized and off-the-shelf applications can be combined 1-7

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Examples of IS Application Software 1-8

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Examples of Productivity Software TB-9

IS Today (Valacich & Schneider) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Published as Prentice Hall 2/5/2016 Programming Language TB-10 Used to write application programs Examples: BASIC; C/C++; COBOL; HTML; Java Generations of Programming Languages  1GL (1940s) – machine language (binary)  2GL (1950s) – symbolic languages  3GL (Mid 1950s) – English-like words (COBOL)  4GL (1970s) – Outcome oriented (SQL)  5GL – Natural languages; Spoken English (AI)