1. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 1 Chapter 5 Information Systems in Business: Software

2. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 2 Learning Objectives Explain why professionals must keep abreast of software developments Enumerate the different generations of programming languages and explain how they differ Explain the difference between application software and system software

3. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 3 Learning Objectives (Cont.) Compare the strengths and weaknesses of tailored software versus off-the shelf software Cite the latest major developments in application and system software List characteristics that are important in evaluating packaged software applications for business use

4. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 4 Software: Instructions to the Computer A computer program is a series of instructions to a computer to execute any and all processes Computers only “understand” instructions consisting of electrical signals alternating between two states

5. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 5 Software: Instructions to the Computer (Cont.) Application software enables users to complete a particular task, such as word processing System software enables application software to run on a computer and manages the interaction between hardware devices

6. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 6 Programming Languages Abbreviated forms of instructions that translate into machine language New programming languages make programming easier for people who are not necessarily hardware experts

7. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 7 Programming Languages (Cont.)

8. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 8 First Generation: Machine Languages (ML) Only languages computers can directly interpret to carry out instructions ML coding: time-consuming and error-prone ML programmers: concerned with hardware details Every computer or family of computers has its own ML; each is machine-dependent

9. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 9 Second Generation: Assembly Languages Represent a string of ‘0s’ and ‘1s’ for machine language instruction More English-like; codes shorter than machine languages Assembler translates into machine language Advantages of machine or assembly languages –Programmer in control of hardware –Programs written in low-level languages run more efficiently

10. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 10 Third Generation: Procedural Languages Third-generation (procedural) languages are more English-like than assembly languages Programmers focus on the procedure of the application problem at hand Some languages are standardized or portable Relatively easy to learn, write, and debug FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC

11. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 11 Fourth Generation Languages (4GL) 4GLs are more English-like than procedural languages Programmer only has to select an action without having to specify the action’s formula or procedure Easy to learn and use; shorter application development time PowerBuilder, FOCUS, NOMAD, and RAMIS

12. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 12 Fourth Generation Languages (Cont.)

13. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 13 Visual Programming Languages that let programmers create field windows, scroll-down menus, click buttons, etc., by choosing from a palette Appropriate code written automatically Accelerates work Microsoft’s Visual Basic

14. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 14 Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Emphasis on the objects involved in the task, not on the procedure An object encapsulates a data set with the code that is used to operate on it Standardized programming modules can be reused Applications can be rapidly developed with appropriate objects from an object library

15. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 15 Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) (Cont.)

16. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 16 The object EMPLOYEE

17. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 17 Application Software vs. System Software Application: –Program developed to address a specific business need; software for development of such programs System: –Programs designed to carry out general routine operations, such as loading, copying, or deleting a file

18. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 18 Programming Languages (Cont.) –Levels of Programming Languages: Pluses and Minuses –Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters Source code Object code Compiler Interpreter

19. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 19 Programming Languages (Cont.)

20. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 20 Programming Languages (Cont.)

21. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 21 Bugs Errors in a program to be eliminated before it runs smoothly Occur when a certain operation cannot be carried out Logic errors are most difficult to spot

22. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 22 Application Software Application-specific programs –Programs designed to perform specific jobs General-purpose programs –Usable for different purposes

23. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 23 Custom-Designed Application Advantages Meeting the organization’s needs exactly In-house developers are sensitive to the organizational culture

24. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 24 Custom-Designed Application Disadvantages High cost Production schedule subject to long delays Incompatible with other organizations’ systems

25. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 25 Advantages and Disadvantages

26. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 26 Packaged Software Advantages: –Low cost –High quality –Vendor support –Immediate availability Often tested at user sites (alpha sites and beta sites) before the final version is released

27. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 27 Packages Software (Cont.)

28. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 28 Packaged Software (Cont.) Word processors Electronic spreadsheets Database management systems

29. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 29 Packaged Software (Cont.)

30. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 30 Multimedia Can handle many different types of data such as text, voice, and image Powerful means of communicating Uses include education, training, research, and business

31. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 31 Virtual Reality (VR) Mimics sensory reality Some sophisticated VR software includes use of goggles, gloves, earphones, and a moving base Business use of VR is expected to grow dramatically for design and testing of new products, and for marketing

32. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 32 System Software Manages computer resources and performs routine tasks not specific to any application –Copying and pasting sections and files –Printing documents –Allocating memory Developed to partner with application software

33. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 33 Operating Systems (O/S) Most important system software –Developed for a certain microprocessor or microprocessors –Addresses technical details such as registers and RAM addresses –Plays the role of “traffic cop” or the “boss” of computer resources

34. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 34 Operating Systems (O/S) (Cont.)

35. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 35 System Software

36. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 36 Operating System Functions Systems Management User Interface Memory Allocation Multitasking, Multiprogramming, and Multiprocessing Times and Statistics Increasing Services from O/Ss

37. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 37 Popular Operating Systems

38. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 38 Data Communication Programs Controls and supports data communication activities in a network –Setting up rules that govern transmission and reception of data –Connecting and disconnecting communication links –Assigning priorities among terminals in a network –Detecting and correcting transmission errors

39. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 39 Linux and the Open Source Revolution Proprietary software: source code of the software public Open source software: source code can be obtained free of charge Contains fewer bugs because thousands of independent programmers review the code

40. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 40 Considerations in Purchasing Software

41. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 41 Considerations in Purchasing Software (Cont.)

42. Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 42 Summary Software developments and the impact on business Application software versus operating system software Tailored software versus off-the-shelf software Major developments in application and system software Evaluation of package software