Chapter 9 Understanding Software 9 1 Introduction Computing hardware the physical components of information technology which can include the computer itself plus peripherals such as storage devices input devices such as the mouse and the keyboard output devices like monitors and printers networking equipment and so on Software a computer program or a collection of programs a precise set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do A layer of cake o Bottom hardware o Next layer operating system the software that controls the computer hardware and establishes standards for developing and executing applications Windows Mac iOS Linux o Next layer applications includes desktop applications enterprise software utilities and other programs that performs specific tasks for users and organizations o Top of the cake users Key Takeaways o Software refers to a computer program or collection of programs It enables computing devices to perform tasks o You can think of software as being part of a layer cake with hardware at the bottom the operating system controlling the hardware and establishing standards the applications executing one layer up and the users at the top o How these layers relate to one another has managerial implications in many areas including the flexibility in meeting business demand costs legal issues and security o Software is everywhere not just in computers but also in cell phones cars cameras and many other technologies 9 2 Operating Systems Operating Systems OS provides a common set of controls for managing computer hardware making it easier for users to interact with computers and for programmers to write application software Some firms develop their own OS Microsoft sells OS to ppl User interface UI the mechanism through which users interact with a computing device includes elements of the graphical user interface such as windows scroll bars buttons menus dialogue boxes and can also include other forms of interaction such as touch screens and motion sensing controllers Firmware software stored on nonvolatile memory chips despite the seemingly permanent nature of the firmware many products allow for firmware to be updated online or by connecting to another device Embedded systems special purpose software designed and included inside physical products help make devices smarter by sharing usage information helping diagnose problems indicating maintenance schedules ect Key Takeaways o The operating system OS controls a computer s hardware and provides a common set of commands for writing programs o Most computing devices enterprise class server computers PCs phones set top boxes video games cars the Mars Rover have an operating system o Some products use operating systems provided by commercial firms while others develop their own operating system Others may leverage open source alternatives o Embedded systems are special purpose computer systems designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions and are frequently built into conventional products like cars air conditioners and elevators o Embedded systems can make products and services more efficient more reliable more functional and can enable entire new businesses and create or reinforce resources for competitive advantage 9 3 Application Software Platform product and services that allow for the development and integration of software products and other complementary good Windows Iphone Wii that allow users to create apps are platforms Desktop software applications installed on a personal computer Enterprise software applications that address the needs of multiple users throughout an organization or work group Software package a software product offered commercially by a 3rd party Enterprise resource planning ERP a software package that integrates the many functions accounting finance HR of a business Customer relationship management CRM systems used to support customer related sales and marketing activities Supply chain management SCM systems that can help a firm manage aspects of its value chain from the flow of raw materials into the firm through delivery of finished products and services for consumption Business intelligence BI systems use data created by other systems to provide reporting and analysis for organizational decision making Database management system DBMS aka database system stores and retrieves the data that an application creates and uses Key Takeaways o Application software focuses on the work of a user or an organization o Desktop applications are typically designed for a single user Enterprise software supports multiple users in an organization or work group o Popular categories of enterprise software include ERP enterprise resource planning SCM supply chain management CRM customer relationship management and BI business intelligence software among many others o These systems are used in conjunction with database management systems programs that help firms organize store retrieve and maintain data o ERP and other packaged enterprise systems can be challenging and costly to implement but can help firms create a standard set of procedures and data that can ultimately lower costs and streamline operations o The more application software that is available for a platform the more valuable that platform becomes o The DBMS stores and retrieves the data used by the other enterprise applications Different enterprise systems can be configured to share the same database system in order share common data o Firms that don t have common database systems with consistent formats across their enterprise often struggle to efficiently manage their value chain and often lack the flexibility to introduce new ways of doing business Firms with common database systems and standards often benefit from increased organizational insight and decision making capabilities o Enterprise systems can cost millions of dollars in software hardware development and consulting fees and many firms have failed when attempting large scale enterprise system integration Simply buying a system does not guarantee its effective deployment and use o When set up properly enterprise systems can save millions of dollars and turbocharge organizations by streamlining processes making data more usable and easing the linking of systems with software across the firm and with key business partners 9 4 Distributed Computing Distributed computing a form of computing where systems in different locations communicate and collaborate to complete a
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