This chapter discusses different types of business software including application software and system software. It describes the evolution of programming languages from machine language to today's visual programming languages. It also covers topics like object-oriented programming, compilers, interpreters, and popular applications for productivity, collaboration, and multimedia. Emerging technologies discussed include virtual reality, 3D modeling, and tools that allow real-time group work over the internet.

1. Management Information Systems,
Sixth Edition
Chapter 5:
Business Software

2. Objectives
• Explain the difference between application
software and system software
• Enumerate the different generations of
programming languages and explain how they
differ
• Cite the latest major developments in application
and system software
• Identify and explain the roles of Web
programming languages
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 2

3. Objectives (continued)
• Explain the types and uses of Web site design
tools
• Clarify the differences between proprietary
software and open source software
• List characteristics that are important in
evaluating packaged software applications for
business use
• Understand the problem of software piracy and
how it affects businesses and consumers
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 3

4. Software: Instructions to the Hardware
• Applications: computer programs that
contribute to productivity
• Software: a series of instructions to a computer
to execute processes
• Two major categories of software:
– Application software: enables task completion
– System software:
• Enables applications to run on a computer
• Manages components and devices
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 4

5. Programming Languages
and Software Development Tools
• Programs are needed for every computer
operation
• Programming: process of writing programs
• Machine language: the only language that
hardware understands
– Consists of long strings of 0s and 1s
• Assembly language: easier to program than
machine language because it uses words for
commands
• High-level programming languages: use
English-like statements
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 5

6. Programming Languages and Software
Development Tools (continued)
• Software development tools: develop software
with little knowledge of programming languages
• Third-generation languages (3GLs): known as
“procedural” languages
– Programmer must detail logical procedure
– Includes languages such as COBOL, FORTRAN,
BASIC, RPG, Pascal, and C
– One 3GL statement = five to 10 assembly
language statements
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 6

7. Programming Languages and Software
Development Tools (continued)
• Fourth-generation languages (4GLs): use
more English-like statements
– Speed up the development process
– Built around database management systems
– Include many preprogrammed procedures
– One 4GL statement = several 3GL statements
• Debugging: process of locating and fixing
program errors
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8. Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 8

9. Programming Languages and Software
Development Tools (continued)
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 9

10. Visual Programming
• Visual programming languages: create
graphical screen objects by selecting icons from
a palette
• Common visual programming languages include:
– Microsoft Visual Basic
– Borland Delphi
– Micro Focus COBOL
– ASNA Visual RPG
– Visual C++
• Developer can still work at the code level
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11. Visual Programming (continued)
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12. Object-Oriented Programming
• Object-oriented programming (OOP): modular
approach to programming
• Advantages:
– Ease of maintenance
– Efficiency in application development
• Object: contains data elements (data members)
and the methods to manipulate that data
– Data members can only be accessed through the
object’s methods
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 12

13. Object-Oriented Programming
(continued)
• Objects are reusable and are combined to create
complex programs
• Popular OOP languages include Smalltalk, C++,
Object Pascal, and Java
• Increasing amount of software developed for the
Web using languages such as Java, JavaScript,
J2EE, and PHP
• Applet: code produced by a Web programming
language
– Runs same way on different operating systems
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14. Object-Oriented Programming
(continued)
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 14

15. Language Translation:
Compilers and Interpreters
• Source code: program as originally written by
the developer
• Object code: program in machine language that
can be run by the computer
• Procedural languages need programs to
translate source code to object code
• Two types of language translators:
– Compilers
– Interpreters
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16. Language Translation:
Compilers and Interpreters (continued)
• Compiler: translates entire source code to
object code but does not execute the code
– Scans for syntax errors
– Generates error messages if syntax errors found
• Interpreter: scans one statement at a time
– If error-free, interprets and executes the
statement
– Goes through the program until an error or end of
program is encountered
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17. Language Translation:
Compilers and Interpreters (continued)
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 17

18. Application Software
• Application software allows nonprogrammers to
develop their own tools
• Application-specific software: programs
designed to perform specific jobs
• General-purpose application software:
programs that serve multiple purposes
– Usually comes as packaged software
• Packaged software: software that is ready to
install from external storage media such as CDs
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19. Office Productivity Applications
• Productivity tools: assist normal office work
– Include word processors, spreadsheets,
presentation tools, file/database software,
graphics programs, desktop publishing tools, and
project management applications
• Word processors: used to create text
documents
• Spreadsheets: store numbers and perform
complex mathematical, statistical, and financial
analysis functions
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 19

20. Office Productivity Applications
(continued)
• Presentation tools: develop impressive
presentations quickly
• File/database management tools: create and
manipulate local or shared databases
• Graphics programs: create intricate graphical
images and manipulate digital photographs
• Desktop publishing tools: develop items for
publication, such as pamphlets, newsletters,
cards, calendars, etc.
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21. Office Productivity Applications
(continued)
• Project management tools: help plan projects
and track progress
• Suite: collection of various applications that
perform multiple interrelated functions
– Includes Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite,
OpenOffice.org, ThinkFree
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22. Hypermedia and Multimedia
• Hypermedia: a feature that enables users to
access information by clicking text or graphics
• Web page authoring tools: enable hypermedia
features
– Often part of other applications such as word
processors and presentation tools
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23. Hypermedia and Multimedia
(continued)
• Multimedia software: handles many different
types of data
• Often used in:
– Education: lessons presented in multimedia
– Training exercises
– Compiling and integrating data for business
situations
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24. Mashups
• Mashup: an integrated application containing
some or all features from several applications
– Provides enhanced features for the end user
• Web site design tools: used to change the
content of Web pages
– Includes FrontPage, SharePoint Designer,
Expression Web from Microsoft, Adobe
Dreamweaver, and GoLive
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25. Groupware
• Groupware: an application that enables workers
to collaborate in real time over Web
– Integration of multimedia technology and Web
technology
– Allows for remote collaboration
– Eliminates travel times and facilitates expression
and exchange of ideas
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26. Virtual Reality
• Virtual reality (VR): an application that mimics
sensory reality using software
– Simulates sight, hearing, and touch
– Uses equipment such as goggles, gloves,
earphones, and moving bases
• VR devices provide two elements:
– Immersion: user senses that she/he is
surrounded by the simulated environment
– Interaction: allows users to simulate changes in
the environment using VR devices
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27. Virtual Reality (continued)
• VR environment senses movement, responds to
signals, and provides feedback to user
• Businesses use VR to decrease cost of planning
buildings, machines, and vehicles
• Avatar: an imaginary figure used to represent
real person
• VR on the Web includes public gathering
applications
– Second Life: an imaginary world using avatars to
allow real people to meet and communicate
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28. 3D Geographic Software
• Similar to virtual reality
• Used to develop three-dimensional models
of geographic locations
• Models are created from land and aerial
photographs
• Helps with navigation when tied to global
positioning system software
• Useful for city planners, service agencies,
tourism, and travel agencies
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29. System Software
• System software: deals with essential
operations between the user and computer such
as:
– Loading, copying, and deleting files
– Managing memory resources
– Operating peripheral equipment
– Encompasses compilers and interpreters
• Applications must be compatible with system
software
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30. Operating Systems
• Operating system (OS): most important
program on the computer
– Recognizes input from keyboard and mouse
– Sends output to computer display
– Keeps track of files and directories
– Runs applications
– Manages memory
• Usually developed using low-level programming
languages such as assembly languages
• Also known as “platforms”
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31. Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 31

32. Operating Systems (continued)
• Application program interfaces (APIs):
software included in the OS that can be used by
application program developers
• Utilities: perform other OS functions such as:
– Hardware diagnostics
– Disk check
– File sorting
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33. Operating Systems (continued)
• OS’s position in logical operation of the
computer:
– User interacts with user interface using menus,
icons, and application commands
– Application converts user input into OS
commands
– OS commands the CPU to carry out the
operation
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34. Operating Systems (continued)
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35. Operating Systems (continued)
• OS must manage the system by allocating
hardware resources to applications
• OS provides several services, including:
– User interface
– Memory allocation, including the use of virtual
memory (hard disk used as an extension of
RAM)
– Plug-and-play (PnP): recognize and run a
device as soon as it is physically attached
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36. Operating Systems (continued)
• Driver: software that enables OS to control a
device
• Additional OS services include:
– Database management
– Networking
– Security
• Different computers and types of
microprocessors use different OSs
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37. Operating Systems (continued)
• Popular PC operating systems
– Windows XP and Windows Vista
– Linux
– Mac OS
• Popular network OSs that are compatible with
DOS, Windows, and MAC clients include:
– Netware
– Windows Server
• Linux: a free OS based on UNIX
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38. Operating Systems (continued)
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39. Other System Software
• Other types of system software include:
– Compilers and interpreters
– Communications software
– Utilities
– Database management systems
• Communications software: supports
transmission and reception of data across
computer networks
• Utilities include antivirus programs, firewalls, and
antispyware/antiadware programs
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40. Open Source Software
• Proprietary software: sold/licensed for profit
– Source code is private and not available
– Developer retains all rights to the software; user
purchases a license to use the software
• Open source software: free source code
– Developed through voluntary collaboration of
programmers
– Fewer bugs because many programmers review
the code
• Popular open source software includes Mozilla
Firefox, Thunderbird, MySQL, and PERL
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41. Open Source Software (continued)
• Not all free software is open source
– Microsoft Internet Explorer is free but proprietary
• Linux: best known open source OS
– Includes free versions and versions that charge
for support and additional features
– Popular because of its versatility, but has limited
number of applications that run on it
– Runs on mainframes, PCs, handhelds, and
electronic devices
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42. Software Licensing
• Software is usually licensed
• Licensed software: provides limited permission
to use the software
– Time-limited license requires annual fees
• Several licensing models
– Permissive model: anyone can use and sell
modified versions of the software
– General public license (GPL): anyone can use
and make modified versions, but cannot sell
modified versions for profit
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43. Considerations for Packaged Software
• Many goals and custom requirements are
considered during development process of in-
house software
• Factors when purchasing large software
packages are more complex, including:
– Cost
– Time to implement
– Cost of interrupting operations
– Modification costs to customize the software
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45. Summary
• Software: a collective term for computer
programs
• Two categories of software: system or application
• Programming languages and software
development tools are used to develop software
• Increasing amount of software is linked to the
Internet
• Code written in non-machine language must be
translated by compilers or interpreters
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46. Summary (continued)
• Some application programs are custom
designed, and many are packaged
• Office productivity tools such as word
processors and spreadsheets help improve
worker efficiency
• Hypermedia and multimedia technology are
useful for training, education, research, and
business
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 46

47. Summary (continued)
• Groupware combines hypermedia and
multimedia with Web technologies for
collaboration
• Virtual reality tools help build models of products
and structures
• Three-dimensional geographic software helps
model maps and locations
• Many applications support Web services and
access to information on the Web
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48. Summary (continued)
• Most important system software is operating
system
• Open source software is distributed freely via the
Web
• Software is either purchased or licensed
• Purchase decisions should evaluate suitability,
ease of learning, ease of use, vendor reputation,
expected quality of vendor support
• Software piracy is still a significant problem
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