MODULE:

INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN ORGANISATIONS

Lecture 4

Classes of Applications in Organisations

Lecture Overview

 What is a Software?
 Software Types
 Applications Software
 Task-Oriented Productivity Software
 Business Software
 Application Software and Ethics
 Computers and People
 Computer Software

 Computer hardware is useless without software.

 Software is the set of instructions and associated data that
direct the computer to do a task.
 Software can be divided into two categories:
 System software
 Application software
 The Major types of Software
Application Software
Programming languages
Assembly language
Application software FORTRAN, BASIC, PL/1
PASCAL, C
“4th generation “ languages

System Software
Operating Systems
System software Schedules computer events
Allocates computer resources
Monitor events
Language translators
Users Interpreters
Compilers
Utility programs
Routine operations (e.g. sort, list, print)
Manage data (e.g. create files, merge
files
 Open Source Software

 Open source software (OSS) is computer software whose source code is

available under a license that permits users to use, change, and improve
the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form.

 It is often developed in a public, collaborative manner.

 Well-known OSS products are Linux, Netscape, Apache, etc.,
 Proprietary Software

 Proprietary software (also called non-free software) is software with

restrictions on using, copying and modifying as enforced by the proprietor.
Restrictions on use, modification and copying is achieved by either legal or
technical means and sometimes both.
 Proponents of proprietary software are Microsoft.
 Ex: CAD, Norton Antivirus etc.,
 System Software

• Manages the fundamental operations of the computer, such as:

 loading programs and data into memory
 executing programs
 saving data to disks
 displaying information on the monitor
 transmitting data through a port to a peripheral device.
• System software: operating systems, utilities, device drivers.
 Operating System
• Collection of computer programs that control the interaction of the user and
the computer hardware.
• Responsible for directing all computer operations and managing all
computer resources.
• Controls basic input and output, allocates system resources, manages
storage space, maintains security, and detects equipment failure.
• A part of the operating system code is stored in a ROM and the rest of it
resides on a disk.
• Loading the operating system into memory is called booting the computer.
 Responsibilities of an Operating System
• Communicate with user, receive and execute commands, show error
messages.
• Manage allocation of memory, processor time and other resources.
• Collect input from keyboard, mouse, and provide data to running
programs.
• Convey program output to screen, printer, or other output device.
• Access data from secondary storage.
• Write data to secondary storage.
• Maintains security (checks user-name , password, virus infection)
 Operating System: Multiprogramming
• The most important operating system capability for sharing computer resources
is multiprogramming.
• Multiprogramming permits multiple programs to share a computer system’s
resources at any time through concurrent use of CPU.
• By concurrent use, we mean that only one program is actually using the CPU at
any given moment.
• However, at the same time other programs can collect inputs and display
outputs.
• Two or more programs are active at the same time, but they do not use the same
computer resources simultaneously.
• With multiprogramming, a group of programs takes turns using the processor
 Operating System: Multiprogramming

Program 1
Program 1 Program 2
Operating Operating
System System Program 3
Unused memory Unused memory
 The first operating systems executed only one program at a time. When a program read data
from a tape or disk or wrote data to a printer, the entire CPU came to a stop. This was a very
inefficient way to use the computer.
 In a multiprogramming environment, three programs were stored in primary storage. The
first program executes until an input/output statement occurs. Then the operating system
directs a channel to read the input and move the output to output device. The CPU moves to
the second program until an input/output statement occurs. At this point, the CPU switches
 Operating System: Multitasking
• Multitasking => The multiprogramming capability of primarily single-user
operating systems (PC).

• One person can run two or more programs concurrently on a single

computer.

• When you are writing a report using MS Word, you can also search on the
Internet.

• Multitasking allows you to display both programs on the computer screen

and work with them at the same time
 Operating System: Virtual Storage
• Virtual storage => a way of handling programs more efficiently
• Virtual storage breaks a program into a number fixed- length portions called pages
or into variable-length portions called segments.
• Only this small portion (2 to 4 kilobytes) of the program is stored in primary memory
at one time.
• All other program pages are stored on a peripheral disk until they are ready for
execution.
• Virtual storage provides a number of advantages:
 the central processor is utilized more fully.
 Many more programs can be in primary storage because only one page of each program
actually resides there.
 Programmers no longer have to worry about the size of the primary storage. Programs can
be of infinite length and small machines can execute a program of any size.
 Operating System: Virtual Storage
Primary memory Secondary storage (disk)

Program A
Lines 1, 2, 3
Program A

Program B
Lines 7, 8, 9
Program B

Program C
Lines 52-80 Program C

Virtual storage is based on the fact that. In general, only a few statements in a
program can be actually utilized at any given moment
 Operating System: Time Sharing

• Time sharing => an operating system capability that allows many users to share
computer processing resources simultaneously.
• It differs from multiprogramming in that the CPU spends a fixed amount of time on
one program before moving to another .
• In time sharing environment, thousands of users are each allocated a tiny slice of
computer time (2 milliseconds).
• In this time slot, each user is free to perform any required operations.
• At the end of this period, another user is given a 2-millisecond time slice of the CPU.
• This arrangement permits many users to be connected to a CPU simultaneously.
• Because the CPU is operating at the nanosecond level, a CPU can accomplish a
great deal of work in 2 millisecond.
 Operating System: Multiprocessing

• Multiprocessing => an operating system capability that links together two or

more CPU to work in parallel in a single computer system.
• The operating system can assign multiple CPUs to execute different
instructions from the same program or from different programs
simultaneously, dividing the work between the CPUs.
• Multiprogramming uses concurrent processing with one CPU.
• Multiprocessing uses simultaneous processing with multiple CPUs.
 System Software : Utilities

• Another category of system software.

• Augments the OS by taking over some of its responsibility for
allocating hardware resources.
• Utility Program => System software consisting of programs for
routine, repetitive tasks ( e.g. copying, clearing primary
storage, computing a square root, or sorting), which can be
shared by many users.
• Many utilities come with OS.
• Some independent software developers offer utilities for sale
separately.
E.g. Norton Utilities by Symantec.
 Device Driver

• A computer program that can establish communication because it

contains information about the characteristics of your computer and
of the device.
• Each peripheral device requires a device driver.
• Helps the computer communicate with that particular device.
• When we add a device to an existing computer, part of its installation
includes adding its device driver to the configuration
 Device Driver

• A computer program that can establish communication because it

contains information about the characteristics of your computer and
of the device.
• Each peripheral device requires a device driver.
• Helps the computer communicate with that particular device.
• When we add a device to an existing computer, part of its installation
includes adding its device driver to the configuration
 Compiler

• Software that translates a high-level language program into machine

language.
• Input to the compiler is a source file (created by word processor or
editor) containing the text of a high-level language program.
• If it is syntactically correct, compiler will save in an object file which
is a machine language instructions for the same job
 Linker

 All machine instructions are not complete.

 High-level language programs use at least one of the function that
reside in other object files available to the system.
 Linker combines several object files, resolving cross references
between the files, into one executable file (machine language
program).
 Loader

 To run an executable file, the loader must copy all the instructions
into memory and direct the CPU to begin execution with the first
instruction.
 As the program executes, it takes input data from source(s) and
sends results to output devices.
 Loader

 To run an executable file, the loader must copy all the instructions
into memory and direct the CPU to begin execution with the first
instruction.
 As the program executes, it takes input data from source(s) and
sends results to output devices.
 Integrated development environment (IDE)

• Most high-level languages now include an Integrated Development

Environment (IDE) consisting of a simple word processor, compiler,
linker and loader tools for finding errors.
• This software package provides menus from which user can select
the next step.
• It leaves all versions of the program in memory. For safety, we need to
explicitly save the source file to disk
 Application Software

• Application Software is a single or group of programs that allow access for

specific tasks to be performed
• Users of a computer should familiarize themselves with the variety of
applications that are available.
• The purpose of computer applications is that it can greatly simplify a task
for a user. Ways applications can help are to create and modify word
processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, along with graphics
and multimedia
 Application Software

• Application software consists of programs designed to make users more

productive and/or assist with personal tasks
 Application Software

• Interactive Mode
• The user runs the program on the computer and keeps on interacting with
the computer while the program runs.
• Example: Word Processor
• Batch Mode
• The user starts the program and the computer processes the provided
data and produces results without any further intervention from the user.
• Example: Payroll
Application Software
 Application Software

• Available in a variety of forms:

 Application Software
• Packaged Software
• Collection of programs that are grouped together for the purpose of providing public with different
tools in the same family
• A commercial program that is available to the public and sold to them at particular price, Eg:
Microsoft Office Program that has many tools linked together such as Office, PowerPoint, Access,
Note, and Excel

• Custom Software
• A particular program that gets developed for one purpose within a company or department
• Accessible specifically for an organization for a purpose, Eg: JPMorgan is developing a program for
the management department
 Application Software
• Web application
• A web-based application is any program that is accessed over a network connection using HTTP
• Web-based applications often run inside a web browser
• web-based applications also may be client-based, where a small part of the program is downloaded
to a user’s desktop, but processing is done over the internet on an external server

• Shareware
• A Shareware is a software that you can use on a trial basis before paying for it.
• Shareware often has limited functionality or may only be used for a limited time before requiring
payment and registration.
• Once you pay for a shareware program, the program is fully functional and the time limit is
removed.
 Application Software
• Freeware Software
• A software that is available for user at no monetary cost
• It is most proprietary software as usually modification, redistribution or reverse-engineering
without the author’s permission is prohibited, Eg: Skype, Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• Public Domain Software

• A software that has no legal, copyright or editing restriction associated with it.
• It is free and open-source software hat can be publicly modified, distributed or sold without any
restrictions, Eg: SQLite, I2P and CERN httpd
• intentionally or voluntarily uncopyrighted, unpatented and is unrestricted by its developer/author.
 Application Software
• Business Software
• An application software that assists people while performing business activities
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Word Processing
software allows users
to create and
manipulate
documents
• Clip art is a collection
of electronic
drawings, photos and
other images.
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Word Processing software
• Probably the most popular productivity app
• Initially designed as a replacement for the typewriter
• Automation
 Automatic end-of-line soft carriage return
 Style sheets
 Table of contents & index
 Spelling & grammar checking
• Two approaches: WYSIWYG (e.g. Word, WordPerfect, Star) or traditional
markup (LaTeX)?
• Desktop publishing
 Application Software
• Business Software- Developing a Document
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Spreadsheet software allows users to organize data in rows and columns and
perform calculations
• Electronic replacement for ledgers
• Used for automating engineering, scientific, but in majority of cases for business
calculations.
• It helped in popularizing PC’s by making the task of financial-forecasting much
simpler, allowing individuals to do forecasts which previously were performed by a
whole team of financial wizard
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Spreadsheet consists
of cells arranged in
rows & columns

• Each cell may contain

numeric values, text or
formulas

• Automation
• Recalculations
• Charts
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Charting depicts data in a spreadsheet in graphical form.
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Database- a collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval
and use of that data.
• Database Software- allows users to create, access and manage a database.
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Presentation Software-
allows users to create
visual aids for
presentations to
communicate ideas,
messages and other
information to a group.
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Note taking Software- application software that enables users to enter typed text,
handwritten comments, drawings or sketches anywhere on a page.
 Application Software
• Business Software
• A Software suite is a collection of individual program available together as a unit.
• A Personal Information Manager (PIM) is an application software that includes:
 Application Software
• Business Software
 Application Software
• Business Software
• Enterprises typically require special computing solutions for various functional
units.
Graphics and Multimedia Software
Graphics and Multimedia Software
Graphics and Multimedia Software
 Graphics and Multimedia Software
• Web Page Authoring Software helps users of all skill levels to create web
pages that include multimedia and interactive content
Software for Home, Personal and Educational Use
Software for Home, Personal and Educational Use
Software for Home, Personal and Educational Use
 Web Applications
• A Web application (Web app) is a web site that allows users to access
and interact with software from any computer or device that is
connected to the internet
Web Applications
Application Software for Communications
 Learning Tools for Application Software

• Online Help is the

electronic equivalent
of a user manual
• You can ask a
question or access the
help topics in subject
or alphabetical order
 Learning Tools for Application Software

• Web-based training is a type

of CBT that uses Internet
technology and consists of
application software on the
Web
• Distance Learning (DL) is the
delivery of education at one
location while the learning
takes place at other locations.
 Software Piracy

• Making illegal copies of copyrighted software

• Why the fuss?
• Very easy to duplicate software vs. a text book
• Software company may lose hundreds of dollars per pirated copy
• Prosecution
• Yes: Small-medium sized business who purchase a few copies and
distribute to many users
• No: Individual users who probably would not have purchased
software on their own anyway
 Software Counterfeiting

• Software is copied onto CD-ROMS / DVD-ROMS

• Package duplicates the original
• Sold in flea markets or small stores
• Cheaper price
• Occurs more overseas
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