Dell Computers
Facts About Dell
- Founded in 1984 by Michael Dell.
- Headquarters located in Round Rock, Texas.
- Dell is #2 worldwide in PC market share.
- 37,000 employees.
- A leader in supplying PC's to business
customers, government agencies, educational
institutions and consumers.
Dell’s Business Strategy
By selling personal computer systems directly
to customers, Dell can best understand their
needs, and efficiently provide the most
effective computing solutions to meet those
needs.
Direct Business Model
Dell offers an in-person relationship with
corporate and institutional customers in
addition to telephone and Internet purchasing;
customized computer systems; on-line and
technical support; and next-day, on-site
product service.
Direct Business Model
Dell is enhancing and broadening the fundamental
competitive advantage of the direct business model
by increasingly applying the efficiencies of the
Internet to its entire business.
Direct Business Model
• Dell arranges for system installation and
management.
• Guides customers through technology
transitions.
• Designs and customizes products and services to
the requirements of organizations and individuals.
• Sells an extensive selection of peripheral hardware
and computing software.
Internet Significance
Dell led commercial migration to the Internet,
launching www.dell.com in 1994,
adding e-commerce in 1996.
The site accounts for about 50% of Dell's
revenue, and receives 40 million
visits per quarter at 78 country specific web
sites.
Dell.com
At dell.com customers may review, configure,
and price systems within Dell's entire product
line.
Orders may be both placed online and tracked
through the distribution process.
Why Dell Succeeds
Product Price Performance: Dell offers its customers
powerful richly configured systems at competitive
prices.
Customization: Dell systems are built to order,
customers get exactly what they ordered.
Reliability: Dell uses knowledge gained from direct
customer contact before and after sales to provide
customer satisfaction..
Shareholder Value
Since Dell went public its stock has
appreciated 50,000%.
Worldwide Business
Dell Manufactures its systems in:
-Austin, Tx
-Nashville, Tenn
-Eldorado do Sol, Brazil
-Limerick, Ireland
-Penang, Malaysia
-Xiamen, China
Future Objectives
- Move greater volumes of product sales.
- Improve and expand service and support
through use of the Internet.
- Use of the Internet to improve the efficiency
of the procurement process.
- Expand to Latin America and India.
Possible Exam Questions
1. What major benefits has Dell realized through the
use of the direct business model?
2. How significant is the Internet to its past
performance and future plans?
Chapter 5
Managerial Overview:
Computer Software
Chapter Objectives
1. Understand the major types of software and be able to
provide examples of application and system software.
2. Understand the benefits of microcomputer software packages
for end user productivity and collaboration computing.
3. Understand the functions of an operating system.
4. Describe the main uses of high-level, fourth-generation, objectoriented, and web-oriented languages.
5. Understand the logic of the major trends in computer software.
Computer Software
Things one needs to understand:
• The role of software.
•
•
•
•
•
•
What we want software to tell a computer to do.
The different categories of software.
Why there are multiple programming languages.
Examples of programming languages.
Challenges related to programming.
Sources of software.
Software Tells a Computer To:
1. Read input data from source documents or secondary storage.
2. Process the data.
3. Display the results.
4. Print the results.
5. Store the results.
6. Transmit the results.
7. Protect itself and the data.
8. Keep track of things that it is doing to restart if necessary.
9. Count things to reflect performance.
10. Do multiple things at the same time.
11. Do things that make it easier for the user to use the computer
.
Overview of Computer Software
Computer Software
Application Software
General Purpose
Application Programs
Application-Specific
Programs
System Software
System Management
Programs
System Development
Programs
Application Software Types
Application-specific: Support specific
application of end users in business and
other fields.
General-purpose: Programs that perform
common information processing jobs for
end users.
General Purpose Software
Software Suites: (e.g. Microsoft Office)
• Widely used productivity packages.
• Cost a lot less than the total cost of buying
individual packages separately.
• Programs use a similar graphical user interface.
General Purpose Software
Packages include:
Web Browsers
Database Managers
Electronic Mail
Word Processing
Electronic Spreadsheets
Presentation Graphics
Groupware
Multimedia
Operating System
Most important system software: (The foundation for
everything else) An integrated system of programs that
manages the operation of the CPU, controls input and
output devices, storage resources and the processing
activities of a computer system.
Primary benefit of an operating system: Maximize the
productivity of a computer system and minimize the
need for human intervention.
Other System Management Software
Database Management Systems: Controls the
development, use, and maintenance of database
systems of the computer using organization.
Network Management Programs: Used to
monitor, measure and manage the organization’s
network.
System Software
System Development Software: assists users in the
development of information system programs and
procedures through the use of programming language
translators and editors, and other programming and
systems development tools.
Programming Languages
1. General purpose and specifically oriented
programming languages.
2. A continual trend to make programming easier and
useable for a broader range of people.
3. Additional information regarding programming in
a later presentation.
Possible Exam Questions
•
What are the major categories of
software and how are they both similar
and different?
•
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of integrated packages?
Computer Software
The detailed instructions that control
the operation of a computer system.
•
•
•
•
Provide tools to people.
Intermediary between people and data.
Manage the computer resources.
Selecting appropriate software for an
enterprise is a key management decision.
Information Systems Software
Some Management Challenges:
1. Increasing complexity and potential software
errors.
2. The application backlog.
3. Proliferation of desktop software in user
departments versus organizational standards.
Software Terms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Program
Stored Program
Programming Languages
Compilation or Interpretive Language
Source Code
Object Code
Multiprogramming - executing two or more programs
concurrently using the same computer.
Multiprocessing - executing two or more instructions
simultaneously in a single computer by using multiple central
processing units.
Time Sharing - sharing of computer resources by many users
simultaneously.
Graphical User Interface (GUI) - part of the operating
system that uses graphic icons to issue commands and make
selections.
Operating System
A program that acts as an intermediary between a
user of a computer and the computer hardware.
Exist because they are reasonable ways to solve the
problem of creating a usable computer.
The basis for standardization.
The vendor that owns the operating system has
significant power and even control within
the industry.
Operating Systems
Are Operating Systems all the same?
• Features and functions.
• Advantages and benefits.
Operating Systems
• UNIX
• DOS
• Linux
• Windows
• AIX
• NT
• OS/2
• Mac OS
• IBM MVS, VM
• VMS
Word Processing
Create and
Edit
Documents
Storage,
Retrieval, and
Formatting
Spell and
Grammar
Checking
Key
Aspects
of
Electronic
Word Processing
Add, Change,
Delete, or
Move Text
Import Text
from Other
Documents
Multimedia Technologies
Video Capture
Card
Authoring
Language
Compact Disk
Interactive
Storyboard
Sound Board
Key
Technologies
of
Multimedia
Computer
Edit System
MIDI
Interactive
Video
Compressed
Audio
Digital Video
Interactive
Digital Audio
Groupware
• Collaborative Software
• PC to PC links through LANs as a logical
extension of common interests, activities and
data use.
• The culture of the organization definitely
influences the success of a groupware approach.
• Groupware can be implemented via the
Internet.
Web Browsers
Surf the Net
Discussion
Groups
Launch
Information
Typical uses of a Web Searches
Browser in Internet,
Intranet, and Extranet
Environments
Multimedia
File
Transfer
E-Mail
Database Management Packages
Database
Development
Database
Interrogation
Primary Tasks of
Database Management
Packages
Database
Maintenance
Application
Development
Major Internet Software
The Internet just celebrated its 30th birthday. Why
didn’t you really know about it or even hear about
it until around 1994?
World Wide Web (WWW)
Browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer and
Netscape Navigator
Search Engines: Yahoo, Excite, Alta Vista, Ask
Jeeves, Hotbot, Northern Lights, Dogpile and
about 1,500 others.
Trends in Computer Software
First
Generation
Second
Generation
Third
Fourth
Generation Generation
Fifth
Generation
Trend: Toward Easy-to-Use Multipurpose Network-Enabled Application
Packages for Productivity and Collaboration
User-Written
Programs
Machine
Language
Packaged
Programs
Symbolic
Languages
Operating
Systems
High-Level
Languages
DBMS
FourthGeneration
Languages
Microcomputer
Packages
Natural &
Object-Oriented
Languages
Multipurpose
Graphic- Interface
Network-enabled
Expert-Assisted
Packages
Trend: Toward Visual or Conversational Programming Languages and
Tools
The Joys (and Woes) of Programming
Programming
Why is there no programming in this course?
How many of you have taken a programming
course?
Computer Programming
Think of a computer as a robot.
What do you want it to do?
Important to Remember
A computer isn’t smart enough to make a
mistake--without our help.
Computers only do what they are instructed to
do by instructions via a program.
Categories of Programming Languages
Object-Oriented Languages: Use Combinations of Objects
Fourth-Generation Languages:Use Natural and Nonprocedural
Statements
High-Level Languages: Use Brief Statements or Arithmetic Notation
Assembler Languages: Use Symbolic Coded Instructions
Machine Languages: Use Binary Coded Instructions
Program Compilation
Compiler
Program
Source Code
Results
Computer
Compilation
C
Cobol
Fortran
Object Code
Computer
Processing
Data
Computer Programming
There are over two thousand known computer
programming languages.
Which flavor do you like?
Computer Programming Languages
ABC
Ada
Basic, Visual
BETA
C
C++
Elisp
Cecil
COBOL
Dylan (OODL)
Eclipse
Eiffel (OO)
Elf
Erlang
Forth
FORTRAN
Haskell
Java
Lisp
Occam
Oz
Pasqual
Perl
Postscript
Prolog
Python
REXX
SGML
Sisal
TCL/TK
TeX
VHDL
WEB
(cweb,
fweb)
Z
Worth Remembering
Programming is both a science and an art.
The science part is that there are rules (syntax)
that must be adhered to for a specific
language.
The art is that there are clever, innovative, even
creative ways to do a program to accomplish a
specific task.
The Joys of Programming
1. The satisfaction from making something that works.
2. The pleasure of making things that are useful to others.
3. The fascination of fashioning complex, puzzle-like
objects of interlocking moving parts and watching
them work to accomplish things.
4. The fun of always learning from the non-repetitive
nature of the task.
5. Working in a medium that is only slightly removed
from pure thought levels.
The Woes of Programming
1. A program must perform perfectly. If one character of
the incantation is not in proper form, it doesn’t work.
2. Designing grand concepts can be fun; finding nitty
little bugs is just plain work.
3. Testing drags on and on, the last difficult bugs taking
more time to find than the first.
4. The program over which one has labored so long
appears to be obsolete upon (or before) completion.
5. The technology base on which one builds is always
advancing so your work can become obsolete in terms
of its concepts.
Software Development Rule of Thumb
• 1/3 of the schedule for design.
• 1/6 for coding.
• 1/4 for component testing.
• 1/4 for system testing.
Brook’s Law - Mythical Man-Month
Adding manpower to a late software
project makes it later.
The man-month is a fallacious and
dangerous myth for it implies that men
and machines are interchangeable.
The Mythical Man-Month
• Why has this book that was originally published in 1975
and republished in 1995 persisted?
• Why after twenty-five years does it still seen relevant to
current day software practices?
• Have software development disciplines not changed during
the space of twenty-five years?
• Is is because it is only incidentally about software but
primarily about how people in teams produce things?
Possible Exam Questions
1. Why are there so many different programming
languages?
2. What three factors are important in a large
software development project?
HTML and Java
Objectives
1. What are HTML and JAVA?
2. What makes HTML and JAVA different from other
programming languages?
3. Why are they important?
4. What’s so great about HTML and JAVA?
HTML and Java Similarities
1. Both are relatively new programming languages
although the forerunner of HTML has been around for
some time.
2. Both are tools for building multimedia Web pages,
Web sites, and Web-based applications.
What is HTML?
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML):
A page description language that creates
hypertext or hypermedia documents.
HTML Enablers
1. HTML inserts control codes within a document at points
you can specify that create links(hyperlinks) to other parts
of the document or to other documents anywhere on the
World Wide Web.
2. HTML embeds control codes in the ASCII text of a
document that designates titles, headings, graphics, and
multimedia components, as well as hyperlinks within the
document.
HTML Displayed in Browser
HTML to Web Page
HTML source code:
What is Java?
An object-oriented programming language
developed by Sun Microsystems.
Things you should know in using Java:
- Applets
- Object-Oriented Programming
Java
• Created by Sun Microsystems in l995
• Object-oriented programming (OOP) language.
– Programming model in which data and functions are encapsulated
into objects.
• Other examples include C++, Objective C, and Microsoft’s Visual
Basic
– Fundamentally different than procedural languages in which data
and functions are not necessarily linked.
• Java is an interpreted language.
– Allows Java applications and applets to run on many platforms
with little or no modification.
Java - An Interpreted Language
Java Source Code
Compile
10101010101
01010101010
Java bytecode
Execute Application
Virtual Machine
Virtual Machine
Virtual Machine
Wintel PC
Macintosh
Unix, PalmPilot, Wireless, etc.
What’s so great about Java?
Major computer industry players are backing Sun’s Java
Company
Why they back Java
Apple Computer
A lifeboat for the Macintosh: Java applets will run as well on a
Mac as a PC, making Apple relevant again.
IBM
Three words: cross-platform capability. All its computers will
finally speak the same tongue. IBM will sell applets too.
Oracle Systems
A true believer: Java will power its network computer,
allowing mere mortals to tap into its database software.
Netscape Communications Without Java, maybe yesterday’s news. With Java, Netscape
moves past browsers into a new realm: business applications.
Microsoft
Smiling through clenched teeth: Its Web browser must keep up
with Netscape’s – and that means using Java.
More Features
HTML: There are programs which can help you design
web pages without formal HTML programming. (Ex.
WEB Wizard)
Java: There are programs that translate and execute Java
programs. Because Java is an interpreted language, it
must be written through code as yet.
Java is simpler and secure than most programming
languages.
Good HTML
Reference Book
Elizabeth Castro’s
book: HTML for the
World Wide Web.
$17.95 (or less) at
Barnes and Noble or
Amazon.com.
There are also a
number of fairly good
HTML primers that
are free over the
Internet.
Two Possible Exam Questions:
1. Why are HTML and Java relevant in today’s business world?
2. Why is Java so successful and what are the benefits of
Java?
Software Development
1. Make it yourself.
2. Buy it from a software vendor.
Software Vendors
30,000 Software Vendors Worldwide
Frequently in and out of business.
Software Industry
US
Worldwide
Systems Software
$9.7 B
$23.9 B
Application Software
$23.9B
$34.5 B
$33.6 B
$58.4 B
Microsoft, Inc.
Mission
Create software for the personal
computer that empowers and
enriches people in the workplace,
at school and at home
Goals
• Make products easier and more effective
for customers to use.
• Develop simpler interfaces, natural
language processing, and voice control to
help hide the underlying complexity from
users.
Corporate Profile
• Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen
• Its mission has been to create software for the personal
computer that empowers and enriches people in the
workplace, at school, and at home.
• Until this past year Microsoft was considered the most
valuable corporation in the world based on stock
capitalization value.
• Its strength is based on its control of the desktop
architecture and the related market share of PC software.
• Has frequently gained improved products and capabilities
through acquisitions.
• Develops and markets multiple products and services.
Microsoft: Living Values
• There are two key aspects to Microsoft’s past and future
success: “Its vision of technology and the values by which
we live, every day, as a company.”
• These values are:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Customers
Innovation
Partners
Integrity
People
Diversity
Entrepreneurial Culture
Community
Microsoft Products
Everyone knows about Windows, Microsoft Office and
Internet Explorer but there is an increasingly broader
range of software products and/or services.
Its online efforts include the MSN network of Internet
products and services; e-commerce platforms; and
alliances with companies involved with broadband
access and various forms of digital interactivity.
Products
• Operating systems for personal computers and
networks.
• Server applications for client/server environments.
• Business and consumer productivity applications.
• Interactive media programs.
Microsoft Products
Microsoft also licenses consumer software programs; sells
PC input devices; trains and certifies system integrators;
and researches and develops advanced technologies for
future software products.
Revenue Growth
Fiscal Year Ending Net Revenue % Growth Net Income % Growth
6/30/95
6/30/96
6/30/97
6/30/98
6/30/99
6/30/00
$6.08B
$9.05B
$11.94B
$15.26B
$19.75B
$22.96B
29%
49%
32%
28%
29%
16%
$1.45B
$2.20B
$3.45B
$4.49B
$7.79B
$9.42B
27%
51%
57%
30%
73%
21%
Organization
• Business and Enterprise-Focus on the information
technology
• Business productivity-Meeting the needs of the “knowledge
worker”
• Developer-Products and services for developer customer
• Operations- Managing business operations and overall
business planning
• Sales and Support-Providing products to wide range of
customers
• Microsoft Research-Convert problems into tangible
solutions
Global Commitment
Already an international company with offices
in more than 50 countries.
Their long-term investment strategy in developing
markets and close working relationships with
developers help them provide leading products for
the global marketplace.
Summary
Microsoft is always striving to produce
innovative products that meet customers’
evolving needs enabling Microsoft to offer
technological advancements that ensure
customers the highest quality software
products available today.
Possible Exam Questions
1. State the primary focus of Microsoft Corporation
within the computer software industry.
2. What primary factors have enabled Microsoft to
become the market leader in PC software?
Operating Systems
Operating System
A software program that acts as an intermediary
between a user of a computer and the computer
hardware.
Exist because it is a reasonable way to solve the
problem of creating a usable computer by better
managing the computer resources.
The basis for standardization of application software.
Functions of an Operating System
User
Interface
Resource
Management
Use of
hardware
resources
Task
Management
Managing the
accomplishment
of tasks
File (Data)
Management
Managing data
and program
files
Utilities
and Other
Functions
Sort, merge,
performance,
etc.
Operating System Functions
• Allocation and Assignment of Jobs (traffic cop)
– Specific assignment of resources.
• Scheduling
– Jobs that have been submitted. (priority
sequence)
– Use of input/output devices.
• Monitoring and Control
– Keeps track of each job
– Keeps system statistics
– Restart/Recovery capabilities
Functions of Operating System
• User Interface: Allows communication between end users
and their computer system.
command driven
menu-driven
graphical user interfaces
• Resource Management: Manages the hardware and
networking resources of a computer system. (CPU,
memory, secondary storage devices, etc.)
• File Management: Controls the creation, deletion, and
access of files of data and programs.
• Task Management: Manages the accomplishment of the
computing tasks of end users.
• Utilities/Other Functions:
Operating System Functions
Multiprogramming - executing two or more programs
concurrently using the same computer.
Multiprocessing - executing two or more instructions
simultaneously in a single computer by using multiple central
processing units.
Graphical User Interface (GUI) - part of the operating
system that uses graphic icons to issue commands and make
selections.
Virtual Memory
An approach under the control of the operating system that
manages the use of primary memory.
What does virtual mean?
Virtual memory is accomplished by rolling the programs
being executed between primary memory and secondary
storage (disk files) to allow execution of multiple programs
that exceed the actual memory capacity of the computer.
Virtual Memory
Order Entry
Production Status
Groupware
Shipping and
Receiving
Are all operating systems the same?
• Features and functions.
• Advantages and benefits.
From Personal Computers to Mainframes?
Are all operating systems the same?
• Features and functions.
• Advantages and benefits.
From Personal Computers to Mainframes?
Popular Operating Systems
• DOS
• UNIX
• Windows
• AIX
• NT
• Linux
• OS/2
• Mac OS
• IBM MVS, VM
• VMS
Summary
Operating systems are the foundation of a
computer operation.
Operating systems benefits include better resource
utilization, better system performance, gains in costeffectiveness and better overall management of the
entire system.
Without operating systems with advanced features
and functions, computing would still be in its very
early stages.
Possible Exam Questions
1. What is an operating system and what
benefits does it provide to those using a
computer?
2. Explain the concept of virtual memory.
IT Software
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Operating System
Database Manager
Communication Services
User Interface
Software Development Tools
Systems Management Services
Application Software
Types of Computer Software
Computer
Software
Application
Software
GeneralPurpose
Application
Programs
MS Office
Groupware
Integrated
Packages
Performs
Information
Processing Tasks
for End Users
ApplicationSpecific
Programs
Business,
Accounting,
Finance,
Engineering,
SAP, ERP
Manages
Operations of
Computer Systems
and Networks
System
Software
System
Management
Programs
Operating Systems
Network Management
Database Management
Systems Utilities
Performance and Security
System
Development
Programs
Programming
Languages
Programming
Editor and Tools
CASE Packages
Key Terms in Chapter 5
Applet
Application Software
Application-Specific Programs
Assembler Language
Database Management Package
Desktop Publishing
Electronic Mail
Electronic Spreadsheet Package
File Management
Fourth-Generation Language
General-Purpose Application
Programs
Graphical User Interface
Groupware
High-Level Language
HTML
Integrated Package
Java
Language Translator Program
Machine Language
Multitasking
Natural Language
Network Management Programs
Network Operating Systems
Nonprocedural Language
Object-Oriented Language
Operating System
Personal Information Manager
Presentation Graphics Package
Programming Tools
Resource Management
Software Suites
System Management Programs
System Software
Task Management
Trends in Software
User Interface
Utility Programs
Virtual Memory
Web Browser
Word Processing Package