UGBS 303: Computer Applications in Management
Introduction
Dr. Awuni Emmanuel
1/23/2023
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
• Define software and identify the various types of softwares
• Identify the software applications relevant for business
• Understand the relevance and use of Task-Oriented
Productivity Software
• Understand Ethics in the use of application software
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An Overview of Software
• What is software?
• Software, also called a program, is a set of
instructions and associated documentation
that tells a computer what to do or how to
perform a task.
• It tells the computer what tasks to perform
and how to perform them.
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Where can we find softwares?
Banks
Universities
Among many other places …......
Airlines
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Software is almost everywhere
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An Overview of Software
• Software is basically categorized into two main types: Systems and
Application Software
• Systems software
• Sets of programs designed to operate, control, and extend processing capabilities of
the computer.
• It runs the computer hardware and application programs.
• Is an interface or buffer between application software and hardware
• Examples: operating system, compilers, interpreters, utility programs
• Application software
• Programs that help users solve particular computing problems
• Most application software programs are OS specific
• Examples: word processing software, payroll software, student record software,
browsers etc.
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An Overview of Software
Software
Hardware
Application
software
Users
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Layer 2
Systems
software
(Operating systems)
Layer 1
Types Application Software
• Proprietary
• Owned by companies or an individual who developed it.
• There are restrictions on its use and the source code is
kept a secret
• Designed to solve a unique and specific problem
• In-house
• Development of application software using the
company’s resources
• Contract
• Developed for a particular company
• Off-the-shelf
• An existing software program that can be used without
considerable changes expected
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Application
software
Proprietary
software
In-house
developed
Off-the-shelf
software
In-house
customized
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Standard
package
Customized
package
Contract
Contract
customization
Scope of Influence
• Personal
• Information systems that serve the needs
of an individual user
• Workgroup
• Two or more people who work together to
achieve a common goal
• Enterprise
• Information systems that support the firm
in its interaction with its environment.
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Personal Use
• The use of information system or a
software to achieve a person goal.
• Think of anything you might want to do on
a computer, and someone has probably
created application software for it.
• However, there are a number of general
types of applications that most users have
installed on their computer.
• Examples is using Microsoft word to
complete your final project work.
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Workgroup Applications
• A workgroup is a collection of individuals working together on a task.
Many personal applications extend into workgroup applications.
• Workgroup software applications are also referred to as 'collaborative
software,' or 'groupware.'
• There are several categories of workgroup applications, including:
• Electronic communications: applications send messages, documents
and files between people on different computer systems.
• Electronic conferencing : software that makes it possible to have
meetings in real-time without being physically present in the same
location.
• Scheduling and coordination tools: facilitate scheduling meetings and
other group activities.
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Enterprise Applications
• An Enterprise is an organization with a large number of employees, typically
distributed over a number of offices located at different geographic locations.
• An enterprise application is therefore a big complex business application.
• They must be scalable, distributed and component-based. They are deployed on
a variety of platforms across corporate networks, intranets, or the Internet.
• Examples:
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Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Business Intelligence.
automated billing systems
payment processing
content management
HR Management
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Example:
Integrated
Supply Chain
Management
Software
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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP):
• A set of integrated programs that manage a
company’s vital business operations for an entire
multi-site, global organization
• Vendors include:
• SAP
• Oracle
• PeopleSoft
• Dun & Bradstreet
• JD Edwards
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Issues and Trends
• Software licensing
• Protection by software vendors to prevent
unauthorized use
• Software upgrades
• A revised version of software that usually
includes fixes of known problems, plus
enhancements to existing capabilities
• Global software support
• Software that is distributed around the
globe may require unique support
mechanisms due to local political and
economic conditions
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Acquiring Software(1)
• Commercial software
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Used most often
Copyrighted
Generally costly
May not be copied without permission of the manufacturer
• Freeware
• Free to all (“No free lunch in America; beware of malware)
• Copyrighted
• Distributed in machine-readable format
• Shareware
• Freely distributed for a trial period
• Pay a nominal fee to register with the author
• Examples: Download.com, FileHippo.com, ZDNet Download,
Softpedia.com, Tucows.com
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Acquiring Software (2)
• Public-domain software
• Un-copyrighted
• May be used or altered without restriction
• Generally developed under government
grants
• Open-source
• Free to all
• Source code is distributed
• May be used or altered
• Popular under the LINUX OS
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Purchasing Commercial Software
• Individuals
• Software warehouse store
• Mail order
• Electronic software distribution
• Businesses
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Volume discount
Site license
Network versions
Application Service Provide (ASP)
Software is setup and maintained by ASP
Access the software over the Internet
Pay per use
Saves the expense of installing and maintaining the software
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Task-Oriented Software or Productivity Software
• These are software programs and tools that help users to create
documents, presentations, tables, charts, and graphs.
• They maybe used in business, in education, or at home.
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Word Processing
• Uses
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Memos
Reports
Correspondence
Minutes of meetings
Anything to be typed
• Functions
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Create
Edit
Format
Store
Print text and graphics
Desktop Publishing
• Uses
• Newsletters
• Reports
• Brochures
• Functions
• Handles high-level publishing
needs
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Spreadsheets
• Uses
• Comparing mortgage interest rates
• Preparing budgets
• Tracking weight loss
• Functions
• Manipulates numbers in rows and
columns
• Recalculates the results when a
number is changed
• What if?
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Database Management
• Uses
• Keep track of a large number of related
facts
• Query the data for specific information
• Retrieve information in a variety of
ways
• Functions
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Store data
Update data
Manipulate data
Retrieve data
Print data in many forms
Report on data in a variety of ways
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Presentation Graphics
• Uses
• Sales tool
• Demonstrate a product
• Show cost/benefit projections on
charts
• Present audio/video testimonials
from satisfied customers
• May contain
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Text
Graphics
Audio
Video
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Computer Art work
• Use software to
• Produce art
• Express ideas
• Graphic artist
• Artistic ability
• Computer skills
• Produces computer art
• Example: Corel draw,
Adobe photoshop etc.
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Communications
• Provides method for
communicating between
computers
• Most likely way to connect is
via the Internet
• Use a browser to access the
Internet
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Office Suites
• Group of basic software applications
designed to work together
• Data is portable between basic
applications of the suite
• Various applications in the suite
have the same “look and feel”
• Cost of suite is less than purchasing
individual applications
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Integrated Applications
• Combine basic word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics
capabilities
• More limited than a suite
• Easier to learn and use
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Business Software
• Custom-written to
meet special business
needs
• Standard packages
• Combination of
custom-written and
off-the-shelf
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Vertical Market Software
• Written for a particular type of business
• Dentist’s office
• Drugstore
• Auto shop
• Software may be part of complete package
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Hardware
Installation
Training
Support
Software for Small Business
• Accounting
• Spreadsheet software
• Accounting package – Basic accounting,
financial statements, tax summaries, payroll
• Writing and Advertising
• Word processing
• Desktop publishing
• Customer Service
• Database management
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Application Software Ethics
What is legal?
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Software Piracy
• Making illegal copies of copyrighted software
• Why the fuss?
• Very easy to duplicate software vs. a textbook
• 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.
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Counterfeiting
• Software is copied onto CD-ROMS / DVD-ROMS
• Package duplicates the original
• Sold in flea markets or small stores
• Cheaper price
• Occurs more in developing countries
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Copying Software
• Legitimate reasons
• Backup copy
• Copy to hard disk
• Illegitimate reasons
• Obtain software without paying for it
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Computers and People
Users
• Any individual who
operates a computer
to accomplish a task
• Home
• Business
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End User Software Characteristics
• User-friendly
• Easy
• Intuitive
• Minimum training and documentation
needed to use
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Systems Software
• Is an interface or buffer between
application software and hardware
• Controls the computer hardware and
acts as an interface with applications
programs.
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Systems Software
• System software includes:
• Operating systems:
• is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and
provides common services for computer programs. Examples: macOS, Ubuntu,
Microsoft Windows, computational
• Device drivers:
• a device driver is a computer program that operates or controls a device that is
attached to a computer.
• Middleware:
• is computer software that provides services to software applications beyond those
available from the operating system
• Utility software:
• is system software designed to help to analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a
computer
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Operating System Functions
• Perform common computer hardware
functions
• Provide a user interface
• Provide a degree of hardware independence
• Manage system memory
• Manage processing tasks
• Provide networking capability
• Control access to system resources
• Manage files
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User Interface
• User interface
• A function of the operating system that
allows individuals to access and command
the computer
• Command-based user interface
• A particular user interface that requires
text commands be given to the computer
to perform basic activities
• E.g., unix, DOS
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
• A user interface that uses pictures (icons)
and menus displayed on the screen to
send commands to the computer system
• E.g. Windows, UNIX, MAC OS, Android
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Some Software Concepts
• Multitasking
• A processing activity that allows a user to run more than one application at the same
time
• Multithreading
• A processing activity that is basically multitasking within a single application
• Time-sharing
• A processing activity that allows more than one person to use a computer system at
the same time
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NEXT WEEK
• ADVANCED WEB SEARCH TECHNIGUES
1/23/2023