Last Updated Monday, 21 November 2011 06:10

Managerial Overview: Computer Software

I-

System Software; Computer System Management:

Introduction to Software

Key Points: Non-Physical Component of a Computer System Software Consists of Instructions, Programs and Codes Virtual Existence Importance (Needed for Input, Processing, Output, Storage, Control) Types of Software System Software (Controlling Hardware) Application Software (Processes User Specific Data)

Software can be defined as

1) The non-physical components of a computer system, is called Software.

2) Software consists of instructions, programs and codes that run a computer system and make it do

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

3) Software has virtual existence, i-e it is not a physical part rather it exists virtually. We cant see it

e-g Operating System, Device Drivers, Utilities, Word Processors, Accounting Software etc.

Software is an important part of information systems. It is needed for operations (activities) like input, p

There are two main types of Software 1) System Software 2) Application Software.

System Software

is software that controls the hardware. It is used to instruct the hardware that h

Application Software is used to do the specific processing tasks of users. It consists of instructions th

System Software

Key Points: -

Controls Hardware Software Interface between Machine and Application Software Types of System Software System Management Programs (Manage Hardware, Software and Data Resources e-g O System Support Programs (Support Operations and Management e-g Utilities, Security M System Development Programs (Help Develop IS e-g Language Translators, Programmi

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

System Software

is software that controls the hardware. It is used to instruct the hardware that h

System Software provides a vital interface between hardware and the application software. Application

There are three types of system software 1) System Management Programs 2) System Support Progra

System Management Programs to manage the hardware, software and data resources of a computer are used

System Support Programs support the operations and management of a computer system. Utilities, perfor

System Development Programs help the user to develop information systems. Language translators, programm

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Operating Systems

Key Points: Importance (Essential Part of a Computer System) Collection of Integrated Programs Interface between User and Hardware Manages Resources and Operations Supports Activities Optimizes the Productivity of Computer System Minimizes the Human Hard-work for Processing

An Operating System is the most important software installed on a computer system. It is essential for a

An

Operating System

is an integrated system of programs that manages the

Operating System optimizes the productivity of a computer system by operating it in the most efficient m

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Operating System Functions

Key Points: The User Interface Mechanism to Interact with OS Command Prompt Graphical User Interface (GUI) Operating Environments Enhanced User Interface (GUI) Use of Icons Use of Pointing Devices Multiple Output Windows Control Activities Multitasking (Running Many Applications at the Same Time) Resource Management Manage CPU, Memory, Storage and Input/Output Peripherals Virtual Memory (Part of Storage is assumed as Memory) File Management Creation, Deletion, Accessing, Editing and Resizing of Files Record of Location of Files (e-g FAT (File Allocation Table)) Task Management Task (Part of Program in Execution) Management of Computing Tasks Slices of CPU Time for Tasks Interrupts (Interrupt CPU for New Task) Multitasking (Running Many Applications at the Same Time) Factors of Multitasking Speed 1) CPU Speed, 2) Memory 3) Virtual Memory 4)

Operating

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

The

User Interface

is part of operating system that provides the mechanis

Operating Environments constitutes of the advance GUI operating environment concepts. Todays OSs

Resource Management Resource Managementrefersan the management of resources like CPU, mem is a very important function of to operating system.

File Management

is concerned with creation, deletion, accessing, editing, resizing and managing

Task Management

refers to the management of processing tasks. A task (process) Task manag refers to the part of program in execution.

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Popular Operating Systems

Key Points: DOS by Microsoft (Command Prompt, Single User, Single Tasking) Windows by Microsoft (GUI, Multi-User, Multitasking) UNIX by Various Vendors (GUI, Multi-User, Multitasking) LINUX by Red Hat (GUI, Multi-User, Multitasking) Macintosh by Apple (GUI, Multi-User, Multitasking)

DOS was a very popular operating system in the 80s and 90s. However it is not popular now. It is a co

DOS is replaced by Windows. Windows is a GUI operating system. It is multi-user and multitasking ope

UNIX is a very popular operating system for servers. It is provided by various software providers. It was

LINUX is a new flavor of UNIX. It is a open source operating system. One of its version is provided by R

Macintosh is a popular operating system from Apple Corporation. It is also GUI, multi-user and multitas

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Database Management Systems

Key Points: System Software (sometimes it is Application Software) Software for Development, Use and Maintenance of Databases Database (Organized Collection of Related Data) Many Databases Managed by a Database Management System th 4 Generation Languages for SQL (Structured Query Language): What to do? No how to do? Many Programs can Access Data Examples of DBMSs; Oracle, DB2, MS-SQL Server etc

Querying Databas

Database Management is a system software that allows us to develop, is an o System Database use an

Telecommunication Monitors

Key Points: Control and Support the Data Communication Activities Monitors the Telecommunication Activities Functions Connecting and Disconnecting Links Checking Terminals for Input/Output Activities Assigning Priorities to Data Communication Requests Detecting and Correcting Transmission Errors

Todays organizations function with telecommunication facilities. This requires the services of telecomm

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

SYSTEM SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Key Points: Utilities (Activities like Disk Management, Scan Disk etc) Performance Monitors (Performance and Usage of Computer Systems) Security Monitors (Check Unauthorized Access)

System support programs include Utilities, Performance Monitors and Security Monitors. Nowadays mo

Utilities are programs that perform the activities like disk management, scanning discs, copying and sor

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Programming Languages

Key Points: Allow Develop Set of Instructions (Programs) A Language with Specific Vocabulary, Grammar and Use Types of Programming Languages Machine Languages Assembler Languages High Level Languages Fourth Generation Languages Object Oriented Languages

Programming Languages us to develop set of instructions that constitutes a program. In other word allow

Machine Languages

Key Points: First Generation Languages Very Low Level Languages Codes of Binary (0s and 1s) Difficult, Lengthy and Error Prone Machine Specific Codes (Not Running of Different Machines)

Machine Languages

are very low level languages that does the programming by using codes of bina

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Assembler Languages

Key Points: Second Generation Languages Low Level Languages Alphanumeric Codes Close to Machine Language Reduced Difficulty of Programs Translator (Assembler) Converts Alphanumeric Codes into Machine Codes Machine Specific Codes (Not Running of Different Machines)

Assembler Languagesare low level languages which allow the programs to be written in alphanumeric

High Level Languages

Key Points: Third Generation Languages High Level Languages Codes Close to Human Language (Common English Imperative) Statement Causes a Computer to Do Something (Instruction) Statement = Many Machine Instructions Reduced Difficulty of Programs Translators (Compilers/Interpreters) Flexible and Easier than Assembler Languages Portable (Not Machine Specific) Slower than Assembler and Machine Languages (due to Translation)

High Level Languagesuse codes that are close to human language i-e common English words. These

High Level Languages are simpler than assembler or machine languages, as they use common English

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Common examples of high level languages are C, COBOL, BASIC and FORTRAN.

Fourth Generation Languages

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Key Points: Very High Level Languages Non-Procedural (What to do? Not how to do?) Conversational Style Reduced Difficulty of Programs More Flexible and Easier than Previous Generation Languages Slower SQL Artificial Intelligence

Forth Generation Languages are very high level languages. These languages are non-procedural langu

As the style is conversational we are not bound with strict syntax rules. This increases the flexibility and

th SQL (Structured Query Language) is an exampleGL.4 of There are artificial thintelligence applicationsGL.4 (S of

Object Oriented Languages

Key Points: High Level Languages Object Combination of Properties Encapsulation of Data and Objects Interacting With Re-Usability

(Data) and Behavior (Actions) Actions in Objects Objects

Object Oriented Programming Languages are high level languages. These languages use the concept

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Objects can interact with other objects by passing a message like real world objects. Objects can be re

Language Translator Programs

Key Points: Translate High-Level Codes into Machine Codes Source Code (High Level) Assembler (Symbolic Instructions into Machine Codes) Interpreter (Interpret One Code At A Time) Compiler (Whole Program is Converted into Machine Codes)

Language Translator Programs translate high-level (higher than machine) codes into machine codes. A

There are three types of Translators 1) Assembler, 2) Interpreters and 3) Compilers.

Assemblers

are used to translate symbolic instructions into converts acodes. An assembler interpreter machine high-level program, compile

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Programming Tools

Key Points: Integrated Development Editing and Debugging Computer Aided Software Environment (Programming Environment) Engineering

Programming Tools include facilities which enables user to edit and debug the programs easily. There

II-Applications Software: End User Applications

Application Software for End Users

Key Points: Application Software (Specific Types Information Processing of User)

General Application

Purpose (Perform Common Information Processing) Specific (Support Specific Applications)

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Application Software consists of programs which perform specific information processing activities o General Purpose Software is concerned with performing c Applica

Word Processing Packages

Key Points: Office Automation Application Electronic Creation, Editing and Printing of Documents Main Features of Word Processors Create and Edit Documents Auto Margin Adjustments Add, Delete or Change the Text Anywhere in the Document Copying and Moving (Cut-Paste) of Text Text Enhancement by Different Font Style and Sizes Spelling and Grammar Checking and Correction Saving Document Files on Different Storage Media Printing of Documents

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Word Processing Packages are important packages ofus to create, edit and print documents with a lot Word Processing Packages office automation. allow

Electronic Spreadsheet Packages

Key Points: Office Automation Application Used for Analysis, Planning and Modeling Accounting Calculations Replacing Paper Worksheets, Pencils and Calculators Electronic Spreadsheets (Worksheet of Rows and Columns) Data or Formulas in Cells (Junction of a Row and Column is a Cell)

Electronic Spreadsheet Packages are also part of office automation. These are used for analysis, plann

What-If Analysis

Key Points:

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Conditional Processing of Numeric Data Analysis of Specific Business Situations

We can conduct

what-if

analysis in electronic spread sheets. A condition is tes

Database Management Packages

Key Points: Microcomputer Version of Database Very Popular Easy to Create and Manage Databases Activities of Database Packages Database Development (Create DB Contents and Relationships) Database Interrogation (Retrieval of Data/Information, Report Generation) Database Maintenance (Add, Delete, Update, Correct and/or Protect Data) Application Development (Development of Applications for DB Activities)

Database Management Packages are microcomputer versions of the Database Management Systems. These are

Following are the activities that a database management package performs.

th Database Developments concerned with activities like creation and designingwith retrieval contents an i Database Interrogation deals of database of data/info

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

Telecommunication Packages

Key Points: Connect and Monitor Different Terminals in a Network Allow to Send/Receive Data, Files, Messages etc Across Networks Most of the Operating Systems Provide a Number of Telecommunication Packages Other Vendors also Provide Telecommunication Packages

Telecommunication Packages and monitor different terminals in a network. They provide the mechan connect

Telecommunication Packages to send and receive data, files and messages across networks. Data, allow us

Much of the telecommunication packages are provided by the operating system (as part of the system)

Graphics Packages

Key Points: Convert Numeric Data into Graphics (Lines, Bar and Pie Charts) Draw Images, Clip Art, Freehand Writing, Presentation Graphics etc

Graphics Packages are used to convert numeric data into graphics such as lines, bar and pie charts. P

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

We may draw images, clip arts, freehand writings and presentation graphics with the help of such graph

Integrated Packages and Software Suites

Key Points: Integrated Packages (Abilities of Several General-Purpose Applications into One Program) Software Suites (Bundle of Many Individual Software Packages)

Integrated Packages combine the abilities of several general-purpose application software into one p

Software Suites

bundle many of the individual software packages into one suite. These software

Other End User Packages

Key Points: Home Management, Entertainment, Education and Information Services

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Managerial Overview: Computer Software

There are certain other end user packages. Package like home management packages, entertainment

Application Specific Programs

Key Points: -

Business Application Programs (Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Manufacturing and Operation Scientific Application Programs (Natural, Physical, Social and Behavioral Sciences) Other Application Programs (Education, Entertainment, Music, Art, Law, Medicine etc)

Application Specific Programs for specific processing task performed by an end user. There are thre are used

Business Application Programs business activities like Application Programs finance, the Other A help do the Scientific accounting, are used to handle manufacturi marketing, process

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