Session #2

Software Technologies

Basic Concepts in Software,

Hardware, and Telecommunications
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this session, the
student should be able to:
 Identifycommon applications in
computer systems
 Be familiar with system applications

 Define decision support systems

 Have an overview of CMM

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 Software Definition
Computer programs or data stored in
electronic format.

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 Computer Programs
Application programs
 Machine executable codes that:
 directs the machine to perform specific tasks
 manipulates the data to produce the desired
output
Source programs
 Instruction codes written by programmers
to produce application programs.

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 Computer Applications
System Applications
 Computer programs that configures the computer for
productive work.
Development Applications
 Environment, utilities, and tools to create programs.
Common Applications
 Computer programs used for common office and personal
tasks.
Customized Applications
 Computer programs that automate manual processing of
specific work.

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 Source Programs
Assembly
 Low-level programming language that uses
mnemonics and interfaces directly to the
hardware.
Template-based
 Programming language that uses templates for
sections of codes. Normally 80 characters in
length and was used in the early evolution of
programming when punch cards were still being
used as storage media.
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 Source Programs
Sequential Programs
 Normally, procedural, structured programs
developed using the tops-down and/or the
bottoms-up approach with the instructions
encoded manually (hard-coded) by the
programmer.
Object Oriented/Event Driven
 Interactive programming languages that uses
objects to manipulate the outcome of the program.

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 Electronic Data
Text
 Data is stored in the computer in the original
format as it was encoded.
Formatted document
 Control characters are used to enhance the visual
presentation of the document.
Database
 Repository of large number of data containing
common attributes for fast retrieval of information.

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 Electronic Data

Graphics
 Still pictures and images that may be scanned or
drawn using graphics applications.
Audio files
 Sound files.
Video files
 Movies and animated pictures.

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 Special Topic on
Software Technology

Decision Support Systems

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 Decision Support Systems

Definition
“A computer application or data that assists a
researcher or manager in making
decisions”.
http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/dss.html

Believed to have stemmed off from

Executive Information System (EIS) of
the late 1980s.
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 DSS As A Tool
Provides decision makers the capability
to drill down, extract, analyze, graph,
and chart corporate and external data.
May include graphics, communications,
and data storage methods to provide
executives with easy on-line access to
current information about the status of
the company.
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 Types of DSS
Enterprise-wide DSS
 Caters to the needs of managers for retrieving
information about anything in the company to
guide in the decision making process.

Desktop DSS
 Single-user DSS applications residing in individual
PCs.

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 Enterprise-Wide DSS –
The Mervyn Case Study
Decision Maker’s Workbench (DMW)
 Developed in 1994 by Mervyn’s Department Stores and
Microstrategy
 Enhanced the decision making process of end-users at all
levels.
 Allows trend, performance, and inventory stock analyses
 DMW has over 850 GB of data
 Case study details available at:
 http://www.strategy.com
 http://www.oracle.com
 http://www.dw-institute.com/cases/mervyns.htm

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 Desktop DSS
Can be as simple as a spreadsheet
application or customized DSS program
for specific managers.
Expert Choice – a specialized package
that serves as desktop DSS.

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 Desktop DSS – Expert
Choice
Some of the functionalities include:
 Implements analytical hierarchy process
 Supports structuring of complex problems
 Develops priorities and ranking alternatives
 Measures consistency of judgment
 Allocates resources
 Conducts cost-benefit analysis
Assists in organizing problem-related information in a
hierarchical model consisting of a goal, possible scenarios,
criteria, and alternatives.
Enables the decision maker to systematically make judgments
about the relative importance of criteria and the preference for
alternatives relative to criteria.
Additional info at http://expertchoice.com
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 Caveats in DSS
What you want is not always what you need and what
you need is not always what you will get.
It is easy to over-promise when building DSS.
It is easy for managers to develop unrealistic
expectations for their DSS.
Even the best DSS will not be able to eliminate “bad”
decisions.
Some managers will continue to ask wrong questions
thus drawing wrong conclusions from the information
they receive.
Enterprise-DSS can compound and magnify the harm
from decision errors.
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 End of Session #1
Software Technologies

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