Introduction to Information Technology, 2

nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-1
Introduction to Information Technology

2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Computer Software
Prepared by:
Roberta M. Roth, Ph.D.
University of Northern Iowa
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-2
Chapter Preview
In this chapter, we will study:
Systems Software
Application Software
How software applications are developed
How software has evolved and where its
headed
Software for the enterprise
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-3
The Software Crisis
New software
applications cannot be
developed fast enough to:
Keep up with dynamic
business environment
Keep pace with rapid
hardware advances
Lag in software
development limits IS
capabilities

Computer System
Hardware Software
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-4
The Software Crisis (continued)
In addition to new application development,
existing software must also be maintained (80%
IT personnel effort towards maintenance).
Increasing complexity leads to the increased
potential for bugs.
Testing and debugging software is expensive
and time-consuming.
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-5
Software Fundamentals
Some basic terms
Computer programs - sequences of instructions for
the computer
Stored program concept instructions written in
programs are stored and executed by CPU when
needed
Programming - process of writing (or coding)
programs
Programmers - individuals who perform
programming
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-6
Software Fundamentals (continued)
Systems Software
Instructions that
manage the hardware
resources
Application Software
Instructions that
perform specific user
tasks
Computer Software
Systems
Software
Application
Software
Makes the
computer
function
Does
something
interesting
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-7
System Software
System software is software that:
Controls and supports the computer systems
activities
Supports application software by directing the
computers basic functions
Facilitates program development, testing, and
debugging
Is independent of any specific type of
application
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-8
Systems Software (continued)
System Control
Programs
Control use of all
system resources
(hardware, software,
data); operating
system
System Support
Programs
Specialized support
capabilities
Systems Software
System
Control
Programs
Systems
Support
Programs
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-9
System Control Programs
Operating System - main system control
program
supervises the overall operation of the
computer
allocates CPU time and main memory to
programs running on the computer
provides an interface between the user and
the hardware
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-10
Operating System Services
Process management manage program(s) running
on processor
Multitasking or Multiprogramming - managing two or
more tasks, or programs, running on the computer system at the
same time
Multithreading type of multitasking; run two or more tasks
from the same application simultaneously
Timesharing - many users share same CPU, each using a
different input/output terminal
Multiprocessing simultaneous processing with multiple CPUs

Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-11
Operating System Services (continued)
Virtual memory - simulates more main memory than
actually exists in the computer system
File management and security - managing the
arrangement of, and access to, files held in secondary
storage
Fault tolerance - system can produce correct results and
continue to operate even in the presence of faults or errors
User interface - allows users to have direct control of
visible objects (icons) and actions that replace complex
command syntax
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-12
Major Desktop Operating Systems
Types of Operating Systems
MS-DOS
Windows 95 Windows 98
Windows NT Windows 2000
Microsoft Products:
Windows XP
Windows ME
Macintosh Operating System
UNIX
Java Operating System (JavaOS)
Other Products:
Linux
IBM O/S 2
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-13
Departmental Server Operating Systems
Support hundreds of concurrent users
UNIX, Linux, Windows 2000, Windows XP,
Novell NetWare
Enterprise Operating Systems
Support thousands of concurrent users; millions
of transactions per day
IBMs OS/390, IBMs VM (Virtual Machine),
IBMs VSE (Virtual Storage Extended), and
IBMs OS/400
Types of Operating Systems (continued)
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-14
Support the operations, management, and
users of a computer system
Examples:
System Utilities
Perform common tasks: sorting records, checking
disk integrity, creating directories and
subdirectories, restoring accidentally erased files,
locating stored files, managing memory usage, and
redirecting output.
System Support Programs
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-15
Examples (continued)
Performance monitors
monitor job processing
produce statistical reports on system resource usage
Security monitors
monitor the use of a computer system to protect it
and its resources from unauthorized use, fraud, or
destruction
System Support Programs (continued)
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-16
Application Software
Programs performing specific information
processing activities and user functionality
Types of Application Software
Proprietary application software
Addresses a specific or unique business need for a company
Off-the-shelf application software
Vendor developed programs sold to many organizations
May be standard package or may be customizable
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons
4-17
Application Software (continued)
Spreadsheets
Data management
Word processing
Desktop publishing
Graphics
Presentation; Analysis;
CAD
Multimedia
Communication
Speech-recognition
Groupware
Personal Application Software - off-the-shelf
application programs supporting general types of processing