Mgt 20600: Mgt 20600: IT Management & ApplicationsIT Management & Applications

SoftwareSoftware

ThursdayThursday

February 23, 2006February 23, 2006

RemindersReminders

ReadingReadingFundamentals text, Chapter Four, Fundamentals text, Chapter Four,

Telecommunications and NetworksTelecommunications and Networks

HomeworkHomework– Homework Two due Friday, 2/24 by 5pmHomework Two due Friday, 2/24 by 5pm

Next week’s class session: Next week’s class session: Telecommunications and NetworksTelecommunications and Networks

Systems Software: Systems Software: Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Operating system (OS): Operating system (OS): set ofset of programs that control the hardware and programs that control the hardware and act as an interface with applicationsact as an interface with applications

Common hardware functionsCommon hardware functions– Get input (e.g., keyboard)Get input (e.g., keyboard)– Retrieve data from disks and store data on Retrieve data from disks and store data on

disksdisks– Display information on a monitor or printerDisplay information on a monitor or printer

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

User interfaceUser interface– Allows individuals to access and Allows individuals to access and

command the computer systemcommand the computer system– Command-based user interface: Command-based user interface:

uses text commandsuses text commands– Graphical user interface (GUI): Graphical user interface (GUI): uses uses

icons and menus to send commands to icons and menus to send commands to the computer systemthe computer system

– Bringing Vista to life Bringing Vista to life

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Hardware independenceHardware independence– Application program interface (API): Application program interface (API):

allows applications to make use of the allows applications to make use of the operating systemoperating system

Memory managementMemory management– Control how memory is accessed and Control how memory is accessed and

maximize available memory and storagemaximize available memory and storage

Processing tasksProcessing tasks– Multitasking: Multitasking: more than one program more than one program

running at the same timerunning at the same time– Time-sharing: Time-sharing: more than one person using a more than one person using a

computer system at the same timecomputer system at the same time– Scalability:Scalability: ability to handle an increasing ability to handle an increasing

number of concurrent users smoothlynumber of concurrent users smoothly Networking capability: features that aid users in Networking capability: features that aid users in

connecting to a computer networkconnecting to a computer network

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Access to system resourcesAccess to system resources– Protection against unauthorized accessProtection against unauthorized access– Logons and passwordsLogons and passwords

File managementFile management– Ensures that files in secondary storage Ensures that files in secondary storage

are are Available when neededAvailable when neededProtected from access by unauthorized Protected from access by unauthorized

usersusers

Current Operating SystemsCurrent Operating Systems

Linux: Personal Operating SystemLinux: Personal Operating System

Novell’s Linux Desktop 10Novell’s Linux Desktop 10– Designed to go head-to-head against WindowsDesigned to go head-to-head against Windows– IncludesIncludes

Desktop operating systemDesktop operating system– Desktop search featureDesktop search feature– Desktop note-taking technologyDesktop note-taking technology

OpenOffice.org office productivity suiteOpenOffice.org office productivity suite Mozilla FirefoxMozilla Firefox Instant-messaging clientInstant-messaging client Open-source collaboration clientOpen-source collaboration client F-Spot personal photo management applicationF-Spot personal photo management application Technical supportTechnical support

– Working with software vendors to develop more Working with software vendors to develop more applications for Linuxapplications for Linux

HP delivers Linux laptopHP delivers Linux laptop

Linux: Workgroup and Enterprise Linux: Workgroup and Enterprise Operating SystemOperating System

Open source operating systems (Linux)Open source operating systems (Linux)– Increasing comfort level with this alternativeIncreasing comfort level with this alternative– Dominates as server operating systemDominates as server operating system– Why?Why?

Lower total cost of ownershipLower total cost of ownership Lower capital investmentLower capital investment Greater reliability and uptime compared to Greater reliability and uptime compared to

commercial alternativescommercial alternatives Greater flexibility and controlGreater flexibility and control Faster, cheaper application developmentFaster, cheaper application development

Application SoftwareApplication Software

Gives users the ability to solve problems Gives users the ability to solve problems and perform specific tasksand perform specific tasks

Interacts with systems software; systems Interacts with systems software; systems software then directs the hardware to software then directs the hardware to perform the tasksperform the tasks

Software spheres of influenceSoftware spheres of influence– PersonalPersonal– Work groupWork group– EnterpriseEnterprise– Value ChainValue Chain

Personal Productivity Personal Productivity Application SoftwareApplication Software

Designed primarily for individual useDesigned primarily for individual use Support individual productivitySupport individual productivity Major categoriesMajor categories

– Word processingWord processing– SpreadsheetSpreadsheet– DatabaseDatabase– GraphicsGraphics

Often purchased as suites of Often purchased as suites of softwaresoftware

Workgroup Application SoftwareWorkgroup Application Software

Workgroup application software: Workgroup application software: supports teamwork, whether people supports teamwork, whether people are in the same location or dispersed are in the same location or dispersed around the worldaround the world

Groupware:Groupware: software that helps software that helps groups of people work together more groups of people work together more efficiently and effectivelyefficiently and effectively

NetMeetingNetMeeting

Workgroup SoftwareWorkgroup Software

Workgroup software applicationsWorkgroup software applications– EmailEmail– Instant messagingInstant messaging– Video conferencingVideo conferencing– Application sharingApplication sharing– WhiteboardsWhiteboards– Task schedulingTask scheduling– Centralized storage of group filesCentralized storage of group files– File version controlFile version control

GroupwareGroupware Real-timeReal-time

– Web conferencingWeb conferencing– Instant messagingInstant messaging– Support online meetings to work through issues, review plansSupport online meetings to work through issues, review plans

AsynchronousAsynchronous– Online collaborative workspacesOnline collaborative workspaces– E-mailE-mail– Allow collaborators to contribute on their own scheduleAllow collaborators to contribute on their own schedule

Collaborative suitesCollaborative suites– MessagingMessaging– CalendaringCalendaring– Document managementDocument management– Workflow automationWorkflow automation– Archives of discussions and document versionsArchives of discussions and document versions

GroupwareGroupware

Tool Choice

When supporting person-to-person or group-to-group collaboration, think about the complexity of the interaction and whether individuals or teams will be working together in real-time or on their own schedules

Technology Usage RatePercentage of companies deploying*

Interaction RichnessComplexity of interaction possible

Work StyleCollaborators work simultaneously in real-time or individually in their own time

Good for... Not good for...

Important Issues

E-Mail 98% Low Own time Sharing information with one or more parties

Complex, multi-partydiscussions or time-sensitive messages

Systems are interoperable; messages can get overlooked or lost; archives can be difficult to manage

Web Conferencingsuch as WebEx or Microsoft Office Live Meeting (PlaceWare)

75% High Real-time Multiple-location meetings, complex discussions and real-time decision making

Document retention, audit trails

Allows application and video sharing, and can integrate with teleconferencing

Portalssuch as Plumtree

Online Workspaces

such as Microsoft SharePoint

62% (Portals)59% (Workspaces)

High Own time, but some workspaces offer Web conferencing

Shared access to documents, tools and experts; managing team interactions

Real-time collaboration and quick decision making

Can be difficult to implement across organizations

Instant Messaging

36% have sanctioned IM;another 19% report unauthorized IM usage

Low Real-time Quick reaction to problems/issues and answers to questions

Complicated discussions among many people

Some IM tools offer archiving; lack of system interoperability; questionable security

Groupware ExamplesGroupware Examples

Aerospace industryAerospace industry– Next-generation jets designed by Next-generation jets designed by

engineers working together from around engineers working together from around the globethe globe

Proctor & GambleProctor & Gamble– Collaborating researchers applied paper Collaborating researchers applied paper

engineering know-how from the engineering know-how from the company’s paper towel business to its company’s paper towel business to its home-care group’s Swiffer mopshome-care group’s Swiffer mops

Enterprise Application SoftwareEnterprise Application Software

Software that benefits an entire Software that benefits an entire organizationorganization

Enterprise resource planning Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software:(ERP) software: programs that programs that manage a company’s vital business manage a company’s vital business operations for an entire multisite, operations for an entire multisite, global organizationglobal organization

Enterprise Software ApplicationsEnterprise Software Applications

In an ERP suite, all of these applications would be softwaremodules that you could buy separately or in combination

Enterprise Software ExampleEnterprise Software Example

Software DevelopmentSoftware Development

Proprietary software: Proprietary software: unique unique program for a specific application, program for a specific application, usually developed and owned by a usually developed and owned by a single companysingle company

Off-the-shelf software: Off-the-shelf software: purchased purchased softwaresoftware– Customized packageCustomized package

Application Service Provider (ASP)Application Service Provider (ASP)

Software DevelopmentSoftware Development Do not develop proprietary application software unless Do not develop proprietary application software unless

doing so will meet a compelling business need that can doing so will meet a compelling business need that can provide a competitive advantage.provide a competitive advantage.

BUILD VS. BUYBUILD VS. BUYThe basic arguments in the buy-vs.-build debate remain The basic arguments in the buy-vs.-build debate remain unchanged. unchanged.

WHY BUILD?WHY BUILD? Avoid painful vendor licensing terms Avoid painful vendor licensing terms Gain competitive advantage Gain competitive advantage Adapt to new technology, such as grid computing Adapt to new technology, such as grid computing

WHY BUY?WHY BUY? Leverage vendors’ economies of scale Leverage vendors’ economies of scale Gain broader integration capabilities Gain broader integration capabilities Ensure that code knowledge won’t be lost Ensure that code knowledge won’t be lost

Software Development ExampleSoftware Development Example

Hyundai Information Service North Hyundai Information Service North America LLCAmerica LLC– IT arm of Hyundai Motor AmericaIT arm of Hyundai Motor America– Builds own software offshoreBuilds own software offshore– Why?Why?

More customizationMore customizationSmall, unique applicationsSmall, unique applicationsNo licensing annoyancesNo licensing annoyances

– Example: switch from concurrent users to name Example: switch from concurrent users to name seat licensing would have raised cost by $3,300 seat licensing would have raised cost by $3,300 per user for a purchased applicationper user for a purchased application

Application Service ProvidersApplication Service Providers Software service providersSoftware service providers

– Salesforce.comSalesforce.com– Rearden CommerceRearden Commerce– JRG SystemsJRG Systems

Will hostWill host– Customer relationship management (CRM) systemsCustomer relationship management (CRM) systems– Travel planning systemsTravel planning systems– Supply chain management systemsSupply chain management systems– Many moreMany more

AdvantagesAdvantages– QuickQuick– EasyEasy– Relatively inexpensiveRelatively inexpensive

DisadvantageDisadvantage– Won’t get 100% of the features you want or would get with a Won’t get 100% of the features you want or would get with a

customized software packagecustomized software package

Software Development:Software Development:Programming LanguagesProgramming Languages

Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system of rules for constructing statementsof rules for constructing statements

Allow humans to communicate instructions Allow humans to communicate instructions to be executed by a computerto be executed by a computer

Syntax: Syntax: a set of rules associated with a a set of rules associated with a programming languageprogramming language

Different languages have characteristics Different languages have characteristics that make them appropriate for particular that make them appropriate for particular types of applicationstypes of applications

Programming Language EvolutionProgramming Language Evolution

Software DevelopmentSoftware Development

Choose a programming language Choose a programming language whose functional characteristics are whose functional characteristics are appropriate for the task at hand, appropriate for the task at hand, taking into consideration the skills taking into consideration the skills and experience of the programming and experience of the programming staff.staff.

Software DevelopmentSoftware DevelopmentRules to Live ByRules to Live By

Prepare three separate time and cost estimates based on past experience, software functionality Prepare three separate time and cost estimates based on past experience, software functionality and a formal estimating technique, and compare actual results with predictions and a formal estimating technique, and compare actual results with predictions

Adopt a standard notation scheme and methodology for design and coding Adopt a standard notation scheme and methodology for design and coding

Automate control of the development process and link it to a project-management tool Automate control of the development process and link it to a project-management tool

Use joint application design for requirements analysis Use joint application design for requirements analysis

Practice iterative developmentPractice iterative development

Institute a formal change-request process to prevent scope creep Institute a formal change-request process to prevent scope creep

Establish centres of excellence-encourage the development of specialists in each development Establish centres of excellence-encourage the development of specialists in each development procedure procedure

Measure productivity and defect removal Measure productivity and defect removal

Employ component-based development Employ component-based development

Institute version controlInstitute version control

Design and test for usability Design and test for usability

Practice code inspections and walk-throughsPractice code inspections and walk-throughs