IS Software

The comparison between general purpose application software and function-specific application software

1) General-purpose application software

General-purpose application software is defined as programs that perform common processing jobs for end users. It also can be defined as tools that provide specific capabilities but not in support of a specific purpose. For example, spreadsheet, database management, word processing, and graphics programs are famous with the microcomputer users for business, scientific, home, education and some specific purposes. As it has tremendously maximised the performance by increasing the productivity of end users, this application sometimes also called productivity packages. On the other hand, general-purpose application software also includes web browser, electronic mail, personal information managers and groupware.

The most common type of general-purpose application software is software suite. Software suites are usually known as a package of software, such as, Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite, Corel WordPerfect Office, and Sun’s StarOffice. One of the advantages of software suites is that it costs less than the total cost of purchasing its individual packages separately. Besides that, all the programs provided in a package have shared a similar graphical user interface (GUI) of tool icons, menus and so forth. Thus, it makes the users easy to learn and use the software. Furthermore, the most helpful benefits of software suites is that the programs in the packages are designed to work together effortlessly and import each other’s files directly, no matter which program is used by the user at the same time. As a result, users may enhance their productivity and work more efficiently than using a variety of individual packages software. However, it may generate disadvantage which is using more dick space in order to install the software.

Because of this reason, it results people in using the integrated packages software which combine some of the functions of several software, such as spreadsheets presentation graphics, database management and so on in to one.

(Sources: General-purpose application software and O'brien, J.A. & Marakas, G. M. (2008). Introduction to information systems. New York: McGraw-Hill)

i) Web Browser

The other essential general-purpose application software will be web browser, such as Netscape Navigator, Firefox, Opera, Mozilla or Microsoft Explorer. A web browser is known as a software application that is used for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web (WWW). By the way, the information resource is recognized by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and it may be a video, web page, an image or other piece of content. The hyperlinks that present in resources enable users to easily navigate their browsers to related resources.

(Source: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Web_browser)

ii) Electronic Mail

Electronic Mail (E-mail) is a method that used to exchange digital messages with others. E-mail is stored on networked mail servers until the users are ready to read their mail on their workstation. E-mail systems are based on a store-and-forward model in which e-mail server computer systems will run through the process of accepting, forwarding, delivering and storing messages on behalf of users, who only need to connect to the e-mail infrastructure, typically an e-mail server, with a network-enabled device for the duration of message submission or retrieval. Originally, e-mail was always transmitted directly from one user's device to another user’s device.

(Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail and http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-email.htm)

iii) Word Processing

Word processing is another type of general-purpose application software. Word processing has provided the features of creation, editing, revision and printing of documents, such as memos, reports and letters by converting the text data, which included words, sentences and paragraphs. The examples of word processing are Microsoft Word, Lotus, WordPro and Corel WordPerfect.

(Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_processor and http://wordprocessing.about.com/cs/programs/a/WP_Programs.htm)

iv) Spreadsheet Applications

Spreadsheet applications, sometimes called spreadsheets are known as a computer programs that let you create and manipulate spreadsheets electronically for example, Microsoft Excel and Corel QuattroPro. By using spreadsheets, users, especially businesspeople can do analysis, planning and modeling. In a spreadsheet application, each value sits in a cell. You can define what type of data is in each cell and how different cells depend on one another. The relationships between cells are called formulas, and the names of the cells are called labels.

(Sources: http://www.webopedia.com/term/s/spreadsheet.html)

v) Presentation Graphics Packages

It is one type of general-purpose application software that helps the users to transfer numerical data into graphics displays such as line charts, pie charts, bar graphs and other type of graphics. Most of the top packages offer by the presentation graphics can help users to prepare multimedia presentation of graphics, video clips, photos, animations and it may also help users to publish their multimedia presentation to the World Wide Web. Besides that, this software also can help speaker easy to present his ideas by transforming it into visual information for the participants. There are many different types of presentations such as, professional (work-related), education, entertainment, and for general communication. Examples of presentation graphics are included Microsoft Power Point, Lotus Freelance, and Corel Presentation.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presentation_program)

vi) Personal Information Managers (PIM)

It is known as a popular software packages for end user productivity and collaboration. Also, it can be considered as an application for personal digital assistant (PDA) hand-held devices. The PIM’s purpose is to enhance the tracking, recording and management of certain types of personal information. PIM also can include address books, project management features, significant calendar dates such as, birthdays, anniversaries, appointments and meeting, and so on.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_information_manager)

vii) Groupware

It is software that can help the workgroups and team collaborate to accomplish group assignments. Software that enables real time collaboration is called synchronous groupware. Groupware services has included the sharing of calendars, collective writing, e-mail handling, shared database access, electronic meetings with each person able to see and display information to others, and other activities. Nevertheless, groupware can sometimes be called as collaborative software. It is because it is an integral component of a field of study known as Computer-Supported Cooperative Work or CSCW. For instance, in the Microsoft Office software suite, Microsoft Word keeps people on track to made revisions to each document, Excel tracks all changes made to a spreadsheet, Outlook lets you keep track of tasks you delegate to other team members.

(Sources: http://searchdomino.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid4_gci212217,00.html and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_groupware)

2) Function-Specific Application Software

Thousand of function-specific application software packages are available to support specific application of end users in business and other fields. For example, business application software supports the reengineering and automation of business process with strategic e-business application like customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, and supply chain management. Other examples are software packages that Web-enable electronic commerce application or apply to the functional areas of business like human resource management and accounting and finance. Still other software empowers managers and business professionals with decision support tools like data mining, enterprise information portals, or knowledge management systems.

Application software is further divided into different subclasses for easier identification and depending on their different functions. They are:

i) Enterprise Software
It deals with the needs of organization processes and data flow, often in a large distributed environment, for examples includes customer relationship management, financial process or supply chain management. Note that Departmental Software is a sub-type of Enterprise Software with a focus on smaller organizations or groups within a large organization, such as travel expense management, IT helpdesk or others.

ii) Enterprise Infrastructure Software
It provides additional capabilities needed in order to develop enterprise software systems. Usually included in this type of software are email servers, databases as well as software used in network and security management.

iii) Information Worker Software
It helps individual projects within a department and individual needs of creation and management of information are handled by information worker software. Usual examples for information worker software include application suites such as word processors and spreadsheets. Documentation tools, resource management tools and personal management systems, as well as media editor software fall under the category of this form of application software.

iv) Educational Software
It is related to content access software, but has the content and/or features adapted for use in by educators or students. For example, it aims to teach and educate users as well as help deliver certain evaluations (tests) as well as track progress , or include collaborative capabilities through the material given.

v) Content Access Software
It is software that mainly used  to access content without the need for editing although it might come with features that may allow content editing. This is usually used to allow users to view digital entertainment or content on their computer in order to addresses the needs of individuals and groups. The common examples of content access software are media players, games, help browsers and web browsers.

vi) Simulation Software
It is used to simulate physical or abstract systems, simulation software finds applications in both, research and entertainment. Flight simulators and scientific simulators find a place in the list of simulation software.

vii) Product Engineering Software
It is used in developing hardware and software products. This includes computer aided design (CAD), computer aided engineering (CAE), computer language editing and compiling tools, Integrated Development Environments and Application Programmer Interfaces.

viii) Media Development Software
It addresses the needs of individuals who generate print and electronic media for others to consume, most often in a commercial or educational setting. This includes Graphic Art software, Desktop Publishing software, Multimedia Development software, HTML editors, Digital Animation editors, Digital Audio and Video composition, and many others.

(Source: http://www.slcss.edu.hk/subjects/comp/asca/paunotes/notes/ch2/app_sw.htm)