Chapter 6: managing hardware and software assets

6.1 © 2003 by Prentice Hall

66

MANAGINGMANAGING

HARDWARE ANDHARDWARE AND

SOFTWARESOFTWARE

ASSETSASSETS

Chapter


• What computer processing and storage What computer processing and storage capability does our organization need to capability does our organization need to handle its information and business handle its information and business transactions?transactions?

• What arrangement of computers and What arrangement of computers and computer processing would best benefit computer processing would best benefit our organization?our organization?

• What kinds of software and software tools What kinds of software and software tools do we need to run our business? What do we need to run our business? What criteria should we use to select our criteria should we use to select our software technology?software technology?

Essentials of Management Information SystemsEssentials of Management Information SystemsChapter 6 Managing Hardware and Software AssetsChapter 6 Managing Hardware and Software Assets

OBJECTIVES


• Of what new software technologies should Of what new software technologies should we be aware? How would they benefit our we be aware? How would they benefit our organization?organization?

• How should we acquire and manage the How should we acquire and manage the firm’s hardware and software assets?firm’s hardware and software assets?

OBJECTIVES



• The centralization versus decentralization The centralization versus decentralization debatedebate

• The application backlogThe application backlog

MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES



COMPUTER HARDWARE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE


Hardware Components of a Computer System

Figure 6-1




The Computer System

bitbit

• Binary digitBinary digit

• Represents smallest unit of data in the form of either 0 or 1Represents smallest unit of data in the form of either 0 or 1

bytebyte

• String of bits, usually eightString of bits, usually eight

• Stores one number or character Stores one number or character




Bits and Bytes

Figure 6-2




The CPU and Primary Storage

Central Processing Unit (CPU)Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Manipulates symbols, numbers, and lettersManipulates symbols, numbers, and letters

• Controls other parts of the computer Controls other parts of the computer systemsystem





Primary StoragePrimary Storage

• Temporarily stores program instructionsTemporarily stores program instructions

• Data being used by the instructionsData being used by the instructions





Figure 6-3




Primary Storage

StoresStores

• Software program being executedSoftware program being executed

• Operating system programs Operating system programs

• Data being used by program Data being used by program




• Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU): Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU): performs the performs the computer’s principal logic and arithmetic computer’s principal logic and arithmetic operationsoperations

• Control Unit: Control Unit: coordinates and controls the coordinates and controls the other parts of the computer systemother parts of the computer system

Primary Storage




• RAM: RAM: Directly accesses any randomly Directly accesses any randomly chosen location in the same amount of timechosen location in the same amount of time

• ROM:ROM: Semiconductor memory chips with Semiconductor memory chips with program instructions, cannot be written toprogram instructions, cannot be written to

Primary Storage




Computer Processing

Microprocessors and Processing PowerMicroprocessors and Processing Power

• Integrated circuit technology Integrated circuit technology

• Integrates the computer’s memory, logic, Integrates the computer’s memory, logic, and control on a single chipand control on a single chip




Computer Processing

Parallel ProcessingParallel Processing

• Problem broken down into smaller partsProblem broken down into smaller parts

• Multiple instructions processed Multiple instructions processed simultaneously with multiple processorssimultaneously with multiple processors




Sequential and Parallel Processing

Figure 6-4


• Magnetic disk:Magnetic disk: Floppy disk, Hard disk Floppy disk, Hard disk

• Optical disks:Optical disks: CD-ROM, DVDs CD-ROM, DVDs

• Magnetic tape:Magnetic tape: Inexpensive, older secondary- Inexpensive, older secondary-storage mediumstorage medium

• New storage alternatives:New storage alternatives: Storage Area Networks Storage Area Networks (SANs)(SANs)

STORAGE, INPUT AND OUTPUT TECHNOLOGY


Secondary Storage Technology




A Storage Area Network (SAN)

Figure 6-5




Input and Output Devices




Input and Output Devices


Batch processingBatch processing

• Transactions accumulated and stored until processingTransactions accumulated and stored until processing

On-line processingOn-line processing

• Transactions are entered directly into computer and Transactions are entered directly into computer and processed immediatelyprocessed immediately



Batch and On-Line Input and Processing




A Comparison of Batch and On-line Processing

Figure 6-6


• Integrates two or more types of media Integrates two or more types of media into a computer-based applicationinto a computer-based application



Interactive Multimedia


• Mainframes: Mainframes: Largest computer, massive Largest computer, massive memory, rapid processing powermemory, rapid processing power

• Midrange computers: Midrange computers: Less powerful, less Less powerful, less expensive, and smaller than a mainframeexpensive, and smaller than a mainframe

• Server: Server: Provides software and other resources Provides software and other resources to computers over a networkto computers over a network

CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS


Classifying Computers


• Minicomputers: Minicomputers: Middle-range computer, Middle-range computer, used in universities, factories, or research used in universities, factories, or research laboratorieslaboratories

• ServerServer Farm: Farm: Large group of servers Large group of servers maintained by a commercial vendor, available maintained by a commercial vendor, available for electronic commerce and other activitiesfor electronic commerce and other activities





• Personal Computer (PC): Personal Computer (PC): Small desktop or Small desktop or portable computerportable computer

• Workstation: Workstation: Desktop computer with powerful Desktop computer with powerful graphics and mathematical capabilitiesgraphics and mathematical capabilities

• Supercomputer:Supercomputer: Highly sophisticated and Highly sophisticated and powerful, performs complex computationspowerful, performs complex computations





Computer Networks and Client/Server Computing

• Distributed processing:Distributed processing: Distribution Distribution

of processing work among multiple of processing work among multiple

computerscomputers

• Centralized processing:Centralized processing:

Accomplished by one large central Accomplished by one large central

computercomputer

• Client/server computing:Client/server computing: Splits Splits

processing between “clients” and processing between “clients” and

“servers” on network“servers” on network




Client/Server Computing



Figure 6-7


Types of Client/Server Computing



Figure 6-8


Network Computers and Peer-to-Peer Computing

• Network computer (NC):Network computer (NC): Simplified Simplified desktop computer, does not store data desktop computer, does not store data permanentlypermanently

• Peer-to-peer computing:Peer-to-peer computing: Distributed Distributed processing that links computers through processing that links computers through Internet or private networks Internet or private networks




• Software program:Software program: Series of statements Series of statements or instructions to the computeror instructions to the computer

• System software:System software: Generalized Generalized programs, manages computer’s resourcesprograms, manages computer’s resources

• Application softwareApplication software: : Programs written Programs written to perform functions specified by end to perform functions specified by end usersusers

TYPES OF SOFTWARE



TYPES OF SOFTWARE


The Major Types of Software

Figure 6-9


Operating systemOperating system

• System software System software

• Manages and controls computerManages and controls computer

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


System Software and PC Operating Systems


Functions of the operating systemFunctions of the operating system• Allocates and assigns system resourcesAllocates and assigns system resources

• Schedules use of computer resources Schedules use of computer resources

• Monitors computer system activitiesMonitors computer system activities

• Provides locations in primary memory for Provides locations in primary memory for data and programsdata and programs

• Controls the input and output devicesControls the input and output devices

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




MultiprogrammingMultiprogramming

• Executes two or more programs Executes two or more programs concurrently using the same computerconcurrently using the same computer

• CPU executes only one program but CPU executes only one program but services the input/output needs of others services the input/output needs of others

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Single-Program Execution Versus Multiprogramming

Figure 6-10


MultitaskingMultitasking

• Multiprogramming capability of single-Multiprogramming capability of single-user operating systemsuser operating systems

Virtual StorageVirtual Storage

• Handles programs more efficiently by Handles programs more efficiently by dividing the programs into small fixed or dividing the programs into small fixed or variable length variable length

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Virtual Storage

Figure 6-11


Time SharingTime Sharing

• Sharing of computer resources by many Sharing of computer resources by many users simultaneously users simultaneously

MultiprocessingMultiprocessing

• Executing two or more instructions Executing two or more instructions simultaneously in a single computer using simultaneously in a single computer using multiple central processing unitsmultiple central processing units

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




Language translation and utility Language translation and utility

softwaresoftware

• Translates high-level language programs Translates high-level language programs into machine language into machine language

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




• GUIGUI

• Microsoft’s Windows 98Microsoft’s Windows 98

• Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) Me)

• Windows 2000Windows 2000

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


PC Operating Systems and Graphical User Interfaces


• Windows XPWindows XP

• UNIXUNIX

• LinuxLinux

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


PC Operating Systems and Graphical User Interfaces


• Programming languages:Programming languages: Consists of Consists of 1s and 0s of binary code1s and 0s of binary code

• Assembly language:Assembly language: Resembles Resembles machine language, substitutes machine language, substitutes mnemonics for numeric codesmnemonics for numeric codes

• Third-generation languages:Third-generation languages: FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, Pascal, and CFORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, Pascal, and C

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Application Software and Programming Languages


TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Assembly language

Figure 6-12


TYPES OF SOFTWARE


FORTRAN

Figure 6-13


TYPES OF SOFTWARE


COBOL

Figure 6-14


• Fourth-generation language:Fourth-generation language: Employed directly by end users Employed directly by end users

• Natural languages:Natural languages: Close to human Close to human languagelanguage

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Fourth-Generation Languages and PC Software Tools


• Query languages:Query languages: Provides immediate Provides immediate on-line answers to requests on-line answers to requests

• Application software packages and Application software packages and PC software tools:PC software tools: Word Processing Word Processing Software, Spreadsheets, Data Software, Spreadsheets, Data Management SoftwareManagement Software

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Fourth-Generation Languages and PC Software Tools


TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Spreadsheet Software

Figure 6-16


TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Data Management Software

Figure 6-17


Enterprise softwareEnterprise software

• Set of integrated modulesSet of integrated modules

• Allows data to be used by multiple Allows data to be used by multiple functions and business processesfunctions and business processes

TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Software for Enterprise Integration: Enterprise Software and Middleware


MiddlewareMiddleware

• Allows two disparate applications to Allows two disparate applications to communicate to exchange datacommunicate to exchange data

Web serverWeb server

• Manages requests for Web pages on the Manages requests for Web pages on the computer where they are storedcomputer where they are stored

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




TYPES OF SOFTWARE


Middleware

Figure 6-18


Enterprise application integration Enterprise application integration

softwaresoftware

• Ties together multiple applications to Ties together multiple applications to support enterprise integrationsupport enterprise integration

TYPES OF SOFTWARE




Object-oriented programmingObject-oriented programming

• Approach to software development that Approach to software development that combines data and procedures into a combines data and procedures into a single objectsingle object

Visual programmingVisual programming

• Construction of software programs by Construction of software programs by selecting and arranging programming selecting and arranging programming objectsobjects

CONTEMPORARY TOOLS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT


Object-Oriented Programming




Class, subclasses, and overriding

Figure 6-19


• Programming language Programming language

• Delivers the software functionality needed Delivers the software functionality needed for a particular taskfor a particular task

• Runs on any computer and operating Runs on any computer and operating systemsystem



Java


• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML):Hypertext Markup Language (HTML): Page description language, creates Web Page description language, creates Web pages and other hypermedia documentspages and other hypermedia documents

• XML (eXtensible Markup Language):XML (eXtensible Markup Language): General-purpose language, supports links General-purpose language, supports links to multiple documents, used for both Web to multiple documents, used for both Web and non-Web applicationsand non-Web applications



Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and XML


• Capacity planning:Capacity planning: Process of Process of predicting the computing power predicting the computing power

• Scalability:Scalability: Ability of a computer, Ability of a computer, product, or system to expand and to serve product, or system to expand and to serve without breaking downwithout breaking down

HARDWARE TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS


Hardware Technology Requirements for Electronic Commerce and Digital Firm


• Designates the total cost of owning Designates the total cost of owning technology resourcestechnology resources

• Includes initial purchase costs, cost of Includes initial purchase costs, cost of hardware and software upgrades, hardware and software upgrades, maintenance, technical support, and maintenance, technical support, and trainingtraining



Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of Technology Assets


On-Line storage service providersOn-Line storage service providers

• Third-party provider Third-party provider

• Rent out storage space to subscribers Rent out storage space to subscribers over the Webover the Web

• Allow customers to store and access dataAllow customers to store and access data



Rent or Build Decisions: Using Technology Service Providers


Application Service Providers (ASPs)Application Service Providers (ASPs)

• Provide software that can be rented by Provide software that can be rented by other companies other companies

Other Types of Service ProvidersOther Types of Service Providers

• Provide additional resources for helping Provide additional resources for helping organizations manage their technology organizations manage their technology assetsassets



Rent or Build Decisions: Using Technology Service Providers


66

MANAGINGMANAGING

HARDWARE ANDHARDWARE AND

SOFTWARESOFTWARE

ASSETSASSETS

Chapter

Chapter 6: managing hardware and software assets

Education

managing hardware

software technology

software assets chapter

instructions computer

program computer hardware

character computer hardware

software assets input

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