Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
classifying the many potential uses of information systems is to identify the scope of the
problems and opportunities that an organization addresses. This scope is called the sphere of
influence. For most companies, the spheres of influence are personal, workgroup, and en-
terprise. Table 4.1 shows how software can support these three spheres.
Table 4.1
Software Supporting Individu-
als, Workgroups, and
Enterprises
Software
Personal
Workgroup
Enterprise
Systems software
Personal computer
and workstation
operating systems
Network operating systems
Midrange computer and main-
frame operating systems
Application software
Word processing,
spreadsheet, data-
base, graphics
Electronic mail, group
scheduling, shared work,
collaboration
General ledger, order entry,
payroll, human resources
personal sphere of influence
The sphere of influence that serves
the needs of an individual user.
personal productivity software
The software that enables users to
improve their personal effective-
ness, increasing the amount of work
they can perform and enhancing
its quality.
Information systems that operate within the
personal sphere of influence
serve the needs
of an individual user. These information systems help users improve their personal effec-
tiveness, increasing the amount and quality of work they can do. Such software is often called
personal productivity software
. When two or more people work together to achieve a com-
mon goal, they form a
workgroup
. A workgroup might be a large, formal, permanent
organizational entity, such as a section or department, or a temporary group formed to com-
plete a specific project. An information system in the
workgroup sphere of influence
helps
a workgroup attain its common goals. Users of such applications must be able to commu-
nicate, interact, and collaborate to be successful.
Information systems that operate within the
enterprise sphere of influence
support the
firm in its interaction with its environment. The surrounding environment includes cus-
tomers, suppliers, shareholders, competitors, special-interest groups, the financial commu-
nity, and government agencies. This means the enterprise sphere of influence includes
business partners such as suppliers that provide raw materials, retail companies that store and
sell a company's products, and shipping companies that transport raw materials to the plant
and finished goods to retail outlets.
workgroup
Two or more people who work
together to achieve a common goal.
workgroup sphere of influence
The sphere of influence that serves
the needs of a workgroup.
Controlling the operations of computer hardware is one of the most critical functions of
systems software. Systems software also supports the application programs' problem-solving
capabilities. Types of systems software include operating systems, utility programs, and
middleware.
enterprise sphere of influence
The sphere of influence that serves
the needs of the firm in its interac-
tion with its environment.
Operating Systems
An
operating system (OS)
is a set of programs that controls the computer hardware and acts
as an interface with applications (see Figure 4.2). Operating systems can control one or more
computers, or they can allow multiple users to interact with one computer. The various
combinations of OSs, computers, and users include the following:
•
operating system (OS)
A set of computer programs that
controls the computer hardware
and acts as an interface with appli-
cation programs.
Single computer with a single user.
This system is commonly used in a personal
computer or a handheld computer that allows one user at a time.
•
Single computer with multiple users.
This system is typical of larger, mainframe
computers that can accommodate hundreds or thousands of people, all using the
computer at the same time.
•
Multiple computers.
This system is typical of a network of computers, such as a home
network with several computers attached or a large computer network with hundreds of
computers attached around the world.
