MANAGING HARDWARE AND
SOFTWARE ASSETS
Key Questions
What computer processing and storage
capability does our organization need to
handle its information and business
transactions?
What arrangement of computers and
computer processing would best benefit
our organization?
What kinds of software and software
tools do we need to run our business?
What criteria should we use to select our
software technology?
Contd…..
Of what new software technologies
should we be aware?
How would they benefit our
organization?
How should we acquire and
manage the firm’s hardware and
software assets?
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Manipulates symbols, numbers, and
letters Controls other parts of the
computer system
Primary Storage Temporarily stores
program instructions Data being used by
the instructions
Stores Software program being executed
Operating system programs Data being
used by program
Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU): performs the
computer’s principal logic and arithmetic
operations Control Unit: coordinates and
controls the other parts of the computer
system
Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU): performs the
computer’s principal logic and arithmetic
operations Control Unit: coordinates and controls
the other parts of the computer system
Microprocessors and Processing Power Integrated
circuit technology Integrates the computer’s
memory, logic, and control on a single chip
Parallel Processing Problem broken down into
smaller parts Multiple instructions processed
simultaneously with multiple processors
Magnetic disk: Floppy disk, Hard disk Optical
disks: CD-ROM, DVDs Magnetic tape:
Inexpensive, older secondary-storage medium
New storage alternatives: Storage Area Networks
(SANs)
TYPES OF SOFTWARE
Operating system System software
Manages and controls computer
Functions of the operating system
Allocates and assigns system resources
Schedules use of computer resources
Monitors computer system activities
Provides locations in primary memory for
data and programs Controls the input and
output devices
Multiprogramming Executes two or more
programs concurrently using the same
computer CPU executes only one program
but services the input/output needs of
others
Multitasking Multiprogramming
capability of single-user operating
systems Virtual Storage Handles
programs more efficiently by
dividing the programs into small
fixed or variable length
Time Sharing Sharing of computer resources by many
users simultaneously Multiprocessing Executing two or
more instructions simultaneously in a single computer
using multiple central processing units
Language translation and utility software Translates
high-level language programs into machine language
GUI Microsoft’s Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8,
Windows 2010.
UNIX, Linux.
Programming languages: Consists of 1s and 0s of
binary code Assembly language: Resembles machine
language, substitutes mnemonics for numeric codes
Third-generation languages: FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC,
Pascal, and C
Fourth-generation language: Employed directly
by end users Natural languages: Close to
human language
Query languages: Provides immediate on-line
answers to requests Application software
packages and PC software tools: Word
Processing Software, Spreadsheets, Data
Management Software
Enterprise software Set of integrated modules
Allows data to be used by multiple functions
and business processes
Middleware Allows two disparate applications to
communicate to exchange data Web server
Manages requests for Web pages on the
computer where they are stored
Enterprise application integration software Ties
together multiple applications to support
enterprise integration
Object-oriented programming Approach to
software development that combines data and
procedures into a single object Visual
programming Construction of software
programs by selecting and arranging
programming objects
Programming language Delivers the
software functionality needed for a
particular task Runs on any computer
and operating system
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML):
Page description language, creates Web
pages and other hypermedia documents
XML (eXtensible Markup Language):
General-purpose language, supports
links to multiple documents, used for
both Web and non-Web applications
Capacity Planning
Process of predicting the computing power
Scalability: Ability of a computer, product, or
system to expand and to serve without
breaking down
Designates the total cost of owning technology
resources Includes initial purchase costs, cost
of hardware and software upgrades,
maintenance, technical support, and training
On-Line storage service providers Third-party
provider Rent out storage space to subscribers
over the Web Allow customers to store and
access data
Rent or Build Decisions
Application Service Providers (ASPs)
Provide software that can be rented
by other companies Other Types of
Service Providers Provide additional
resources for helping organizations
manage their technology assets
