Question

WEEK 10 DISCUSSION:

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the types of software and systems that IT services firms produce.
2. What is an ERP system? Why is the installation of these systems one of the harder challenges for a PM team?
3. Why is a contract a special document? How is it treated differently from other documents?

Answer 1

Types of software

1.SYSTEM SOFTWARE

2.APPLICATION SOFTWARE

3.PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE

System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer's hardware and application programs. If we think of the computer system as a layered model, the system software is the interface between the hardware and user applications.

Systems software carries out middleman tasks to ensure communication between other software and hardware to allow harmonious coexistence with the user.

Systems software can be categorized under the following:

• Operating system: Harnesses communication between hardware, system programs, and other applications.
• Device driver: Enables device communication with the OS and other programs.
• Firmware: Enables device control and identification.
• Translator: Translates high-level languages to low-level machine codes.
• Utility: Ensures optimum functionality of devices and applications.

Application software is a term which is used for software created for a specific purpose. It is generally a program or collection of programs used by end users. It can be called an application or simply an app. In fact all the software other than system software and programming software are application software.

Examples of an application include a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, an email client, a media player, a file viewer, an aeronautical flight simulator, a console game or a photo editor.

Programming software is a software which helps the programmer in developing other software. Compilers, assemblers, debuggers, interpreters etc. are examples of programming software. ... Programming software is also known as programming tool or software development tool.

ERP SYSTEM

Enterprise resource planning is the integrated management of main business processes, often in real-time and mediated by software and technology.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is business process management software that allows an organization to use a system of integrated applications to manage the business and automate many back office functions related to technology, services and human resources.

• ERP Implementation Challenge

1. The Selection Problem

2. Technical Issues

  3. Data Quality Issues

  4. Business Philosophy Changes

   5. “Mindshift” Issues

Critical contract document

A full-fledged construction contract can include as many as 10 documents specifying different aspects of the work.

          1.Construction Contract Agreement

          2.scope of work

         3.construction schedule.

         4.cost estimate