Business_Applications1

Business Applications March 27, 2011 Business Applications Companies use very sophisticated software for the various departments within their company. The company’s Information Systems manager stays in constant communication with other department managers to ensure that the department stays efficient and productive by using the latest and greatest software available. The importance of software in computer systems has brought new issues to the forefront for organizational managers. These issues include software defects (bugs), software evaluation and selection, licensing, open systems, open-source software, and software-as-a-service. Selection Process The software evaluation and selection decision is a difficult one because it is affected by many factors. The following table summarizes these selection factors. The first part of the selection process involves understanding the organization’s software needs and identifying the criteria used in making the eventual decision. Software Selection Factors |Factor |Considerations | |Size and location of user base |Does the proposed software support a few users in a location' | | |Can it accommodate large numbers of geographically dispersed users' | |Availability of system |Does the software offer tools that monitor system usage' | | |Does it maintain a list of authorized users and provide the level of | | |security needed' | |Costs—initial and subsequent |Is the software affordable, taking into account all costs, including | | |installation, training, and maintenance' | |System capabilities |Does the software meet both current and anticipated future needs' | |Existing computing environment |Is the software compatible with existing hardware, software, and | | |communications networks' | |In-house technical skills |Should the organization develop software applications in-house' | | |Should the organization purchase applications off the shelf or contract | | |software out of house' | (Rainer, Jr., R. K., & Turban, E. 2009, p. 356) Departmental Software IT systems are integral to every functional area of an organization. The author will provide an overview of the software available for use in finance and accounting, sales and marketing, and the manufacturing departments of a company. Finance and accounting. Finance and accounting managers use IT systems to forecast revenues and business activity, to determine the best sources and uses of funds, and to perform audits to ensure that the organization is fundamentally sound and that all financial reports and documents are accurate. There are many software packages for a company to evaluate to see if it will meet their needs. Here is a brief list of the different software packages available for evaluation: • PerfectProcure - Contract & Procurement Management: Perfect Commerce's PerfectProcure suite is an On-Demand solution that drives compliance of purchasing and invoice processes. PerfectProcure accelerates the amount of spend under management by leveraging a software as a service (SaaS) model, proven methodology, and a simple user interface. PerfectProcure includes modules for both purchasing and invoice management. Begin with just one and expand as needed (All Finance Software. 2011). • Ecteon - Contract & Procurement Management: Say goodbye to manual processes and time consuming paperwork. Contraxx will transform the Contract Manager’s set of tools from spreadsheets and complex filing systems to a streamlined and automated system with perfect and immediate access to information. Contraxx was built from the ground up with input from thousands of contract management professionals across many industries (All Finance Software. 2011). • BNA Software - Tax: Expert tools designed for and by tax and accounting professionals. With BNA Software, access to the best tax and accounting knowledge in the industry is right at your fingertips. For accuracy, efficiency, and productivity, turn to BNA Software trusted by thousands of CPA firms and corporations nationwide, including the IRS (All Finance Software. 2011). Sales and marketing. In sales and marketing, managers use information technology to perform the following functions: • Product analysis: developing new goods and services • Site analysis: determining the best location for production and distribution facilities • Promotion analysis: identifying the best advertising channels • Price analysis: setting product prices to obtain the highest total revenues Marketing managers also use IT to manage the relationship with their customers. Here is a brief list of the different software packages available for evaluation: • Business Analysis Software: Your marketing team is juggling an ever increasing set of demands. Our selection of powerful marketing software will help you automate and streamline your marketing tasks and increase your marketing effectiveness with a high ROI--most offerings have a cost of only $100 to $1,000. For advanced quantitative analysis software to analyze marketing or sales data, please see our Business Analysis Software section as well (MBAWare - The Business software source. 2007). • Prophet - Server Edition for Sales Teams: Sales contact management software for Microsoft Outlook. Share sales data within your sales team or organization including support for remote users (MBAWare - The Business software source. 2007). Manufacturing The manufacturing managers use IT to process customer orders, develop production schedules, control inventory levels, and monitor product quality. They also use IT to design and manufacture products. Computer-assisted design (CAD) and computer assisted manufacturing (CAM) are types of software that assists the manufacturing department. Here is a brief list of the different software packages available for evaluation: • DBA Manufacturing Software - Small Business MRP/ERP: DBA Manufacturing software provides the benefits of MRP / ERP software without the cost and complexity of traditional ERP (CTS Guides - Solving the software puzzle. 2011). Conclusion Many different software packages present on the market for companies to choose from that will meet their needs. Each department manager must work closely with the IT department to make sure that the perfect software to accomplish department goals is selected. References All Finance Software. (2011). Retrieved from http://aa-finance-software.com/ Finding manufacturing software just got easier. (2011). CTS Guides - Solving the software puzzle. Retrieved from http://www.ctsguides.com/manufacturing.as MBAWare - The Business software source. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.mbaware.com/ Pearlson, K. E., & Saunders, C. S. (2006). Managing and Using Information Systems (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Rainer, Jr., R. K., & Turban, E. (2009). Introduction to Information Systems (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.