Application Software (teacher to add – will inform )

Type of About Readily Cost Advantages Disadvantages Examples

application available
(apps)
software
General- o Not specific to a Relatively Reliable as software has been May include a lot of functions Word-
purpose particular type of mass cheap used by many over the years that the average user will not processing,
organisation. produced use Spreadsheet,
o Can perform a wide database
range of tasks.
o ‘off the shelf’
software
Integrated o a set of related Cost o Allows data to be o User may have unwanted MS Office, MS
software programs mass effective transferred easily between applications Works
combined in a produced the programs. o may not have all the features
unified package o Takes less storage space of a single application
than individual apps o may not contain all the
o Easy to interact with as applications that may be
applications interface are require to complete a task.
similar
o Fewer errors – widely tested
Special- Designed to perform Available in Depends To get complex tasks done o will not have a wide range Nero,
purpose tasks specific to a stores or on on special of features as general- Accounting,
particular application request/ task purpose software medical
custom- designed o some types are not suited software, CAD,
written for for the average user airline
reservation
system
Type of About Cost Advantages Disadvantages Examples
application
(apps)
software
Custom High Flexible to the organisation’s Cost, time
written o Tailor-made software is written to developing, needs- software can be quickly consuming and
meet the specific needs of a training cost changed when the needs of the undetected errors
company. Known as - Bespoke business change, since the
software source code belongs to the
o This software presents a solution company.
to achieve a company’s goals,
based on their unique
requirements.

Customised Refers to general-purpose software Customising software allows Need to know how Excel,
software which has been modified to meet the the individual or organisations to customise database
needs of an individual or an to add functionality to a software, eg.create
program they are using macros
organisation.
o Packages are customised through
the writing of code or macros.
(macros are short programs written
to automate steps that the user
would use on a regular basis and
with a touch of a button the
instruction is executed)