Module 2 Pg. 77-136

Module 2

Business owners use workflow software.  It’s used to complete complicated business tasks easily.  For example, it makes doing payroll or inventory or any other business task easier.  You type in the information and the computer does the rest.   Let’s say you own a beauty salon you want to use standard software so you can schedule appointments, order shampoo, take inventory, pay your employees and everything else that you need to do on the same standard software.  That way you don’t need to hassle with other programs that are not compatible with each other and your information doesn’t get lost.  Workflow software normally costs you a pretty penny. But there is software out there that won’t cost you a thing, it’s called open source software.    

Open source software is software whose source code is available for modification or enhancement by anyone. Anybody can view and make changes to the original program.  By anybody, I mean computer programmers. They can manipulate or change how the software works.  They may make improvements to it, and they make sure it runs smoothly.  Since it is free, the whole world can use it.  The kids in Mali can use it and learn from it.  And it’s not bad software, it gets the job done and it constantly gets reviewed by other programmers.  Not every source code is made available to the public though.  “Proprietary software” or “closed software” is software that does not make its source code available to the public.  It is owned by a closed group of people, software like Adobe Photoshop, or Microsoft Word are examples of closed software.  You need to pay to download their services, and you can’t legally make changes to their existing software.  Their software is also reviewed constantly and changed, but if you’d like to upgrade you’ll need to buy the newer version.   I bought Microsoft Office 2010 back in 2011, it’s now 2015 and I’m still using the 2010 version.

            Why would you want open source software?  The big deal is that you can use it for free! Yes, free software.  The idea is really great.  I mean who wouldn’t jump at the chance to use free software?  You would save yourself a lot of money, and you would get the job done, right?  I believe that open source software is great for people who don’t want to spend their money, but they want to create something awesome.  You don’t need Photoshop to edit your pictures, and you don’t need Microsoft word to write a paper.  You only need a program that will let you do so.  And there is free software out there that will let you use their services for free.           

Outsourcing is the act of delegating work to people and places that can do that work cheaper, but still in a professional manner. Both chapters of the book have given examples of this, from sending taxes to India to Delta employing housewives in Utah.  Outsourcing is great for big companies because it cuts costs.  You can hire someone to work for your company half way across the world or just in a different state and you can pay them less than you would someone in a closer proximity doing the same job.  Outsourcing is usually done by big companies.  Your company benefits with cut costs and the other guys benefit from the employment.  Those Asian Indians really do benefit from working at the 24/7 call center.  Their paychecks sometimes are more than their parents’ paychecks.  They receive benefits like health care.  They can go to school during the day or on weekends and gain great job skills that will help in the future.  It’s a good job for them.  Lots of people want to work there too.  The American companies are happy to work with them.  But, there is a dark side to outsourcing.  It sometimes means that you or someone you love will lose their job, and it makes it harder for them to get another job doing what they did before.

Workflow software, open source software, and outsourcing are shaping this digital world that we live in.  They allow people from all the four corners of the earth to participate in business and trade.  Since technology is rapidly advancing, the world is moving more and more towards becoming a digital society.