Tutorial Blog 2

In my ISM class, we learn a whole plethora about various applications and software. For my next tutorial blog, I felt it only appropriate to explain an aspect of software that appeals to my blog’s readers, specifically how software is used in the home, personal and educational setting.

Types of Software for Home, Personal & Education Use:

• Personal Finance: Using this software, users can fulfill various tasks such as balancing their checkbooks, paying bills and tracking their income and expenses.
• Here are two YouTube links about Personal Finance Software:
• Personal Finance Software for 2010 Quicken Windows
• Personal Finance Software for MAC (iBank)
• Legal Software: This software is especially useful for those who work in the legal department. It can help with the preparation of legal documents and provides legal information.
• Tax Preparation Software: This kind of software is extra helpful to families as it can help guide families through filing their federal taxes.
• Desktop Publishing Software: Working at home? This software is PERFECT for you. It helps home business users create newsletters, brochures and fliers.
• Paint/Imaging Software: Many people have had experience with this software as it is a more simplified version of the professional one.
• Photo Editing and Management Software: These programs allow users to edit digital photos by removing red eye, blemishes, enhancing and restoring.
• Clip Art/Image Gallery: Software in this category allows its users a collection of clip art and photos.
• Video and Audio Editing: As most software is for its users, it a simpler version to the Professional software.
• Travel and Mapping Software: This software is enabling users to view maps, determine directions and locating points of interests and construction reports, mileage, and finally, time and expenses
• Reference and Educational Software: This type of software can be brought into three categories:
• Reference: Provides valuable and thorough information to its’ users
• Educational: This software reaches particular skills about any subject to its users
• Computer-Based Training: Students learn by using and competing exercises with instructional software.
• Entertainment Software: This software can be used on personal computers, interactive games, videos and programs

For more information, you can also check out this Chapter about Application Software:

Application Software

Excel Project

As I make my way through ISM3004 this Spring semester, my next challenge was to tackle the Excel project. For the Excel project, we were to take the role of working for a large fitness center. More specifically, the fitness center's owner was researching the effectiveness of a particular workout. Raw data was collected from a large group of subjects (500) and, therefore, I was in charge of using Excel to do a variety of analyses on the derived data.

Through my Excel project, I gained experience in manipulating and formating raw data as well as analyzing it through the use of pivot tables. While I gained experience in many facets during this project, one main struggle I overcame was also completing the project using a MacBook. From using the MacBook, the Excel format was different so my method of completing tasks had to be altered such as freezing panes as the MacBook would only freeze one row at a time, so I had to alter it to two using the Print Preview option.

Furthermore, the project allowed me to realize the ability you have with Excel to complete formulas that can calculate data in seconds. From just a simple "PCTIncrease" formula (Highest Heart Rate - Subject Heart Rate at 0 then divided by Highest Heart Rate), I was able to determine what percentage each subject's heart rate increased from the start of the exercise program until the highest rate was reached. Even more so, I also gained experience using Pivot Tables. Using the Pivot Tables, I was instantly able to analyze how effective the new exercise regimen was as well as which demographic groups got the most benefit from the exercise regimen. This helped me to realize how companies can use Pivot Tables and Excel to show how effective new approaches they are attempting with their company are.

Speaking of Pivot Tables, attached is a "screen capture" of the "AvgIncrease" meaning Average Increase Pivot Table I derived in my project.

With this pivot table, I am showing which demographic groups got the most benefit from the exercise regimen. I specifically determined the average percent increase in heart rate for the subjects, grouped by each decade and by gender.

All in all, the Excel project showed me how truly effective and helpful Excel can be to a workplace.