1. What three types of software made the BlackBerry ideal for meeting the needs of Whitmann Price? Improvement projects that are enterprise-wide include the development of three different types of software. These types include “server software to provide information from corporate databases or other information and communications services, client software to run on the user’s machines, and sometimes middleware to allow different types of systems to communicate” (Stair & Reynolds, 2008 Webcase). Josh and Sandra are pleased with the Whitmann Price compatibility and effectiveness of the in-house software-server software, which does not require any changes at this time. They are also satisfied with the BlackBerry software due to the easy connection it provides to the server, which would be considered the machine used to run the client software. Nevertheless, they should be concerned with the middleware that would allow the handheld devices to link properly with their server.
2. How did the choice of hardware affect options for software solutions? What difference would it make if Sandra and Josh picked a newly developed handheld device unknown in industry? The choice of hardware used in any situation will affect which software solutions can be used as well as associated with what will need to be changed or upgraded. By choosing the BlackBerry, they will not have to alter or upgrade the server that is currently being used, nor will they have to change the software that is being used by the device. They will have to adapt some software to ensure proper connection, and develop software to provide additional services that may be required for the job.
Every new product is subject to a range of stages that reproduce the demand by consumers for that particular product, called the Product Life Cycle (PLC) (Boone & Kurtz, 2006). When new
