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SOME SOFTWARE USED IN BUSINESS RESEARCH 45

Web Sites
Organizations create web sites to promote their image, communicate with cus-
tomers, build relationships, share information, offer attractive inducements to
prospective customers, and ensure that they keep returning. In some cases they
even allow online purchases by customers, bypassing the traditional sales chan-
nels. The built-in audit capability and push technology (using cookies to track
details of web sites visited) also provides feedback on the efficacy of the sites.
Consumers spend millions of dollars shopping on the web. Practically every
business creates its web site. As noted by Wildstrom (1998), the World Wide Web
is a powerful tool for business communications and a great way to pass on infor-
mation to customers or to co-workers. Software to create web sites readily and
with greater ease is now becoming available.

SOME SOFTWARE USED IN BUSINESS RESEARCH

We now list some of the software programs and examine their application in the
different areas of business. As you read through these, ponder how researchers
might be helped by the different software.

Groupware

Groupware is a software that runs on a network so that teams can work on joint
projects, and it allows people from different departments to access data jointly.
For example, if the accounting, finance, sales, and production departments have
to coordinate their efforts to come up with a viable product within a tight bud-
get, they will be served well by groupware. This software is of immense use for
efficient and effective completion of specific team projects.

Neural Networks
Neural Networks are designed to trace patterns in a set of data and generalize
therefrom. This software enables sales forecasts, stock market predictions, detec-
tion of weather patterns, and the like. The California Scientific Software’s Brain-
maker used for managing investments by recognizing patterns and trends
influencing stock prices can be cited as a specific example.

CAM/CAD
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software helps engineers to design the
manufacturing components and directs the production of the product. Computer-
aided design (CAD) software creates and displays complex drawings with preci-
sion, enabling experimentation with different designs. CAD/CAM software that
integrates the two has been in use for a long time in manufacturing and pro-
duction units of organizations. Design sophistication and product development