Today, computers are an integral part of nearly every industry and occupation, and professionals must be proficient in using computers to enhance their day-to-day job performance. Such proficiency is particularly important when using computers to assist in organizing and communicating information. Increasingly, organizations are relying on electronic mail to send information from one location to another. Entire presentations can be sent via e-mail to individuals located across the hall or across the world, and printed documents can be prepared on economical color printers which greatly enhance their impact. To be effective, computer tools must be easy to use so that they do not take an inordinate amount of time to learn, and so that users are not taken away from their primary responsibilities for extended periods. This research examines a popular "suite" of software, Microsoft Office, and considers its effectiveness in a professional environment with multiple users of the software.
When personal computers were initially introduced, software was available on a task-by-task basis: users would purchase application software (such as a word processing program and a spreadsheet program), often from two different vendors, and use each program without consideration as to whether data could be shared or whether there was compatibility among the two programs. During that time, users would accept the limitations that the various programs imposed and use an application designed for one purpose in order to accomplish another. Thus it was possible to use Microsoft Word to create overhead transparencies for presentations since such an application was more cost effective than purchasing (and learning) yet another program. At the same time, the costs of the various computer hardware components needed to support an office suite was considerable and many companies and individuals were not able to justify the requisite level of expenditure.
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