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.
During the 1980s, the cost of computer hardware decreased while the power of computer hardware increased, and software applications became more powerful and offered greater opportunity to companies such as Microsoft which found themselves in growing markets. Microsoft (and others) recognized the importance of building brand loyalty by standardizing procedures across various programs and enhancing data sharing among programs. Word processing programs, spreadsheets and database management programs began using electronic data interchange (EDI) to share information so that users did not have to re-create the information for each application. At the same time, functions such as cut-and-paste and file insertion made it easier to maximize the power of specialized applications and import information into the most appropria...