Application software: general and special purpose
Application software does users' tasks; general purpose packages suit many businesses, while special purpose software is built for one job or industry.
General purpose vs special purpose
Off-the-shelf package vs tailor-made (bespoke) software
| Point | Off-the-shelf package | Tailor-made (bespoke) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Low; shared by many buyers | High; one firm pays for all of it |
| Time to start | Immediate | Months to design, build and test |
| Fit to needs | General; the firm adapts to it | Exact fit to the firm's process |
| Support and updates | Large user base, regular updates | Depends on the developer |
| Example | Microsoft 365 | A factory's own production-tracking system |
Common application packages
- Word processing: Microsoft Word, Google Docs.
- Spreadsheet: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets.
- Presentation: Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides.
- Database: Microsoft Access.
- Accounting packages: record sales, purchases and produce accounts.
- Graphics and design: Adobe Photoshop, Canva.
- Communication: email, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, web browsers.
A small shop in Kandy may run its accounts on Excel (general purpose), while a bank runs a core banking system and a large hotel uses a reservation system (special purpose) built for that industry.
Short answer: “Give two examples of special purpose software.” A payroll system and a hotel reservation system (also core banking, POS, hospital billing).
Structured question: “Distinguish between general purpose and special purpose software, with examples.” General purpose: many tasks and users (Word, Excel). Special purpose: one task or industry (payroll, reservations). Compare cost, fit and time.
General = many jobs, many users. Special = one job, one industry. Off-the-shelf is cheap and quick; bespoke is exact but costly.