Which software manages how hardware devices work together?

The correct answer is operating system software. Operating system software is fundamental in managing how hardware devices operate and interact with each other and with the application software. It serves as an intermediary between users and the hardware, handling tasks such as memory management, process scheduling, and input/output operations.

Operating systems facilitate the execution of application software by managing hardware resources such as the CPU, memory, disk space, and peripheral devices, ensuring that applications can function effectively and efficiently. This coordination is crucial for the overall performance of a computer system, allowing users to run multiple applications simultaneously without conflicts.

In this context, while system software generally refers to software that includes the operating system and related utilities, operating system software specifically highlights its role in hardware management. Application software is designed for specific tasks performed by users, while utility software provides maintenance tasks and systems support but does not primarily focus on managing hardware interactions. Thus, operating system software is the optimal choice for describing software that manages how hardware devices work together.