An employee working in a payroll department uses a customized program to keep track of the hours employees have worked. the customized program is an example of hardware software

Software

Explanation:

 According to the given question, the employees basically works on the payroll department and it uses the various types of customized programs for keep tracking the working hours of the employees.

So, the customized program is one of the example of the software as it helps in developing the various types of specific functions and the efficient characteristics based o the customers requirements.

 The main advantage of the customized software is that it helps in the development process and it is cost effective, personalization, integration.  Therefore, Software is the correct answer.

answer; no longer than a reasonable period of time;