Global Information Systems Strategy: Woolworths New Zealand

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Global Information Systems Strategy: Woolworths New Zealand
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Table of Contents
Part 1: Introduction and Background of Woolworths Group New Zealand.....................................3
Part 2: IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies – Management Issues...................................3
2.1 Woolworths’ Current IT infrastructure............................................................................3
2.2 Issues and Challenges Faced in the Management of IT Infrastructure....................................4
2.3 Emerging Technologies in Woolworths.............................................................................4
Part 3: Big Data – Background and Recommended Strategy........................................................5
3.1 Search the Internet to find out about Big Data...................................................................5
3.1.1 Defining Big Data................................................................................................... 5
3.1.2 Potential of Big Data............................................................................................... 5
3.1.3 How Businesses are Using Big Data............................................................................6
3.1.4 Business Opportunities and Benefits from Big Data.......................................................6
3.1.5 Problems and Drawbacks of Big Data.........................................................................6
3.1.6 The Future of Big Data............................................................................................ 7
3.2 Recommendations on the Implementation of Big Data in Woolworths Group New Zealand........7
3.3 Information Systems, Organisations and Strategy..............................................................8
3.3.1 The Reasons Why Woolworths Should Invest in Big Data...............................................8
3.3.2 The Key Areas Where Big Data is Likely to Have an Impact...........................................9
3.3.3 The Risks and Their Mitigation Strategy...................................................................10
3.3.4 The Supporting Tools, Solutions and Skills Woolworths Needs to Have...........................10
3.3.5 How the Organisation Can Measure the Success of its Big Data Initiative........................11
3.3.6 The Composition of a Governing Body.....................................................................11
Part 4: Conclusions: Key Findings and Recommendations.........................................................11
References........................................................................................................................ 13

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Part 1: Introduction and Background of Woolworths Group New Zealand
Woolworths Group New Zealand is among the biggest retail chains in the country of New Zealand. It
is ranked among the largest employers with over 18,000 employees working in 180 supermarkets
that are currently run by the organization. Woolworths has recently changed its name from
Progressive Enterprises and vouches that the change in name is set to improve the brand image of the
company as a whole. The URL of the Company’s official website is:
https://www.woolworthsnz.co.nz/. Apart from this, Woolworths is a franchisor of several other
brands that hold a supermarket in different parts of the country, that is, Supervalue, FreshChoice and
CountDown (Woolworths, 2019).
Founded in the year 1949, Woolworths has grown profoundly over the years by adding a large
number of services and focusing on the provision of fresh food to its customers. The mission of the
company is to evolve the diverse products that the company offers and offer convenience to its
customers in the best possible manner. Corporate Social Responsibility is being accounted as the
foremost focus of the organization as well (Woolworths Group, 2019).
Part 2: IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies – Management Issues
This section includes a comprehensive analysis of the Information Technology infrastructure at
Woolworths Group New Zealand. The analysis will further assist in understanding the drawbacks in
the system of the company and the actions that it can take to improvise itself and achieve better
business opportunities through the same. Annual reports were analysed for information on the
existing IT infrastructure and academic articles and journals were consulted to derive information on
the foremost solutions that the company can adopt to cover the challenges that it faces.
2.1 Woolworths’ Current IT infrastructure
With the evaluation of the Annual Report Published by the Woolworths Group in 2018, it was
analysed that the current IT infrastructure of the company primarily revolves around the provision of
digital services to its customers and the formation of a business continuity plan in order to protect
itself from any kind of natural or man-made disasters. Apart from this, the company fails to share
information about the internal IT infrastructure that its operational team might be using. Taking this
into account, it shall be assumed that Woolworths has not ventured itself in the field of Big Data or
has not considered the possibility of lifting the benefits that it offers to organizations (Woolworths

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Group Annual Report 2018). In addition to this, it was learnt that the company has a single
Information Technology Infrastructure that caters to the online needs, the shares etc.
2.2 Issues and Challenges Faced in the Management of IT Infrastructure
The primary issues and challenges that are faced with the management of the IT infrastructure
include the expansion of operations to cover the information security challenges that are posed by the
existing programs and infrastructure. Cyber crime has no doubt troubled every big or small
organization that collects data and confidential information of its customers. Another important issue
that is faced by the company and its management is the need for allocation of a large sum of money
for covering the growing threats that are posed by the existence of the cyber attacks and threats on
the information security. The single integrated system is indeed a challenge that the company must
deal with urgently. Separating the infrastructure, especially the one that stores the information has
become the need of the hour, in order to survive the continuous attacks and threats (Woolworths
Holdings Limited, 2017).
2.3 Emerging Technologies in Woolworths
Based on the information gained from the official company website and the annual reports of
Woolworths Group, it was understood that the focus of the leadership is towards the formation of an
improved security system to safeguard the confidential information of its customers. Apart from this,
the focus is being laid on the integration of a constructive policy on Corporate Social Responsibility.
Based on the challenges that the company has highlighted to be facing with its Information
technology infrastructure, a series of recommendations can be made to assist in reducing the threats
posed by the challenges and assist in acquiring a more secure IT structure.
The first recommendation would include the replacement of the hardware of the company with the
latest computing systems to support software that are designed to assist in controlling cyber threats.
The second recommendation would be to formulate an off-site location for the transfer of
confidential information and its protection to secure it in case of a disaster. Training and
development of the employees to ensure that they do not use social media websites or open private
emails on the company servers is another recommendation that could assist the company in dealing
with its cyber threats and potential attacks (Halaweh, 2013).