NatWest Bank Information Technology Investment Analysis

The assignment examines the investment potential of information technology for NatWest bank, highlighting its benefits such as increased productivity and customer engagement. It also discusses the importance of ethical and social issues management to maintain trust among customers.

REPORT

ABSTRACT
In modern era, Information technology refer to undertaking more innovative application
which is used by business to get productive results. Through the effective IT, It saves time and
cost by saving information in hardware and software system, and they can pertain the
information for future perspective as well. As various ethical and social issues are examined by
adapting the internet system which harm the company dignity in major aspects. This report is
related to NatWest banks which is one of the fourth cleaning banks in UK. The main reason of
choosing the information technology through these aspects is that they can protect the data and
information of customer for longer time period and also handle their queries and issue
personally.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
Theme 1: Concept of information technology........................................................................4
Theme 2: Benefits of implementing the information technology in companies....................4
Theme 3: Challenges faced by business in adapting the advance information technology.. .5
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................5
Role of IT in respect of success and failure of NatWest........................................................5
Ethical and Social issue that enhances smooth running of business......................................6
Identifying and differentiating various types of networking technologies.............................6
Importance of Intranet and Internet in NatWest.....................................................................7
Different stages of system development life cycles...............................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Information technology refers to the conducting the deep study about various systems
which is updated on computer through getting the appropriate information. Thus, for conducting
various changes in this system, IT department is associated to handle such issue if they faced any
in respect of fulfilling the needs of employee and customer which are engaged with the business.
In such manner, information technology results in storing the data and also high level of security
code are imposed so that data can be retrieved easily (Zurawski, 2018). Present report is based
upon NatWest bank which was founded in 1968 by the merger with the National Provincial bank
in UK. NatWest is considered to be one of the fourth most of the cleaning bank in UK with
having the 960 branch. The speciality of these banks is that they provide 24 hours services to
their customer so that they can resolve the issue of customer on immediate bases.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1: Concept of information technology
According to Dutta, Geiger and Lanvin (2015) information technology refers to dealing
in any computer based system through which they can freely communicate with each other and
also share any information. In these aspects they also store data and information which give
benefits to any person which they avail the services to gain more knowledges regarding the
particular field.
Schwalbe (2015) argued that through the procedure of information technology it consists
of more time-consuming concept. As to protect data from, hackers to carries various passwords
or high coding system which caries various cost and also time to impose the system in the
electronic device.
Theme 2: Benefits of implementing the information technology in companies
Lloyd (2017) stated that through adapting information technology in modern world, it
increases the productivity of the company and get more customer through their products and
services. They can also increase their communication skill through enhancing more knowledges
regarding the particular services.
As per Marchewka (2016) they can store the accurate data and also gather lot of
information through updating their system and also maintain timely updation to get faster speed.

Through this perspective, they can gain more knowledges not only in particular field but also in
many field.
Theme 3: Challenges faced by business in adapting the advance information technology.
Baller, Dutta and Lanvin (2016) suggested that through advancement in technology it
results in facing challenges in respect of security issue as no company guarantee to any customer
regarding protecting their data or any other information. In such cases the challenges occurs in
respect of protecting the data.
On the contradictory to Senft, Gallegos and Davis (2016) the challenges occur in respect
of providing accurate training to employees regarding changes in technology. For that skilled
person is appointed to provide accurate information regarding the system working. In such cases
many companies fails to appoint such person as technology are updated on continuous bases and
also many competitors grab this opportunity to appoint skilled and expertise person to give
proper guidance.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Role of IT in respect of success and failure of NatWest
In NatWest, through the role of IT is resulting to the success criteria of the banks as
through these services they able to reach large number of customer base. With the innovative
techniques which the IT department initiated in respect of reaching to large customer base, they
chose the mobile branch services through which they can reach to rural areas where the branches
of banks are not situated. Through this procedure they can save cost and also save time by not
personally reaching to banks for further queries (Schnoll, 2015). They can also avail online
services which is provides by NatWest banks for 24 hours. As every country had different time
scheduling, thus by providing 24 hours facilities resulting in approaching to large customer and
also resolving their queries in better manner.
The perspective of failure of IT issue arises in June 2012, where the case arises of not
updating the customer accounts correctly which resulting in not getting accurate statement
regarding their balance. It results in facing issues in making any online transaction or failure in
sending payment to other parties. The role of IT department arises in case of updating the
customer account properly so that they can further refer to the detail through the bank online app.
Thus, it results in facing issue in using mobile online services as also there are chances of fraud

in any amounts. In such case the role of IT is determined regarding interpreting the results of
success and failure ratio through NatWest banking services.
Ethical and Social issue that enhances smooth running of business
In respect of smooth running of business, NatWest had to maintain ethics in the form of
upgrading the system by protecting from hacking any data and information which is linked with
customer details. Ethics is to be maintained in respect of protecting the customer information and
also securing their account through high coded security. Through these aspects, they are
maintained the customer loyalty towards the services of banks for longer time period. Thus,
ethical issue arises in respect of securing the data of the customers, protecting them from high
coded security and also in respect of managing accounts (McKeown, 2015). As the data must be
represented on real bases and also the information are to be provided accurate and on right bases.
Ethical norms is to be maintained in respect of providing high security code to protect data of
customer.
Social issue which is faced by business through NatWest banking is in respective of
getting fake messages in name of the NatWest banks regarding investing in particular activity.
The major social issue is examined in respective of conducting campaign for promoting any
misrepresentation information regarding banks. This distracts the mind of the customer towards
the services and thus resulting in attracting from other banks. Thus, in NatWest banks, IT had to
manage the system in accurate manners so that they can easily track the records of the customer.
It can also be done through providing security regarding protecting their information and money
which they saved in their accounts. In NatWest banks, the social issue is analysed in form of
getting fraud messages to customer regarding investing in particular scheme.
Identifying and differentiating various types of networking technologies
Network technologies is used to design and communicated freely with large number of
customers. In case of banking sector, there are large number of networking technology which is
adapted by customer to interact properly such as:
LAN: It elaborates with the local area network in which they are engaged with large number of
people or any companies or organization which are carrying the devices and using the low
voltage systems. They carry the high networking power through connecting the two or three
building (Xiang, Magnini and Fesenmaier, 2015). It can be easily managed by the enterprises
and also results in getting quick communication facility.

WAN: As comparison to LAN it is sightly complex as they had to carry the networking to large
number of people. Through the helps of computer they connect large customer base and also
communicate easily and share information through this process. This networking technology is
maintained by multiple operators and also they had the power to control the devices so that data
is to be protected through these systems.
WLAN: It stands for wireless local area network in which they can connect their system through
Wi-Fi, and they can easily connect with other branches so that they can interact and share
information in better perspective.
PAN: It stands for personal area network in which they can connect through wireless phones or
tablets to communicate their information. It can be managed by the single person and also they
can be found in small offices or building through which they can easily manage through single
devices.
The differences between LAN and WAN is resulting to LAN is the local devices which is
connected by local group or company while WAN connect LAN through communicating with
worldwide areas. If the difference is to be committed with PAN it considered to be managed by
the single person through phone or using any wireless devices. In relation to WLAN they are
mainly similar with LAN and also carry the same application (Lloyd, 2017). In these aspects, it
is analysed that, NatWest banks prefers to use the WLAN networking technologies through
which they reach to over 960 branches and also opened 3400 cash machines through which they
can operate without any connection. Through the present study, it is examined that they had
approx 7.5 billion personal customers and also they are carrying 8,50,000 small business
accounts. Thus, its analysed that WLAN networking technology is the best suitable for NatWest
and through this perspective they are awarded with the best banking app in British bank.
Importance of Intranet and Internet in NatWest
Internet is mainly available for the public and it is open for all person so that they can
avail the services of the company and in case of Intranet it is mainly designed for private user
and its is protected from password or security so that no unknown person can use the Internet
services of the company (Marchewka, 2016). As intranet can use the procedure of internet. The
importance of intranet is resulting to improving the communication level between the employees
so that they can easily communicate with each of them, and also resolve their problems in better

manner. In respect of NatWest, it helps employee to get quick responses regarding any queries
raised and through these aspects it results in resolving their queries in better way.
Internet is opened for all and thus it's not carries any limitation regarding gaining any
services. As internet is not limited to only one field it provides information to many of the fields
and also they can avail different information from such aspects. In respect of NatWest, through
the procedure of Internet they can avail various services and not only limited to particular aspects
such as using the banking information, the branches in particular sectors or any other employee's
information. It can be availed through Internet . In respect of matter related to intranet it related
to using the banking app which is covered with the password so that only owner can use their
services and also they can check their account transaction through online services (Baller, Dutta,
and Lanvin, 2016). Intranet is mainly used in respect of improving the communication through
determining the issue and sharing the knowledge for providing effective results.
Different stages of system development life cycles
System development life cycle phases mainly includes six stages through which the
whole perspective of system are dependent on (What is System Development Life Cycle, 2019). It
mainly covers:
Stage 1:Planning- It is to be undertaken on the bases of deciding what is exactly needed in the
system. It is also examined through driving various alternative solution through which it helps
clients and suppliers to take effective decision. Thus, in these aspects various factors are
identified such as developing the innovative system or analysis the current issue which occurs
through adapting the system or leave the system if it is not working in right direction.
Stage 2:Designing: In this stage, the designing is undertaken in respective of carrying the good
understanding regarding the particular systems (Senft, Gallegos, and Davis, 2016). It is not
necessary that designing is done on the professional sites, it can be committed through pen or
any sample paper which represent better look.
Stage 3:Implementing: Once the designing is completed, the look is implemented which give the
life to design. In this procedure, the actual coding is done on the system so that they are secured
and also protected with various passwords.
Stage 4:Testing: In this stage, testing can be done by the real user or any specialized person
which is handling this duty to determine actual outcomes. In this the results are to be compared
from the predicted results and the judgement is raised regarding availing such services.

Stage 5:Deploying: After the completion of testing, this is updated in the system so that customer
can avail the services. As in this part, training is must, so they use can use this services in right
manner.
Stage 6:Maintenance: In this stage, periodic maintenance is required so, that system run in
smooth manner and also there is no virus attack in any sites (Schnoll, 2015).
Discussion: In this phase, the discussion is mainly conducted on determining the potential
benefits and drawbacks of NatWest investing in information technology is relating to achieving
higher profitability and also increases the system and its operation to reach large customer base.
As due to changes in time, there are various advancement in technology and thus it is requires
more cost to update the technology in every system.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it is concluded that business activities are mainly relied on
information technology and through this perspective they can increase the productivity at large
scale. In this report it is examined that NatWest banks is the renowned brand name in UK and
also engages in various activities which enhances the interest of customer towards their services
for longer time period. Ethical and social issues are to be managed by the bank so that they can
maintain the trust and honesty among the customer and also providing them accurate services.
NatWest deal in online services and through online banking app, they can intranet their services
personally to customer and also share information directly. Through their innovative and trust
worthy services, they are awarded with best banking sectors in 2017 in British bank awards.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baller, S., Dutta, S. and Lanvin, B., 2016. Global information technology report 2016. Geneva:
Ouranos.
Dutta, S., Geiger, T. and Lanvin, B., 2015. The global information technology report 2015. In
World Economic Forum (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. P80-85).
Lloyd, I.J., 2017. Information technology law. Oxford University Press.
Marchewka, J.T., 2016. Information technology project management: Providing measurable
organizational value. John Wiley & Sons.
McKeown, P., 2015. Information technology and the networked economy.
Schnoll, H. J., 2015. E-Government: Information, Technology, and Transformation:
Information, Technology, and Transformation. Routledge.
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Senft, S., Gallegos, F. and Davis, A., 2016. Information technology control and audit. Auerbach
publications.
Xiang, Z., Magnini, V. P. and Fesenmaier, D. R., 2015. Information technology and consumer
behavior in travel and tourism: Insights from travel planning using the internet. Journal of
Retailing and Consumer Services. 22. pp.244-249.
Zurawski, R., 2018. The industrial information technology handbook. CRC press.
Online
What is System Development Life Cycle. 2019. Online. Available Through:
<https://airbrake.io/blog/sdlc/what-is-system-development-life-cycle>.