Introduction to Information Technology

This document provides an introduction to information technology, discussing its role in the success or failure of an organization, ethical and social issues, types of networking technology, and the importance of intranet and internet. It also covers the different stages of the system development life cycle.

INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1. The role of IT in the success or failure of the organisation....................................................3
2. Ethical and social issues..........................................................................................................4
3. Types of networking Technology...........................................................................................5
4. Importance of intranet and internet.........................................................................................6
5. List and explain the different stage of system development life cycle...................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
Books and Journal.....................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is also famously known as IT which means that there is usage of
computer involved in this process to transmit, store, manipulate data and retrieve. This is used in
markets of business and enterprise. Information technology can be considered a sub title of
communication and information technology. The term information technology is commonly used
to address computers and networks. There are several services and products which are associated
with information technology which are software, hardware, internet, e-commerce, electronics,
etc.
HSBC is a bank which originated in Hong Kong. HSBC is the 7th largest bank in the
world. HSBC gives out financial services and investment holding company. The major part of
this bank still lies in Hong Kong. This bank has over 38 million of customers all over the world
and it has 3,900 offices in 67 countries which includes Asia, South America, North America,
Africa, etc. This bank is a public limited company and the founder of this company was Sir
Thomas Sutherland. The headquarters of this company is in London.
1. The role of IT in the success or failure of the organisation.
Success-
The bank can have success if they are being able to give the customers all those facilities
to the customers for which they need to come to the bank. Informational technology should be
used by the bank so that they can make the bank process even easier for the customers so that
they can make the customers support the bank and make them feel comfortable with the use of
the bank. Internet has really made life's easier for people because that way the customers do not
have to reach out to the banks and stand in ques for a long time and now can directly withdraw
money from ATM's and transfer money from one bank to the other (Schwalbe, 2015). There are
a lot of mishaps which can take place due to information technology usage but HSBC bank is
really careful. In 2018 the company had lost its data to the outside companies which made the
bank have a major downfall but after this mishap the bank is even more careful about these
mistakes repeating. The bank does not want to lose its customers that is why the company makes
sure that they do not make any other mistakes otherwise there portfolio will not look any good in
the market. The bank is lending loans and investing in many other fields to make a profit so that
they can not just pay there employees but can generate enough money for the run of the bank

too. HSBC bank was not able to pay its employees the pay they were supposed to receive in the
past and this was so because the company lost its information or data out in public. HSBC is now
every protective about there security information using the technologies therefore the bank is
able to grow back up so fast from the loss they made in 2008 (Hills, 2018).
Failure-
HSBC bank has lost all its data and information out in 2008 which made the company go
in a great lose. The bank did not pay attention on its security level. HSBC bank is one of the first
who adopted information technology method for the customers so that they can provide all the
provisions of the bank at home and the customers are satisfied. The major step taken by the bank
for the betterment of the customers did not focus on the security for the customers which made
the company lose its information out because the focus should be on all the fields. Security is one
of the major steps which the company must focus on so that the bank can give there best to the
customers without making a loss (Lim, 2017). The bank failed to live up to its promises to the
customers and the employees were not paid for the services they provided to the bank. 2008, will
never be forgotten from the history of this bank by the customers, employees and the bank
management since that was a tragic incident which took place in the bank. HSBC had not taken
the step of getting online and even if they had they should have looked at all the possible
consequences of the step they took. The security factor plays a major role in the field of banks
and the company did not focus on that when they got on the internet provision for the customers.
Though the company has learned its lesson and will never make such mistakes again.
2. Ethical and social issues.
The social and ethical issues which are faced by the bank are that they must keep their
promises. The bank should keep the customers security and the bank's security too so that the
bank can maintain a healthy and a safe environment and a strong portfolio so that they can grow
faster (Dey, Heese and Weber, 2019). HSBC which is famous worldwide promises to keep the
customers happy and satisfied at all levels possible. HSBC makes sure that there is transparency
between the customers and the bank details so that there are no mistakes which could happen and
there is no miscommunication between the two. The bank provides the customers with free trade
and fair trade between any other company. The bank does not put any obligation on the customer
that stops the customer to expand. HSBC tries to adopt innovative ideas and tries to make the

bank as easy to access for all the customers as much as possible. All the information of
individual account holders in the bank gets a mail, phone call or message so that they can
confirm if they have made that transaction or someone else has (Mithas, Whitaker and Tafti,
2017). The bank makes sure that the bank gets the best of security methods for the customers.
The communication better each and every bank offices is well-connected so that the customers
does not face any issues related to that and the rules and regulation of the bank are strictly
followed. There are policies for all the loans and other investments for the bank. HSBC follows
all the policies made by the government and the bank policies also and is fair to all the
individuals who go for this bank.
There are two types of ethics, internal ethics and external ethics. The internal ethics are
concern with the banks customers and employees satisfaction, wages, benefits, fair sex,
unionization and the bank providing the environment standards. The external ethics are concern
with the outcomes of the bank's action. HSBC bank giving out loans and investing in any
company will have an impact on the environment of the company outside and within and the
society too (Madon and Krishna, 2018). Any steps taken by the bank will affect the bank, the
environment of the bank and the society. HSBC has failed to keep its promises and that affected
the society very bad. The trust from the bank had been gone from the society ut HSBC did not
give up and the bank build itself again in this field and now is the 7th largest in the world.
3. Types of networking Technology.
There are many types of technological networks in the world few of which are Personal
Area Network (PAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Local Area Netwokr (LAN),
Wide Area Network (WAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Storage-Area Network
(SAN), etc. These networks are used to get access to everything and is like the backbone of the
business industry.
Wide Area Network (WAN)-
Wan helps to connect people when there is physical distance between the computers.
HSBC, which has its offices over 67 countries need such networks so that they can easily
communicate between them and there are lesser changes of making mistakes (Chen and Lai,
2019). The reach of this network is the strongest and the connection is powerful than any other
networks.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)-
This is little less advance than wide area network (WAN) because WAN can cover a
wide area whereas MAN can only focus on the geographic area like the town or city (Schnoll,
2015). There are multiple branches of the bank and the banks must be inter-connected so that the
bank does not make any mistakes.
Local Area Network (LAN)-
Local area network is the most common network which is discussed a lot and is the most
common network which can connect computers in the short distance. The computers which are
in same building or are in the near building can get connected to share information related to
business. To make any bank or any other business work this is the most important factor which is
required in the office (Flanding and et.al., 2018). This is done so that the information can travel
in the business faster and there are lesser chances of any miscommunication. Bank is one place
where people think twice before they invest there money in it and there is a lot of loyalty and
trust in this field by the customers and the bank employees and management therefore the bank
should remain informed about everything happening in the organisation so that there is
transparency with the customers and no wrong information given out to the customers.
Personal Area Network (PAN)-
Personal area network is the most basic type of network and is the smallest in network
technology. It can be used for individuals of the company to connect the phones, printers, tablets
and computer so that the work becomes easier (Zurawski, 2018). PAN can be done for
individuals and the use of this in the bank field is very low because the bank is an organisation
which works as a team. In a team the company needs to share all the information and details of
the business to each other otherwise the organisation can not work easily.
4. Importance of intranet and internet.
Importance of Internet Importance of Intranet
 Anyone can use and access to this type
of internet and therefore is not safe for
the businesses to use this type of
internet.
 It is impossible for any other company
to use or access to the internet of the
organisation which is using intranet
(Lai and Chen, 2019).

 There is not one but multiple users who
are using this kind of network.
 Internet is not safe for businesses and is
fine for the use of the society and
individuals of the society since the
individuals do not need so much of
security.
 Internet is a form of public network
therefore there are multiple users and
anyone can access this easily.
 Internet can be owned by anyone in the
world and the security is very low in
internet.
 Internet can provide its users with
unlimited information and can fulfill all
the needs of the customers (Oshri and
van Uhm, 2017).
 Access to full information and
everything possible can distract an
individual from life goals, and they can
not be able to achieve personal goals.
 There are limited users and no one from
outside the company will be able to
access this intranet.
 Intranet is the safest form of network
for businesses to run without letting
anyone hack into there personal
information .
 Intranet is a form of private network
which is not accessible for the users
from outside the company and has
limited users.
 The intranet is owned for private firm
so that they can have security of the
organisation.
 Intranet has limited information and
people who use intranet will only get
information is the business needs and
no other information.
 No personal work can be done with the
use of intranet because the sites can get
blocked by the organisation. This
process helps the organisation to focus
on the work they are doing rather than
the other personal issues.
HSBC bank uses intranet for communication because in 2008 when the bank became an
online bank they had a problem which was data lose which made the company be in great lose.
The bank does not want to repeat the same mistake and is taking care of all the possibilities to
give there bank the security they need. Intranet is giving the bank the security which they were
looking forward for and this way they can not just satisfy the customers but make the work of the

bank also easier. The information of this bank is now secure by using intranet network and now
can use the access for communication easily and faster.
5. List and explain the different stage of system development life cycle.
System development life cycle is a process which includes 7 stages which deals with
technical and non- technical activities of an organisation to make the customers happy and
satisfied. The 6 stages are planning, system design, development, system analysis and
requirements, integration and testing and operations and maintenance.
Planning-
This process addressing the problem and looking for solutions so that the company can
come out of the problem with lot of success (Lee, 2017). There should be a detail study in the
field there is a problem so that the solution can be taken out appropriately and not just like that.
Problem solving is the most difficult factor because it needs innovation, new ideas, new steps to
be taken, etc. This can not be easy for the company and the workers or the employees of the
company.
System Analysis & Requirements-
The decisions which are taken will be able to meet the requirements and the expectations
from the end users is the purpose of this process. This is important because the company must
know if their decisions are going to make any difference in the market and will get any profits in
the organisation (Lata, 2017).
System Design-
In detail analysis are made for the requirements of the customers and the decisions will
be in place. The necessary features, operations and specifications that are required in the
organisation for the betterment of the company.
Development-
This process includes the field work which starts after taking the decisions required for
the betterment of the company. The production starts taking place and the installations and
changes in the organisation will happen in this process which is known as development.
Integration & Testing-
The designs which are added in the production of new requirements are being able to be
produced and are tested before the end users receive that product (Andrade and Doolin, 2016).

The testing of the products is necessary because the companies must give the best of products to
the end users otherwise the company will not be able to make profits.
Operations & Maintenance-
This is the final process or phase of this process, in this process replacement of hard
wares and soft wares should be provided by the company if the customers are facing any trouble
with the product. There must be a communication between the users and the producer so that it
can boost up the performance, meet requirements and new capabilities are there in the people
who produce the products.
CONCLUSION
This report has covered a brief information about the importance of Information
technology in HSBC. Information technology has provided a very powerful impact in making
HSBC the largest banking and financial services which had attracted many of its customer.
HSBC was the one which used the Information technology to increase the efficiency of the
banking industry and had increase the information safety with easy accessibility. The
Information technology provided many benefits to the bank like safety of personal information
of their customers, but they also have to face the problems as the information was ot safe on
internet and HSBC have shifted to Intranet which also gave them a faster access to all their data
with high security.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Andrade, A.D. and Doolin, B., 2016. Information and communication technology and the social
inclusion of refugees. Mis Quarterly. 40(2). pp.405-416.
Chen, Y. and Lai, J., 2019, May. Information and Personal Networking in Decision-making
Process: the Case of HSBC. In 2019 International Conference on Management,
Education Technology and Economics (ICMETE 2019). Atlantis Press.
Dey, A., Heese, J. and Weber, J., 2019. Regtech at HSBC.
Flanding, J.P and et.al., 2018. Technology Taking as a Strategy', The Technology Takers.
Hills, J., 2018. Information technology and industrial policy. Routledge.
Lai, J. and Chen, Y., 2019, May. Communication Process and Information Systems in HSBC. In
2019 International Conference on Management, Education Technology and Economics
(ICMETE 2019). Atlantis Press.
Lata, P., 2017. Structural changes and performance of banking sector with special reference to
information technology in India. Journal of Commerce and Management Thought. 8(2).
p.281.
Lee, E., 2017. Financial inclusion: A challenge to the new paradigm of financial technology,
regulatory technology and anti-money laundering law.
Lim, F.P., 2017. The Impact of Information Technology in Corporate Financial Management.
Madon, S. and Krishna, S., 2018. The Digital Challenge: Information Technology in the
Development Context: Information Technology in the Development Context.
Routledge.
Mithas, S., Whitaker, J. and Tafti, A., 2017. Information technology, revenues, and profits:
Exploring the role of foreign and domestic operations. Information Systems Research.
28(2). pp.430-444.
Oshri, I. and van Uhm, B., 2017. A Historical Review of the Information Technology and
Business Process Captive Centre Sector. In Outsourcing and Offshoring Business
Services (pp. 455-497). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Schnoll, H.J., 2015. E-Government: Information, Technology, and Transformation: Information,
Technology, and Transformation. Routledge.
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Zurawski, R., 2018. The industrial information technology handbook. CRC press.