Role of Information Technology in Business: A Case Study of Tesco

This report discusses the role of information technology in business, with a focus on Tesco. It covers topics such as online marketing, e-commerce, ethics and social issues, and different types of networks used by Tesco.

Individual Report

Abstract
Information technology is a technology that is mainly used for generating, storing,
retrieving and sharing information and data in digital and electronic format. This has become of
significant use for different types of businesses including retail businesses because of their
contribution in facilitating functioning and operations of the business. This report has discussed
about information technology, its different aspects and along with this networking and internet
have also been discussed in the report. In the review of literature lifecycle of software
development also have been discussed.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Literature Review............................................................................................................................4
Role of IT in Business.................................................................................................................4
Ethics and Social Issues of IT......................................................................................................5
Network and their types...............................................................................................................6
Intranet and Internet.....................................................................................................................6
Software Development Lifecycle................................................................................................7
Analysis and Discussion..................................................................................................................8
Role in Information Technology in Tesco...................................................................................8
Ethics and Social Issues of Information Technology in Tesco....................................................9
Networks and their type in Tesco................................................................................................9
Intranet and Internet in Tesco....................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Information technology can be defined as technology being used for storing, retrieving,
sharing and modifying data and information in electronic format. In terms of its uses in business
it is also known as application of technology to solve business problems on a broad scale.
Information technology is being used in every function of the organisation regardless of the
nature of the work. This is because information technology enables organisation to complete
their function accurately and fast. This report will discuss about information technology in
business, this includes role of information technology in business. Ethics and social issues of
information technology will also be discussed in the report. Ethics and social issues refers to
right and wrong conduct which is made by people pertaining to information technology and its
use (Bessen, 2017). Later networking technology will be discussed because for using information
technology and functioning it, it is important as this enables organisation to function information
technology. Later internet and intranet will be discussed, internet has become very important and
has added value in information technology uses. Software development lifecycle will also be
discussed, this a lifecycle of development which includes developing software and starts from
determining objectives of the software development or identifying issues and problems which
require software development. Software is a program which is designed to operate computers
and execute particular task for which software has been designed. Software also used to refer to
applications, programs that run on a device and is considered as variable part of the computer.
Later analysis and discussion will be carried out in context of Tesco, multinational retail
organisation based in UK.
Literature Review
Role of IT in Business
As stated by Guan and Zhou, 2017Information technology is playing important role in
every business this is because function executed with help of information technology in
completed in speed and along with that they are also comparatively more accurate. This enables
to process large data in simple manner. Information technology can help business in becoming
more productive and increase performance, save money and improve experience of customers.

These are all possible because of information technology. Some of the roles that are very
important and information technology is significantly being used by organisations are in
communication. Communication is a means of exchanging thoughts and ideas and information
technology has played important role in improving communication. Some of the ways to do so
are conferencing software, video communication, Email, company internet and intranet. Other
than this other roles being played by information technology are improved customer experience,
this is possible as with help of information technology company can remain connected with its
customers this improves customer experience by ensuring that all their problems get solved in
most efficient manner. This also enabled to create customised market and online marketing and
online commerce is also a contribution of the information technology that customers can get best
experience of shopping. Both company and customers can conveniently communicate with each
other through social media, company website and through instant messaging services. Improved
decision making through use of information technology, this is possible because information
technology helps in collective large information regarding different areas of the decision making.
Ethics and Social Issues of IT
According to Howell, van Beers and Doorn, 2018 Information Technology has facilitated
many functions of the organisations but along with significant emergence of business ethical and
social issues has also emerged along with that. Regarding this several issues have been emerged
and one of the significant issue is concerned with data protection and information security. This
means that data stored in information technology system can be affected and used by
unauthorised access to the information technology programs. This is a major social and ethical
issue of information technology. Regarding ethical issues of information technology some of the
ethics have been developed these are-
Use of information technology for personal use- This means that employees should not use
information technology programs at office for their personal work. This means that employees
should not use office computer for personal Email. Another social and ethical issues related to
information technology is use of social media accounts of employees for their screening and
gather information about the employee. this is being highly used but this still remains under
question whether this is ethical or not. This is because while doing so employer will not ask for
the candidates permission and if they use social media of employee without their permission this

will be unethical. This makes it a social and ethical issue of the information technology.
Collecting data of other parties specifically customers and users, this is another ethical and social
issue as whether companies should do this.
Network and their types
As stated by Hanes and et.al., 2017 Networks and networking technology is technology
which enables two or more computers or devices to connect with each other. This enables these
connected devices to share data and information with each other. There are several types of
network these are personal area network, local area network, wireless local area network, campus
area network, metropolitan area network, wide area network. These all types of network area
allows computers and devices to connect over larger area respectively. Personal area network is
the network that allows to connect in smallest distance which means only two devices at short
distance can connect with other and later all the network types allows to connect more devices at
larger distance. In this wide area network allows to connect devices at largest distance and more
number of devices to connect together. Types of network are not limited to these only and there
are some more types of network these are storage area network, system area network, passive
optical area network, enterprise area network, enterprise area network and virtual private
network. Storage area network is a dedicated pool of storage devices. Enterprise private
networks are built and owned by businesses and operated by them to securely share their data
and information. Virtual private network is extended network across internet and allows to send
and receive data.
Intranet and Internet
According to Jørgensen, 2019 Internet is used to connect different computers
simultaneously. Internet is a public network and this is why anyone can access the internet and
use for their specific purposes. Internet allows multiple users to connect and use the internet and
its services. Internet allows several users to connect and this is one of the reason that internet is
not safe. Safety in internet refers to safety from the threat to privacy of data and information
available, stored and shared on the internet. This does not require to exercise any specific
function and particular development to connect internet and it does not require any authorisation.
Internet also provides unlimited information from variety of different sources.

As stated by Park, Park and Heo, 2018 Intranet is also a type of internet but unlike
internet it is used privately. Intranet is a private network and this is why anyone with
authorisation cannot access internet. There are limited number of users for intranet and
information provided through intranet is also limited. Intranet is usually owned by businesses
and private firms. Intranet is also safe and this is why used by businesses to ensure safety of their
data and information shared. Intranet is also safe and numbers of visitors are also less and to
access intranet authorisation is also required.
Software Development Lifecycle
As stated by Devadiga, 2018 Software Development Lifecycle is a process which
includes development of software.
Requirement Analysis
This is first step of the development lifecycle this includes identification of current problem
because of which software has been developed. This means the reason because of which
software is being developed. This includes getting input from customers, stakeholders, industry
experts and identifying the needs of end user.
Planning
This is the step that includes determination of cost and resources that will be required in
developing the software. This also involves details of the risk involved and provides plans for
reducing the risk. Feasibility study of the software is also examined under this step of the plan.
Design
This plan includes designing software specifications into a design which will be used toi guide
the development of the software. All stakeholders then review the design of the software and
offer their suggestions and feedback.
Development
This step of the plan includes actual development of the plan, this requires that developer of the
software stick to the design that is also known as blueprint of the software.

Testing
This stage includes test of software for defect and deficiencies these are fixed to ensure that
software and final product meets its original specifications. This is to verify that design and
developed program meets its requirements and specifications.
Deployment
This stage includes deployment of completed software to the productive environment to start and
enable users to use this software.
Analysis and Discussion
Role in Information Technology in Tesco
Tesco is a retail organisations and some of the important roles that are being played by
information technology includes digital and online marketing and promotion and online
commerce.
Online Marketing- Presently all the businesses are promoting their product through digital and
social media and among all these Tesco is one of the business using this. Tesco employs
effective and excellent online and digital media marketing and promotional campaign and this is
the result of using information technology (Babu and Manukonda, 2018). Information
technology enables Tesco to identify and understand needs and requirements of the customers
and this also enables company to target the right customers. Information technology is one of the
important means through which Tesco can do these activities and promote its brand and products
on the digital platform. Social media platform is also a contribution of information technology.
E-commerce- This is another important role that information technology is playing in Tesco.
Tesco is retail company earlier its products and services were available at its stores but
customers can now its services at online platform. This means that now products of the company
are sold on online platform and this enables Tesco to attract more customers through extended
channels. This is one of the most important role that information technology and its programs are
playing in Tesco.

Ethics and Social Issues of Information Technology in Tesco
Ethical and social issues related to information technology that applies to every business
applies to Tesco as well. But in case of Tesco the major issues of Information Technology are
threat to data and information. This is because Tesco does not only store and process data of the
company and its personal functions. Tesco store and process data and information of its
customers and the information is in different forms such as information enabling their
identification and their financial information. This is why related to Tesco security of data is
important ethical and social issue. In case there is threat to information of Tesco this will impact
security to customer data.
Other than threat to information of the company and its customers another important
ethical and social issue for Tesco is collection of the information of customers from its website
and other resources (Gould, 2019). This means in order to target the customer and accuracy in
attracting customers Tesco collect information of the customers from various sources and this is
a ethical and social issue that applies to Tesco.
Networks and their type in Tesco
There are several types of network that individual and parties and organisations can use.
Among all these types of networks types of networks that are used by Tesco are wide area
network. The form of this is internet which connects devices over longer distance in devices.
This is the network that allows devices and computers to connect remotely even they are miles
apart. This is one of the types of network that is used by Tesco. This enables it to connect to the
rest of the world and share their information and collect information and make most efficient use
of internet and its benefits to the business.
Storage Area Network is another type of network that is being used by Tesco. This type of
network enables company to connect shared pool of storage to several servers. This means that
different servers of the Tesco can share their information and data to shared pool of storage
devices (Hossain and et.al., 2018). This ensures that all the servers can share to this shared pool
and they can also retrieve data and information as per their requirement.

Enterprise Resource Network is another type of network that is used by Tesco, this is built and
owned by Tesco and this ensures that computers and devices can be securely connected to
different locations where Tesco operates.
Intranet and Internet in Tesco
These are parts of Internet and are operated in different forms. This means that intranet is
a system which is privately used unlike internet which is open for use of everyone. Tesco is a big
organisation and this is why there are several reasons that it requires to use intranet and among
all these security is main reason to use intranet.
Some of the uses of Internet in Tesco are opportunity for networking. Networking here refer to
connecting with external parties and people. Information collection and retrieval, this is because
intranet only shares limited data and information. Internet is also being used for selling the
product by the Tesco.
Like internet, intranet also has its importance in Tesco as this fulfils the needs of organisation for
communication needs (Dhanake and et.al., 2018). This also provides space for storing and
processing data and developing data in electronic format. One of the important and big reasons
for using intranet in organisation is security in information and data sharing.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above discussion it can be concluded that information technology which
is extensively being used in present world has its significant importance in business organisation.
The role of Information technology was discussed and they states that these roles extends to all
the functions of the business. These functions are marketing, sales, communication, customer
relations and finances. But this development of technology emerged with its own ethical and
social issues and they are related to safety of data and information stored and shared on
information technology platforms. These issues were also discussed in the report because
businesses when affected with these issues in such case their implications can be severe in
several forms. To use and exercise information technology availability of network is also
important and networks that are used for information technology are of various types and nature.
All type of networks has their different and varied characteristics and their uses also differ on the

basis of their capability to connect with other devices and at particular distance. There are several
types of networks and businesses also use particular type of network so that they can operate
their functions effectively and securely. Later report also discussed about intranet and internet
and these both are important for businesses with their specific roles in carrying out business
functions. Lastly the report also discussed about lifecycle of software development starting from
discussion and analysis of the problems and ending at deployment of software.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bessen, J., 2017. Information technology and industry concentration.
Howell, R., van Beers, C. and Doorn, N., 2018. Value capture and value creation: The role of
information technology in business models for frugal innovations in
Africa. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 131. pp.227-239.
Hanes, D and et.al., 2017. IoT fundamentals: Networking technologies, protocols, and use cases
for the internet of things. Cisco Press.
Jørgensen, K.H., 2019. The meaning of Internet access in Myanmar (Master's thesis, Norwegian
University of Life Sciences, Ås).
Park, K., Park, N. and Heo, W., 2018. Factors Influencing Intranet Acceptance in Restaurant
Industry: Use of Technology Acceptance Model. International Business
Research. 11(10). p.1.
Devadiga, N., 2018. A Case Study on Identifying Software Development Lifecycle and Process
Framework. International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and
Science. 5(7).
Babu, G.C. and Manukonda, S.R., 2018. A Study on Role of Information Technology (IT) in
Retail Business Create Long Term Relationship with Customers. Global Journal of
Management And Business Research.
Gould, C.C., 2019. The information web: Ethical and social implications of computer
networking. Routledge.
Hossain, M.S and et.al., 2018. Advances in next-generation networking technologies for smart
healthcare. IEEE Communications Magazine. 56(4). pp.14-15.
Dhanake, S.A and et.al., 2018. Smart Notification System Using Intranet or Internet.
Guan, P. and Zhou, W., 2017, August. Business analytics generated data brokerage: law, ethical
and social issues. In International Conference on Future Network Systems and
Security (pp. 167-175). Springer, Cham.