Introduction to Information Technology Report

This report analyzes the role of information technology (IT) in the success of Marks & Spencer, a multinational retailer. It examines the impact of IT on various aspects of the business, including customer service, marketing, warehouse management, and financial performance. The report also discusses ethical and social issues faced by the company and analyzes different types of networking technologies used by Marks & Spencer.

Introduction to information
technology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Assessment 1....................................................................................................................................1
Task 1 Explain the classification of computers, with their applications in the real world..........1
Task 2 Importance of the Internet...............................................................................................2
Task 3 Usage of social media......................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
Assessment 2....................................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................4
Role of Information Technology (IT) in the success or failure..................................................4
Ethical and social issues that pertain to running businesses.......................................................5
Identify and differentiate between different types of networking technologies..........................6
Analysis and discussion...................................................................................................................7
Findings............................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

Assessment 1
Covered in PPT
Assessment 2
INTRODUCTION
Information technology is considered as technology which is helpful in storing,
preserving, processing information at work place effectively. Information technology is
beneficial for organisation as it enhances number of opportunities which can be adapted by
company in order to generate maximum profit (Rajaraman, 2018). This report is based on Marks
and Spencer, which is renown multinational retailer of United Kingdom. The assignment
describes about the role of information technology in success or failure of organisation. Various
ethical and social issues which pertains while running businesses. And at last it elaborates about
different types of works networking technologies which are used by organisation.
Literature Review
Role of Information Technology (IT) in the success or failure
According to the point of view ESL, (2013), it can be said that Marks and Spencer have
became a multi channel world from a high street retailer. In this, top management of the
company have focused in using latest updated technology which is helpful in achieving success.
As per evaluation, the company have equipped approximately 1500 iPads with its customer
assistants so that they can easily demonstrate their full range of products to customers at same
time which helps the customer to go through the latest collection of company (CIO interview:
Darrell Stein, IT director, Marks & Spencer. 2013). Along with this, it also encourages
employees to use same websites again in order to check new trendy products which are offered
by Marks and Spencer. It is considered as the effective role of information technology in the
success of Marks and Spencer.
Apart from this, IT also plays crucial role in improving companies financial position. As
it is helpful in gathering from the customers which is further analysed for understanding actual
trends and requirement of customer. It has been observed that Marks and Spencer is using
updated technology for its promotional as well as marketing activities which is successful in
1

reaching or interacting with the massive population in less period of time. This result in
improvement of profitability of company. Marks and Spencer is using big data strategy in order
to connect with maximum number of customer in less time (Venkatesh, Thong and Xu, 2012).
For this, marketing team of the company focuses on storing number and email ID of each
customers during their visit. That is further used by this team for sending and sharing attractive
offers with the customers in off seasons. Here, IT is not only promoting products and services of
company but also aware them about latest products which are now available in their budget. It
directly enhances sales of its products.
It can be said IT is helpful for Marks and Spencer in every department as it beneficial in
saving cost, time and resources of company. In this, IT team of Marks and Spencer manages the
warehouse management system as it operates all the stock of company in effective manner.
Latest updated warehouse system of Marks and Spencer emphasizes on improving its services
which owns the capability of availing next day delivery offer to its customers (Prajogo and
Olhager, 2012). It has build positive image among the customers as they are now getting
products which improves their trust on the company. Along with this, it influences interest of
customers towards the Marks and Spencer.
Ethical and social issues that pertain to running businesses
Every organisation faces ethical as well as social issues while running their business. I
relation to Marks and Spencer, this organisation also faces these kind of issues in performing
their business activities in regular days. Some of ethical issues which are faced by Marks and
Spencer are described as below:
Diversity issues: This kind of ethical issues initiated in Mark and Spencer because of
pool of work force who belongs to different culture. Due to different culture, working employees
of the company are not able to interact with each other effectively. As they are not able share
their issue and topics with each other (Mithas and et. al., 2012). Along with this, it can be said
that issues starts because employees do not belong to same culture. As unfamiliar culture of
employees becomes barrier in their communication which increases level of issues.
Decision making issue: Ethical decision making issue states the situation in which
Marks and Spencer is not able to take right decision that is related to the ethical course in order
to protect right of customers. It is required by management of Marks and Spencer to take fair
decision without being bias to anyone. It can be said that if the company is not taking right
2

decision then it may loose some of its important employees who works desperately for the
company.
A social issue is an issue that has been recognized by society as a problem that is
preventing society from functioning at optimum level. It is important to understand that not all
things that occur in society are raised to the level of social problems. In other words, Social
issues are problems regarding the nature of living in a society.
Resources investment - Convincing shareholders or other financial facilitators to allocate
resources to a program designed to benefit something other than the company's bottom line can
be the first obstacle a successful business must overcome (Kellermann and Jones, 2013). To
power Mark and Spencer leader or an employee, company's manager explain that consumer
buying decisions are influenced by company behaviour. Generally, arranging resource through
several modes is a difficult tasks because at same time, there might be a chance of scarcity or
lack of availability. This is possible that requirements of resources for Mark & Spencer would
varies from time to time.
Environment – Government regulate policies regarding polluting local water, land and
air. Mark and Spencer needs to follow these environmental regulation to keep operating in the
market and avoid huge penalties. Company can avoid these regulatory requirements by having
their goods made overseas in countries that do not have such stringent environmental regulation
(Piotrowicz and Cuthbertson, 2014). Mark and Spencer have opportunities and chances to remain
competitive and stay in business, but do not have any legal licence to function against any
environmental policies of government regulation.
Identify and differentiate between different types of networking technologies
Network technologies are used for transferring and exchanging data by businesses. It has
been identified that there are many types of technologies are available which Marks & Spencer
can use are explained below: Personal area network: It is a computer network around individuals within a building.
Marks & Spencer can use this as it includes telephone, computers, video games and
entertainment devices etc. This is also known as home area network when many
individuals use this within an specific area (Wu, Straub and Liang, 2015). Local area network: It is useful for transferring and sharing resources like printers and
data storages. LAN are of two types small and larger. Small LAN only use two
3

computers and larger LAN can use many computers (Voogt and et. al., 2017). Marks &
Spencer can use this as it has low cost and high speed and it is simplest kind of network.
It is connected to wide areas for speedily transfer of information. Metropolitan area networks: It is larger than LAN and it covers whole city, beyond 100
KM it uses various hardware and media. It creates single networks like cable TV
Network which covers entire city or several LANs. Marks & Spencer can opt this
because security and standardisation are two main components of MAN. It mainly
connects large number of local area networks by using fiber-optical links and high-
capacity technologies. Wider area networks: It is used for telecommunication and it connects LANs around
word. Marks & Spencer can adapt it as this network has slowest data communication and
covers larger distances (Xiang, Magnini and Fesenmaier, 2015). Devices are connected
with public networks and from satellites. This is very expensive network. Internet is the
examp0le of wide area networks.
Difference between network technologies
Personal area network Local area network
 It covers very small area like a small
room
 It covers local area like office, home
etc.
 It is used for short distance and low rate
of data.
 It is use to transfer data at a high speed.
Metropolitan area networks Wider area networks
 It covers large demographic area like
city and towns.
 It connects with larger area like
countries.
 Moderate data transfer speed.  Low data sharing speed.
4

Analysis and discussion
As per above mentioned topics, it has been analysed that information technology is
beneficial for the organisation as it helps them in performing their operational work effectively .
Along with this, it also simplifies the way of communication which contributes in
communicating with customers at regular interval. It has been seen that Marks and Spencer is
using updated technology in every technology which results positively in the growth of
company. As the company has availed iPads to its marketing employees who are interacting with
customers for promoting products. This have helped in increasing interest of customers in
products of Marks and Spencer. AS, customers assistant officers were using these equipped iPad
for showing them latest which collection. This use IT is beneficial for the organisation. As it has
enhanced sales of products.
In addition to this, it can be said that Marks and Spencer is considering all the major
ethical as well as social issues which occurred while running the business. As this organisation is
a set of huge number of employees who belongs to different- different culture. This might also
differ in the ethical values of employees which might result into the initiation of problems at
workplace. It has been observed that Marks and Spencer is giving preference to each and every
employees while taking effective and right decision at work place. It is beneficial in improving
trust of employees on the company that encourages them to give their best to the company. It
improves their performances and ultimately goals and objective of organisation are achieved in
less period of time.
Rather than this, it has been observed that here are different types of networks which are
used by Marks and Spencer in order to connect their employees as well as business with each
other effectively. These networks enable employees of Marks and Spencer to communicate with
each other so that operational work of the company can be monitored and controlled properly. It
also stores all the data of Marks and Spencer safely so that it can be used again whenever it is
needed.
Findings
As per the, it has been found out that information technology is beneficial for
organisation as it helps in increasing number of opportunities at market place. It can be said that
Marks and Spencer has reached success by using information technology as it has converted high
street retailer into the world wide store. It has been also evaluated that information technology
5

has developed communication channel which is helpful for organisation in reaching to maximum
of its customers. These communication channel are helpful in promoting products of Marks and
Spencer which directly influences interest of customers over the products. It has been seen that
there are number of ethical and social issues which are faced by organisation. These affects
growth of the company and also disturbs working environment of the company. In order to
overcome these issues it is required by management of company to take free and fair decision at
workplace. It has been identified that Marks and Spencer is using different types of effective
networks in order to maintain proper communication at all the stores of the company.
Conclusion
As per the above mentioned report it has been evaluated that information technology is
beneficial in the growth of company as it helps in enhancing number of opportunities for the
organisation. It can be said that effective usage of information technology leads to success as it
improves the working pattern of employees. There are number of ethical and social issues faced
by organisation which are required to be overcome in order to minimise its effect. It has been
analysed that there are different type of networks which are used companies so that they can
monitor whole technology effectively.
6

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Rajaraman, V., 2018. Introduction to information Technology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
ESL, I., 2012. Introduction to Information Technology. Pearson Education India.
Dahlstrom, E., and Dziuban, C., 2013. ECAR study of undergraduate students and information
technology. 2013.
Venkatesh, V., Thong, J. Y. and Xu, X., 2012. Consumer acceptance and use of information
technology: extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. MIS
quarterly, pp.157-178.
Prajogo, D. and Olhager, J., 2012. Supply chain integration and performance: The effects of
long-term relationships, information technology and sharing, and logistics integration.
International Journal of Production Economics. 135(1). pp.514-522.
Mithas, S., and et. al., 2012. Information technology and firm profitability: mechanisms and
empirical evidence. Mis Quarterly, pp.205-224.
Kellermann, A. L. and Jones, S. S., 2013. What it will take to achieve the as-yet-unfulfilled
promises of health information technology. Health affairs. 32(1). pp.63-68.
Piotrowicz, W. and Cuthbertson, R., 2014. Introduction to the special issue information
technology in retail: Toward omnichannel retailing. International Journal of Electronic
Commerce. 18(4). pp.5-16.
Voogt, J., and et. al., 2017, March. The International Handbook of Information Technology in
Primary and Secondary Education: Part 2. In society for Information Technology &
Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1082-1085). Association for the
Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
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.
Wu, S. P. J., Straub, D. W. and Liang, T. P., 2015. How information technology governance
mechanisms and strategic alignment influence organizational performance: Insights
from a matched survey of business and IT managers. Mis Quarterly. 39(2). pp.497-518.
Bloom, N., and et. al., 2014. The distinct effects of information technology and communication
technology on firm organization. Management Science. 60(12). pp.2859-2885.
Online
CIO interview: Darrell Stein, IT director, Marks & Spencer. 2013. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240179873/CIO-interview-Darrell-Stein-IT-
director-Marks-and-Spencer>
7