Introduction to Information Technology in Business: A Case Study of Walmart

This study explores the importance of information technology in business through a case study of Walmart. It covers different types of software used by companies, ethical and social issues in running businesses, impact of Internet and Intranet on businesses, and the role of IT in organisational management.

Introduction to
Information Technology

ABSTRACT
The study is based in introduction of information technology in a company. It is key
component in many companies as it assists in carrying out practices as well as achieving
objectives smoothly. Improvements in productivity along with efficiency through technology is
major focus of any company. For this project, secondary research is selected for collecting
information from various sources. Walmart is a retailer which has incorporated information
technology in its functioning.
The study focuses on various software used in business along with significance of ethical
and social issues n running enterprise. It also highlight impact of Internet and Intranet on
businesses addition to role of information technology in organisational management.

Contents
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................2
Contents...........................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
Different kinds of software which could be used by companies.................................................1
Ethical along with social issues are increasingly becoming significant in digital world.
Identification along with importance of them for running of organisations................................3
Information addition to Communication technology makes a business concern more effective
as well as efficient in responding towards needs of customers. Discussion of impacts on
Intranet and Internet on businesses..............................................................................................4
Discussion of role of IT in assisting managers for business management..................................6
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................7
Potential benefits along with drawbacks in making investment in Information Technology.....7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is described to a term which comprises all kinds of techniques that
are used for creating, storing, exchanging together with utilising information in ample number of
forms comprising conversation, motion pictures, business data and multimedia presentations
(Benitez, Llorens and Braojos, 2018). It acts as building communication network for an
establishment that create and administer databases, safeguard data and information, assist
workforce to troubleshoot issues with computers or other devices for ensuring smooth
functioning of enterprise. It analyses particular data as well as assist to plan organisational
journey accordingly through trends and information that are presented in data. It equips
businesses with abundant tools for solving challenging obstacles as well as plat future
entrepreneurial growth. To gain insights about introduction to information technology, Walmart
is taken into consideration. It is retail corporation which operates chain of supercentres, grocery
stores and discount department stores. It has approximate of 10593 stores along with clubs in
around 24 countries.
The report reviews literature related to types of software which could be used by
establishments, importance of social and ethical issues in running businesses, impact of Internet
and Intranet in company as well as role of IT in organisational management.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Different kinds of software which could be used by companies
According to Ullah (2020), All size of business need software for assisting automate
complex processes which are costly and time consuming in nature (Ullah, 2020). Software are
termed to set of computer programs which are used by workforce for performing business
functions. With varied software, managers of Walmart are able to enhance productivity together
with perform other functions in accurate manner. When used effectively, software reduces
workload of employees and automates corporate practices. Mentioned below are different types
of software that can be used by managers of Walmart:
Audit management software: A software which streamlines audit processes of company
and comply with internal policies as well as regulations is termed to audit management software.
In Walmart, managers can use audit management software for defining, executing together with
monitoring auditing procedures for ample number of purposes, for example, environmental
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protection, health and safety. It can provide well detailed performance reviews that could permit
team managers for working on immediate addition to long term solutions to issues (Al-Sartawi,
2020).
Training management software: A software which is intended for simplification of
training management process related to employees is termed to training management software. It
is cost effective software having characteristics which ensure easy database management
concerned with workforce, effective training schedules as well as accurate training records. In
context to Walmart, managers can use training management software in order to monitor
certifications and qualifications of each employee for becoming aware about upcoming
expirations. It assists in locating, updating addition to cross referencing training information of
personnel which keep all in information loop.
Quality management software: It is a software used with the aim of quality management,
process improvement as well as compliance. The software when used in Walmart can help in
sorting and filtering data easily, assign people into groups that are based on job functions and run
searches across all records in system with simple search. With this software, the retailer can
automate procedures associated to tracking addition to controlling defects in products. Moreover,
it can be used by the company for checking final quality as well as ensuring effective
improvements in production, practices along with revenues.
Issue management software: The software that serves as centralised location for all
information related to issues or problems which can arise in business and documents all
processes that are undertaken prior occurrence of issue addition to proffer solutions is named as
Issue management software (Wang, Sigerson and Cheng, 2019). In case with Walmart, use of the
software can help managers in identification of problem areas, assign people to solve it, offer
corrective practices and keeping proper track of accurate actions which have been taken for
providing detailed reference about future purposes addition to preventing similar repeating.
Total quality management software: It is designed for assisting organisational managers
will all phases of operations to offering top level of quality performances. When administration
of Walmart uses total quality management software, they can bring long term success by
satisfying customers with top quality of products and impact positively on workforce to perform
better. It can also provide for supplier quality management, document management and hence
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forth. It is required in all divisions or functional units of the retailer for participation in ongoing
efforts related to quality improvement.
With usage of mentioned software, managers of Walmart can simplify decision making,
improve data security, increase sales potential, enhance analysis, increase productivity and
provide better customer services. Through distinct types of software, it becomes easy for staff
members to automate tasks, report progresses along with analyse lags in operational activities.
Ethical along with social issues are increasingly becoming significant in digital world.
Identification along with importance of them for running of organisations
In a company, ethical issues are those problems that arises when a given decision, activity
or scenario results in disputes with moral principles associated to society. While social issues are
challenges recognised by society as issue which prevents from functioning in optimal level. In
accordance to Schroeder (2020), in a corporate, social and ethical issues are important as they
promote integrity among workforce addition to gain trust from key stakeholders, for example,
consumers as well as investors (Schroeder, 2020). Unethical accounting, abuse of leadership
authority, privacy, corporate espionage and so on are some of ethical and social issues that are
faced by managers of Walmart while carrying out business practices. In aspect to Walmart,
mentioned below are some of importance of social and ethical issues in running the company:
Build positive culture: Ethical and social issues are important for running an establishment
as it builds positive culture. An organisation, for example, Walmart devote resources so to
develop policies together with procedures which encourages actions for minimising ethical and
social issues leads to building positive business culture for effective functioning of company.
Members of team improves morale through taking actions against social and ethical issues to
make workforce protected from retaliation of beliefs (De Stefano, Bagdadli and Camuffo, 2018).
When staff members feel good and complete practices ethically, the overall feel at workplace is
more positive. It breeds loyalty and productivity of corporate due to ethical functioning of
employees.
Benefits bottom line: Issues related to ethics and society are important in running of an
entity as it benefits bottom line through improving profitability. Ethical issues cultivate trust that
strengthens brand together with enhance sales of organisational products and services. In aspect
to Walmart, customers care about contribution of managers for ethical and social issues and stop
purchasing services when perceive that the company continue working unethically. With clear
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communication of ethical practices and social responsibility, Walmart is likely to see spending
from consumers and returning again and again that drives profitability.
Improves organisational reputation: Ethical and social issues are important in running an
establishment as they improve organisational reputation to great extent (Schönborn and Et. Al.,
2019). For example, reputation of Walmart for ethical and social complexities help in creating
more positive image in marketplace that brings potential customers due to word of mouth
referrals. On the other hand, reputation of company for unethical practices hurts organisational
likelihoods for obtaining new target audience, specifically, in age of digital world when
dissatisfied customers fastly disseminate information concerned with negative experiences of
social issues.
In digital world, social and ethical issues play significant role in an organisation, for
example, Walmart. It aids the establishment to lead greater productivity that impacts the ways of
achieving profitability for smooth running in digital world (Cantele and Zardini, 2018).
Information addition to Communication technology makes a business concern more effective as
well as efficient in responding towards needs of customers. Discussion of impacts on
Intranet and Internet on businesses
Information and communication technology improves engagement of customer along with
knowledge retention. An organisation makes use of information and communication technology
so to provide assistance to target audiences for using information. It is concerned with storage,
retrieval as well as transmission of digital data. Within Walmart, information and communication
technology assist in improving communication processes with target customers and meeting their
needs. In this aspect, use of internet and intranet have huge impact on business of Walmart.
Heath (2017) says that Internet has revolutionised the ways in which businesses are
conducted to meet needs of customers and assists in creating more efficient market. With
Internet, global marketplace for a company is more connected, diverse, accessible and inclusive.
In aspect to Walmart, some of impacts of Internet on the business are as discussed:
Communication more rapidly and easily: Internet has made things easier for business
communication. In aspect to Walmart, Internet has impacted in making communication more
easily and rapidly with target customers. At the time of interacting with people or responding
towards queries of customers, internet offers ample solutions so to optimise day to day workflow
together with communication. Ranging from connected calendars, chat services, E-mails and
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cloud phone systems, Internet has offered various tools that are designed with the purpose of
improving business communication internally and externally (Viriyasitavat, Anuphaptrirong and
Hoonsopon, 2019). With high speed Internet, superiors and subordinates of Walmart are able to
deliver instant messages to customers, optimise day to day tasks with no efforts and connect with
people that reside at long distance places. Moreover, teamwork hubs, chatbots, social media
platforms and VoIP phone systems, all ate emerged due to Internet technology that helps in
effective communication of company to drive business forward.
Learn about trends: Evolution of Internet has impacted on business through assisting in
learning about trends which have possibilities to affect working, discover products which can
improve services, observe consumer behaviour and increase knowledge about industry. In
association to Walmart, amount of information addition to reviews related to businesses and
industry on Internet impacts on making consumers more comfortable and in control while
devising decision making. It enhances rate of decision making by learning about trends and
carrying out productive practices.
Accessible: Advent of Internet resulted in presence of establishments globally. In a
business, Internet impacts by bridging gap among organisation and consumers. In context to
Walmart, Internet impacts positively as it fosters accessible of organisational offerings to
consumers at worldwide level. It impacts by making exchange of transaction more open and
transparent. Through Internet, consumers connect with the company, access products and
services, ask pertinent questions, obtain support as well as offer suggestions. It impacts in
enhancing customer satisfaction together with enable further expansion that improves
profitability of company.
In accordance to Priscott (2022) Intranet is powerful tool for businesses as it facilitates
collaboration, communication along with information sharing internally. It permits organisation
for building private and secure network which is accessed by employees of workplace. Discussed
below are major impacts of Intranet on business of Walmart:
Create recognition mindset: In a company, recognition along with rewards are made
prominent across intranet for demonstration of great culture of work in the workforce are values
as well as rewarded for performing best. In Walmart, intranet impacts by highlighting all great
work which are not went unnoticed that in turn provides effective example to all staff members
contributing to creating really positive mindset among colleagues.
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Connecting entire business: For other locations of an establishment, becoming siloed as
well as disconnecting from team can be easy. In Walmart, Intranet impacts by allowing
conversations or exchange of information to take place in which all personnel are able to access
together with engage assisting in bringing multi location all together. It also impacts in a
business through enabling teams to carry out working collectively and simultaneously for
achieving great results.
Easy employee engagement: Modern and well-designed corporate intranet impacts by
transforming employee experiences towards promoting innovation, connection, efficiency and
growth that are key components for engaged workforce (Funk, 2018). In Walmart, Intranet is
becoming go to place in which people are connecting with colleagues addition to initiate two
way communications with staff members all overt company. It makes workforce engaged which
contribute in increasing productivity, morale and innovation in the company.
Reinforce brand as well as value: For a business, intranet is appropriate platform for
reinforcing values. Intranet provides ample number of ways so to put values of the establishment
upfront. In context to Walmart, Intranet impacts by reinforcing brand and values through
recognising personnel which live at values of company and facilitates sharing of suitable web
article which is significant for enhancing values. It also facilitates manpower to share certain
values which they encounter at workplace.
Discussion of role of IT in assisting managers for business management
de Mattos, Kissimoto and Laurindo (2018) says that Information technology plays a crucial
role in managing businesses and help managers (de Mattos, Kissimoto and Laurindo, 2018). It is
beneficial for organisations to enhance their ability for producing more with improved quality in
order to attain customer satisfaction. It assists managers in enhancing their effectiveness and
increasing their competitiveness as well as flexibility simultaneously. Varied ways in which
information technology help managers in managing their business operations in relevance with
Walmart are mentioned below:
Making a greater reach- Information Technology aid managers in making their reach to
massive number of customers on a global level. With the help of mobile applications and e-
commerce platforms, Walmart is able to reach a large network of customers. In recent years,
Walmart has launched their mobile application regarding their grocery business called 'Alphabot'
(Walmart just unveiled a new technology that could help defend its position as America’s largest
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grocer, 2020). It is designed in such a way whereby shoppers can give and receive their orders in
a faster manner at their door step. Through this practice, managers of Walmart can better manage
diverse needs of their customers as well as keep them satisfied. Through their mobile application,
managers of Walmart can forecast diverse demands of their customers.
Help of artificial intelligence- Artificial intelligence plays an important role in managing
the business in an effective manner. Managers of Walmart also use artificial intelligence in order
to make their website and mobile applications more viable. With the help of artificial
intelligence, they can gather extensive data of their existing customers and also provide them
recommendations regarding their new products. With the help of this, managers at Walmart can
make efficient decisions in relation to frame marketing strategies for engaging their customers
with their brand. This practice led them to retain their existing employees with them for a longer
period of time.
As per Ryan (2021), Walmart has implemented SUSE Linus enterprise which is an open-
source operating system (Ryan, 2021). These systems are highly robust and help managers of
Walmart in managing their physical stores in an effective manner. Even IT team of Walmart are
working on developing mPOS which can be operated through mobile very easily.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Potential benefits along with drawbacks in making investment in Information Technology
In a company, when manages devise decision to make investment on Information
technology, it brings various benefits and drawbacks. In association to Walmart, it has been
analysed that investment in information technology benefits by allowing business in expansion
together with attaining successful milestones in more easy manner. With technological
investment, a company is able to adopt various advanced techniques which makes working of
employee easy contributing to employee success (Saldanha, Lee and Mithas, 2020).
Furthermore, investment in technology helps company to avoid becoming obsolete as there are
competitors that leverage information technology. Through technological investment or
modernising systems, Walmart is able to practice business to stay relevant. New technologies are
significant for boosting corporate culture. In a company, mindful handling transitions for
investing in information technology benefits in implementing to go more smoothly.
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There are various drawbacks related to investment on information technology to a
company. Making investment in information technology requires huge time and money. In
context to Walmart, investment in information technology requires huge financial resources that
leads to a costly investment decision. When embarking on significant investment on information
technology, businesses remain cognizant of risks associated to intelligent automation that
engrosses insufficient cybersecurity, skill gaps, lack of processes of change management,
business disruption and inconsistent developer training.
CONCLUSION
In accordance to reviews of literature, it is concluded that information technology is
associated to building communication networks for business concerns, devise and administer
databases as well as safeguard organisational data and information. In a company, kinds of
software which could be used includes audit management software, quality management
software, total quality management software, training management software and issue
management software. Importance of ethical and social issues in organisational running are build
positive culture, benefits bottom line and improves organisational reputation. Communication
more rapidly and easily, learn about trends and accessibility are impacts of Internet, while,
creating recognition mindset, connecting entire business, easy employee engagement and
reinforce brand as well as value are impacts of Intranet on business. Making a greater reach and
help of artificial intelligence are some of role of IT in assisting managers for business
management.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Al-Sartawi, A. M. M., 2020. Information technology governance and cybersecurity at the board
level. International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 16(2), pp.150-161.
Benitez, J., Llorens, J. and Braojos, J., 2018. How information technology influences opportunity
exploration and exploitation firm’s capabilities. Information & Management. 55(4).
pp.508-523.
Cantele, S. and Zardini, A., 2018. Is sustainability a competitive advantage for small businesses?
An empirical analysis of possible mediators in the sustainability–financial performance
relationship. Journal of cleaner production. 182. pp.166-176.
de Mattos, C. A., Kissimoto, K. O. and Laurindo, F. J. B., 2018. The role of information
technology for building virtual environments to integrate crowdsourcing mechanisms
into the open innovation process. Technological forecasting and social change. 129.
pp.143-153.
De Stefano, F., Bagdadli, S. and Camuffo, A., 2018. The HR role in corporate social
responsibility and sustainability: A boundary‐shifting literature review. Human
Resource Management. 57(2). pp.549-566.
Funk, M., 2018, January. Designing the fog: towards an intranet of things. In 6th Workshop on
Interacting with Smart Objects (SmartObjects 2018) (pp. 31-38). CEUR-WS. org.
Saldanha, T.J., Lee, D. and Mithas, S., 2020. Aligning information technology and business: the
differential effects of alignment during investment planning, delivery, and
change. Information Systems Research. 31(4). pp.1260-1281.
Schönborn, G. and Et. Al., 2019. Why social sustainability counts: The impact of corporate
social sustainability culture on financial success. Sustainable Production and
Consumption. 17. pp.1-10.
Viriyasitavat, W., Anuphaptrirong, T. and Hoonsopon, D., 2019. When blockchain meets
Internet of Things: Characteristics, challenges, and business opportunities. Journal of
industrial information integration. 15. pp.21-28.
Wang, H. Y., Sigerson, L. and Cheng, C., 2019. Digital nativity and information technology
addiction: Age cohort versus individual difference approaches. Computers in Human
Behavior. 90. pp.1-9.
Online:
Heath. D. 2017. What Are the Positive Effects of the Internet on Business. [Online]. Available
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Priscott. A. 2022. Positive impacts of Great Intranet. [Online]. Available through: <
https://insights.perspicuity.co.uk/5-positive-impacts-of-a-great-intranet>
Ryan, 2021. What POS System Does Walmart Use. [Online] Available through:
<https://therisesmb.com/what-pos-system-does-walmart-use/>
Schroeder. K. 2020. Reasons Why Business Ethics Is Important. [Online]. Available through:
<redlands.edu/study/schools-and-centers/business/sbblog/2019/may-2019/3-reasons-why-
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business-ethics-important/#:~:text=Business%20ethics%20enhances%20the
%20law,become%20common%2C%20the%20quality%20varies.
Ullah. S. 2020. What types of software are helpful for large businesses. [Online]. Available
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businesses/
Walmart just unveiled a new technology that could help defend its position as America’s largest
grocer. 2020. [Online] Available through: <https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/08/walmart-
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