Information Technology in Business Operations: A Case Study of Tesco

This report analyzes the impact of information technology on business operations using Tesco as a case study. It discusses different types of software, ethical and social issues, and the role of IT in managing business operations.

INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT
The report states different types of software and important software under the context of
Tesco's operations. Tesco is a large organization which uses technological advancements. Report
mentions that there are various ethical and social issues in the digital world such as cyber crime,
it is very important to deal with them in order to run the smooth operations. ICT makes a
business more efficient in attending the customer needs such as internet and intranet are creating
rapid positive changes in the business. Also, IT helps in managing the business well, due to the
capacity of automatization of the various business processes.
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
The report of information technology will comprehensively analyse how information
technology supports the business and contributions that IT has made in the business operations.
Different kinds of software and the most important among them will be thoroughly discussed
using the sources and author's study. Further report will deeply analyse various ethical and social
issues that are becoming vital in the digital world and that becoming very important in running
the business. Also, report will depict the impact of internet and intranet on the businesses as it
makes a business more efficient and effective in understanding the customer needs.
At last vital role of information technology in helping managers to manage the business
operation in advanced manner will be brought to light. The report will be given in a literature
review formate along with a detailed analysis & discussion which will elaborate different sources
to derive the credible information and knowledge. Organization takes for the report is Tesco
which is the largest super market chain in UK. Tesco is constantly using information technology
advancement in the business to enhance the overall business operations (Chege and Wang,
2020).
LITERATURE REVIEW
According to the Mellblom (2019),Software is set of data, Programs and instructions used
to operate execute specific task and computers in retail industry. Software is opposite to the
hardware. It used to refer to the programs, applications and scripts that helps in run on the
device. There are various types of software in information technology such as system software,
application software, programming software. In the context of application software, it is the
computer software package that perform the most specific functions for the application users. It
includes the graphic software, image editors and communication platforms. In the aspects on
system software, it designs to run the computer application and it coordinates the functions and
activities of the software and hardware. Operating software is system software because it
controls the operations of computer hardware. Author also stated that programming software are
computer programmers sue the programming software to write the code. Compliers, assemblers
and debuggers and interpreters are some examples of programming software.
Kondo (2020) discussed that operating system software is most important for system
software package because every computer is run under the control of operating system. It
controls all the resources of the computer systems and it assigns the required hardware to

computers. It also assigns the importance of output and inputs devices. It helps in build the block
to run the business and key to methods and processes. Operating system software is important
because it helps in manage the processes and memory as well as allow business to communicate
with computer. Author stated that there are various types of software such as Linux, Microsoft
windows and MacOS. There are various benefits of the digital business operating systems
because it helps in increase the customer satisfaction due to reduce human errors. It helps in
develop business more agile and improve the communication process as well as encourage the
collaborations so, it is most important software. Operating system are also influenced the various
sectors such as transportation, healthcare. Education, retail and communication sector for use
their grow rapidly and also widely throughout the world. It is very difficult for business to
service without computer and their software because it is modern world and so adopted the
operating system's usage either indirectly and directly.
Sharma and Kumar (2020) stated that software cannot exit the Independent of hardware
because hardware and software not are dependent on each other. The solution supports includes
the hardware for the payments terminals and it also supports to the mobile devices. Both must be
work together that computer able to produce the useful output. Software cannot be used without
the support of hardware. Hardware cannot be used without support of software thus, it is useless.
Both are different from each other but both are required one another in order to functions. For
example: the hardware is phone and their software are operating system and its apps so, the
hardware require software to tell that to do or instructions. Moreover, the software are required
to give instruction and hardware require functioning properly. Hardware and software both are
important for proper functioning of computer system.
As per Bearman, Dawson and Tai (2020), modern day business dynamics are totally
dependent on the use of various information technology advancements. While adapting such
advancement to make the business processes efficient and effective a business faces various
issues such as ethical and social which hinders the smooth business operations. Most dominant
technologies such as internet of things, biometrics, robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality
and digital platforms are bringing versatile social and ethical problems such threat to privacy,
data mining, unauthorized monitoring, sensitive information leak, misuse of consent,
manipulation of rights etc.

According to Kenwright (2018), a business needs to maintain the morality and ethics
while conducting business processes as it failure to do so can negatively impact the business in
the long term. It is important for a business to ask for the consent before using the information of
the customer or people, to not a lot the customer data to third party use which can breach the
privacy of the customers etc. Ethical issue of misuse of personal information, as people brows
the internet sites, purchase online, enter personal information and participate in online social
media, sites collect their data to enhance the user experience and customize the same. This
results in hampering the right to privacy of the individual. Tesco is a multinational organization
which keeps a large data base of the customers yet it constantly takes consent of the customers to
collect and use the data. As failure to ask for the consent can result in legal implications on the
business.
Dennis and Harrison (2021), states that customers must be given right to cancel their
subscription or cancel their consent regarding the use of the data. As many times customers are
tired of seeing advertisements and notifications from a brand, and they want to erase their data
from the brand database, they must be given a right to erase their information and cancel their
consent to use the data. This right ensures the ethical and moral compliance of the regulations
where business is mindful of customers liking and disliking. Space must be given to the customer
to make a choice regarding the data uses. Many times these brands compromise the personal
information of the users by giving the data to the third party which can utilize the customer data
for the respective purposes. Business operations needs to consider the safety of the customers
and must take respective measures which can bring safety to the customers' data.
As per Gejing and Yang (2019), information and communication technology brings
efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the customer needs. Advancement in ICT has enabled
many platforms, software and tools which can help understand the customer's behaviour, buying
pattern, habits, lifestyle and preference which makes it easy for the business to serve the
customers accordingly. Tesco uses GeoDirectory as its customer database which makes it
immune to understand the customers and serve them in a better way. In the modern era
businesses are customer oriented and ICT has enhances the effectiveness of the business in
addressing the needs of the customers.
Luo 2021, states that intranet and internet has been the greatest boon to the businesses as
it has simplified the global operation if the business by enabling the greatest sources of

communication via internet. Intranet a system of computers in an organization which enables
working together by making it possible for employees to look at the same data and share
information with each other. It is considered as a safe and private network within an organization
which makes employees work effectively by communicating the information. On the other hand
internet allows various business process to run extensively by incorporating the online websites,
networks, and global business environment working. Tesco is a multinational company which
runs at different location and internet helps the business to stand together and work towards the
fulfilment of the organizational goal as whole. Internet supports business expansions, online
selling, monitoring, customer database.
According to Çora (2018), intranet and internet has several negative and positive impact
on the business. Internet has simplifies the communication for the business which has a positive
impact. Also, the concept shopping 24×7 has been supported by the internet only. Intranet
provides an enterprise's digital communication needs which positively support the business
practices. It also offers a secure place of accessing developing and storing the electronic material
& data. Using intranets in order to replace older or previous business solutions can make huge
gains in efficiency by speeding up advancements and minimizing errors. Yet there are negative
impacts in terms of the cyber attacks which makes the data and business vulnerable, risk of
hacking and virus is also caused of the internet only. There is a severe risk of misuse of personal
data of the customers due to internet and its advancements.
Saeidi and et.al., (2019), information technology is giving different directions to the
managers to manage the business, which are touching the new heights of success. In the old
times managers in the business used to work manually which used to take a lot of time and
resources. Information technology has been acting as a solution to change the game of managing
the various business practices and operations mainly by bring the automatization of the different
business process which makes the business thrive. One of the most important role IT plays is risk
analysis. Manager needs to analyse the risk that are attached with the business and IT has
developed much software which help business consonantly analyse the risk or potential risk
under each business activity and operation.
As per the findings of Benitez, Llorens and Braojos (2018), functionality of managers has
become aligned due to information technology's incorporation in the business which has
streamlined the communication and co-ordination of the various operational activities in the

business. Tesco has multiple departments in the organization such as marketing, sales,
productions, operation. Human resources, finance etc. each department has separate managers
which ultimately reports to the manager of the organization. The job role of the managers
demands them to be available 24×7 in case of any process failure, further it is also required of
them to monitor each activity in the department as they are held accountable for each output of
the activity. Such crucial and complex job role has been made easy with the technological
advancement in the business. Tesco has adapted multiple software solution which are
automatizing the process and making it easy for the mangers to monitor and work towards
multiple task simultaneously. This thing has been proven top be a boon for the managers.
According to Antoni, Jie and Abareshi (2020), managers are the vital members in the
organization who takes the accountability for different activities and process, IT helps them
become more productive, save resources, optimum utilization of resources, enhance decision-
making, deliver customer experience and streamline communications. Information and
communication technology has enabled managers to take effective and efficient business
decisions by undertaking various constraints and objectives at a single time. Also, the function of
monitoring the risk and its management has been highly backed by the technologically driven
solutions in the business. Deciding the factors like cost and budget allocation is duly decided
within the software which makes it easy for managers to even track the resources and its
utilization.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
In current times information technology is backing each and every industry whether it is a
retail industry, manufacturing industry etc. there has been several technological advancement
which have flooded the market and are acting as a solution to many business problems. Not only
it is enhancing the user experience but also acting as a mode of innovation. There are various
types of software which are used in business among which the most famous one are application,
system, driver, middle ware and programming software. This software is making the complex
work very simple and are constantly supporting the business by enhancing the solution based
dynamics. Tesco is a super market retail in the UK using operating software in the business.
Operating software manages the input and output of the business, company has been
enabling various services and feature via operating software such as the customer database which
is stores as a GeoDirectory in the central system. Further it has optimized the business processes

such as customer experience, quality services offering etc. majorly it has been observed from the
literature review that process management in the organization has been really improvement
because of the information technology software which makes the entire business process very
fluent and connected. Software atomizes the multiple business process simultaneously which
makes a business very efficient of conducting different task and manage business in a better way.
Business organizations are responsible for making the information technology have a
positive impact on the society a whole. Customers must not suffer due to the extreme business
advancements which a layman may not understand and becomes trapped into the same. UK's law
precisely mentions very important rules and regulation which are supposed to be maintained and
abided by the organization while incorporating the technology in the business. Major ethical and
social issues in the business are regarding the privacy of information, consent of user, rights of
users, data mining, data sharing and processing. Tesco keeps a large data base of the customer
which has customer information such as name, age, gender, buying patterns, buying behaviour,
habits, likings, income group, lifestyle etc. it makes business serve its customer in a customized
manner which increase the customer quality service sand delivers the ultimate satisfaction to the
customers.
Yet it is the duty of the company to take prior consent from the customers regarding data
collection and data use. Also, customers must be made aware of their rights regarding the erasing
of data from the system. And their right to pull the legal strings in case of data is shared to
another party which may result into breach of privacy hence facing the legal implications. These
are the ethical and social responsibility of the business to mitigate the issues of ethics and social
by following the moral practices which enhance the business of the organization. As practising
such process of consent taking, offering awareness of rights will improve the brand image of the
business and business will thrive on its information technology edge for the years to come.
ICT is considered to be the concerned with all the types of digital data storage that
retrieval and transmission of the business. ICT has been considered to be the factor that helps in
the making the business more efficient, effective and promptly responding to the customer’s
needs. It is considered to be assisting the business and its activities in inclusion of design and
manufacturing (Ursu, 2019). In ICT there are different types of internet connection which is said
to be internet and intranet. Internet is considered to be the globally connected network of the
computers that enables people to share information and communication with other individuals.

Intranet on the other hand is said to be a private and internal network that allows people to store,
organize and share information within an organization. Utilization of internet is done for the
social media, communication and other general factor for the business that allows the business to
gain the success that is required. However, Intranet has been considered to be the factor that is
supposed to use the intranet every day for the management of work. It is the sense of meaning
for the employees that helps the employees or its members. It allows the business to create new
content through use of tool for publishing content and communication. The people which are
employed in the deploying of work are also able to use intranet for their solutions.
The role of IT in a business has been seen as the best way of becoming more productive
towards increasing the performance, saving money and improving the customer’s experiences. It
helps in the streamline communication and enhancing the managerial decision making for the
business managers. It also has the role of helping the organization expand their global business
through providing the staff access to the company information and wherever they are required. It
has been seen to increase the organizational communication for important use of technology in
the business. It allows the managers to connect with each other through virtual meetings. These
are considered to be having the more efficiency in the daily operations which is important for the
improving the efficiency of the operations. It helps the enterprise to software to be centralized
company database which helps in getting the business to count and monitor inventory,
companies and use the inventory management software that check real time level. It helps in
providing helpful reports for the management to even trigger order to supply. CRM is considered
to be the automated common sales and marketing for the generation of the leads, sending
promotions and tracking metrics. In order to develop better customer experiences. It is able to
improve the customer’s services through easier customized marketing and ecommerce. Some of
the other roles of IT include the secure entry systems and wireless cameras that help in
improving business security and reduction of risks. IT also allows in storing important company
data in the data base in the form of cloud such that paper is not wasted and the data can be easy
to backup.
CONCLUSION
The above literature review has undertaken various sources to establish a clear
understanding of the information technology and how it is enhancing the business dynamics in
the Tesco organization. Different software has been explained in the context of business. Further

ethical and social issues which plays vital role in digital business has been explained well. Also,
ICT's capability to understand the consumer needs and respond to customer’s needs has been
elaborated in detail. At last role of information technology in managing the business has been
illustrated. A detailed analysis and discussion has been mentioned to explain the different topics
of the report.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
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for enhancing firm's environmental performance: case of Indonesian ICT sector.
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Ethical and social impacts. Re-imagining University Assessment in a Digital World,
pp.23-36.
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exploration and exploitation firm’s capabilities. Information & Management. 55(4).
pp.508-523.
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creation by SMEs in developing countries: an analysis of the literature review.
Technology Analysis & Strategic Management. 32(3). pp.256-271.
Çora, H., 2018. Commerce on Internet. International Journal of Business Perspectives & Social
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technology and virtue education. Journal of Moral Education. 50(3). pp.251-266.
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Kenwright, B., 2018. Virtual reality: ethical challenges and dangers [opinion]. IEEE Technology
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telescope using Robot Operating System. In Software and Cyberinfrastructure for
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Luo, C., 2021. Internet enterprise organization strategy based on FPGA and machine learning.
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by moderating role of information technology. Computer standards & interfaces. 63.
pp.67-82.
Sharma, B.B. and Kumar, N., 2020. Internet of things-based hardware and software for smart
agriculture: A review. Proceedings of ICRIC 2019, pp.151-157.
Ursu, O., 2019. LANGUAGE SKILLS ENHANCEMENT AND THE USE OF ICT--A
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