Introduction to Information Technology

This document provides an introduction to information technology, focusing on its role in business success, issues related to running an organization, networking technologies, and the importance of internet and intranet in business.

Introduction to
Information
Technology

ABSTRACT
Project of introduction to information technology is based on Tesco which is leading retailer
in UK having diverse product portfolio. Objective of the entity is work as champion for
customers and helping them to enjoy a better quality of life addition to an easier way of living.
Information technology refers to building communications networks for a company,
safeguarding data and information, creating and administering databases, helping employees
troubleshoot problems with their computers or mobile devices, or doing a range of other work to
ensure the efficiency and security of business information systems. The report highlights about
information technology in success of company, important of internet and intranet, various
networking technologies and some issues faced by enterprise. It also discusses benefits and
drawbacks in making investment in IT.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
Role of IT within business failure or success..............................................................................1
Issues that are related to running organisation............................................................................2
Networking technologies.............................................................................................................3
Internet and Intranet In business..................................................................................................5
System development life cycle (SDLC)......................................................................................6
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................8
Benefits and drawbacks in making investment in IT...................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Evolution of digital technology have made working of organisations more efficient and
effective. It is anything related with use of system particularly telecommunications and
computers so to store, retrieve, send together with changing data (Xiang, 2018). It is majorly
driven by demands of competitive business environment and profound dynamism within nature
of computers. For the report, Tesco is designated retail venture which have around 6800 shops
throughout the globe. Its headquarters are established at Hackney, UK and presence across the
world. In current pandemic, Information Technology have significant role on entire walks of
organisational life.
The report involves role of IT in organisational success, various issues connected with
running company, variants of networking technologies. Further, it discusses key importance of
Intranet and Internet along with system development life cycle. The analysis is also supported
with discussion of advantages and limitations of venture investing within IT.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Role of IT within business failure or success
In views of Alzaghal and Mukhtar (2017), The technology that have proved itself in
difficult situations and taken the business venture towards successful path is information
technology. It have dramatically changes lives of all individuals and all institutions. In relevance
with Tesco, information technology is a formula or system that makes practices or operations
simple through driving innovation and smarter choices. The role performed of IT in success of
Tesco are identified beneath:
Support to customers and their satisfaction: For a business success, higher customer
satisfaction is necessary that cannot be attained within use of IT. All activities of company rely
on trends, perceptions, determinants, attitude and satisfaction level. It is because of information
technology that helps firms to communicate with trillions on prospects and customers in real
duration (Ettlie, Tucci and Gianiodis, 2017). In association to Tesco, information technology
have permitted to communicate with wider audience without leaving the premise. There are
multiple channels, for example, customer relationship management system, Dynamics 365, etc
that enables team of Tesco in holding valuable addition to useful data so to understand choices
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and preferences of customers with future requirements. With this, the entity supports customers
and improve their satisfaction level that reflects success of the venture.
Innovation in business: It is foremost working of Information technology to bring
innovation within workplace. Further, innovation leads to faster processing, smarter apps, wider
distribution and improved data storage (Annabi and Locke, 2019). Within Tesco, information
technology have resulted given rise to multiple innovations to manage business efficiently and
successfully. At same time, it increased values, fostered efficiency and enhanced offering of
services. Within eth company, innovation have made radical changes in working of Tesco that
includes digital marketing, online shopping and cloud computing that showed huge success in
competitive retail sector.
Linkage with the world: In business, communication with population residing at far
places is important. Transportation together with processes have made organisation a web of
difficult practices which interplay each other. Through information technology, it became
possible for business to globalise its workings, operations and products(Pandey, Dutta and
Nayak, 2018). At present, the technology have made it possible for Tesco to perform activities
from anywhere across the world. The retailer have adopted various online platforms to link with
outer and vast world for attracting customers internationally to gain success.
Information technology have opened all doors to perform business for attaining success.
In digital age, Tesco have devised and implemented best decision of using information
technology to leverage its benefits and making successful practices in the pandemic situation.
Issues that are related to running organisation
Ethical issues:
Ethics is delineated to morals that involves what is wrong or right in conduct. In an
organisation, ethical issues refers to an event in which moral struggles have chances to occur and
requires to be addressed timely (Ethical Issues in Information technology. 2020). In reference to
Tesco, ethical issues of information technology related to business are as found:
Harmful actions: Within computer ethics, harmful actions are adverse damage to
information technology including loss of ownership, loss of confidential data, undesirable
substantial impacts and property destruction. In Tesco, the ethical conduct restricts external
bodies from utilising information technology that causes destruction or ethical issues to human
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resources, users, general population and hence forth. The action engrosses unintentional
modifications of programs and documents that encourages loss of resources to running business.
Piracy: It is defined as an activity wherein development of illegal copy of software are
generated. This depends on owner of software that whether or not handlers have power to make
backup copies of software (Sánchez, Taylor and Bing-Jonsson, 2017). To run business, Tesco
have been using multiple software to perform practices smoothly and in less durations. As
legislations have made copyright to protect software, at same time, there are some laws which
stops unauthorised duplication related to software. The company have faces ethical issue of
encountering itself from piracy of software.
Social Issues:
Within running business, there are various social issues which occurs by using
information technology in practices (Bill. 2020). Social issues are complications which
encourages various entities within a society. For Tesco, some social issues that are faced ion
running scenario are below:
Defamtion of character: It is believed that the only means for building relation with
major organisations together with popular personality in eye of general public is defamation of
character. Earlier message boards as well as in present, social media services including Twitter,
YouTube and hence forth are used by forms for defaming business such as Tesco within
intrinsically public aspect. This has resulted in causing major attacks and woe to various people,
assisting perpetuate a massive and threat of actions in legal manner to running business.
Crime: In a society, computers and other systems are seen as a positive force that permits
generation of international movement addition to righteous practices in multiple forms (Barsky,
2017). In contrary, the other side of information technology is seen as organised criminals
exploiting web from organisation for own nefarious aspects. Businesses such as Tesco are at risk
or issue of cyber-attacks as well as perpetrators acts anonymously from different part of globe
with no agreements.
Networking technologies
A technology that is used in company for exchanging data among small, medium and large
information is known as networking technology. It is mostly preferred in businesses for
exchanging digital data comprising visual and audio files. With the help of networking
technologies, manages of Tesco are able to send messages or other information by channels that
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are dependent on requirement of retailer. The identified networking technologies used by
technicians of Tesco are Wide area network, Virtual private network, Local area network and
Metropolitan area network. The differentiation among these networking technologies are as
follows:
Basis Wide area
network
Local area
network
Virtual private
network
Metropolitan area
network
Definition A networking
technology
which extends
on larger area
with the
objective of
computer
networking is
termed as Wide
area network.
A networking
technology that
includes group of
peripheral devices
which exchanges
common lines of
communication and
wireless link to
server in different
geographical
location said to
Local area
network.
A networking
technology
wherein all
servers, data
centres and
virtual machines
that are connected
through wireless
or software
technology is
referred to virtual
private network
(Jinno, 2016).
A networking
technology which
interconnects people
with resources of
computer in
geographical area of
size within
metropolitan area is
stated to
metropolitan area
network.
Uses Within Tesco
WAN
technology is
used for linking
multiple sites
together and
permitting
communication
among
organisational
units.
In a business, use
of LAN technology
requires wired
connections for
linking computers
with other
peripheral devices
including printers,
file servers and so
on.
In Tesco, use of
VPN technology
is done through
tunnelling
protocols for the
purpose of
encrypting
together with
decrypting data at
ends of receiver
with server.
Within an
organisation, MAN
technology is used
for the purpose of
interconnecting
users within sole
functional unit along
with developing
multiple specialised
networks.
Elements Essential Important elements Important Key elements of
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elements of
WAN
technology are
router, gateway
addition to
bridge that
connects to
various
networks
(Zeadally and
Jabeur, 2016).
of LAN technology
comprises
peripheral devices
which are scanners
and printers, HUB,
nodes, workstation,
cables and network
interface card.
elements of VPN
technology are
key management,
data encryption,
authentication,
protocols, packet
integrity and a
network.
MAN technology
covers network size,
data rates, regional
resources, uplinks,
network provider,
cable, telephone
network and high
speed broadband
access.
Internet and Intranet In business
Internet
In digitalised scenario, Internet is important to develop business concern successfully. It
provides greater number of benefits to owners, managers and team for developing an
infrastructure that is related to data and information about customers. For Tesco, it is not possible
to image the ways it run its activities in efficient manner without Internet. Some of other
importance of Internet for Tesco are below:
Faster information sharing: All kinds of business documents such as digital documents
along with letters are sent and received quickly with the help of internet in real time which
improves other practices speedily (Torky and Hassanein, 2020). In present era, there is no
requirement for companies to write and send important document as internet does it in speedily
manner. Within Tesco, internet is important as it assist facility managers together with
technicians to receive and send necessary business details quickly in order to generate
maintenance of operations effectively. At same time, internet helps the retailer to collect
essential details about issues through searching in Google.
New customers: Internet is also significant as it is best place for organisation to reach
wider target audience along with offering general merchandise for converting them into regular
customers. In relevance to Tesco, internet includes social media platforms that are Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and hence forth that permits it to organise digital marketing campaigns for
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targeting local market addition to attracting audiences within native place. Moreover, the
company also runs PPC advertisements on various search engine including Bling, etc for getting
more clients and customers for its merchandise.
Intranet
A private network which is adopted by a company is intranet. The main purpose of it is to
assist human resources for securely communicating with others, helping collaboration as well as
storing information. For Tesco, intranet is one of effective medium to engage employee base
with organisational updates, collaboration with teams and enhancing engagement, some
importance of intranet to Tesco are described below:
Provides clarity about company: Intranet with dynamic along with clear hierarchical
chart provides clarity to employees on shape addition to set up of venture. In Tesco, Intranet is
significant because it adds rich layers on clarity together with assist human resource to have
proper understanding about their roles and responsibilities of people within business.
Connects organisation with time zones and presence: Intranet of enterprise becomes
central hub for entire business online as it is the central destination wherein conversation takes
place, news related with entrepreneurial venture is shared and planning of events are performed
(Wahlroos, 2017). In relevance to Tesco, Intranet makes it easy for employees to see the manner
through which it facilitates multi location groups together. With Intranet, each place and human
resource have insights about what is going around the entity regardless of where they have
belongings from.
System development life cycle (SDLC)
A series of stages which assist in understanding procedures of system or software building is
known as system development life cycle. SDLC in an umbrella word that is widely popular in
software engineering for the purpose of explaining process to devise an effective information
system. For all organisations, it is important to select effective SDLC model as per particular
concerns addition to requirements of project so to ensure success (Osbourn, 2020). All stages
related to lifecycle of information system development are explained underneath:
Planning stage: Within any system development project, the foremost thing that comes is
planning. Prior to initiate, it is significant to ensure the system development project have enough
resources. In this stage, all the future working are set and includes the whole project team.
Results from planning stage comprises cost estimations, requirements related to procurement and
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project plans. When workings associated to the stage are complete, the plan must be
understandable and convenient for everyone in the team.
Feasibility or analysing requirement stage: Herein, the team or people involved in system
development ensured that requirements of project assist end users of the information system.
Similarly, gathering requirements refers to communicating with stakeholders along with looking
towards must relevant information as possible (Sugiantoro, Anshari and Sudrajat, 2020). In this
stage, product managers, developers and many more work together with suitable stakeholders.
Designing along with prototyping stage: At this stage, designers along with developers
prototype an attribute or map out effective solution. In system development, prototype is
essential to get early feedback addition to informing technical decisions. Absence of prototype
leads to probability of increasing risk that the group will waste durations of developing-ready
solutions which do not meet needs of users. The designing stage requires particular results before
any stakeholder signs it off as well as more work can occur.
Software development stage: The stage at which software development turns requirement
of project addition to prototypes towards working codes is system development stage. Herein,
managers are able to start seeing something which resembles final output (Wahyuni and Irawan,
2020). At end of this phase, associated people have working feature for sharing with target
audience. Developers are the one who are most involved in the stage and coordinate with product
owner, tester and so on for confirming things.
Software testing stage: At system testing stage, testers put codes through the paces.
Moreover, testers check that code meets defined needs, quality of system, code is performant as
well as have evidence to secure development principals. In this stage, some teams automate all
testing. The result of testing software is better solution which meets edge user needs. Testers are
major people that are involved in the process.
Implementation and integration stage: The implementation stage is also known as
deployment that takes code together with puts it somewhere population uses. In most of projects,
the stage includes integration with various systems. The results of the stage is usable information
system. In many projects, the stage encompasses creation of documentation as well as marketing
materials. Moreover, the operations team emphasis towards deploying software.
Operation and maintenance stage: Within the stage, developers look towards defects and
bugs. When they finds one, managers create bug report. At maintenance, this is crucial to
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consider opportunities towards the duration when development cycle starts again. A sign in this
stage is working well at the duration developers are able to fastly identify as well as resolve
problems. In this stage, specialists report issues, owners of product help prioritises together with
developers will work with testers for making improvements.
By adopting the SDLC, Tesco will be able to develop information system that meets needs
of the company. Throughout the stages, there is requirement of excellent communication among
people. Also, improving communication will assist performance in all phases.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Benefits and drawbacks in making investment in IT
Investment in information technology increases efficiency in the business. In association to
Tesco, making investment in IT system benefits in achieving competitive edge as it drives
internal efficiencies that improves productivity. At same time, it improves business agility to
respond towards dynamisms in needs of company in ever complex world. In this, technology
plays crucial role that streamlines processes along with more efficient processes (Wilkins and
Juusola, 2018). Making investment in systems of information technology helps the retailer to
build big data, block chain, artificial intelligence addition to social networking that plays
transformational role in expansion of business. Information technology brings new technology
and productivity that leaves business environment open for security violations. Through
investing in IT, retailer is able to change rapidly with security landscape and manage to promote
business on different social platforms.
At same time, there are some drawbacks of making required investment in information
technology. Getting new solutions execution needs efforts, time and money. To invest in
information systems, Tesco managers requires huge financial resources that reduces reserve of
the company which decreases its position in the market. Moreover, various information
technology solutions are forwarding towards cloud based system. It is another limitation of
investment in IT system that makes human resources more mobilised as through this, team
members start working from home, access information related to clients, join online meeting
from smartphones. This kind of convenience adds big risk that is security to company. As per
Thorpe and Bell (2020), it has been analysed that investment on systems related to information
technology is one of expensive procedure that an organisation undertakes. Furthermore, it
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includes risk of leakage of confidential information of stakeholders including customers,
employees, investors, business associates and management that inflates hacking activities. The
outcomes of breach of confidentiality is high threat for Tesco which restrains intense execution
of information technology systems and solution through the retailer.
CONCLUSION
From the discussion, it is concluded that competitiveness of organisation is in large degree
related to effective use of information technologies together with information systems
particularly. In a business concern, main purpose of using information technology is to deliver
right information at right duration to right person. Innovation in business, linkage with the world,
support to customers and their satisfaction and essential role of IT that leads to business success.
Harmful actions and piracy are ethical issues while crime along with defamation of character are
social issues that are concerned with running organisation. SDLC assist in lower issues of
developing information system from scratch and helps business to transform an idea related to
project towards functional addition to completely operational structure. It covers detailed action
to build, develop, deploy and maintain a system or software.
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REFERENCES
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