Introduction to Information Technology

This report provides an introduction to Information Technology and its benefits for a business organization. It covers the role of IT in the success or failure of a business, ethical and social issues, different networking technologies, and the importance of social media in business organizations. The report also discusses the system development life cycle for implementing IT systems in Tesco PLC.

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT
In this report various topics has been covered such as role of IT in success or failure of
business. Issues on the basis of ethical and social factors. Different types of networking
technology. Importance of social media in the business and at last system development life cycle
of the company. Different technologies of networking has been described which reduces the
complexity of the work. Analysis and discussion of all the issues has been covered in this report.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
Theme Role of Information Technology in the Success or Failure Business Organisation........1
Theme Ethical and Social Issues in Running Businesses............................................................2
Theme Different Types of Networking Technologies.................................................................3
Theme The Importance of Social Media In Business Organization............................................3
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................4
System Development Life Cycle.................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Information technology can be explained as study of computer systems that are used for
storing, collecting and sending data and information. In other words information technology can
be explained as use of computers for storing, collecting, transferring, manipulating and
processing of data and information (Burbules, 2018). Usually this term IT is used for the contest
of business operations which is completely different personal and entertainment perspective.
This report is providing brief of Information Technology for Tesco PLC which is one of the
largest Retail and Grocery store in United Kingdom which was established by Jack Cohan in
1919 in Hackney, London.
This report will be providing brief information related to Information technology and its
benefits for a particular business organization. The role of IT will be analysed for the success and
failure of an organization. The ethical and social issues in that are related to information
technology will be analysed in the report. Different networking technologies will be analysed
and differentiated in study. Importance of social media also will be discussed in the report.
Different stages of system development life cycle will be evaluated to implement IT system in
Tesco PLC
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme Role of Information Technology in the Success or Failure Business Organisation
Information technology is one of the most important part of current business trends in the
market place. There are different benefits of Information Technology that can drive the success
of organization in the market place. As per Baller, Dutta and Lanvin, (2016) some of common
factors of information technology that can lead the success of business organization global
market are associated to the benefits of IT for company. The main advantage of information
technology is related to process of communication with in organization. The main feature of IT is
about its capability to collect, store, process and transfer data with high effectiveness. This
quality of IT can help the organization to maintain their operations high effective by
communicating quality information between various departments of Organization. By providing
and communicating effective information IT can improve strategical thinking of organization to
get success in market place. IT systems are capable of providing effective information to
management of organization to make effective business strategy to reduce the cost of production
and operations. This is how IT can improve the success rate of company in market place.

As per Senft, Gallegos and Davis, (2016) there are some challenges of IT system that also
can lead the organization to failure. For example there are different challenges are faced by
Information technology that can affect the performance of business organization in target market.
Information technology is based on analysis and processing of data and information that is
related to the performance of business organization and target market. This technology is capable
to understand and process data which can be converted in machine language but this is not
possible for Information system to process data like like customer feelings and satisfaction. This
can lead to conflict between the system and business strategy of organization. This factor can
affect the success of organization in the target market.
Theme Ethical and Social Issues in Running Businesses
According to Avgerou and Walsham, (2017) there are some social issues are associated
with Information Technology that can affect individual person and organization in different
manner. Some of most common social issues of information technology are- identity theft, cyber
bullying, defamation of character, communication breakdown. Identity theft is major concern of
Information Technology. By using different hacking activity people can steal the information
and data of individual person that can affect their personal and social life. This actions like data
theft also can cause financial challenges to organization, employees and customers that are
related to organization. By hacking personal information hackers can victimize person and affect
their social life by cyber bullying. IT also can be used by the other organization to defame the
profile of employees of organization in the market place. By using information and data of
company, hackers can affect the business of particular company by defaming them. The major
issue that is related to information technology is related to unemployment. It has reduced the job
opportunities by reducing the work load on organization.
As per Lee, Son and Kim, (2016) there are some ethical issues are also connected to the
Information Technology. This ethical issues are capable of affecting the performance of
organization in internal operations. Some of main ethical challenges that are related to
Information technology are- data privacy and data security is major ethical issue that is related to
information technology. Various organizations uses the personal information of employees and
customers to improve their experience in organization but this information also can be misused
by different people to affect the individual person. This information also can be used by the
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organization to gain profit. This activity can ethically violate the personal space of employees
and customers.
Theme Different Types of Networking Technologies
As per view of Burbules, (2018) in a business organization there are different networking
technologies are used to maintain effective communication between different level of
organization. The main purpose of networking technology is to maintain effective
communication and data transfer between different computer system of organization. For
example in an business organization networking technologies like Local Area Network, Wide
Area Network, Wireless Local Area Network, Wireless Wide Area Network, Personal Area
Network and Storage Area Network can be used by organization to improve their business
operations. The implementation of networking technology is based on function of organization
and distance between the computer system of company. This is how various networking
technologies can be used by the organization to effectively communicate data and information
with in organization.
Theme The Importance of Social Media In Business Organization
In accordance with (Bannon, Bardzell and Bødker, 2018) it allows the company to
increase the level of brand awareness as with the help of this aspect it helps the company to
promote their brand to a large a no of people by clicking just one button. It also helps to increase
the presence and visibility of the brand for the existing as well as the prospective customers. This
aspect does not incur at any cost from company and helps to post ads freely. On the other hand
mediums such as TV incurs approximately millions to share their product or service and create
awareness in the market among other people. Apart from this one of the most important aspect of
this is considered as the most important tool as it allows Tesco to engage in a conversation or
interact with their consumers. For the consumers they make a model of engagement so that they
can listen to their demands, Social media reduces the complexity in finding and targeting new
customers and give them a chance to connect with their consumers through messaging. It helps
them to build connection between each which benefits the company in their long term gains.
Also consumers needs to be educated and has every information about the product so that their
mind is clear with the queries and the questions that they have in mind can be reduced. This tool
helps the company to open up another way to generate money that is by gaining traffic on their
website. More the people visit their page more it will be able to increase the revenue. It requires
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a large set of efforts so that they can be able to create new channel and target the traffic with
links. These links will help to capture those people who are targeting the company and with that
they will be able to target the untapped market.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Role of Information Technology in the Success or Failure Business Organisation
Information technology is beneficial tool as Tesco can improve its communication by using IT
tools. Quality information can be shared to each department in systematic manner without
having any confusion. Tesco is using advance IT technologies that help the organization in
maintaining operational efficiency. As management can keep record of each activity and can take
sound business decisions. This is great tool that helps the Tesco in reducing its production cost
because it improves communication among all departments, by this way team members can
perform their duties well which helps in completing task on time and minimizing operational
errors as well. Use of advance software is not that much easy for Tesco. It is used as effective
tool that can help Tesco in managing data bases in significant manner. By using enterprise
software entity can reduce number of employees and can monitor progress easily that aids in
generating leads and controlling over supply chain activities as well. Information technology
improves customer experiences as Tesco can make customized marketing that aids in generating
sales to organization. But it can also increase cost of firm. Apart from this Tesco can face issue
of conflicts between business tactics and these IT tools which may affect the overall performance
of enterprise (Chanson, Risius and Wortmann, 2018).
Ethical and Social Issues in Running Businesses
Tesco need to take care ethics and have to ensure that it conduct business operations according to
ethical guidelines. Increasing cybercrime issues may impact on brand image because it may
increase risk of data leakage. Tesco’s customer details can be hacked by hacker and can be used
for wrong purpose. In such condition firm may face financial issues as trust of consumers will,
be down and they will not like to use its services in near future. One of the major ethical issues
that can be faced by Tesco is managing diversity. Tesco need to ensure giving equal respect and
opportunities to all its workforces. This may aid business in retaining talent in firm for longer
duration. Respectful culture must be created by Tesco to develop relationship with employees
and make them positive towards the brand. Tesco need to develop health relationship with
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consumers, this is possible by using various IT tools. These information technologies aid in
circulating necessary information to the target audience in appropriate manner so that customers
make their mind to buy products. Tesco needs to ensure to circulating right information rather
than making false commitment to consumers. This may support in enhancing customer retention
in organization.
Different Types of Networking Technologies
Different technologies such as LAN, WAN, PAN and SAN are available for the company
to easily transfer the data without the issue of reach as it covers a large area. The most suitable
alternative for the company is wireless wide area network as it helps them to cover a wide reach
and it is a wireless network which saves the company from the hassles of wires. It has been
analysed that there are many benefits of using these types of tools in the company as it helps the
company to increase their efficiency in transmitting the data as they use digital signals. Other
than that companies such as Tesco who are using digital technology can help them to increase
the quality with less level of interference from others so that they can remove the noise which
interferes the subject of the data. Overall these technologies and networking helps the company
to easily communicate and share the data (Gewald and Currie, 2017).
The Importance of Social Media In Business Organization
It is important for the companies such as Tesco who are operating on a international level
to take help of these tools. It helps them to spread the awareness of the brand in different markets
other than that they help to target their base of consumers from the area which is not tapped by
the company. Other than that the most important factor is it allows the company to freely
promote their brand which saves a lot of money which they can use in other areas. This tools also
allows the company to connect with their consumers so that they can know what people expects
from them (Ivanova, Solovyova and Shmatko, 2017).
System Development Life Cycle
System Development Life Cycle To implement Information Technology System in Tesco
PLC.
The cycle of system development life cycle includes procedures and policies so that they can
develop a system in the process of life cycle. The result expected by this process is of high
quality so that they can satisfy the needs and wants of consumers according to the budget set by
the company. There are seven phases in this model-
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Planning-
This aspect is the beginning stage of this model which helps to identify or discover the
probability of success of a project and identify the steps which will help the company to give
solution to the issues with the help of new system solution. This aspect helps to determine the
success ratio of the project with the help of performing a research. This helps them to analyse the
resources required in the process, budget that needs to be set, technical work, employees etc
(Sherer, Ahuja and Kohli, 2017).
Analysis-
This aspect helps Tesco to understand the needs which are required in the processing of
the system project. The team of development considers those system which requirements are
functional so that they can assess that if the solution to the issue taken out by them will be able to
meet the needs and wants of consumers. The requirements which are taken out for the final user
is documented and a feasibility study is conducted. It gives a insight to the company that the
upcoming project is viable in terms of financial, organisational, technological and social factors.
Design-
After the completion of analysis phase this phase takes place. This phase states that the
components, elements, levels of security, modules, architectures, interface and data of the system
is designed and described so that the finished work can be evaluated and how it will be presented
to the final user. The design of the system is produced in detail so that it can be assured that that
system has all the necessary attributes to meet the functional and operations aspects (Davies,
2018).
Development-
This phase includes that team of development is working hard with focus so that they can
build the code and tune the configurations of technical and physical aspects in order to construct
the system of information. This aspect of the cycle looks after all the efforts which are labour
related with the significance of starting and production of software. Also it is concerned with the
installation of software. Many people considered this aspect as the robust phase of the model
because of the area it undertakes (Quinn, 2017).
Testing and Integration-
This phase ensures the level of quality assurance of the team who is assigned as in charge
of the project. They have to test the whole system so that they can evaluate that if or not it is
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capable enough to meet the goals and objectives of the company and meet their expected results.
Solution of subsystems and components which are different has the ability to bring integrity to
the whole system. It is necessary for the company to test the overall system so that they can be
sure of it that it will be able to provide satisfaction to their customers and make the system free
of errors.
Implementation-
When the team of quality assurance gives a green signal to the company then they will be
able to start the work and take the product to the department of production. This phase includes
the releasing of the project which needs to be used or needs to be worked by the final users
(Wickramasinghe, Qureshi and Boyer, 2020).
Maintenance-
This is the final phase of this model which helps to tune the system according to the
expected level of performance, new capabilities and features so that they can meet the
requirements as ordered by the customer. This phase helps the system to be prepared and assured
that it is relevant according to the old hardware and can be used. Other than this they need to
check the performance and make the software updated so that it is able to meet all the standards
and criteria with the latest technology so that they can face and fight the threats from
cybersecurity (Dignum, 2018).
CONCLUSION
From the above studies it has been concluded that how IT helps the company to achieve
success and how tools such as social media helps to cover up a large audience at no cost by
which they increases the value and awareness of the brand in the eyes of people. Various other
topics such as different tools of networking has been analysed and how it helps Tesco to meet
their goals and objectives. The last part covered in this file was system development life cycle by
which company assesses the viability of the project that they are coming up with and evaluate the
forces which tells them that if or not system is up to date meet the updated technology and needs
and wants of customers. Before launching they evaluate all the factors which helps them to
assess the risks and errors so that they can take out rectifying measures in the cycle and meet the
expected results.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Avgerou, C. and Walsham, G. eds., 2017. Information technology in context: Studies from the
perspective of developing countries: Studies from the perspective of developing countries.
Routledge.
Baller, S., Dutta, S. and Lanvin, B., 2016. Global information technology report 2016. Geneva:
Ouranos.
Bannon, L., Bardzell, J. and Bødker, S., 2018. Introduction: Reimagining participatory design—
Emerging voices. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI), 25(1),
pp.1-8.
Burbules, N., 2018. Watch IT: The risks and promises of information technologies for education.
Routledge.
Chanson, M., Risius, M. and Wortmann, F., 2018. Initial coin offerings (ICOs): An introduction
to the novel funding mechanism based on blockchain technology.
Davies, A., 2018. The Management/Union Relationship in the Introduction of New Technology.
In The Management Implications of New Information Technology (pp. 172-185).
Routledge.
Dignum, V., 2018. Ethics in artificial intelligence: introduction to the special issue.
Gewald, H. and Currie, W., 2017, January. Introduction to Senior's Use of Health Information
Technology Minitrack. In Proceedings of the 50th Hawaii International Conference on
System Sciences.
Ivanova, T.D., Solovyova, N.L. and Shmatko, A.D., 2017. The introduction of information
systems in small and medium-sized businesses. Экономика и предпринимательство,
(5-2), pp.688-691.
Lee, A.R., Son, S.M. and Kim, K.K., 2016. Information and communication technology overload
and social networking service fatigue: A stress perspective. Computers in Human
Behavior. 55. pp.51-61.
Quinn, M.J., 2017. Ethics for the information age. Pearson.
Senft, S., Gallegos, F. and Davis, A., 2016. Information technology control and audit. Auerbach
publications.
Sherer, S., Ahuja, V. and Kohli, R., 2017, January. Introduction to IT-Enabled Healthcare
Coordination Minitrack. In Proceedings of the 50th Hawaii International Conference on
System Sciences.
Wickramasinghe, N., Qureshi, S. and Boyer, E., 2020, January. Introduction to the Minitrack on
Information Technology Innovations to Overcome Health Disparities. In Proceedings of
the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
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