The Role of Information Technology in Business

The provided document discusses the importance of information technology (IT) in improving productivity and efficiency within a business. It covers various benefits and drawbacks related to IT implementation, including increased efficiency, improved employee morale, and potential biases among employees. The study also references several academic papers that investigate the impact of IT on business outcomes, such as employee theft and productivity, market information services adoption, and conditional financial development in Africa.

Introduction to IT

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is the term that is used for storing the data for long purpose that
is to be transfer from one system to another (Pierce, Snow and McAfee, 2015). It is used by
many companies so that their data is to be safe and secure for the long term.
Present study will be focused on Marks and Spencer. It is a British multinational retailer
company deals in clothing, home products and food products.
Report will include role of IT in the success of running business. It will also include
ethical and social issues that occur in the company. Furthermore, it will include internet and its
effect on the business. It will emphasize on the role of information technology in management
and lastly, the stages of systems development.
Literature Review
Role of IT in Marks and Spencer
According to the (Wyche and Steinfield, 2016) Information technology plays an
important role in Marks and Spencer Company. Nowadays without technology business cannot
be run properly as it has to be stored data for the long time in the company. Information
technology makes life easier as compared to earlier days. Everything is possible after coming of
different technology that will help in facilitating various types of systems for future growth of
the business. In Marks and Spencer through IT all the thing become easier as online shopping
will be done because of it. As consumers want comfort life so they get all the facilities through
information technology. It will help in managing all the business transactions that will held
between consumer and marketer.
As per the view (Asongu Anyanwu, and Tchamyou, 2017). As IT department becomes
most essential part in Marks and Spencer. It will help in facilitating easy communication
between the people. In Marks and Spencer also employees can interact with each other through
emails for saving time. It made everything easier and efficient that will help in increasing

accuracy of doing work in the company. As in companies inventory is to stored and for that data
is to be collected so information technology helps in easy calculation of inventory management.
It is necessary to store enough inventory management in the company for fulfilling the needs ad
wants of consumers. It will also help in tracking the quantity of goods that is available in the
store so that if there is shortage it will help in restoring inventory again timely. It helps in
building customer relationship that will improving customer services and building healthy
relation with them. As it is a automated process that will help in gaining customer attraction
towards the company.
Ethical and social issues in Marks and Spencer
Thomas, 2015 Stated that in Marks and Spencer there are ethical issues that is related to
the stolen of data of the company by its employees. As cybercrime is the biggest issue that will
come in latest that will have a great impact on the business operations. In some companies fraud
is being done as some employees will use credit card as wrong way that will lead to go company
in financial loss.Misue of information system in the company such as operating social media
sites through company is an ethical issue that will create a lawsuits or loss in the business.
Through cybercrime company will get into losses. As nowadays smart phones is also leading in
increasing cybercrime that will destroy the growth of the company.
According to the (Bala and Venkatesh, 2015) Identity theft is also a big issue as some
people create a fake id through any other person’s name and doing illegal work that will reduce
the identity of original person. It can be used in different ways that will affect the owner position
in the market. These issues are common that every company have to face in present scenario.
This is very common that every second person is suffering from cybercrime in the country. This
will lead to affect the company’s position in the market. As there are many ways that will
influence company’s goodwill and these ethical issues will more effect them in the future.
Cultural issues are related to the culture that is being followed in the company. As different
employees come from different culture so sometimes it become an issue for the employees to
adjust in that culture that the company is following. These issues will sometime create a big
problem in the company. As in Marks and Spencer also these issues will arise that will affect the
functioning of the company.

Different types of networking technologies
Christiansen, D'angona and Bell, Evantix GRC LLC, 2015 stated that there are several
types of networking technologies such as Local Area Network(LAN) that means that connects
group of computers in the company as it is bounded for particular area only. It is the simplest
form of network as compared to others. In this low voltage devices are connected and it provides
services in short area. On the other hand, Wide Area Network(WAN) that is providing its
services to the large area of network that will facilitate nearby people in that area. This allows
many computers to connect with each other that will help in providing long range services to the
people.
As per the view Schermann and et. al., 201 6 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) that
connect large area network as compared to other. It is shorter than WAN but larger as compared
to LAN.These networks are providing different phases to the customers that will facilitate them
in using information system. There are many ways that will provide services to the customers but
help in getting involved into various sources that are related to the IT sector. However, in
contrast Wide Area Network (WAN) is covering larger part as compared to MAN. This will
providing many services to the people in and around the network coverage.
According to the Dong and Yang, 2015Enterprise Private Network (EPN) is another
form of technology that is used for private purpose as for particular enterprise that can only be
using that network. It is shared between different computers of the same organization no other
person will use that network. In comparison to it System Area Network that gives high speed
connection to the servers that is being placed in a particular network. In this single system is
there that will operate all other system in the company.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Importance of intranet and internet
Intranet refers to the private network that will be used by the company itself as no other
outside person can use this type of network. It is connected with the local area network and
provides connection into limited area. Internet is the connection to different networks that is

available in the area through different servers and route and it is providing at a large scale to the
people.
Importance of Intranet
It helps in improving internal communication between people that are connected with that
network. In this information of the company will remain secret between the employees that are
using network of that service. In this resources will be shared between the employees who are
working in the company. This will help in sharing various information that is available in the
company for future use. There are different ways that will facilitate this network in providing
various aspects of the company. It is also providing training to the employees who are working
in that particular company. It helps in protecting the confidential data of Marks and Spencer as it
is used by the employees of that company only. Through this workflow will increase and it
provide efficiency in the work that is done by the employees.
Importance of Internet
It plays an important role in providing larger network connection to the people that are
using internet for their own purpose and that will be benefitted for their future use. It also helps
in facilitate easy communication between the employees in the Marks and Spencer. This helps in
carry out the research that will be needed in the business for doing market analysis so that it will
be able to satisfy the needs and wants of the customer (Bowles, Dykes and Demiris, 2015).
There are various ways that will be help in gaining different types of information that is suitable
for the company. Without internet company cannot run its operation successfully as it is the basic
need of it. Therefore, in Marks and Spencer internet is necessary to carry out the business for
future growth.
Stages of system development
There are different stages that will help in development of the product are as follows:
Planning:- This is the first step that will help in developing the system in the company. In this
proper planning is being done that will help in achieving the objective of the company. Without
planning goal cannot be achieved in the business. In developing project in Marks and Spencer
proper planning is being done so that the work will be done effectively and efficiently.

Analysis:- In this project performance is being analyze that will help in evaluating different
stages that is needed to complete the project. It is important to analyze each and every step that
will be needed to provide various information that is needed in completing project. Through this
step it can be analyzed the process of doing work in the company and if any changes required
that will be done by analyzing various factors that affect the operation.
Design:- After completion of the analysis designing if the project is being taken place that will
facilitate in providing various designing structure so that it will be beneficial in providing various
structures that will be helpful for the company (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). If designing is good
then the structure is automatically good. A standard is being set up to design the project.
Development and implementation:- Project will be sending for implementation into the
business so that it will provide better results to the company. Development of the product is
based upon the various aspect that will help in evaluating different segments that is needed to
provide better opportunity in the future course of action.
Testing:- Here, testing is being done to reduce the error that will come in between the
completion of the project. There are various ways through which error can be removed from the
project and made it better for the future.
Maintenance:- This will be the last stage that will check if any issue occurred after
implementation of project so after that proper care is being provided so that there will be no
difficulty in running the project.
Benefits and drawbacks
There are some drawbacks that will be occurred in the business. Do not make biasness
between the employees that are working in the company. It is important to note down that
biasness will create conflict between the employees. If there is no biasness then it will affect the
functioning of the company. If employees are not feeling secure then it will affect their working.
There are many reasons that will create conflict between employees related to culture. As there
are so many options that will help in getting into various aspect of the company (Lacity, Yan
and Khan, 2017). If the company is investing into information technology that will help in
increasing efficiency of the employees and make the work easier and faster that will be

beneficial for the future course of action. There are many reasons that will help in making work
of the Marks and Spencer easy as this will add some extra into the work that will help in
providing various changes into the company. There are many ways that will be helpful for the
company to get success in the future.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it will be said that information technology plays a vital role in the
company for improving productivity and efficiency of doing work. There are various aspects that
will lead to increase the value of business in the market. As there are various aspects that will be
beneficial for future and helps in evaluating various stages that will be helpful in developing a
new product or services. Intranet and internet is also helpful in providing various functions that
will increase effectiveness in the company.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Pierce, L., Snow, D.C. and McAfee, A., 2015. Cleaning house: The impact of information
technology monitoring on employee theft and productivity. Management Science.61(10).
pp.2299-2319.
Wyche, S. and Steinfield, C., 2016. Why don't farmers use cell phones to access market prices?
Technology affordances and barriers to market information services adoption in rural
Kenya. Information Technology for Development. 22(2). pp.320-333.
Asongu, S.A., Anyanwu, J.C. and Tchamyou, V.S., 2017. Technology-driven information
sharing and conditional financial development in Africa. Information Technology for
Development, pp.1-30.
Thomas, S.J., 2015. Exploring strategies for retaining information technology professionals: A
case study.
Bala, H. and Venkatesh, V., 2015. Adaptation to information technology: a holistic nomological
network from implementation to job outcomes. Management Science. 62(1). pp.156-179.
Christiansen, J., D'angona, R. and Bell, C., Evantix GRC LLC, 2015. Method and system for
assessing, managing and monitoring information technology risk. U.S. Patent
Application 14/282,347.
Schermann, M. and et. al., 2016. The role of transaction cost economics in information
technology outsourcing research: a meta-analysis of the choice of contract type. The
Journal of Strategic Information Systems. 25(1). pp.32-48.
Dong, J.Q. and Yang, C.H., 2015. Information technology and organizational learning in
knowledge alliances and networks: evidence from US pharmaceutical
industry. Information & Management. 52(1). pp.111-122.

Bowles, K.H., Dykes, P. and Demiris, G., 2015. The use of health information technology to
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Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P., 2016. Management information system. Pearson Education
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