Tesco's Use of IT for Business Improvement

This assignment explores the role of information technology (IT) in enhancing Tesco's business objectives. It examines various ways IT can be leveraged for improvement, covering aspects like data collection, analysis, and strategic implementation. The report delves into different research methodologies suitable for this study, including content analysis and quantitative data gathering. A comprehensive project management plan is also presented, outlining the scope, timeline, and key factors for successful execution.

Managing successful business
project course work

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Project Aim.............................................................................................................................1
Project management plan.......................................................................................................2
Work break down structure and Gantt Chart..........................................................................4
Research methodology...........................................................................................................5
Content Analysis....................................................................................................................7
Reflection report...................................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
In the modern era competition is too high, in such condition it is very important for the
business units that to adopts the latest technologies in order to bring innovation in the operations.
This helps in improving operational efficiency and providing high quality products to the
consumers (Borghoff and Pareschi, 2013). Present study is based on Tesco, it is the international
retail firm. Company provides retail products to consumers as per their requirements. It has
strong supermarket chain across the world. The main objective of the cited firm is to provide
satisfactory good to the consumers so that they retain in the firm for longer duration. Current
assignment will discuss impact of information technology on Tesco business. Furthermore, it
will explain methods to complete the project successfully.
Project Aim
Technological advancement gives strength to the firm and give t opportunity to improve
operational efficiency. Implementation of the latest technologies assist firms in making effective
coordination with the consumers and identifying their needs. By this way managers can become
able to offer them products and services as per their requirements. Information technology assist
in identifying errors in the operations so that effective strategies can be made up to resolve these
issues (Bulgurcu, Cavusoglu and Benbasat, 2010).
Aim
“To identify impact of information technology (IT) on Business performance: A study on Tesco”
Information technology is very important for the company, use of internet, advance
software supports the firms in gaining competitive advantage. Benefits of IT for Tesco are
discussed as below:
 It helps in enhancing communication with the consumers. Email, Social networking sites
etc. help the entity in making effective coordination with the consumers. By this way
entity can get to know needs of clients and can offer them same products so that they feel
satisfied.
 IT equipments are beneficial for the Tesco in raising its operational efficiency level to
great extent.
But some times these advance technologies impact negative on the firm as well. As these
technologies increase cost of the business (Borghoff and Pareschi, 2013). Tesco has to invest a
lot in order to implement the latest technologies in the workplace thus, it reduces net profit of the
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organization. Whenever technologies get changed and entity plan to implement new techniques
then employees do not accept these changes easily, they resist changes. It creates conflict
situation in the Tesco which is difficult to handle for the firm.
Objectives
 To understand available information technologies that use by Tesco.
 To understand impact of information technologies on Tesco's operations
 To suggest ways to improve operational efficiency by implementing IT tools.
Project management plan
Before implementing any project researcher is required to make effective plan an. This
plan supports the managers in designing activities and completing the project in accurate manner.
Scope
Implementation of Information technologies is very important for grow of business. It
helps in improving functionality of the firm and raising effeminacy level of the entity to great
extent. With the assistance of these technique entity can become able to bring innovation in the
business unit and improving its revenues as well (Zumitzavan and Michie, 2015). Scope of
implementing IT tools is very high, by this way Tesco will be able to improve its operational
efficiency and will be able to satisfy its consumers as well. Information technologies will be
beneficial for improving administration, storage, distribution and other business functions as
well. To enhance sales of the company by 30% till the end of 2019 is the main scope of the
company.
Time
Time is the major element that impact on entire project significantly. It is responsibility
of the scholar that to divide each activity properly and monitor these activities so that entire
project can be completed on time (Soni and Kodali, 2012). In order to complete the impact of
information technology on Tesco project researcher will have to divide activities into
subsections. Proper scheduling and breaking the teas into sub tasks will help the researcher in
completing the project within stipulated period of time. Time length of the present project is 93
days.
Resources
Researcher will require various resources in order to complete this project in accurate
manner. Scholar will require time, monitory, human resource majorly. Individual will require
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human participants from whom individual can ask about the impact of information technology
on Tesco (Bulgurcu, Cavusoglu and Benbasat, 2010). They can help in developing understanding
about the topic. Furthermore, researcher will require specific time in which this project can be
completed. Investigator will require funds for gathering data and analysis these details well. If
the person is having all these resources in adequate amount then kit will help in managing the
project well and accomplishing its objective
Cost
Cost is the element which is essential to be considered by the project manager while
working on the project. Total cost of the project is 370.
Activities Cost
Project manager 70
Staff 150
Travelling 100
Utility bills 50
Total 370
Quality
Project manager will follow standard carefully so that individual can match this quality.
Manager will supervise each activity properly and if any issue is found then modification will be
done. Progress of the project ill be discussed in the meeting so that quality of this project can
remain maintained (Saunders and Bezzina, 2015).
Communication
In order to complete the project, project manager will have to communicate with all
stakeholders by taking support of correct communication channels. In order to complete this
project in effective manner, manager will have to conduct face to face meeting with all staff
members (Soni and Kodali, 2012). In this meeting progress of the project will be discussed. In
every 7 day this meeting will be conducted so that if any issue is occurring then it can be
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resolved on time. This communication channel will help in clear interaction with other staff
members and minimizing confusion as well.
Risk
There are various risk associated with the impact of information technology on Tesco
business project (Borghoff and Pareschi, 2013). One of the major risk is financial risk. It may be
possible that ineffective allocation of financial resources create difficulty. By this way wastage
will be increased and there will be shortage of funds. Apart from this, manager may face human
resource risk. Inefficient staff members and unskilled people may fail to fulfil their
responsibilities in effective manner (Bulgurcu, Cavusoglu and Benbasat, 2010). Scheduling risk
is another major risk that can be taken place in the project. If manager fail to monitor activities in
effective manner then it would be problematic for the person to complete the project on time.
Work break down structure and Gantt Chart
Work breakdown structure
Gantt chart
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Research methodology
Research methodology is the most important part in the research project. Researcher has
to apply correct tools and techniques that can help the person in gaining accurate results. These
are the set of methods that supports ion conducting the entire project in effective manner so that
accurate results can come out (Soni and Kodali, 2012).
Qualitative and quantitative are two main methods that are applied in different types of
project. Both these tools have unique characteristic and are helpful in completing the project in
effective manner (Zumitzavan and Michie, 2015).
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Qualitative method
Qualitative methods are those strategies in which researcher take support of theories and
models in order to develop understanding about the subject matter. In this type of techniques
researcher do not take support of numerical values or any other technical information. In the
current study on identifying impact of information technology on business performance of Tesco
researcher has applied qualitative research method (Saunders and Bezzina, 2015). The main
agenda of applying this method is to develop understanding about the current techniques that are
used by Tesco and examine impact of information technologies on Tesco. In order to collect the
information researcher has taken support of primary data collection sources. Primary data
collection sources are the method in which scholar gathers information by own. Individual do not
use already available details. Scholar gathers real information about the topic and develop
understanding about the research area. It is considered as effective data collection method
because by this way real situations are being analysed by the researcher that helps in finding
accurate answers of the research problems (Soni and Kodali, 2012).
Investigator has used questionnaire technique in order to collect details about impact of
information technology on Tesco business. Researcher will send consent form to all these
respondents those who will be part of the study. Once they have sent these signed consent form
then researcher will send them questionnaire. In this questionnaire there will be questions related
to impact of information technology on the business unit (Saunders and Bezzina, 2015).
Researcher will apply random sampling technique and will ask question from customers.
It will be electronic survey, in which satisfaction level of costumers will be measured. This will
help in analysing effectiveness of information technology for the business unit. With the help of
random sampling technique individual becomes able to gather information without any biass.
Quantitative method
Quantitative methods are considered as the way of gathering the information and data in
the secondary way. Unlike the qualitative analysis, in quantitative analysis, the data is being
collected by some other external body and then the same can be used by the researcher. Some
very common examples of the sources by which the researcher can collect the quantitative data
involves online sources, books, journals etc. Usually quantitative data and information is
considered as the information and data about the quantities (Newbert, 2015). Also, without any
sort of interpretation, the information and data can be gathered very precisely using this method.
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But a fact that the researcher should ensure here is that in case of quantitative or secondary data,
there are chances that the information might be old and can act quite irrelevant to the present
study. Quantitative data is usually represented in the form of numbers. It can be in statistical
form as well. So, it is very important that before collecting the qualitative or the quantitative
data, the researcher should analyse that which data can act suitable for the present study. By this
way, it can seem easy enough to collect an efficient set of information, thus making the research
more effective and appropriate.
Content Analysis
Primary analysis
1.) Do you think that TESCO is implemented information technology service in their business
operations
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
2. What are the available information technologies used by TESCO ?
(a) Cloud Computing
(b) Online order/ delivery
(c) Direct payment method.
3. Do you think that use of information technology has increased the opportunities for TESCO
to increase its sales?
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
4. What type improvement have been made in services of TESCO after implementation of
digital technology?
(a) Fast billing service
(b) Fast online order service.
(c) Decrease in queue of customer.
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5. which department of TESCO is highly influenced by implementation of information
technology in business.
(a) Marketing
(b) Sales
(c) operations
(d) Finance
6. Do you think that information technology has led to increase in profitability of TESCO?
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
7. How much satisfied you are with the level of IT services applied by TESCO
(a) Very Satisfied
(b) Satisfied
(c) Quite dissatisfied
(d) Very dissatisfied
8. Which problem is highly faced by TESCO after implementation of information technologies
at workplace?
(a) labour turnover
(b) High cost
(c) Training requirements\
9. Does management focuses on providing training to employees for using information
technologies?
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
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10 Do you think that satisfaction of customer towards TESCO has been increased after
implementation of information technology?
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
Theme: 1TESCO is implemented information technology service in their business operations
1.) Do you think that TESCO is implemented information
technology service in their business operations? Respondents
(a)Yes 6
(b) No 3
(c) Not sure 1
Total 10
9
(a)Yes (b) No (c) Not sure
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6
3
1
Column B

Interpretation: As per the above mentioned diagram, it is analysed that there are 6 respondents
who think TESCO is implemented information technology service in their business operations. 3
Respondents have denied this statement whereas 1 respondent was not sure of about the
statement. Therefore, it can be said that TESCO has implemented information technology
service in their business operations.
Theme 2:Cloud Computing is available information technologies used by TESCO
2. What are the available information technologies used by TESCO
? Respondents
(a) Cloud Computing 5
(b) Online order/ delivery 3
(c) Internet 2
Total 10
Interpretation: From the above table, it is clear that there are 5 respondent who state that Cloud
computing is widely available technology which is used by TESCO. 3 respondents have
10
(a) Cloud Computing
(b) Online order/ delivery
(c) Direct payment method.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
5
3
2
Column B

provided their consent toward Online order and delivery technologies. 2 respondent have stated
about that the project needs to be done. Thus , it can be cloud computing is most effective
information technology available for TESCO.
Theme 3: use of information technology has increased the opportunities for TESCO to
increase its sales
3. Do you think that use of information technology has increased
the opportunities for TESCO to increase its sales? Respondents
(a)Yes 6
(b) No 2
(c) Not sure 2
Total 10
Interpretation: This chart clearly states that 6 respondent have voted Yes, as think that use of
information technology has increased the opportunities for TESCO to increase its sales. 2
respondents have denied this statement. 2 respondents was not sure about the statement. Thus, it
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6 2
2
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure

can be said that use of information technology has increased the opportunities for TESCO to
increase its sales.
Theme4: Fast billing service is the improvement have been made in services of TESCO after
implementation of digital technology.
4. What type improvement have been made in services of TESCO
after implementation of digital technology? Respondents
(a) Fast billing service 7
(b) Fast online order service. 2
(c) Decrease in queue of customer. 1
Total 10
Interpretation: From this table, it is clear that 7 respondents have stated that fast billing service is
improvement that has taken place after implementation of digital technology. Fast Online order
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(a) Fast billing service
(b) Fast online order service.
(c) Decrease in queue of customer.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
2
1
Column B

and delivery has been improved was stated by 2 respondents. 1 respondents was not sure about
the statement.
Theme 5: Sales Department of TESCO is highly influenced by implementation of information
technology in business
5. which department of TESCO is highly influenced by
implementation of information technology in business. Respondents
(a) Marketing 2
(b) Sales 4
(c) operations 3
(d) Finance 1
Total 10
Interpretation: As per the report, it is clear that 7 respondents have voted for marketing
department. 4 respondents have voted for sales , 3 respondents have voted for operations
13
2
4
3
1
(a) Marketing
(b) Sales
(c) operations
(d) Finance

department and only 1 has voted for finance department. Thus, it can be that said sales
department of Tesco is highly influenced by implementation of information technology in
business.
Theme 6 information technology has led to increase in profitability of TESCO
6. Do you think that information technology has led to increase in
profitability of TESCO? Respondents
(a)Yes 5
(b) No 3
(c) Not sure 2
Total 10
Interpretation: From this, report, it is clear that there are 5 respondent who have stated that
information technology has led to increase in profitability of TESCO. 3 respondents have denied
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(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
5
3
2
Column B

this statement as they are not agree with this. 2 respondents was not sure. However, it can be said
that increase in business technology has provide support increasing profitability of enterprise.
Interpretation:
Theme 9 management does not focus on providing training to employees for using
information technologies
9. Does management focuses on providing training to employees for
using information technologies? Respondents
(a)Agree 3
(b) Not agree 5
(c) Not sure 2
Total 10
15
(a)Yes
(b) No
(c) Not sure
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
3
5
2
Column B

Interpretation: As per the diagram, it is clear that only 3 respondents are agree with the
statement that management focuses on providing training to employees for using information
technologies. 5 respondents are not agreeing with the statement. 2 respondents are not sure about
the statement. However, it can be said management does not focus on providing training to
employees at workplace.
Theme 10: Satisfaction of customer towards TESCO has been increased after implementation
of information technology
10 Do you think that satisfaction of customer towards TESCO has
been increased after implementation of information technology? Respondents
(a)Yes 8
(b) No 1
(c) Not sure 1
Total 10
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Interpretation: In this diagram, it is identified that 8 respondents have voted that satisfaction of
customer towards TESCO has been increased after implementation of information technology. 1
respondent have denied this statement and 1 respondent was not sure about the statement. Thus,
it can be said that customers are satisfied with the implementation of information technology by
TESCO.
Reflection report
From the report, I realised that there is a very huge impact of the information technology
on the overall business performance of the Tesco. Although there are enormous number of
aspects that are involved in the information technology and that can seem much beneficial as
well, but I understood that the whole area of the information technology is wide enough. I also
understood the fact that there are two ways of gathering the data and information. One is the
qualitative analysis and the other is the quantitative analysis. In case of the qualitative analysis, it
can also be considered as the primary data analysis. It is considered as a way in which the
information is being gathered for the first time and then it is being used by the researcher. I
learned that various different means of primary data collection includes questionnaires, surveys,
focused groups and the interviews. The other method is the quantitative analysis and it is also
considered as the secondary analysis of data. In case of quantitative analysis, the data or
information is being gathered by some external body already and then the same can be used by
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(a)Yes (b) No (c) Not sure
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
8
1 1
Column B

the researcher for making involved in the research. I understood that there are various aspects of
the project management plan and every single aspect is important enough to be included. I
learned the different aspects of the project management plan includes the scope, time, quality,
communication etc. The scope helps in analysing the fact that whether the plan contains all the
required operations or not. The scope helps in providing a path which contains all the basic
operations and functions that are required in the research. Time factor is important because
completing the research in the given deadline is important. It is because I have learned that if the
time for the research is to be extended in some case, the fact that is to be ensured is that there
might be some other resources as well that can be required for extending the time of the research.
A very common example of this can be considered as cost. If in case the researcher wants to
extend the time of the researcher, then if adequate cost is not present, then it might act as a
barrier or challenge that can throw a negative impact on the quality of the research (Crane and
Matten, 2016). So, in such cases, it is better to complete the research in the given deadline only
so that no factor can be able to act as a challenge or barrier while achieving different objectives
of the research. I learned that there are various ways of collecting the quantitative data and some
well known examples include online, books, journals etc. I also understood that there are various
different aspects of the research methodology that can be sued as well in the research for making
it more effective and appropriate.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the report that information technology can act as an essential
factor that can be involved by Tesco in order to make various improvements in different business
objectives of the company. Also, different aspects of the research methodology have been
covered as well in order to make the research more effective and appropriate. Content analysis of
the same has been done as well. A proper project management plan has been made covering all
the essential factors such as scope, time etc. Therefore, it can be concluded that the involvement
of information technology can prove effective enough in providing help to Tesco in achieving all
the business objectives.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Borghoff, U.M. and Pareschi, R. eds., 2013. Information technology for knowledge management
. Springer Science & Business Media.
Bulgurcu, B., Cavusoglu, H. and Benbasat, I., 2010. Information security policy compliance: an e
mpirical study of rationality-based beliefs and information security awareness. MIS quart
erly. 34(3). pp.523-548.
Saunders, M.N. and Bezzina, F., 2015. Reflections on conceptions of research methodology amo
ng management academics. European Management Journal. 33(5). pp.297-304.
Soni, G. and Kodali, R., 2012. A critical review of empirical research methodology in supply cha
in management. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management. 23(6). pp.753-779.
Zumitzavan, V. and Michie, J., 2015. Research Methodology. In Personal Knowledge Managem
ent, Leadership Styles, and Organisational Performance (pp. 27-34). Springer Singapore.
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