Introduction to Information Technology

This document provides an introduction to information technology and its role in business success and failure. It discusses the ethical and social issues related to information technology, different networking technologies, and the importance of internet and intranet in business. The document also covers the stages of the development life cycle.

Introduction to
Information Technology

ABSTRACT
Information technology is an essential aspects for existing organisation that leads an
organisation to gain top position in market. The existing report consider the detail information
about retail industry and information technology such as their success and failure factor. Along
with this the ethical and social issue such as loss of private data, hack and security etc. are major
concern that disturb the functions of organisation. With the implement of LAN, MAN and WAN
it is easy for company and its departments to communicate with each other and stakeholders in
an effective manner. In the last, benefits related with internet and development of life cycle to
formulate effective robust system is developed to enhance organisation performance.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
Role of IT in failure and success of business organisation.........................................................3
Issue and concerns related with business of retail industry........................................................4
ANALYSIS and Discussion............................................................................................................5
Identification and difference in various type of networking technology....................................5
Internet and intranet importance in business...............................................................................6
Several stages of development life cycle....................................................................................7
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................8
Potential benefits and drawbacks for an organisation while investing in IT..............................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCE LIST.........................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Information technology can be defined as the maintenance, development and implement
of software in the operations and functions of organisation. The main aim to utilise information
technology is to process and distribute data with rapid speed among overall departments of
organisation. With the implement of information technology and its tools better design and
productivity of organisation will be gained. The chosen organisation for this report is TESCO, it
is a multinational retail company of UK that is operating their business at global level. Moreover,
this report will focus on ethical and social issue that are faced by organisation and role of IT
system towards failure and success of organisation (Buabeng-Andoh, 2012). In the last, role of
web and network technology as well as role of internet in a business will also be covered in this
report.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Role of IT in failure and success of business organisation
According to the Richard Cuthbertson, 2014, information technology develops various
changes in the functions and operations of business's organisation. Like, it reduces human
involvement to monitor time and production system of large machine by replacing with it
automated machines and software. Along with this international organisation such as TESCO
develops most of its business's towards online shopping with online platforms. Some aspects
related with success and failure of company is as follow:
Accurate decisions- With globalisation aspects it is analysed that speed is an important
factor for TESCO to gain competitive edge in retail industry. So to remain competitive in world
management is focused towards information technology as it helps them to complete an effective
research with utilisation of several tools such as Big data, google analytics and many more. So it
leads company to achieve huge success by formulating accurate and effective decision with in
minimum time period (Lai, Lui and Tsang, 2016).
Interaction with stakeholders- With implement of information technology it is easy for
TESCO and its members to complete their work with more efficiency by managing
communicating their objectives with other members in effective way(Introduction to the Special
Issue Information Technology in Retail: Toward Omnichannel Retailing, 2014). In the present
scenario, organisation are competing with each other at global level this governs it is essential for

management of TESCO to define their goals and objectives with other members in effective
manner. If organisation fails to implement information technology then there is more probability
to see failure in business.
Collaboration with other players- Wide customer base is an essential tool which leads
business's houses to gain top position. So to approach large number of customer's information
technology is an effective tool which helps in performing operations and functions among
different countries. Moreover, it also work as a success factor that is utilise to perform work with
innovative perspective. This also leads business to gain competitive edge in market by using
unique methods of work such as software and database.
Promotion and advertising by IT system- Information technology works as the boom
for organisation which are multinational player in the world. In simple terms TESCO use
information system for offering their products and services at large level. This benefits
management to attract customer's at a larger level (Lueg, Pedersen and Clemmensen, 2015).
Different IT tools are also utilised by management for completing all task to complete their
operations in strategic manner. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are some online platforms that
enhances existing and potential number of customer's. It results organisation will target its
customer's with positive approach by offering better products to customer's.
Issue and concerns related with business of retail industry
From the perspective of Dotun Olaleye Faloye, 2014. While performing business
operations and functions it is monitored that several issue related with existing operations of
TESCO are monitored in business. With selecting right software that only undertakes business
data is defined as ethical perspective. On the other side, social issue also impact on operations of
business's some of them are mention as follow:
Ethical issues
 Hack of system or software- The term hacking refers to ethical crime under which
professional or software engineer grab and steal important information as well as data
against owner permission and authority. In context of retail industry companies will
collect data to understand business perspective and strategies of competitive organisation.
Further, organisation hacks important information and content from other business
companies in order to make effective strategy for current business (Magrabi and et. al.,
2013). As per consideration of TESCO, if company focus on such issue then it impact on

goodwill of organisation due to which it reduces sales, profits and revenue of company.
So it is mandatory for company to perform their work with ethics to overcome from issue
and concerns of market.
 Ineffective security system- At the time of performing work in organisation, customer's
and workforce of organisation must share its information such as account details and card
information with company to purchase products and services (Nijssen, Schepers and
Belanche, 2016). Therefore, it is the responsibility of authority and manager of TESCO to
keep store essential information of company and its customer's with clenched security
system. Along with this ineffective security system also generates lack of trust between
workforce and customer's due to which sales of company will be decreases.
Social issues
 Cyber bulling- With adoption of information technology it is easy for management to
perform business in an organised manner. But on other side, IT system also includes
negative aspects such as defamation of individuals. This results buyers are not interested
and comfortable to share its essential information with companies and individuals due to
suspicious actions and activities (The adoption of e-commerce in small businesses: an
empirical evidence from retail sector in Nigeria, 2014). TESCO must formulate strategy
that deal with social issue of company.
 Communication collapse- Mouth publicity and face to face interaction are the best
methods through which organisation approach its customer's with in detail manner. This
refers to demonstrate all essential information such as price, size, availability of products
to customer's but due to miss-understanding of words or similar synonyms create
confusion between persons that create complexity for business's transactions.
ANALYSIS and Discussion
Identification and difference in various type of networking technology
As per view of Hakan Hakansson, 2014. Networking technique and technology enables
individuals to communicate with other person with the implement of electronic devices. This
determines to interact with customer with the utilisation of cables, modem, wireless technology
and many more tools. MAN, WAN and LAN are some type of technology which are mentions as
follow:

 LAN- LAN stands for local area network which connect small area to deliver essential
information with in minimum time (Okumus, 2013). Most of the LAN network are
privately owned and covers tiny geographical field like, school building and office
premises. In context of TESCO, LAN is used by management to connect their printers
with server so command will be provide to individuals from different places.
 WAN- Wide area network refers to the connection of large LAN system in order to wide
area of market. This results it is easy for TESCO with WAN system to interact between
large distance areas in minimum time period (Corporate Technological Behaviour,
2014).
 MAN- Metropolitan area network is the largest type of network which is larger than
MAN and WAN. The main aim to implement MAN system is to cover area of a single
city. From the perspective of TESCO MAN system connects different branches of retail
stores of a single city in a proper manner (Pantano, Priporas and Baier, 2017).
Difference between networking technologies
LAN MAN WAN
 The area of LAN
system is small and
limited.
 MAN undertakes area
at large place that is
city, town and also a
region.
 WAN offers an
unlimited connectivity
that cover entire
continent to interact.
 Price invested in LAN
system is too low
because it require less
hardware system.
 The set up of cost to
implement MAN is
high as it cover large
geographical area.
 To develop WAN
system an organisation
requires high
investment due to
requirement of large
resources.
 Data bandwidth of
LAN system is too low.
 As compare to LAN
and WAN bandwidth
 Broadest area of
bandwidth is provide

of MAN is too high. by WAN system.
 Data transmission
compass of LAN
system is up-to only 1
KM.
 Transmission compass
or area of MAN is
around 100 km.
 Highest transmission
compass is provide by
WAN that is more than
100 km.
Internet and intranet importance in business
Internet refers to connecting global computer system which provides networking and
communicating system between larger areas. The main motive of internet is to provide
interaction at large level (Petermans and Kent, eds., 2016). TESCO utilise internet system for
providing better assistance in business organisation at global level.
Importance of internet in business
In the present scenario, majority of companies are performing their work at global level
so with help of internet this is easy for organisation to complete their task by utilising unique and
new software in its functions. Moreover, internet is the cheapest method that is increasing its
business are with rapid speed. Online research, to sale products with online platform etc. are
some important aspects of Internet that develops new trends and methods to purchase the
products. Moreover, large number of individuals are friendly with technology and information
system so it also work as positive aspects for TESCO to use IT systems. Social networks and
messaging application also work as an effective approach which is used by organisation for
completing their work in decided time period along with follow of completion of work as per
rules and regulations of IT system.
Intranet and its use in business
Intranet can be defined as an intrinsic system which allow users and its workforce to have
access of system in organisation. Intranet also work as per internet technology which offer
similar benefits to business's houses but at a small level. With the implement of Intranet it is easy
for organisation to store their information at desire place so the information will be exchange at
secure place (Xue and et. al., 2015). Moreover, replacement of automated system from manual
perspective also enhance productivity and profitability of TESCO by satisfying organisational
needs in proper manner. On the other side, by utilising intranet digital communication needs of

organisation are also satisfied in proper manner by focusing on operational and functional
productivity as it provides better returns on the invested amount.
Several stages of development life cycle
System development life cycle can be defined as the framework that includes various
steps of software development at different phase. This involves detailed plan relates with
maintaining, developing and distributing of software's in organised manner. SDLC aim in
describing whole development cycle for defining different stages which are mention as follow:
Requirement assembling and analyse- According to this phase, all relevant and useful
information is gathered from customer's in order to increase efficiency of products. The main
aim of this stage is to formulate products as per customer's needs. Like, in context of TESCO
they develop easy payment application for reducing the payment time period from customer's.
 Designing- It is the second stage that is used for collecting information as an input of
developing better software architecture that implement information related system in
effective manner.
 Implementation of coding- After designing coding is implemented in IT related system
that is used to create better software design for transferring all resources into source and
code. Along with this new it also helps management to implement new software (Yay,
2015).
 Testing- It is the fourth stage that will take place after the completion of coding so
management of TESCO will check them according to their modules. During this phase all
test will be completed in detail manner that reduces probability of changes in effective
manner. Moreover, developers also make modifications according to requirement of
TESCO and its stakeholders.
 Deployment- When the software and products are coordinated and checked it is easy for
organisation to utilise them in production department. If its satisfies demand of
customer's them it is easy for TESCO to enhance their sales and profits by offering large
number of products.
 Maintenance- To maintain and manage software is the last stage of development life-
cycle that is beneficial for providing better outcomes in organisation. Moreover, with the
use of application and software it is also for customer's to gain better shopping
experience.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Potential advantages and disadvantage for an organisation to invest in IT
Benefits of investing in IT
Their are various advantages are gained by TESCO by investing huge amount in
information technology. Therefore, some advantages are mention below:
 Most effective and beneficial of investment in IT demonstrate better interaction as well as
communication among internal and external department. With better information system
TESCO perform their operations better in micro as well as macro environment.
 With information technology all task and actions which are performed by TESCO are
facilitated towards straight process for performing their work in effective manner. In the
present scenario with efficient strategy it is easy for management to gain competitive
advantage against rival organisation.
Drawbacks of Investing in IT
Each point and action consider two approaches that is positive and negative, similarly
information system also provides some negative aspects or drawbacks at time of investing in
information technology which are mention as follow:
 To implement better information technology and its system TESCO requires huge
amount of capital for making better investment in company. After this, management will
spend some more money for providing training to workforce about the use of technology
which is implemented by TESCO. Due to this cost and expenses the profits for
organisation will also decrease.
 Maintenance of robust system IT system undertakes complex process which work as a
threat for organisation. Information and data which is utilised by TESCO are more
confidential and sensitive so it is mandatory for authority to manage information in
proper manner. From the perspective of TESCO management face challenges to generate
trust among customer's which results in loss of revenues (Xue and et. al., 2015).
CONCLUSION
In the last, by analysing above report it is concluded that information technology
performs critical role in the success and failure of business organisation. Like, by using
information technology in appropriate manner it is easy to attract customer's at large level with in

minimum time. This results with the increase in sales and revenue of organisation the success of
organisation will be visible. On the other side, several issue such as lack of security, cyber
bullying also impacts on business in considerable manner. Further, with network technology
companies are also benefited to interact with stakeholders at local as well as international level.
In the last, internet and intranet also assist business's to gain huge success in market by utilising
new and innovative information tools. Development life-cycle also allow he organisation for
developing strong system in business operations and functions.

REFERENCES
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