Role of Information Technology in Managing Businesses: A Case Study of Asda

This report discusses the role of information technology in managing businesses, with a case study of Asda. It covers different types of software used by businesses, importance of ethical and social issues, impact of internet and intranet, and the role of IT in helping managers to manage businesses.

to Information
Technology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................2
Discuss different types of software that could be used by businesses........................................2
Ethical and social issues are increasingly becoming important in the digital world. Identify
and discuss the importance of them to run businesses,...............................................................3
Discuss the impact of internet and intranet on businesses..........................................................4
Discuss the role of IT in helping managers to manage businesses.............................................6
Pros and cons of information technology...................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
References:.......................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Information Technology is defined as the usage of any computer, networking, storage and
any other physical devices. The use of information technology makes the work of organisation
more easier. In order to complete the business operations in an effective and efficient manner,
the management use several new and advance technology. The chosen organisation for this
report is Asda which is a British supermarket chain having headquarter in Leeds, United
Kingdom. The knowledge of information technology also leads to speed up the work done by the
employees of organisation (Chen, 2019). This report include several types of software which are
being used by Asda, importance of ethical and social issues in running the business. In addition
to this, it also deals with the impact of internet and intranet on Asda and the role of IT through
which the managers of business organisation can manage the business.
LITERATURE REVIEW
As per the article of Ben Lutkevich, system software is consider as the computer
hardware which is being developed for the purpose of bringing the fluency in the application
program. It is found as essential to know about the system software as it act as a mediator among
the hardware and user application. He also state that the system software is being used in order to
managing the computer machines.
According to the article of Thompson, 2019, each and every business organisation is
require to collect the data and keep the record of all information. These practices can be
completed in an effective and efficient manner with the use of information technology. The
improvement in the overall performance of organisation along with enhancing the customer
experiences can be introduced in the business through the use of ICT. It also leads to the
decrease in costing and improving the productivity of organisation by providing the important
data in necessity. In addition to this, information technology permits the business firm to
improve its security along with avoiding the wastage of papers. It is the easiest way of expansion
of business firm in international market as it permits the purchases in several currencies.
According to the point of view of Scheck, (2016), advancement in the technology result
in several innovations. Now a day, various business firms are gaining the advantage of digital
tool as an improving tool. The use of Information Technology directly influence the business
1

operations. It also involve Cloud Computing which is found as highly popular which leads to
bringing the effectiveness and efficiency in the functions of a business firm.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Discuss different types of software that could be used by businesses.
Retail management software support the functions or operations of retail industry. It
become easy to manage all the functions in the retail industry. There are several types of
software which are being used in the retail businesses. Below mentioned are some essential types
of software that could be used by Asda: Payment Processing Software: It is defined as the software which create the relationship
among the stores of Asda with banks and different systems of payment. It permits the
business organisation to process the business transactions in a fast and secure manner.
This software develop the credibility of Asda and aids to improve the entire security
through avoiding the fraud (Kuckartz and Rädiker, 2019). It help in proceeding the
invoice in a fast and easiest manner. In addition to this, it also plays an important role in
saving the cost as it decrease the requirement of bills. Through the use of this software,
Asda can operate online along with accepting the cashless payments. Inventory management software: It refers to the software systems which plays the role
of controlling the stock of warehouse along with automating some processes. Through
the help of automatic synchronization of stock with orders, Asda company can quickly
get update of stocks which also helps the management in taking the effective supply
chain decisions. It also leads to the automatic generation of invoices which can also save
the time of management of Asda and make the price formation and revenue transparent. Point of Sale Software (POS): It is defined as a system in which hardware and software
work simultaneity in order to permitting the transactions among Asda and its customers.
This system plays an important role in improving the efficiency of operations of Asda
through removing the requirement of traditional payment system which include cash
register. It introduce the bar code scanners and terminals of credit card in order to make
the payment process more easy and effective (Kumar and Rathore 2018). It also help the
management by providing sales reports which can help in predicting the trends of near
2

future. There are several stores of Asda in United Kingdom, hence, this software collect
the entire data and informations of customers from all the stores.
 Retail management software: It refers to the comprehensive digital platforms for Asda
which can be used to integrate the collection of tools for the purpose of managing the
day to day business operations. These tools will be helpful for Asda in conducting the
inventory management, point of sale transaction and customer relationship management.
This software perform the function of streamline the transactions which leads to bringing
the efficiency in their day to day business operations. Asda can perform several
processes with the use of only a single integrated platform.
Ethical and social issues are increasingly becoming important in the digital world. Identify and
discuss the importance of them to run businesses,
Development of digital world is introducing advancement in technology. Several of new
and advance technology is being used by the Asda for the purpose of completing its operations
by saving time and collecting all the essential details through the server of operating system. The
advance technology is becoming an important part of wellness and academic area. Higher the use
of digital technology result in the huge alterations in the interior installation of the society.
Below mentioned are the several ethical and social issues:
Ethical Issues Individual Secrecy: It is found as the major ethical challenge in the area of information
technology. It involve the offence and closing of private information of an individual
through the usage of network. Through the use of advancement of technology, huge
amount of details of individuals can be used through the utilization of network at a wide
level. It is the reason behind having the several individual components such as operating
system, hardware, software and many more (Sung, Chae and Lee, 2019). All these
individual components are being linked with each other in order to operate the server
with the use of network. In the context of Asda, it has been identified that the integrity
and closure of personal data is the major issue which occur while gathering the data and
informations of customers from several stores.
 Access rights: In the phase of improvement of technology, approaching towards getting
the rights is also found as the most essential issue. In any case, if any unauthorised
person access the data through the use of any specific network on the platform of social
3

media. This will result in the huge amount of losses as it is not the right way of
accessing the data or information. Any of important information related to the customers
or finance or any internal management information can be accessed by any unauthorised
user leads to the huge losses to the business organisation. In the modern ear, most of
people are shifting to the e-commerce and e payment system while doing payment of
shopping. Itcan be a huge issue for the bodies of governing.
Social Issues
 Online Stores: This kind of service is majorly provided by the offline supermarket or
hypermarket chain to their customers. Under this facility, several of customers do
online payment through online banking. This practice give the access of all the
important information of bank to the cell phone (Zhao and et. al., 2018). All the
important bank account details have been saved in the mobile application of Asda.
The unlawful use of this informations of customers may result in the financial or
monetary loss of customers.
 Cyberbullying: It is defined as the misuse of the information which is being on the IT
by the company. It also have its negative impact on the business operations and
functions of Asda. There are various forms of cyberbullying which include harass or
defame someone, manipulating the individual working ion the organisation.
Discuss the impact of internet and intranet on businesses.
Information and the communication technologies(ICT) is defined as the diverse set of
technological tools and the certain resources which are being used to transmit, store, create, share
and exchange the information in the business. It is being use to handle the communication
processes such as telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management
systems, transmission system and the network-based control and the functions of
monitoring(Andreoni and Yip, 2020). It is the mind set which is being generated by the business
so that they can have the better consideration in the operations of the business by which they can
rightly ensures the higher profitability and revenue and its operations. In context to Asda, There
are certain benefits which are attach with the digital tools and this also helps in growing the
digitalization with in the company. The certain communication technology helps the business to
consider the data and actions which are comprises of collection, saving, processing and
presenting the data. As the advancement is the communication and the IT technology has further
4

strengthen the role of the interest in the company. The internet is widely used in company for
marketing an promotion of goods and services. This also deliver the customer support, share the
information and provide training to the employees. The certain affects and connection
technology on the business enterprises are illustrated below:
 Cloud computing :- It is the general terms which is being used for anything that involves
delivering hosted services in the internet. It helps in developing their varied business in
order to capitalise on the certain capability and manage their time and resources for the
organisation. When the company want to attains its objectives in an impressive manner
they needs to have the better networking line which assist in growing their actions and
diverse the certain services such as collection of information virtually in the different
business units and save the data.
 Technology of business process:- It is basically the connection which assist in
automating each process in the given business in an appropriate manner, this not one
ensures the development of the efficiencies but also helps in developing their operations
in the departments. These aspects helps the company to complete the given task within
the deadline so that the effectiveness can be retain and leads to get good response in the
business. All such business activities such as collection of the data and tracking all the
process and managing the billing can be completed in an appropriate manner with the
help of the technology.
 Giving satisfaction to their users :- It is most effective factor which leads to have the
better learning for the users. It is the key that are presented in front of the venture and
also leads to meet the needs of the people. In context to Asda, there are certain task which
is related to the communication technology and help the company in resoling various
issues in an appropriate manner(Elbaset and Ata, 2021). As the company is utilizing the
social media stages so that they can better serve the customers. It is known that the key
ingredient for the success and the growth of the concern is the satisfaction of the buyers,
there are certain types of cloud which is based on communication programs that helps in
growing the satisfaction of the customers.
 Protection of information :- It is analysed that the large amount of data has been stored
by the company in their given data base and it is being considered that it is the valuable
resource for the company. There are various types of issues which is related to the lose of
5

data and the information that includes the lose of customer's data and their personal
information. It is vital ofr Asda to have their data to be safe and secure. They must use
the appropriate tools by which they can save their date and its customer's data so that they
can promote the security of the information. Moreover, the access has been granted users
by having the virtual storages in which the the chances of hacking and keeping data
secure can be minimised.
 Controlling of resources : There are certain type of resources which are being acquired
by the company which access the human resource, financial resources and many others.
This is tough to the large companies to keep their resources in an appropriate manner.
Moreover the certain solutions being launched and technology is being used as it plays
the significant role in tackling the various resources in an appropriate manner. In relation
to Asda, the major consideration of business factors in an appropriate manner. This also
leads the company to develop the various procedures of the company. This assist the
management of the particular company by which certain application can be used in order
to manage the business.
Discuss the role of IT in helping managers to manage businesses.
Information technology helps the business for framing certain strategies according to the
business cycle so that the right information can be stored and transferred to the business which
also leads to have the betterment in the given task. In context to Asda, there are certain aspect in
which they are managing the business which are explained as follows:
 Develop the company communication :- this basically leads to manage the firm in
developing the effective communication within the organisation. Mails, videos, chats is
being utilised by the company(Tereshchenko Lyubov, 2021). In relation to Asda, IT
helps the administration of the company so that they can assemble the data in an
appropriate manner.
 Improved consumer learnings :- Certain types of information software is being
developed and helped the users and the manager of the company to control their business
in an appropriate manner. In context to Asda, these such application not only assist them
in communicating with the users on its sites and also leads to have the huge growth and
success.
6

 Impressive Regular operations:- It is he vital factor which helps the managers of the
company which helps in retaining the effectiveness of the business task. By growing the
overall functionality of the business, the management can complete the project in a very
rapid and low policy and focuses on the details of the company. In context to Asda, the
retail industry have to perform the software and emphasis on the company functioning.
Pros and cons of information technology
As the communication technology and the information is being used by the Asda that
help them to develop the certain kinds of business in which they are operating. They are
operating in online payments, developing communications by using Emails that ensures the
better floe of technology within the business and further they can develop the connection with
their respective customers.
The negative side of the information technology is that they need to have huge
investment and also require time to complete the given task. In context to enhance the system
information technology, the top level management of company have invest more funds in order
to manage the technology in an appropriate manner(Magnavita, 2018). The e-commerce sites of
an organisation can collect the personal data and the information of the people which leads to
have frauds. This also get close the goods linked to the details in which certain time is being
needed which affect the company. Additionally, with the better use of the technology,
unemployment ration reduced with the less use of human resources within the organisation.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it is being concluded that there are certain actions of the company
which are detailed and communication technology is having the huge effects. This not only help
the organisation in making the better communication networks for the business but it also leads
to have securing the data of the business. This respective project says that the information
technology are having the different type of software which are different types that are discussed
in the given task. This also summarised that the various kind of task of social and ethical issues
that are being faced by the business and its importance in the business. Communication
technology and information make the huge effect on the overall performance of the company and
its offering the technology so that they can ensures the effective functioning in an appropiate
manner.
7

8

References:
Books and Journals
Alt, R., Human, S. and Neumann, G., 2020. Introduction to the Minitrack on End-user
Empowerment in the Digital Age.
Andreoni, W. and Yip, S., 2020. Theory and Methods for Materials Modeling: An Introduction.
Handbook of Materials Modeling: Methods: Theory and Modeling, pp.3-12.
Behera, A. and Moazzam, A.A., 2022. India’s National Security Discourse: A Conceptual
Introduction. In Varying Dimensions of India’s National Security (pp. 3-16). Springer,
Singapore.
Chen, B., 2019, May. Improving the software logging practices in DevOps. In 2019 IEEE/ACM
41st International Conference on Software Engineering: Companion Proceedings
(ICSE-Companion) (pp. 194-197). IEEE.
De Ascaniis, S. and Cantoni, L., 2022. Introduction to the Handbook on Heritage, Sustainable
Tourism and Digital Media. In Handbook on Heritage, Sustainable Tourism and Digital
Media. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Elbaset, A.A. and Ata, S., 2021. Introduction and Literature Review. Hybrid Renewable Energy
Systems for Remote Telecommunication Stations, pp.1-10.
Kuckartz, U. and Rädiker, S., 2019. Introduction: analyzing qualitative data with software.
In Analyzing qualitative data with MAXQDA (pp. 1-11). Springer, Cham.
Kumar, S. and Rathore, S.S., 2018. Types of software fault prediction. In Software Fault
Prediction (pp. 23-30). Springer, Singapore.
Magnavita, J.J., 2018. Introduction: How can technology advance mental health treatment?.
Mohanraj, T. and Jegadeeshwaran, R., 2021. Introduction to Industry 4.0. In Tribology of
Polymer and Polymer Composites for Industry 4.0 (pp. 113-127). Springer, Singapore.
Sung, E., Chae, Y. and Lee, S., 2019. Analysis of types and characteristics of self-directed
learning of learners in online software education. The Journal of Korean Association of
Computer Education, 22(1), pp.31-46.
Tereshchenko Lyubov, V., 2021, March. SYSTEMATIC OVERVIEW OF PROSPECTS OF
INTRODUCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC RECIPE SYSTEM IN UKRAINE. In The
8th International scientific and practical conference “Actual trends of modern scientific
research”(March 14-16, 2021) MDPC Publishing, Munich, Germany. 2021. 805 p. (p.
167).
Zhao and et. al., 2018. A brief review on software tools in generating Chou's pseudo-factor
representations for all types of biological sequences. Protein and Peptide Letters, 25(9),
pp.822-829.
9