Evaluation of Business IT Systems for British Home Plc

This report provides an in-depth analysis of business IT systems, focusing on their application within British Home Plc, a company operating in property, consultancy, travel, and retail. The report explores the diverse functions of IT within the organization, including transaction processing systems, management information systems, and decision support systems, and their contributions to achieving business objectives. It examines various methods for data storage and processing, covering knowledge management, customer relationship management (CRM), communication, and data management strategies. Furthermore, the report evaluates IT systems in supporting value-added change, improving business performance, operations, and sustainability, culminating in specific recommendations for enhancing IT strategies within British Home Plc. The report emphasizes the importance of IT in facilitating customer interaction, inventory management, and data management.

Business IT Systems

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1 .............................................................................................................................................1
Usage of IT in diverse functions of organisation as well as contribution in achieving
objectives of British Home Plc...................................................................................................1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................4
Examine diverse ways for storage as well as processing of data for knowledge, CRM,
communication and data management........................................................................................4
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................6
Evaluation of IT systems for supporting value added change in improvisation of business
performance, operations as well as sustainability.......................................................................6
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................7
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

Introduction
The applications of technology for solving organisational or business problems on a
broader scale is referred to as information technology. IT department within every organisation is
liable for governance, operations, hardware & infrastructure. Business information technology
system illustrates ways in which information technology is being utilised for collecting,
processing as well as having in-depth knowledge related with crucial aspects of firm (Becerra-
Fernandez and Sabherwal, 2014). In this assignment, British Home Plc is taken into
consideration which was founded in 1947 by Colonel Williams and it deals within property,
consultancy, travel and retail industry. This report comprises of functions of IT in firm and its
contribution along with ways of storing & processing information. This also contains ways in
which operations of business are enhanced and appropriate recommendations are being given.
Task 1
Usage of IT in diverse functions of organisation as well as contribution in achieving objectives
of British Home Plc.
The scrutiny of systems with respect to information as well as complementary networks
which comprises of software and hardware that are being utilised by firm for collection, filtering,
processing, creation and distribution of data is referred to as information technology system.
There exists diverse information systems which are being used by firm for rendering their
services in an appropriate manner. They are illustrated beneath:
1. Transaction Processing System: The finance department of British Home Plc can make
use TPS for recording everyday business transactions. It can be used by them at
operational management level and they have to address questions like, what services they
have delivered, what was its number, what is left within inventory, what more is required.
Such kind of basic questions are being asked and with respect to them TPS answers them.
With respect to those answers management and team leader can formulate strategies
which will be highly structured and it is detailed (Bentley, 2012). For an instance, within
each industry British Home Plc can make use of Payroll systems so that they can process
salary of employees. Stock control systems can be utilised for tracking inventory.
2. Management Information System: Tactical managers within British Home Plc makes
use of MIS for monitoring the performance. The output that is attained from transaction
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processing system can be utilised as a input for MIS. This system will analyse the
attained input by usage of routine algorithms like aggregate, compare as well as
summarize the outcomes that are produced. These reports will be used by tactical
managers for monitoring, controlling as well as predicting future performance. For an
example by tracking point of sale, the pattern of products can be predicted with respect to
one that is doing as well as those who don't provide high sales. This will assists British
Home plc within analysis of future management of inventory.
3. Decision Support System: Senior management makes use of DSS for carrying out non-
routine decisions. In such kind of systems input is taken from TPS as well as MIS
(Burrough and et. al, 2015). The aim of DSS is to render solution to situations which
alters frequently and are rare. For an instance, British Home Plc can make use of
financial planning systems to identify optimal ways for attainment of goals, here senior
managers can ask the questions like what if cost of goods is increased or decreased, etc.
to see the effects of decision making as well as find out optimal way.
This denotes that there are wide systems that can be utilised by British Home Plc to
render their services as per their anticipations. This will yield them high accuracy as well as
quick services to their customers.
Contribution of IT: Information technology has became crucial as well as primary part within
every firm. From multi-national organisations who manages mainframe systems as well as
database to small firms which comprises of single computer (Pearlson, Saunders and Galletta,
2016). This means that IT has role in each and every firm, it can be understood by following
points with respect to British Home Plc:
 Interaction among Customers, suppliers and employees: Email acts as important
means for carrying out communication among crucial assets of firm. It becomes easy to
communicate rather than going to each individual individually and speak to them. This
will assist British Home Plc to have effective interaction among all the industries in
which they are working as well as live chat system video conferencing and online
meeting tools can be used. In this addition to this, 5G technology has made it more easier
as it provides high speed, capacity is more along with bandwidth (Hendriks, 2013).
Through this, British Home Plc can have consistent connectivity.
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 Inventory management system: When inventory is needed to be maintained means that
enough stock is available by which demands of customers can be accomplished without
making more investments. It is liable for tracking quantity of every item firm requires
and trigger when additional stock is required before pre-determined quantities fall down
(Information Technology & Its Role in the Modern Organisation, 2019). For this British
Home Plc can make use of point of sale system to make sure that when item is sold then
one item is ejected from count thereby closing all information loop.
 Data management system: Files were stored in manual format but at present scenario
digital media has made it easier to store information. Apart from this, cloud computing is
latest technology which is being used by firms for rendering their services. The major
asset of this is that data is available from anywhere and can be accessed at any time. This
denotes their work will hardly be hampered (Hitomi, K., 2017). This is provides all the
crucial details that are needed by employees of British Home Plc.
 Transaction processing system: TPS is being utilised for recording everyday business
activities that are being carried out within British Home Plc. The aim of TPS is to answer
the questions related with sales that have taken place within British Home Plc, stock
available within inventory, etc. Through this decisions can be carried out by operational
managers in an structured form. The information attained through this is very detailed
which will assist British Home Plc to formulate decisions with respect to this. It involves
payroll, stock control, airline booking and point of sale system.
 Management information system: This is being utilised by tactical managers for
monitoring current performance of firm the output attained from transaction processing
system will act as a input for MIS. The input attained will be analysed by usage of routine
algorithms such as aggregation, comparison and summarizes results for producing reports
that can be utilised by tactical managers of British Home Plc for monitoring, controlling
as well as prediction of future performance.
From above, it is clear that Information Technology has set a benchmark for firms which
identify the ways in which firm carry out their operations. It makes the processing as well as
operations of firm smoother (Glider and et. al., 2016). For an instance British Home Plc can
make use of TPS for ensuring that their activities are carried out in an appropriate manner as well
as according to required standards.
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Task 2
Examine diverse ways for storage as well as processing of data for knowledge, CRM,
communication and data management.
Organisations collect data from various sources and by the usage of Internet of Things as
well as social media applications, the capacity for collecting information is enhancing (Greasley,
2017). Data storage is defined as a way in which physical recording media are being used for
retaining information that is being read by systems so that it can be retained whenever it is
required. In context of British Home Plc, they can make use of any one of them:
 On-Premises: This involves that firm can have their own servers for storing their data.
They can be present within private data centre facility which possess specified data room.
This will assist British Home Plc to have control over their data but cost associated with
its maintenance is high.
 Public cloud: Migration of entire data operations delivers high versatility as well as
scalability. Along with this, there exist easy provision for storage and computing as per
requirements of firm (4 Data Storage Methods for Businesses, 2019). But if British Home
Plc will be making use of this then there can be a difficulty with respect to protection of
sensitive data by unauthorized individuals.
 Private cloud: As British Home Plc is carrying out their operations in different
industries, security is important aspect which is mandatory. For this they can make use of
private cloud for storing data, it renders higher levels of security that are coupled with
encryption standards.
Data processing refers to process of collecting as well as manipulating data for
producing meaningful information. It involves transformation of raw data into machine-readable
format and then that data is given to CPU for processing and then output is being given (Jaques,
2017). British Home Plc can have huge benefits from this as they are able to have information
from data whenever is required rather than evaluation of data for extracting knowledge from this.
It refers to the series of operations that are being conducted on data by the usage of systems that
are liable for presenting, interpretation as well as obtaining information with respect to that. This
can be understood by taking an instance like British Home Plc have diverse feedbacks from their
customers on their website or social media platforms, now it is very obvious that some will be
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positive and others will be negative and it will be difficult to scan thousands of comments and
then come to a conclusion (Zheng and et. al., 2017). By the usage of decision support system,
management can look for productive comments process them and identify the possible solution
with respect to that. The reason for this is that raw data is not of any use to British Home Plc
until it is in processed form.
Knowledge management: The systematic management of assets of firm for creation of
value & acknowledging tactical along with strategic needs is referred to as knowledge
management. In context of British Home Plc, it comprises of initiatives, strategies, processes as
well as systems for sustaining and enhancing their operations (Knowledge Management Tools,
2018). Basically, it denotes a tool which can be utilised by firms that will assist within
formulation of documentation with respect to questions that are being raised by customers as
well as information that can be accessed in different formats both by internal as well as external
customers. It assists within keeping the documentation updated, guides customers within
identification of answers as well as manage access to knowledge & permissions around user
groups.
Customer relationship management: Strategies, tools, technologies and techniques that
are utilised by organisations for development, retention as well as acquisition of customers is
defined as customer relationship management. By making use of CRM tools Zoho office suite or
Microsoft Dynamics interaction becomes smooth (Legner and et. al., 2017). Customer
relationship management approach are liable for compilation of data from wide range of
interaction channels that comprises of website of British Home Plc, email, marketing material,
live chat and various other mediums which comprises of social medium. This involves various
techniques as well as strategies for maintaining healthy relationship with existent as well as
potential customers.
Data management: Administrative processes which comprises of acquisition, validation,
storage, protection as well as processing of data for ensuring reliability, timeliness and
accessibility of data for their users is referred to as data management (What is Data
Management?, 2019). British Home Plc can make use of Big Data for making business decisions
as well as gain insight into behaviour, opportunities as well as trends. Within firm, data
management will be liable for creation, accessing as well as updation of data around different tier
of data, it is liable for storing data around various clouds & on premises, it renders higher
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availability as well as recovery related with disaster, use data within algorithms, analytics and
applications. This will lead to ensure security as well as privacy of data of British Home Plc.
Communication management: Planning, implementation, monitoring as well as
revision of channels for interaction in firm and with other stakeholders is defined as
communication management. British Home Plc can make its use form formulation ODF
strategies as well as for designing of internal & external flow of information. This is responsible
for providing integrity within project for rendering lifeline information in between project
members. The data within firm flows downward like decisions are made by top management and
goes till lower staff or for whom it has been developed (Shollo and Galliers, 2016). This is
formal way in which activities are being carried out and they assists within effective working of
British Home Plc.
Task 3
Evaluation of IT systems for supporting value added change in improvisation of business
performance, operations as well as sustainability.
Technology is rapidly growing and with this enhancement firms also need to keep them
up to date so that they can make use of this evolution. The reason for this is that, to overcome
barriers within existing technologies and provide more features technology is updated. This
denotes that by making use of this firm can have better results in terms of their productivity as
their performance can be intensified. It leads them to have affirmative impact on their
profitability (Laurillard, 2013). An example can be taken to understand this like as 5G
technology has came then there is no use to stay on 4G for British Home Plc to communicate, the
reason for this is that it provides high bandwidth as well is more efficient and effective. In
addition to this, it can support near about 60,000 connections at a time and any kind of
interruption do not takes place. This denotes that British Home Plc can have huge benefits by its
usage as they can interact as well as share resources among their all the departments and sectors
in an affirmative manner without any kind of hindrance.
Value added change can be attained by implementation of IT within firm. At initial stage,
it will costly but it will provide value for money at latter stages due to their benefits like
accessibility, availability, security, confidentiality, scalability, flexibility and various others
(Mohammed and Yusof, 2013). This means that by making use of Information Technology
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British Home Plc can have intensified performance by which productivity can be enhanced and
customers can also be attracted towards their services. IT has made wider contribution within
organisation and it has its applications in all fields. There are wide range of technologies which
can be utilised by firms as per their requirements like cloud computing, blockchain, artificial
intelligence and various others. Depending upon the needs of firm it can be used to have
effective as well as efficient outcomes (Torabi, Giahi and Sahebjamnia, 2016). In addition to
this, it will lead them to ensure that they can remain sustainable within the market for longer
duration of time as they will be having competitive edge within the market.
Task 4
Recommendations
It is recommended that British Home Plc must make use of Private cloud of storage of
information and reason behind this is that as they deals within multiple sectors they have more
competitors present within market. If details related with their operations gets into hands o0f
their rivals then it can lead to hamper their image as well as their strategies can also be known to
them. This will create pessimistic impact on their performance. But in case of private cloud high
security is being provided and encryption is also done by making use of appropriate algorithms.
Apart from this, they can also design their own applications in which they can offer their services
but along with that there must be option for feedbacks from customers so that they can advice
British Home Plc to provide specific services or alter their methods means suggestions can be
provided by them.
The British Home Plc by having their application can have high profitability. This can be
understood by taking an instance, like an individual through a single click can work on
application and look for services provided by the firm. As they deals within different industries,
British Home Plc can provide their customers with option of that so that it becomes easy for
them to select their products they want to have. In addition to this, there needs to be option for
payment and that also with diverse banks. Along with this, there have to be enhanced security so
that details related with this can be protected from intruders.
Apart from this, they (British Home Plc) can make use of cloud computing for storage of
information as well as have a platform for developing their own application. Depending upon the
vendor they have chosen they can have security options also. This will enable them to protect
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their data from intruders or going into the wrong hand. For having more security they can make
use of encryption so that in case if it goes to intruders then also they do not access it. For an
example, if they may need more storage space then it can be opted by them by paying for it
accordingly. In addition to this, if they need to free up the space then it go similarly.
Conclusion
From above it has been found that information technology plays crucial role within firm
as it assists them in making their operations, easier, smoother and quicker. IT has its importance
within each department of the firm like information can be acquired with respect to any topic by
making use of internet. This denotes individuals extracts knowledge by this and it can be utilised
within carrying out their resp0onsibilities as per formulated standards. At present scenario each
firm must utilise it so that they can have maximum benefits. The reason for this is that, IT
provides huge benefits to firm by which their operations can be simplified, activities can be
carried out quickly as well as precise results can be attained.
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References
Books & Journals
Becerra-Fernandez, I. and Sabherwal, R., 2014. Knowledge management: Systems and
processes. Routledge.
Bentley, T., 2012. Learning beyond the classroom: Education for a changing world. Routledge.
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university press.
Hendriks, C. J., 2013. Integrated Financial Management Information Systems: Guidelines for
effective implementation by the public sector of South Africa. South African Journal of
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Hitomi, K., 2017. Manufacturing systems engineering: A unified approach to manufacturing
technology, production management and industrial economics. Routledge.
Jaques, E., 2017. Requisite organization: A total system for effective managerial organization
and managerial leadership for the 21st century. Routledge.
Laurillard, D., 2013. Rethinking university teaching: A conversational framework for the
effective use of learning technologies. Routledge.
Mohammed, S. A. and Yusof, M. M., 2013. Towards an evaluation framework for information
quality management (IQM) practices for health information systems–evaluation criteria
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heterogeneous remote business data using dynamic data handling. U.S. Patent
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Greasley, A., 2017. Simulation modelling for business. Routledge.
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Torabi, S.A., Giahi, R. and Sahebjamnia, N., 2016. An enhanced risk assessment framework for
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