ISY10212: Essay on Contemporary Issues in Information Technology

This essay delves into contemporary issues in Information Technology (IT), exploring the profound impact of computers and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on various facets of modern life. It meticulously examines both the positive and negative effects of ICT on business, society, and culture, considering ethical implications. The essay highlights how ICT has revolutionized communication, commerce, education, and daily activities. It discusses the benefits such as enhanced access to information, improved business efficiency, and cultural shifts. However, it also addresses the negative consequences, including the digital divide, reduced face-to-face interactions, privacy concerns, and the potential for job displacement. The analysis draws on various sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving landscape of IT, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and the role of computer professionals in addressing these issues.

Running Head: IT
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Information Technology Impacts
Contemporary Issues in Information Technology
(Student Details: )
1/5/2020

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Contemporary Issues in Information Technology......................................................................2
Positive effects of ICT on business, society, and culture.......................................................3
Negative effects of ICT on business, society, and culture.....................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
The essay is based on research about contemporary issues in Information Technology (IT). In
this context, the whole discussion will be focusing on the impact of computer and
information technology while including ethical implications. In general, the modern world is
totally depending upon IT and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for the
daily activities and tasks. In this way, with identifying the importance of IT and ICT for the
business and modern society, the impacts of IT on the whole world can be evaluated
(Chakray, 2018). Here, the ethical implications of ICT are important to be considered as
guaranteeing ethical utilisation of evolving ICT uses in the context of future has become
essential. Thus, this paper is going to discuss the positive as well as negative effects of ICT
on business, culture and society since the discovery of the web and internet.
Contemporary Issues in Information Technology
What is ICT
It is worth knowing that ICT is an extended synonym for IT whereas it is a more exact term
that focuses on the role of united communications. Moreover, ICT offers access to reliable
information with the help of telecommunications (Stawnicza, 2014). It is worth knowing that
ICT is similar to IT however ICT concentrates on communication technologies like internet,
cell phones, and wireless networks along with other communication media. In addition to
that, ICT often includes communication devices and applications while including laptops,
television, radio, cell phones, tablets, and network hardware and network software.
Furthermore, ICT offers many services online as well as applications that are associated with
them (Law et al., 2014).
In this competitive edge, ICT is extensively used by the whole world while affecting human
lives every day. It is because the digital age is giving new technology every day as ICT riot.
Such ICTs are accessible to all people into their day-to-day life and hence upgrade their daily
living standards. As we know, ICT gadgets are getting used to a large extent while facilitating
human societies with mobility. It is worth knowing that ICT gadgets use is important for
speed, information and communication purposes as they reduce the mental and physical
human work-load in an effective manner. Thus, modern technologies are helping mankind in
making their daily life happier and easier. Moreover, ICTs have contributed a lot to

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revolutionize our world in every possible way. For instance, ICTs have completely
transformed our way of living like offline shopping to online shopping, letters to emails,
classroom learning to e-learning and many more. In addition, some other examples of modern
ICT use are social networking, domestic activities, health, business, education, commerce,
employment, banking and many more. Therefore, the essay is presenting the effects of ICT
on three major fields such as society, business and culture of the modern world (Schwalbe,
2015).
Source: (Schultz, 2009)
Positive effects of ICT on business, society, and culture
There are so many positive effects of ICT on human society, business and culture, as follows:
Impacts on society
In this context, ICT is having so many impacts on modern societies whether they are positive
or negative ones (Farhadi et al., 2012). When it is about society, then ICT has successfully
revolutionized modern societies like types of equipment including laptops, cell-phones, and
many more are helping in domestic life. In addition, ICT offers better communication
mediums in the fields of personal and professional life (Schultz, 2009). For instance, different
ways like online shopping, online news, online education and online banking have
completely changed societies in a positive manner. Now, emails, WhatsApp, Facebook, and

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mobile phones have enabled humans to have better communication while sharing reliable and
true information effectively (Forbes Technology Council, 2018). In addition, ICT also
contributed children’s education with the help of modified teaching and learning techniques
which are based on new technological innovations. Moreover, society people are now capable
to use their free time constructively and creatively with ICTs (Schultz, 2009). In addition to
that, ICTs have introduced some distance learning courses as well as online tutorials which
have successfully improved access to education. Moreover, there are some new ways of
learning, such as interactive multimedia, virtual reality, and many more (Forbes Technology
Council, 2018).
Impacts on business
In this context, ICT has great impacts on business and modern organizations as it enables
enhanced access to information for this era. With the growth of the internet, access to correct
information has been improved a lot (Forbes, 2017). In this way, some positive effects of the
increased access to information are cheaper, better, effective communications like instant
messaging and VoIP phones (Forbes, 2017). Thus, enhanced use of ICT has also brought
novel opportunities for entertainment and business development. In the context of new
opportunities as well as new business tools, ICT has enabled so many job opportunities. For
example, virtual offices, virtual team works, mobile and flexible working have transformed
the business world (Law et al., 2014). In this ICT enabled world, people are capable of doing
self-employment which is an amazing application of ICT in business. Moreover, business
organizations can easily get benefits through using ICT for effective information
management (Lerner, 2019). For example, ICT allowed people to use data mining of
customer info for producing lists for targeted-advertising. In addition to that, ICT use in
business had positive impacts like improved stock control, better cash flow, resulting in less
wastage and many more (Sassi & Goaied, 2013). In this way, modern business managers are
now better informed as they have more reliable as well as up-to-date info for making their
important decisions (Schultz, 2009).
Impacts on culture
While talking about ICT impacts on culture, it has been found that ICT use in modern
societies and businesses is increasing as well as developing health literacy which ultimately
forming a new healthy world (Schwalbe, 2015). Moreover, technological awareness and use

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are helping in spreading awareness regarding sustainability and environmental pollution.
Thus, ICT is giving birth to a paperless environment by making things online through cloud
computing and other technologies (Sharkey & Sharkey, 2012). On the other hand, social
networking websites are considerably encouraging social relationships among people all
across the world. Moreover, when people use ICT and other technologies then daily routine
management can be done in an efficient manner which enhances overall productivity and
growth (Stawnicza, 2014).
Negative effects of ICT on business, society, and culture
Impacts on society
There are some huge negative effects on society as ICT has greatly enhanced access to
information (Chakray, 2018). With the use of ICTs, face-to-face interactions have been
reduced which is minimizing social behaviours (Gonzalez et al., 2019). Furthermore, due to a
digital divide, a social disconnect has occurred. This digital divide has been seen among those
who can access info and ICTs and those who cannot access these ICTs. Moreover, ICT has
caused increased health issues due to less physical activities (Law et al., 2014). In addition to
that, increased technological automation and opportunities are causing job loss which has a
negative impact on people’s lives and well-being. Therefore, the role of computer
professionals has become essential for people living in modern societies which can spread
awareness among people living in these modern societies.
Impacts on business
It has been found that ICTs are greatly influencing the business sector with their positive
impacts whereas leaving some bad impacts too (Stawnicza, 2014). From the perspective of
cost, ICT implementation is very expensive and hence it needs huge investment into modern
businesses. Therefore, ICT increases business costs and investments while making its use
essential for these businesses (Forbes, 2017). Moreover, some business organizations being
exposed to superior competition can be an issue for future business growth. Thus, ICT has
given rise to healthy as well as unhealthy competition within the business sector (Forbes
Technology Council, 2018). Apart from this, ICT use has also raised critical security
concerns into the modern business sector. If computer professionals can handle problems
related to ICT use in the modern business sector then negative impacts can be reduced to an
optimum level (Schultz, 2009).

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Impacts on culture
In this context, society's culture has been changed due to the extensive use of ICTs and
modernization. Moreover, there are a lot of privacy as well as security concerns that have
been raised due to ICT use by the children and intellectual people too (Haes, 2012). For
example, using YouTube or Facebook can be greatly harmful to a children’s career and future
as it has a negative impact on children’s thought processes. Most importantly, modern culture
has become technology dependent as ICT has become essential in the form of daily activities
people do into their personal and professional life (Farhadi et al., 2012). Thus, the role of
computer professionals is important to address issues in modified culture due to extensive
ICT use.
Conclusion
In whole, this essay has successfully discussed the positive and thereby negative effects of
ICTs on business, society as well as culture. While doing so, the research has been done since
the discovery of the web and internet and hence the importance of computer professionals has
been discussed for certifying the ethical utilisation of emerging ICT uses. The essay has
focused on ensuring the ethical use of emerging ICT uses for a bright future of the globe. For
example, ICT uses in this world are considerably increasing opportunities for education while
improving communication among people. It has been found that ICT is having the largest
effect on society by allowing members of human society to own improved access to
information freely. Although, this act can have numerous positive effects yet it certainly has
so many negative impacts too. In a nutshell, ICT use can always allow humans to participate
in a wider, even worldwide, the society with the help of intellectual computer professionals.

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References
Chakray, 2018. 5 CHALLENGES REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. [Online] Available at:
https://www.chakray.com/5-challenges-regarding-the-application-of-information-technology-
in-business-and-industry/.
Farhadi, M., Ismail, R. & Fooladi, M., 2012. Information and communication technology use
and economic growth. PLoS one, 7(11), p.e48903.
Forbes Technology Council, 2018. 13 Tech Experts Predict The Industry's Biggest
Challenges In 2019. [Online] Available at:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/12/27/13-tech-experts-predict-the-
industrys-biggest-challenges-in-2019/#769c5eca1bcd.
Forbes, 2017. What Is The Future Of Information Technology? [Online] Available at:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/12/15/what-is-the-future-of-information-
technology/#182c63f449d0.
Gonzalez, R., Gasco, J. & Llopis, J., 2019. ICTs in hotel management: a research review.
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management..
Haes, S., 2012. Inter-Organizational Governance of Information Technology. International
journal of IT, p.20.
Law, R., Buhalis, D. & Cobanoglu, C., 2014. Progress on information and communication
technologies in hospitality and tourism. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality
Management, 26(5), pp.727-50.
Lerner, S., 2019. 12 IoT Security Challenges. [Online] Available at:
https://www.enterprisedigi.com/iot/articles/iot-security-challenges [Accessed 2019].
Sassi, S. & Goaied, M., 2013. Financial development, ICT diffusion and economic growth:
Lessons from MENA region. Telecommunication Policy, 37(4-5), pp.252-61.
Schultz, R.A., 2009. Contemporary issues in ethics and information technology. Ed. ed.
London: IGI Global.

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Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. UK: Cengage Learning.
Sharkey, A. & Sharkey, N., 2012. Granny and the robots: ethical issues in robot care for the
elderly. Ethics and Information Technology, 14(1), pp.27-40.
Stawnicza, O., 2014. Information and communication technologies–creating oneness in
globally distributed IT project teams. Procedia Technology, 16, pp.1057-64.