IT in Business: Applications, Ethical Concerns, and System Development

This report examines the role of Information Technology (IT) in the commercial world, focusing on its applications and associated issues. It uses Audley Travel, a UK-based travel company, as a case study to illustrate these points. The report covers key computing terminologies used in business, et...Read More

Information Technology and
its applications in commercial
world

Abstract
IT plays an crucial role in today's world as it allowed to businesses to change its methods in
more innovative ways. This report discussed about IT as how it involved in commercial world
with its useful applications. Further, this report elaborated about various issues faced with usage
of technology.

Table of Contents
Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................1
Analysis and Discussion .................................................................................................................2
1: Computing terminologies that is frequently used by businesses.............................................2
2: Elaborate ethical or social issues connected with technologies...............................................3
3: Types of networks....................................................................................................................4
4: Elaboration of growth in ICT and its uses and effects on business.........................................5
5: Role of information technology in management.....................................................................5
6: Discussion of various stages of systems development............................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Information Technology is uses of computers to store, transmit and retrieve data of
information and used in every type of business. This study focus on Audley Travel which is
travel company and its headquarters is in UK. Audley Travel provides tailor-made travel and
also works with local guide that suggests some interesting hotels and lodges. This report
elaborate about on various uses of computing terminologies in business. Discuss key ethical or
social issues which is associated with technology. This report further analyse various types of
technology networks and use of internet and its impact on business. This report aslo discuss role
of information technology in management and stages of system development.
Literature Review
Theme 1: Importance of computing terminologies in travel industry:
As per the Nayyar, (2019) review in present time in travel industry computing
terminologies is necessary, because it provides various benefits to the industry. Travel and
tourism industry is becoming the largest industry in the world. It also represents GDP
worldwide. Use of computing terminologies is increasing day by day. In travel industry
information technology or computing terminology provides potential tourists. As people know
that internet is become important part in the world for business to business and business to
customer communication or transaction. According to Mercieca-Bebber, and et.al., (2018)
company must use computing technology to speed up their business in travel industry and to
create base of loyal and potential customers.
Özturan, and et.al., (2019) also suggested that computing terminologies are important but
it also creates negative impact in travel companies which are dealing customer manually. It also
increased cyber and ethical issues in the industry and these issues create negative impact in the
industry.
Theme 2: Affect of ethical and social issues impacting travel industry:
According to Lee, and et.al.,(2017) different ethical and social issues such as fake culture
marketing, corporate social responsibility and more are affecting travel industry. These issues
increase cyber crimes and also affects whole industry. By several studies it is found that ethical
issues affect moral values of travel and tourism industry and it is also observed that various
social issues such as taxation, travel marketing, globalization. It also affects security of customer.
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Although Abeyratne, (2017) suggest that ethical issues also help company to find their
strengths and provide them an environment in which they can overcome their weakness and use
their these issues as an opportunity to grow in the industry
Theme 3: Information and communication technologies (ICT) used in tourism industry
As per Abrhám, (2017) review ICT is an extended version of information technology
which helps travel and tourism companies in effective telecommunication with the help of audio
and visual systems. Travel company can use ICT in various ways such as managing destination
resources, managing sites and attraction. It is also used to identifying suitable locations for
tourism and for managing tourist statics. Basically use of ICT give opportunity to the travel and
tourism company to grow in the industry and create effective competitive advantages.
Analysis and Discussion
1: Computing terminologies that is frequently used by businesses.
Computer terminologies and software term is used by many industry. Understanding common
tech word will help business to increase its credibility and broadens language to go ahead in
future. Following are some terminologies that are use by many enterprises:
Server hosting
Server are those useful devices that help to support computer and internet networks of
company. It also host its associated data. Server hosting are owned by Internet Service Providers
that actually lease out server space and provides internet connectivity to people (Dolzhich, and
Dmitrichenkova, 2018) .
Back end
Whatever is visible to people on a Web page is front end. While, back end is basically all those
functions that is function behind pages of front end that includes web servers, applications and
databases that help to make the page work. Audley travel able to make any changes through back
end for instance, if they want to add some useful information in their websites or wants to
enhance it.
Web app
A Web app is basically a software application and can be run without being installed. It has
many parts that run on the remote web server and another one run on clients within a web
browser. Web app is useful and functions like an applications on various devices like PCs and
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smartphone. Web design can be used to make a web application. Audley utilizes web app as it is
mobile friendly and provide intuitive navigation and familiar format (Barba, 2018).
Machine learning
It is a method of data analysis in which it programmes analytical modal building. Siri and
Apple's personal assistance is best example of machine learning. It is based on idea that systems
able to understand from data it receive then identify patterns and take important decisions with
very less use of human intervention. Audley travel can use machine learning for its various job
roles like for welcome and serve food to guests.
2: Elaborate ethical or social issues connected with technologies.
IT now has wider range of areas that includes education, industries, banking sector and health.
However it is important to have a knowledge of its related issues and negative impacts of IT.
Lets discuss more detail about such issues:
Ethical Issues:
Access Rights
With great advancement in technology, access rights become a supreme priority issues for
information technology and cyberspace. Various government agencies and service sector
organisations face issues related with electronic payment system and E-commerce on the
internet. As network on internet cannot be fully secured from illegal or unauthorized access.
Audley travel can use intrusion detection that can be used to identify whether users are genuine
or not (Roblek and et.al, 2019).
Harmful Actions
It is referred as those actions in computer ethics that damages or bring negative consequences
to IT. That actions mainly includes loss of ownership, loss of property, undesirable impacts,
damage of property and lost of essential information. This principle of ethical conduct limits the
usage of IT to any outsiders in such manner that involves damage to any of employers,
employees and general folks. Audley travel can face such issues that involves intentional
destruction and modifications of files that can lead to major loss of resources.
Social issues:
Online harassments and crimes
As information technology is emerging, it also becomes main reason for online bullying. Many
organisation can see many cases of online hate crimes and harassments that mostly target
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immigrants and those groups who work to strengthen justice for racial and protect reproductive
rights. Internet are also being used to promote organisation for hate groups (Al-Sharafi and et.al,
2017).
Reduced regulation
Through several years, many people can saw lack of regulation at phone companies and
largest cable, and also weaken protection laws of consumers. These lower down federal of
regulations that could undermine free and open internet, services and protections that provides
advantages to low income individuals.
3: Types of networks.
Network provides access to connect with various computers via any kind of medium. They
are small devices inside a single room to other million devices spread over entire globe.
Following are various types of networks that widely used and operate over the area they cover:
PAN – Personal Area Network
PAN is one of the smallest and basic network. It is made of wireless modem that mostly
includes computer, printers, tablets and phones in which it revolves around one building and an
individual person. Personal Area Networks are mostly found in small offices and houses that are
managed by an individual (Taebi, 2017) .
LAN – Local Area Network
LAN are most widely used networks all over places. It is consider as one of the most original,
most common and simplest type of network. It is used to connect low voltage devices and
various groups of computers across a short distances for instance between a single building and
two or three buildings that is situated close to each other so that it able to share various
information and resources. Various enterprises used these networks (Whelan and Dupont, 2017).
WAN – Wider Area Network
It is connects two or more than two computers together. This network allows computers and
low voltage devices to be connected to each other when they are miles apart. WAN is usually
expensive and it might be possible that one organisation unable to afford it. This network use
satellite and PSTN as a medium. Its transmission speed is also low (Chen and et.al, 2019).
Audley travel usually avoid to use this network.
MAN – Metropolitan Area Network
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This network covers largest area as compare to LAN for example, cities and towns, but
consider smaller than WAN. Therefore it incorporate elements from both types of networks. It is
generally owned and maintained by company may be large one or council and one person.
Audley travel can use LAN as its transmission speed is high and its maintenance is also very
convenient.
4: Elaboration of growth in ICT and its uses and effects on business.
Information and communication technology is a broader term of IT that covers all
communication technologies for example, video conferencing, mobile phones, social networking
and internet. ICT is really fast developing and now become part of every organisation specially
services sector. Business activities cannot be operated without use of ICT as its all activities is
connected and linked with ICT. Therefore, effective flow of communication is crucial for
development and growth of business. With usage of ICT, Audley travel can efficiently
communicate with staff and its clients. ICT is vital element of business growth in this highly
competitive environment that requires utilizing ICT in order to enhance productivity and
efficiency of cost (Chung, Jo and Lee,2021).
All businesses is now effectively connect with its customers, increases speed of services and
help to create more new clients with effective use of internet. Companies are now able to share
common interest and make communities for those that share common interests in services and
products. With internet, Audley travel able to increase its profits, they able to customize their
services with ease that automatically provides satisfaction to its customers. The internet helps
companies to access valuable information about likes or interest of particular demographics.
Additionally, many businesses are enable to use marketing strategies by appealing particular
media that are specifically related with their services (Palvia, Baqir and Nemati, 2018). Huge
information are available on internet that helps business to acknowledge and learn about trends
that may affect them later. Communication between business and its customers enables them to
get connected instantly. Strong accessibility of Internet allows businesses to expand its growth of
products and services with increase in profit. Further with usage of internet, business now
expand its operations all over world and start up and advertising costs are also become lower.
5: Role of information technology in management.
A thorough understanding of information technology is really crucial for managers and all
other who works in organisation because of various benefits of internet. IT become vital tool of
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successful organisation and businesses. One of the main advantage of IT that it helps
management to compress lots of important information in a database in cloud and keep it safe on
small hard drive as it reduce waste and allow easy backup (Muhammedrisaevna,Mubinovna and
Kizi, 2020). As it saves lot of space but manager should remember to arrange all files or folders
in proper way that makes easy to access later. Management increases its work speed as
information is easily accessible and available in just one click.
Another main advantage is that with internet it is easy to accomplish task as now a single
person can do same projects that later it used to take whole team. Teams are now better
equipped, as a result it work wonders at Audley travel and helps in increases productivity.
Systems that are internet enabled that includes security cameras and secure entry system benefits
management to lower down risk of any accident and loss of confidential information.
Management can use online recruitment so that it able to find more skilled and qualified
candidates and make processes more hassle free as management can handle most of candidates
online. Managers or leaders are now get information about competitors and convenient to search
for market so that it reduce huge risk and losses (Saeidi, and et.al 2019). Internet also determine
effective training or development processes as management can use innovative techniques and
tools and equipments in order to save time and resources. As as result, it reduces cost and burden
of administrative.
6: Discussion of various stages of systems development.
System development life cycle is refereed as theoretical model of business. It includes seven
stages that explain below:
Planning
Any business that involve in system development than first and foremost thing is to do good
planning. As without proper planing it is become difficult for organisation to decide what to do
and what not in order to run business successfully. In this phase, systems analyst mainly focus
on achieving aims and utilize that information to find a new method to accomplish gaol.
Requirement analysis
If business decides to launch new system, it is crucial to understand what is actual requirement
for development of system. Audley travel needs to link with IT department to express new
technology and criteria (Ferreira, Fucs and Segura,2019).
Designing
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After all requirements has been identified than software architects or developers start
designing software. Design of systems may be based on infrastructure of IT. At the end, IT teams
design documents that is chosen for the project.
Development
If process of designing is over than specific team member now start working on development
stage. This phase allows blueprints of system convert from model to practical.
Testing
At the end of development level, system looks completely operational, however it is essential
that they are tested first before implementing. Created software is examine carefully and
extensively reviewed during process (Lu and Qi, 2020).
Integration and execution
In this phase, system launch and execution is so efficient in which not much effort is required
in process of integration. Apart from that validation and verification is also a part of this phase
that ensure that software is successfully completed.
Maintenance
This is final stage of system development in which it requires regular maintenance or
continuous updates. If this phase is completed successfully than it automatically boost
performance and meet new additional requirements.
CONCLUSION
After analysing this report its concludes that information technology are playing vital role in
industry. As discussed above different role of information technology help Audley travel
company to achieve its targets and sales and it also provides different benefits such as increase
sales, raise profits. This also assists the company that how different network technologies affect
the industry and company can use these technologies as competitive advantages. Basically this
reports concludes that in present time for successful business use of information technology is
compulsory. It is also suggested to Audley travel company that they must use effective
information technology to grow their business and to build strong base of customers.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Abrhám, J., 2017. Novel trends on using ICTS in the modern tourism industry.
Al-Sharafi, M.A.,and et.al 2017, August. Factors influencing the continuous use of cloud
computing services in organization level. In Proceedings of the International
Conference on Advances in Image Processing(pp. 189-194).
Barba, L.A., 2018. Terminologies for reproducible research. arXiv preprint arXiv:1802.03311.
Chen, M.,and et.al 2019. Artificial neural networks-based machine learning for wireless
networks: A tutorial. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials.21(4).pp.3039-3071.
Chung, W.Y., Jo, Y. and Lee, D., 2021. Where should ICT startup companies be established?
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Dolzhich, E. and Dmitrichenkova, S., 2018. Computer science terminology (a case study of the
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Ferreira, J.J., Fucs, A. and Segura, V., 2019, July. Modeling People-AI Interaction: A Case
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Lee, H.Y., and et.al., 2017. Differences in tourist ethical judgment and responsible tourism
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Lu, Z. and Qi, T., 2020, June. Discussion on AI-Based Interactive System of Cerebral Stroke
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Cyber Security and Intelligence (pp. 320-327). Springer. Cham.
Mercieca-Bebber, R., and et.al., 2018. The importance of patient-reported outcomes in clinical
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Muhammedrisaevna, T.M., Mubinovna, R.F. and Kizi, M.N.U., 2020. The role of information
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Nayyar, A., 2019. Handbook of Cloud Computing: Basic to Advance research on the concepts
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Özturan, M., and et.al., 2019. Evaluating the information systems integration maturity level of
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Palvia, P., Baqir, N. and Nemati, H., 2018. ICT for socio-economic development: A citizens’
perspective. Information & Management.55(2). pp.160-176.
Roblek, V., and et.al 2019. Smart technologies as social innovation and complex social issues of
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Saeidi, P., and et.al 2019. The impact of enterprise risk management on competitive advantage
by moderating role of information technology. Computer Standards & Interfaces. 63.
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Taebi, B., 2017. Bridging the gap between social acceptance and ethical acceptability. Risk
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Whelan, C. and Dupont, B., 2017. Taking stock of networks across the security field: A review,
typology and research agenda. Policing and society. 27(6). pp.671-687.
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