Analyzing Information Technology's Role at Holiday Inn Hotel Chain

This report analyzes the role of Information Technology (IT) in the success and failure of Holiday Inn, a major hotel chain. It explores how IT, including communication tools, data management systems, and online booking, contributes to operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The report also identifies ethical and social issues relevant to running a business, such as health and safety, discrimination, and privacy, and discusses the importance of addressing these issues. Furthermore, it differentiates between various networking technologies, including LAN, WLAN, PAN, SAN, MAN, and WAN, and examines the significance of both intranet and internet in supporting business operations, data collection, marketing, and customer engagement. The findings highlight how IT is crucial for Holiday Inn's strategic planning, customer service, and overall business performance.

Introduction to
Information
Technology

ABSTRACT
Information technology refer as system or application through which company can
improve and develop its business process. This report in considering different aspects related to
information technology which will help in effective and efficient functioning of organisation.
There are various networking technologies that will lead to developing strong network
connecting and sharing information. Both intranet and internet is useful for organisation as it
helps in communicating and collecting data for organisational process. By adopting advance
technology company can enhance it business operations as well as develop effective
communication within organisation. It has been identified that technology play a crucial role in
success of an organisation.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Information technology can be refer as a system or application that is used in storing,
retrieving as well as communicating information (Alam, Ferreira and Fonseca, 2016). This is a
technology that is used for effective and efficient functioning of organisation as well as
conducting business operation in better manner. Information technology is very helpful in
reducing human efforts and making things easier. Company chosen for this report is Holiday Inn.
This is one of the largest hotel chain which is British owned American brand. This hotel was
established in August 1952 and founder of this hotel is Kemmons Wilson (The History of
Holiday Inn Hotels, 2018). Its headquarter is located in Denham, UK and it provides its products
and services all around the world. This report includes role of IT as well as its impact on success
and failure of an organisation as well as ethical and social issues in society. It consist of different
types of networking technologies and importance of intranet in business.
LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Identify the role of IT in the success or failure of your chosen organisation.
As per the views of karehka Ramey, 2019 Information technology is very helpful in
stroning manipulating as well as distributing information (THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY IN TODAY’S WORLD, 2019).
Information technology is one of the most important function of organisation and it play a
crucial role in success and failure of Holiday Inn hotel. It is an integral part of business and helps
in conducting business operations in effective and efficient manner. Information technology is
very significant for multinational companies such as Holiday Inn hotel as it lead to complete
business operational in much better way (Holtshouse, 2013). Respective organisation is using
different IT systems and software which have great impact on success or failure of Holiday Inn
hotel in mention below.
Communication: Communication is a very important for success of an organisation as it
leads to develop relationship and smooth flow of operational activities. Information technology
used by Holiday Inn hotel is advance and it helps in flow of effective communication. With the
help of IT, employees can easily communicate with each other and manager is also monitor and
control employees. There are various tools that will help in enhancing communication within
organisations such as email, video call, webinars, conference call and so on. Respective
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organisation is providing training to employees regarding increasing communication though
experts which help in enhancing productivity. All this IT tools are very helpful in improving
communication as employees can easily coordinate with each other and manager can also
delegate task to employees as well as effectively supervisor them.
Data management: Management of all important information and data is a crucial task as
well as manual data management is quit difficult. Information technology helps in managing and
storing data in much appropriate manner. Through advance and updated technology Holiday Inn
hotel have stored information of its customers and they can use it whenever required. Correct use
of data will help in developing strong relationship with customers and clients. This is a reason
for success of Holiday Inn hotel as it can manage data and use it in creating positive relations
with potential customers. Cloud data management tools is very effective for respective
organisation as it can store large number of data and company can use whenever required. It is
safe and secure and it connect or integrate multiple data sources such as web-hooks, direct
database connection or API.
Booking system: Hotel booking process should be easy so that customer can reserve their
place without any problems or issues. Holiday Inn hotel is providing various ways to its
customer though which they can book hotel. Customers can book hotel thorough internet as
online booking is very common and helps customer to reserve hotel whenever they wants to and
from any where (Lloyd, 2017). Holiday Inn hotel are able to provide this hassle free services to
customer by use of information technology.
Customer satisfaction: Satisfying customers is the ultimate goal of Holiday Inn hotel.
This company is using high technology in their rooms and hotel services in order to satisfy
customer requirement. By providing more innovating service to customers, respective hotel in
able to develop strong relationship as well as retaining its potential customers. Information
technology such as online communities, customer portal, social media, online forums play most
significant role in providing high tech services to customers. Rooms of respective hotel have
advance and innovating gadgets in order to provide more comfortable stay to them.
2. Find ethical and social issues that pertain to running businesses.
As per the views of Kenneth V. Oster, 2019 Fundamental ethical issues of business are
includes in promotions, decision making and its operations. Social and ethical issues have impact
on smooth running of business (List of Ethical Issues in Business, 2019).
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There are various social and ethical issues which affect effective and efficient functioning
of organisation. Considering social and ethical impact is very important for smooth running of
business as it will affect business and its operations. Holiday Inn hotel should develop strategies
and take important decision by considering these issues. It is responsibility of business to
conduct its business practices in correct and fair manner. It's business operations should not harm
any society or an individuals. Ethical and social issue that are concern with successful running of
Holiday Inn hotel.
Health and safety: Health and safety is the major concern and this can be consider as a
ethical issue which can have negative impact on business. Holiday Inn hotel is responsible for
maintaining health and safety of its employees and customers. For resolving this issue respective
company should follow all rules and regulation as well as provide healthy environment to people
(Mithas and et.al., 2013). Holiday Inn hotel can use advance technology which help in detecting
that no harmful thing in brought within hotel that could affect customers and employees.
Discrimination and harassment: This is an ethical issue which harm individual health
and provide huge mental pressure. Discrimination between people on the bases of age, gender,
religion, region, colour etc. is a social issues which have negative impact on society. Holiday Inn
hotel should treat all customers as same and does not discriminate between them. It should
provide equal and fair opportunities to it employees as well as provide right amount of payment
as per their work.
Privacy of customers: This issues is related to private data and information about
customers. Due to advance technology there are high chances of interference in privacy of an
individuals (Neuman, 2014). Collected data can be used for hacking accounts and other illegal
practices. For example information collected by respective company while payment can lead to
ethical issue as there is high chances of hacking account. It is very important to keep all
information of customer safely and does not use it in any wrong way. Respective company
should not use personal information of customer in
These are some major social and ethical issues which can have negative impact on
functioning of Holiday Inn hotel. It is responsibility of this hotel to conduct is business
operations in correct and fair manner as well as try to resolve these issues from society.
3. Identify and differentiate between different types of networking technologies.
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As per the views of Stéphane Bourgeois, 2019 Networking technologies is used for
accessing internet for downloading, emailing, networking etc. (11 Types of Networks Explained:
VPN, LAN & More, 2019).
Network technologies can be consider as a tool which help in connecting systems through
various wireless connections. System is connect either by satellite, optical fibre and so on in
order to flow of connection. This allows exchange of data between different information systems
, it can be small and large information system that used by business and its operations
(Piotrowicz and Cuthbertson, 2014). Networking technologies is mention below:
LAN WLAN PAN SAN MAN WAN
It refers to
Local area
network and it
is connected
computers
with the
localized area.
In this
connection of
computer is
mostly with
network of
home or
office. This is
the most
commonly
used network
in corporate
offices where
many
employees can
Wireless local
area network
is networking
technology
which is quite
smilier with
LAN
application.
This type of
networks does
not required
any physical
cables to
connect as it is
connect
through
wireless
system.
Personal area
networks is
the most
smallest type
of network.
This is made
up of modern
way of
connecting
two devices
without any
wire. PAN is a
network
technology
that is used to
connect
phones,
printers and
any other
device.
This refers to
storage area
network and it
is the high
speed network
that lead to
connects
shared pools
of storage
devices to
other servers.
It can be
define as a
metropolitan
area network
which is used
to connect
users
computer in a
region or a
geographic
area. It is
smaller than
WAN network
but larger than
LAN area
network.
Wide are
networks can
be refers a
network area
which is
covering
multiple
distance areas.
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use it.
These are several networking technologies that can be adopted by respective hotel in
order to increase its effectiveness. Holiday Inn hotel can use network technologies for creating
proper infrastructure so that appropriate information can be collected and flow in organisation.
4. Discuss the importance of Intranet and Internet in your business
As per the views of Josh Fredman, 2019 Computer networks is very useful for offering
everything from as well as communication to different individuals (Business Uses of the Internet,
Intranets & Extranets, 2019).
Internet and intranet both are very useful in conducting business operations appropriately.
Internet can be define as a worldwide global system that helps in interconnecting computer
networks. Where as intranet can be refer as a system through which multiple computers are
connected with each other (Rainer and et.al., 2013). Both of these are accessible from any
browser and intranet used protocols of internet to transfer data. Internet and intranet both is used
to share information and data. Importance of internet and intranet is mention below as it helps in
conducting business activities in effective and efficient way.
Importance of internet
 Internet is very helpful in collecting appropriate information and data so that better
strategies can be developed. This is helpful in analysing marketing trends and taking
better decision.
 It gives more options to Holiday Inn hotel for marketing and promoting business
activities in better manner. Internet is beneficial for using various different platforms for
attracting customers than old and traditional method.
 This is important tool for tracking performance of organisation as well as its growth.
Application of internet will help in business planning as well as developing more useful
products.
 It provide benefit of cloud storage which will help in storing more information. Data
stored on cloud are easily accessible and used anywhere anytime.
 Through internet, Holiday Inn hotel can use different social media websites (Schwalbe,
2015). There are various websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and so on. All of
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these helps in communicating about Holiday Inn products and services as well as
developing better relationships.
Importance of Intranet
 Intranet is a very helpful in sharing information. This is an easy way of sharing
information as well as communicating within organisation. Though this employees will
be able to command in faster manner.
 This is very important for managing important information of organisation safely. In this
each and every system is connect with each other and employees have right to access
only those software which is necessary. This protect crucial data and information of
Holiday Inn hotel.
 Intranet build transparent culture within organisation. With the help of intranet each and
every computer is connected or linked with each other. This lead to create transparency in
work of employees as there work done can be easily identified by others.
 It is important in enhancing customer services as information about customer is not
stored with one employees. Because of intranet system other employees can access
information of potential clients and use it for business purpose.
5. Explain the different stage of system development life cycle.
As per the views of Motea Alwan, 2019 System development life cycle can be refer as
phases which helps in creating system as well as integrating components (What is system
development life cycle? 2019).
System development life cycle can be define as a process of developing high quality
system. Motive of this is to create such product which helps in meeting with requirement of
customers. System development life cycle includes a series of six phases which lead to create
system for organisation (Tarafdar, Gupta and Turel, 2015). This life cycle provides a proper and
clear view of entire project, cost and other resources involved. Stages of system development life
cycle is mention below.
Planning: This is the first stage of system development life cycle and it is s crucial step
as it lead to creating a successful system for organisation. In this stage manage is responsible for
taking important decision as well as designing appropriate strategies. Manage have to develop a
plan by defining the problems and on the bases of this plan activities will be conducted.
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Analysis: In this step expectation from the system needs to be analysed so that it will be
able to full fill expectations. After plan and developing strategies, requirement of end users
needs to be analysed and determined proper (Webster, 2014). This will be very helpful in
creating a system as per user's requirement and will be able to solve their problems. Analysis
involve determining systems feasibility in respect to economically, socially, organisationally and
technologically.
Design: At this stage design of system is developed which includes each and every detail
about system. After analysing the requirement of end user, design of final product is developed
so that its features, operations, specifications can be analysed. This stage helps in defining
solution to system on the bases on requires that has been analysed.
Implementation: In this stage of system development life cycle, final system is
developed. This includes implementation of design of system to final product by completing its
requirements and specification. Implementation stage consist of actual construction process of
system and providing completely ready system.
Testing and integration: At this stage final system is tested in order to analyse whether it
is properly working or not (Waser and et.al., 2016). This phase helps in integrating and testing
system to identify its program and procedure. This can be consider as a process of quality
assurances to determined if this matches with goal or not.
Maintenance: This is a last phase of product life cycle and in this step end user can use
final developed system. In this final product pass through maintenance process in which system
will be keep updated as per new requirement. It includes managing and handling residual errors
and resolving issues.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Information technology can be define as a study which is helpful in retrieving data as
well as sending information. It can be describe as a technology that is used through computer or
telecommunication to complete the task. Information technology involve software and hardware
system that has been used from computer system and helps in completing task in more effective
and efficient way. Information technology is developed with the motive of allowing people to
accomplish their work or task faster through computer program. There are various IT tools that is
very helpful for smooth functioning of business but it will also have some negative impacts by
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investing in information technology. Its benefits and drawbacks in respect of Holiday Inn hotel
are mention below.
Benefits: By investing in information technology respective company will be able to
enhance its communication through instant messages, emails, video and voice calls. It is helpful
in collecting and sharing information at global level.
Drawback: It will leads to create unemployment and lack of job as technology will be
able to conduct same task in more effective and efficient way than a human. Information
technology will lead to increase thieves and hacker who can misuse technology.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that information technology is very helpful in
effective and efficient flow of business operations. It play a crucial role in growth and
development of an organisation as well as help in gaining competitive advantage over other rival
companies. There are various social and ethical issues which can have negative impact on
business. So, by managing these issues is significant manner company will be build positive
image in market and attracting more customers. There are various advantages and disadvantages
that company have to face while investing in information technology.
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REFERENCES
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Lloyd, I.J., 2017. Information technology law. Oxford University Press.
Mithas, S. and et.al., 2013. Leveraging big data and business analytics [Guest editors'
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Neuman, D., 2014. Qualitative research in educational communications and technology: A brief
introduction to principles and procedures. Journal of Computing in Higher
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Rainer, R.K. and et.al., 2013. Introduction to information systems: Supporting and transforming
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Online
The History of Holiday Inn Hotels. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://traveltips.usatoday.com/history-holiday-inn-hotels-61884.html>.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TODAY’S WORLD. 2019. [Online].
Available through:<https://www.useoftechnology.com/role-information-technology-
todays-world/>
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List of Ethical Issues in Business. 2019. Online]. Available
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