Marks & Spencer: Information Technology Role and Impact Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of Information Technology (IT) within Marks & Spencer (M&S), a British multinational retailer. It explores the utilization of IT for various purposes such as enhancing customer relationships, improving operational efficiency, and reducing costs. The report delves into the historical evolution of IT, highlighting key milestones. It examines the different types of networking technologies employed by M&S, including Personal Area Networks (PAN), Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and the importance of intranet and internet. Furthermore, the report discusses ethical and social issues related to technology use within the organization, such as data security and employee conduct. The analysis covers the different types of information systems used by M&S, including Management Information Systems (MIS), Decision Support Systems (DSS), and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP). Finally, the report provides an overview of the system development life cycle, offering insights into how IT is implemented and managed within Marks & Spencer. This report is contributed by a student and is available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-based study tools for students.

Introduction to Information
Technology

1. INTRODUCTION
Information technology refers to system that is being used in computer for storing
information(Schwalbe, 2015). It is also used for the purpose of communication and sending
information from one person to another. It includes hardware and software that is used in
transferring information.
Present study will be based on Marks and Spencer Company. It is a British multinational
retailer firm that deals in clothing, home and food products. Its headquarter is located at London,
United Kingdom.
Report will include role of information technology in the organization and the ethical
issues that is being faced in running businesses. It also includes different types of networking
technologies and importance of intranet and internet in the organization. Furthermore, it will
include different stages of system development life cycle.
1.1 Purpose
Information technology can be used for various purpose in Marks and Spencer as it helps
in reaching towards the customer, developing relationship between business and customer for
increasing sales, profit, reduction in operation cost etc. It also helps in improving efficiency of
doing work in the organization.
1.2 Background
Information technology has come long time before that helps in facilitating
communication between people through this technology. There are different ways of
communication that is available through information technology (Dutta, Geiger and Lanvin,
2015). Different ages that defines invention of different types such as Premechanical is the

earliest age that is between 3000 B.C. and 1450 A.D. In this era people is communicating by
drawing picture that is known as petroglyths that is carved on in rock. At that time there is no
pen to write and passing information from one person to another. There are so many machines
that is being invented during this period. Telegraph was created in 1800s that time it is being
used for communicating information. Day by day the technology gets improved and everything
becomes easy.
2. Literature Review
2.2 Role of information technology in Marks and Spencer
According to the (Lloyd, 2017). Information technology plays an important role in
Marks and Spencer Company as it helps in facilitating easy communication between customers
and business. Through email information can be transferred in easier and faster way across
different departments in Marks and Spencer. IT also reduces paper work in the companies as all
the information is stored in software so whenever it is needed it can be available easily.
Management information system is used that will help in storing information as well as facilitate
in decision making. It also helps in maintaining inventory for Marks and Spencer so that stock
can be stored that will help in meeting demand of the customer when in need. Through this
additional stock can be maintained for future use in the company. It tracks quantity of stock that
is maintained in the company so that there is no issue in managing inventory for longer period of
time.
As per the view of( Baller, Dutta and Lanvin, 2016). it also helps in improving
relationship between customer and business that will provide more experience to company. If
relation is good between them then it will facilitate Marks and Spencer to attract more customers
and increasing sales for future course of action. It will also help in reduction in operation cost of
the company as there is less amount spent on training and development of employees in using
software. It also helps in maximizing productivity of the company.
2.3 Different types of networking technology
(Andrade and Doolin, 2016). stated that there are different networks that is being used in
the organization for transferring information such as Personal Area Network it is the basic type

of network that is being used by every person for communicating information. It includes
computer, phones, tablets etc. Another is Local Area Network as it is the most common and
simplest network that helps in connecting computers so that information can be easily
transferred. Similarly, Wireless Local Area Network is used such as Wi-Fi. In this physical cable
is not required for transferring information to different departments in the company.
According to the (Schnoll, 2015).Campus Area Network is larger than Local area
Network but smaller than metropolitan area network. Campus networks are usually found in
universities. This network is spreading across different buildings that are close to each other so
that it will facilitate in sharing resources. Metropolitan Area Network are larger than Local area
network but smaller than wide area network and it is the mixture of both type of network. It is
spreading in the entire geographical area that is handled by a company or the government of that
area. Wide Area Network is the connection between computers that helps in facilitating large
network to communicate in the wide range of network.
2.4 Ethics and Social issues that affects technology
(Surasathian, FnF Group Pty Ltd, 2015).stated that Ethics and social issues will be
arising from the use of different types of technology that is being used by people for the purpose
of easy communication between them. As technology helps in providing faster way of
communication and makes work easy. There are many issues came in between using different
technology. As social media used by the employer sometimes create a negative impact on the
organization. Many employers in the company use social media networking that is against the
ethics of the company to operate these type of sites during office hours.
As per the view( Majumder and Roy, 2017). said that some employees work beyond the
ethics of the company they are performing unethical practices. For example sending out the data
and information of the company to other person that is beyond ethics. They sell data in the
market and earn money from it. Social issues that takes place in the organization are related to
the property rights of the company and affects the legality of software and systems of the
company. It is also a social issue of hacking data and information from its computer. Viruses are
also entered into systems that will damage the data inside systems that is being used in doing
work in the organization.

2.5 Importance of Intranet and Internet
According to the( Horn, 2018). Intranet is the private communication that is being used
in the organization as it improves internal communication between employees. It facilitate in
sharing information and knowledge between the employees of the company. Through intranet
information can be easily access. It helps in improving productivity of employees that will
ultimately benefitted to the company as profit will also increase. As email also helps in
facilitating in sharing information from one person to another. It also provides tools and
information that helps in communicating information easily. It contains various tools that is
being used by employees for the purpose of doing work.
(Rabaey, 2015). stated that internet plays an important role in the organization as it
provides easy information access to employees that makes work easy. It helps in selling products
and services online through which more customers get attracted towards company. It also builds
relationship between customer and business that is very important in the present scenario as
satisfying the needs and wants of the customers. Through social media marketing also products
can be sell easily and it will provide 24/7 customer services on this platform. It improves the
speed of sharing information and data and also increases accuracy of transferring information in
the business.
3. Analysis and Discussion
3.1 Information technology and its role
Information technology is the system that is used in organizations for development,
designing software that is used while doing work and makes it efficient for future course of
action. There are six types of information technology that is used such as programmers, web
developers, computer system analyst, network engineer and IT security that protects data from
going out from the company. It also manages all the work and makes it productivity that will be
useful for employees. It provides appropriate information hardware and software that is being
used to provide different networks to the company.
Information technology plays an important role in the company as it provides faster,
easier and more efficient work in the company. It also provides facilities in recording

transactions in accounting system, management accounting and at different point of sales in the
company. It helps in improving customer relation with management and helps in gaining
competitive advantage in the marketplace. Different technology is being used in the companies
for providing better opportunities for growth of employees as well as it is beneficial for the
company also. It provides quick access to the information that will be increase productivity and
growth of it. Nowadays information technology is the biggest way to get success in the market.
As various software is being used that provide quality work in the company.
3.1.1 Different types of information system
There are various information systems that is being used in the Marks and Spencer are as
follows:
Management information System (MIS):- This system helps in monitoring performance of the
company that is used in completing certain transaction through this processing system. It helps in
analyzing different inputs and algorithms that is used in comparing reports and to monitor the
performance for future. In Marks and Spencer also this system is being used for monitoring the
performance of employees in the company. It is an electronic way of measuring performance so
that it will be beneficial to improve for future course of action.
Decision Support System (DIS):- This system is used by senior management that helps in
taking decision on regular basis. It provides internal information of Marks and Spencer. It also
provides solutions to the problems that are changing frequently and is unique in the company
that another system cannot able to solve easily. In Marks and Spencer this system is used in
taking decision for the company that facilitate growth in the future. This will also provides
different information through which better decision can be made.
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP):- In this type of system queries is analyzed and data is
being stored in multidimensional form that will be helpful in producing information that can also
be used in multidimensional format. In Marks and Spencer this system is being used for
producing multidimensional data and produce valuable information for the company. It also
helps in viewing different perspectives in the company that will be better used in making
decision for future in the company.

3.2 Networking technologies that is used in Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer is using Wide Area Network ( WAN) in the company that will
provide wide range of network to different departments in the premises. It covers large area and
facilitates best services to employees in the company. As it is the biggest network technology
that is being used in Marks and Spencer will be providing better services to employees. It is the
simpler form of technology that is being used in various organizations so that it will provide
better services to its employees. There are many similar types of network that is being used in the
companies such as Personal Area Network (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN) and Metropolitan
Area Network (MAN). Wide Area Network provides services in larger part of the company as
various departments can use this network for taking information for future use in the company.
These technologies are providing many facilities and makes work easy so that it will be
benefitted for the employees as well as Marks and Spencer.
3.3 Ethics and Social Issues in Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer is having some ethics that is being used in the company for
safeguarding data and information that will not be gone out of the company. Ethics plays an
important role in the company premises as it saves information out from the company and
provides valuable earning. Employee who break the ethics will be punished and not providing
better information in the company. As ethics are important for employees those who are residing
in the company. Ethics will provide a competitive advantage in the market as different people are
working that provides various opportunities that will be useful for future.
Social issues are related of using social media networking in the company. Many
employees will use these applications for their personal use in the company but sometimes it will
affect ethics as well as become serious matter in the company. It is unethical practice of using
social media networking in the company that will affect reputation of Marks and Spencer.
3.4 Importance of Intranet and internet in Marks and Spencer
Intranet plays an important role in Marks and Spencer as it facilitate in providing various
information that is being needed for bringing success in the company. Intranet is used privately
by the users for the purpose of providing many services to employees in the Marks and Spencer.

It is useful for future course of action that will help in providing basic information to user. It is
very useful as private information cannot be leaked out from Marks and Spencer. It is necessary
in providing correct information regarding technology that is used in the market. Intranet is use
for private purpose in the company that will be providing and is beneficial for the Marks and
Spencer. In survey it is found that intranet is also used by employees of the company.
On the other hand provides valuable information to the user regarding its searching
activities. It is most important to employees that will bring in changes in the quality of work. It
also helps in selling online that will attract more customers towards Marks and Spencer. It is the
most valuable thing that is used in transforming into digital form (What is information
technology, 2019). Internet is providing right information at the right time to the right person as
it is necessary in using internet for future. This will make work easier by providing valuable
information to the company. It is providing various necessary aspects of data that is needed to
make decision in Marks and Spencer.
3.4 Different stages of system development
There are six stages of system development life cycle are as follows:-
Planning:- This is the first stage of development process that needed proper planning for future
course of action in Marks and Spencer. It also helps in identifying strength and weakness of
Marks and Spencer.
Analytics:- This is the second stage that helps in analyzing performance of employees in Marks
and Spencer. Through this stage different procedure is being used to analyze the effect of
working of employees in the company.
Design:- After completion of analysis designing is being done of the task that is given to prepare
a particular project in Marks and Spencer.
Development and Implementation:- Actual task of developing software is used in making
information for ongoing process in the background that is being implemented in the company for
future course of action.
Testing:- At this stage testing is done of software that is being used in Marks and Spencer.

Maintenance:- After completing all the above stages maintenance is being done for the
development of project.
CONCLUSION
As per the above study it can be said that information technology plays an important part
in the company. Without this company cannot run its operation successfully. It is an important
task that is used in providing various procedures to the company. There are so many factors that
affect the functioning of information technology in the company. Intranet and internet are also
helps in providing information regarding business that will be useful for future.
REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Dutta, S., Geiger, T. and Lanvin, B., 2015. The global information technology report 2015.
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Lloyd, I.J., 2017. Information technology law. Oxford University Press.
Baller, S., Dutta, S. and Lanvin, B., 2016. Global information technology report 2016. Geneva:
Ouranos.
Andrade, A.D. and Doolin, B., 2016. Information and communication technology and the social
inclusion of refugees. Mis Quarterly. 40(2). pp.405-416.
Schnoll, H.J., 2015. E-Government: Information, Technology, and Transformation: Information,
Technology, and Transformation. Routledge.
Surasathian, J., FnF Group Pty Ltd, 2015. System and method for adapting an internet and
intranet filtering system. U.S. Patent 9,049,227.
Majumder, A. and Roy, S., 2017. Implementation of enhanced forward pointer-based mobility
management scheme for handling internet and intranet traffic in wireless mesh
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Horn, T., 2018. Internet-Intranet-Extranet: Potentiale im Unternehmen. Walter de Gruyter
GmbH & Co KG.
Rabaey, J.M., 2015. The Human Intranet--Where Swarms and Humans Meet. IEEE Pervasive
Computing. 14(1). pp.78-83.
Online
What is information technology.2019.[Online].Available through<
https://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/IT>