Information Technology's Role, Ethical and Social Issues Analysis

This report examines the role of Information Technology (IT) in the success of Crowne Plaza, a multinational hotel chain. It explores IT applications such as online bookings, enhanced customer experience, business growth, and data management, highlighting their impact on the hospitality industry. The report also analyzes ethical and social issues related to IT, including software privacy, security, cybercrime, copyright infringement, and cyberbullying. Furthermore, it identifies and differentiates between various networking technologies used by Crowne Plaza, such as Personal Area Networks (PAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), and Wide Area Networks (WAN). The analysis discusses the advantages and disadvantages of IT investments, concluding that IT plays a vital role in improving efficiency, customer service, and decision-making processes. The report emphasizes the importance of adopting new technologies and maintaining robust security measures to overcome challenges and achieve long-term success.

Information Technology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW ..............................................................................................................1
1. Identifying role of Information Technology...........................................................................1
2. Ethical and Social Issues that pertain in running business......................................................3
3. Identifying and differentiate between types of networking technologies...............................4
ANALYSING AND DISCUSSION................................................................................................5
FINDINGS ......................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Information Technology is the set of tools, processes and methodologies such as data
communication, data conversion, storage and retrieval, system and analysis etc. and associated
equipment employed to collect, process and present data information (Bloom, Sadun and Van
Reenen, 2014). In this report the organisation chosen is Crowne Plaza, a multinational chain of
full service hotels headquartered in United Kingdom. It is catering to business travellers and to
the meetings and conventions market. This report is going to identify role of information
technology in success of a respective organisation. Moreover, analysing ethical and social issues
that are pertain in running business and identifying different types of networking technologies.
Furthermore, potential benefits and drawbacks of company for investing in information
technology is included in this report.
LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Identifying role of Information Technology
Information Technology has become a vital and integrated part of each and every
successful business. In today's business world, hospitality industry is facing a cut-throat
competition. It is assist in collecting data and information that help organisation to achieve its
goals and objectives. Herein, some of the roles of information technology used by Crowne Plaza
are as follows:
Online Bookings: Online booking is one of the most obvious manifestation of
information technology in hotel industry. The managers of Crowne Plaza provide service of
online booking to its potential customers (Eason, 2014). On online booking website of hotel,
various informations such as check in and check outs times, rates of different rooms, facilities
and amenities that hotel offers etc. are available. Moreover, now a days customer are relying on
various online platforms and travelling websites to look for best and suitable accommodation
according to their need and demand. Online booking service of Crowne Plaza makes it easy for
customers to book rooms instantly. Various offers helps company in attracting more number of
customers. The collected data and information from websites helps managers in taking effective
decisions that leads company towards success.
Enhanced customer experience in hotels: Enhanced customer experience is latest
advancements of information technology in hotel industry. It has been play an instrumental role
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in enhancing guest experience (Gattorna, 2017). The managers of hotel Crowne Plaza are using
latest advancements of customer experience as they can grab attention of their guest right from
time they visit their website. In this way they are winning customer loyalty and had made it easy
to cover up all touch points of their guest experience. Moreover, they are providing facilities to
their customer such as online payments, unlocking their rooms using their own smartphones
which eliminate long and tedious check in process which helps in attracting more customers and
ultimately contributes in success of business.
Business growth and expansions: In an organisation information technology is effective
key source in globalising business and its activities in competitive marketplace. The managers of
hotel Crowne Plaza are adopting various advancement in Information technology such as online
booking, using smartphones for locking their room, providing privacy to their guest, attractive
housekeeping services etc.
Productivity: Information technology system help managers of Hotel Crowne Plaza in
minimising efforts of its employees and staff members. With the help of information technology
and adopting new advancement, they are able to manage customer's history and necessary data or
information(Piotrowicz and Cuthbertson, 2014).Herein, the managers keep record of data for
longer period of time so that they can easily accessible to all division of hotel so that they can
facilitate their guest without any confusion. Hence, with this managers can minimise time which
will ultimately result in improving productivity of employees and furthermore they will result in
maximising profit of their organisation.
Management of customer's data and information: Information technology help
managers of hotel Crowne Plaza in managing information of their customers. As this data help in
providing more special and personalised services to their guest and meeting demands of their
requirement. Moreover, this help them in attaining customer's loyalty and retention which leads
firm towards long term success.
The above mention point help Hotel Crowne Plaza to become successful in hotel industry
with the help of information technology. Hence, information technology plays a vital role in
hospitality industry and help this industry to meet their goals and objectives in an appropriate
manner.
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2. Ethical and Social Issues that pertain in running business
Information system have made many business successful today. In today's context
hospitality industry are facing many social and ethical issues in operating their day to day
business activities. (Ricci, Rokach and Shapira, 2015). Moreover, there are various issues which
are faced by Hotel Crowne Plaza in running their business are discussed below:
Ethical Issues:
Software privacy: Software privacy is one of the important ethical issues as in
organisation, some software used are not ethical or authenticate which can cause legal issues for
organisation. Herein, the managers of Hotel Crown Plaza needs to ensure that the software
which it use is ethical all over. They must ensure to regularly update this software in order to
assure that is is capable of managing and safeguarding information of their customers.
Security: In today's era security is one of the main concern in many organisation. As
there are many professional hackers which are proficient in hacking personalised information of
an individual. (Silverstone, 2017). It is one of the issue that needs to be consider by manager of
hotel. The hotel managers of Crowne Plaza needs to ensure that they use advanced security
system so that all the informations regarding business are kept safe. Moreover, due to hackers
many customer's do-not use online booking and transaction processing. Thus, managers of Hotel
Crowne Plaza ashould invest huge amount in safety and security of data and information as it
help them to build trust with customer's.
Social Issues
Cyber Crime: Cyber crime refers to use of information technology to commit crimes. The
managers of Hotel Crowne Plaza are ensuring that they don't face any huge financial losses and
even lose of human life. Moreover, they are using smart phones and high end services that access
to their information as well contribute in growth towards cyber crime.
Copyright infringement: Privacy is one biggest social issues in hospitality industry.
Herein, mangers of hotel are ensuring privacy to their customers and guest regarding their
information. It is beneficial for organisation by reducing cost of storage, but it contribute in
growth of copyright infringement crimes which in turn creating more social issues.
Cyber bulling: The excess use of internet and information technologies have made it
easier for spiteful people to attract personally via anonymous platforms that are available to
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them. Moreover, bullying is involving with some tragic consequences. Thus, it is creating a vast
social issues in hospitality industry.
3. Identifying and differentiate between types of networking technologies
Networking technologies allows to exchange data between large and small information
system used in different sector of businesses. In an organisation there are various types of
computer networking technologies which are differentiate by their size, structure and purpose.
The different type of networking technologies are determined below:
Personal Area Network (PAN): A personal area networks is interconnection of
information technology typically range of 10 meters. It is small network which is organised
within buildings or individual uses which is perfect of small office and residence. Herein, some
examples used by Hotel Crowne Plaza which are practised by them such as Wi-Fi connection,
USB etc.
Metropolitan Area Network: Metropolitan area network is wider range of networking
system which helps in providing wider area services such as college campus, small regions or
entire locality and city. It also help in connecting several LAN together in order to form biggest
network. Moreover, managers of Hotel Crowne Plaza are practising this networking system in
common areas such as lobby, reception area and dinning area etc.
Wide Area Network: Wider area network helps in connecting networks in wider area. It
is capable of connecting departments of different countries together through satellites (Voogt and
et. al., 2017). Herein, Hotel Crowne Plaza are practising this networking in order to maintain
their common network with their sister parent organisation in different states and countries.
Difference between personal are network, metropolitan are network and wider area
networking
Basis Personal Area
networking
Wider Area
Networking
Metropolitan Area of
networking
Usage area It is limited within a
house office or school
It has wider range
such as a country or
continent
It is limited within a
city.
Cost Set up cost is low as
less hardware is
It one of the most
expensive network to
Setting up cost is
higher than local are
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required set up. network.
Cables Ethereal cable is used
as main
communication
medium.
High speed
communication
technologies like
satellite and
telephones lines used.
Coaxial cables and
microwave
communication
technologies are used.
The above mention are different types of networking that help in maintaining connecting
each other. Such as in smaller to wider locality or area in order to maintain their connectivity
and keep in touch of their day to day functional activities.
ANALYSING AND DISCUSSION
From the above discussion it has been analysed that there are various factors which are
reflecting advantages and disadvantage of Information system of Hotel Crowne Plaza.
Information technology is plays a vital role in managing information and data of respective
organisation in an effective way. Moreover, technology helps in providing premium quality of
services to its customers. Such as satisfying customer and attaining greater aspect of customer
loyalty and help them in maintaining their status in competitive edge. However, there are loop
hole in technological advancement which is some time assigned with risk if safety and security
are not adopted properly. Thus, managers of Hotel Crowne Plaza should adopt different practice
and adopt different technologies so that they can overcome from the barriers and grow in
competitive market. So, overall it can be said that it can be beneficial for company to invest in
information technology.
FINDINGS
From the above discussion it has been found that information technology plays an
important role in advancement for growing businesses. It helps in decision making process which
result in effective production of high class services to their guest. Herein, managers of Hotel
Crowne Plaza should adopt new technologies such as high end software for maintaining
information of their customer's and keep it safe and secure. They can also use various types of
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networks which help them to maintain their connectivity with different countries as well as this
help them to maintain their productivity and profitability in market.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it has concluded that information technology plays an
essential role in success of organisation in terms of facilitating growth, providing better quality
of services and enacting more in taking effective decision making process that is beneficial for
an organisation. With the help of information technology company can improve their
efficiencies in their data gathering and information. It is a business sectors that deals with
computing including hardware, software, telecommunication and anything involved in
transmittal of information or system that facilitate communication. Eventually, there are various
factors which help respective organisation in fulfilling needs and demand of their potential
customers and avoiding social and ethical issues effecting business function. Thus, different
networking system such PAN, WAN and MAN are providing networking facilities to an
organisation in order to carry out their business actives in an effective manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bloom, N., Sadun, R. and Van Reenen, J., 2014. The distinct effects of information technology
and communication technology on firm organization. Management Science. 60(12).
pp.2859-2885.
Eason, K. D., 2014. Information technology and organisational change. CRC Press.
Gattorna, J., 2017. Introduction. In Strategic supply chain alignment (pp. 15-21). Routledge.
Piotrowicz, W. and Cuthbertson, R., 2014. Introduction to the special issue information
technology in retail: Toward omnichannel retailing. International Journal of Electronic
Commerce. 18(4). pp.5-16.
Ricci, F., Rokach, L. and Shapira, B., 2015. Recommender systems: introduction and challenges.
In Recommender systems handbook (pp. 1-34). Springer, Boston, MA.
Silverstone, R., 2017. Introduction. In Media, technology and everyday life in Europe (pp. 19-
36). Routledge.
Taylor, R. W., Fritsch, E. J. and Liederbach, J., 2014. Digital crime and digital terrorism.
Prentice Hall Press.
Voogt, J., and et. al., 2017, March. The International Handbook of Information Technology in
Primary and Secondary Education: Part 2. In Society for Information Technology &
Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1082-1085). Association for the
Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
Xiang, Z., Magnini, V. P. and Fesenmaier, D. R., 2015. Information technology and consumer
behavior in travel and tourism: Insights from travel planning using the internet. Journal
of Retailing and Consumer Services. 22. pp.244-249.
Online
LAN WAN PAN MAN: Learn the Differences Between These Network Types, 2018. [Online].
Available through:<https://www.techopedia.com/2/29090/networks/lanwanman-an-
overview-of-network-types>.
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