Information Technology Report: Sainsbury's PLC Analysis

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the role of Information Technology (IT) in the success and challenges faced by Sainsbury's PLC, a major UK supermarket chain. It examines how IT contributes to improved organizational communication, enhanced customer experience, and effective marketing strategies. The report also delves into ethical and social issues, such as data security and carbon emissions, that arise in the context of IT operations. Furthermore, it differentiates between various networking technologies like LAN, MAN, and WAN, highlighting their applications within Sainsbury's. The importance of social media in creating brand awareness, cost-effective marketing, and fostering customer satisfaction is also discussed. Finally, the report explores the system development life cycle and its relevance in addressing IT-related problems within the company.

Individual report on IT

ABSTRACT
Information technology is the utilisation of computers to store, recover, transmit and
manipulate information or content. In simple words, information technology indicates to that
technology which involve the improvement, maintenance and utilization of computers, software
and networks to process and sharing data. There are several IT systems that are used by different
organisations in their business for different purposes. There are several IT system which are
beneficial for the growth of an organisation. Different ethical and social issues are also faced by
different companies. Social media is beneficial to promote the business of the company and
making effective relations with the customers. Various types of networking practical application
like LAC, MAN and WAN are effective to share and deliver information to different system or
specific range. System development life cycle beneficial to find out problems and making
development in the company.

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is an activity of examination, formation, improvement,
execution, support and administration of computer supported data systems. Basically, it indicates
the utilisation of software application and computer hardware for communication, management
and development. In an administration, it assist in running the business concern actions and
operations in effective and adequate manner (Baller, Dutta and Lanvin, 2016). This written
document is based on Sainsbury's Plc which is a largest chain of supermarkets in the UK. This
firm was established in 1869 by John James Sainsbury and headquartered in London, UK. This
report will discuss about role of IT in the success and failure of the company and ethical & social
issues that pertain to operating business concern. Further, will define about differentiation among
various types of networking technologies and grandness of social media in business concern.
Various phases of system development life cycle will also explain in context of using a particular
software and system.
LITERATURE REVIEW
As per the view of Donohoe A. (2019), information technology play an effective role in
the growth of the business concern because it provide several business development tools and
software in form of social media, web advertisement and others which contribute in creating
awareness about the product, getting attention of customers, maximising customer base. Social
and ethical issue like confidentiality, data hacking pertain to operating business of the company
in a particular business industry. There are different networking technologies which are effective
to share information to group of computers in office, specific region and nation so that data can
be share in proper way. System development life cycle assist in resolving specific issue by
implementing related software and system.
The role of IT in the success of Sainsbury's
Information technology plays an essential role in development of the business because
each and every business use different IT systems to operate and run their business operations. So
that the firm can run and sustain in competitive environment till term period (Campbell and
Cowton, 2015). IT plays an essential role in business success assisting the company to be more
productive, maximise performance, save money, improving customer experience, making

effective communication and enhance managerial decision making. In context of Sainsbury's, the
detailed description is mentioned beneath regarding role of IT in business success:
Improved organisational communication- In Sainsbury's IT plays an effective role in
making improvement in communication through offering different tools and systems of
communication to make effective communication within the company. In respective company,
the management use different communication tools like conferencing software, email, video
chat, company internet and others so that the administration can make proper interaction with its
employees and share needed information to the workforce (Duggan and et. al., 2015). If
employees have effective communication then there will be less chances of arising issues and
conflicts. It will help development and growth of the business concern of the respective
company.
Better customer experience- It is another role which is played by IT in the company. In
Sainsbury's it also makes it easier to offer a good customer experience by improved customer
service, effective marketing and e-commerce. By providing different tools of interaction like
website and social media, email and customer direct messaging services, they can make
interaction with the employees and help in resolving their quires and providing information. By
tracking customers' previous purchases with marketing software, organisations can send
customised promotions that better meet consumer's needs and outcomes in order to likely sales.
If employees have good experience with the company then they will loyal towards the company
and it will assist in success and development of the firm.
Promoting and marketing- IT is important for marking and promotion of goods and
services of the company. In Sainsbury's, the management of the company use different IT tools
and channels for promoting products of the company. The organization use social media,
Instagram, Facebook, web advertisement and others to promote its business so that customers
will aware with its goods and services and assist in maximising its profit and productivity.
Ethical and social issues that pertain to running businesses
Ethical issues
It refers to those complexities and problems which are occurring in the business concern
and organisation when a provided determination, scenario or activity creates an issue with a
society's moral principles (Dutta, Geiger and Lanvin, 2015). In Sainsbury's, these kind of issues

are arisen when company do not operate its business in ethical manner. The explantation of
some ethical problems that can be suffered by the respective firm are mentioned below:
Data security- Security can be a main problem for large organisations because they have
a major risk of being hacked and leakage of information. These kind of issues arise in the
business when the company do not use effective software and good network (Ferrell and
Fraedrich, 2015). For example, an organisation is responsible to secure its information and
provide effective return to its stakeholders at same time. This create ethical issues in the
company because if the firm use effective IT system to protect data then it maximise the cost and
expenditures of the company. But if the management offer return to its capitalists to retain them
with organisation till long term then the company can not protect information of the business.
Social issues
It indicates to those problems that are generated in the business of the company when the
management is not able work and fulfil the need of society. There are several social issues which
can be arise in Sainsbury's and affect it business activities and operations in unfavourable
manner. The description of them as below:
Carbon Emission- It is an social issues which is faced by the society cause of pollution
and business of the companies. When the goods and products are supplied one place to another
then companies use transportation vehicles which generate pollution in form of carbon emission
that create negative impact on society as well as environment.
Identification and differentiation between different types of networking technologies
Networking technology refers to those techniques that permits for the transfer of data
among large and small information systems utilised primarily by businesses. Simply, it can be
that technologies which is used for sharing and transferring information between two or more
than two computer systems that linked together (Lloyd, 2017). In context of Sainsbury's, there
are various networking technologies that can be adopt by the management of the respective firm.
There are several networking technologies like LAN, MAN, WAN and others. LAN networking
technology use by companies to affiliated to a server within a distinct geographical area like as
an office and a commercialized organisation. MAN implement to the interconnectedness of
networks in a city into a single larger network. WAN networking technology connects diverse
small networks, consisting local area networks and metro area networks The differentiation
between them are as below:

Differentiation between different types of networking technologies
Basis LAN MAN WAN
Definition It is known as local
area network and a
local are network is a
unit of computers and
related devices that
share a common
communications line
or wireless link to a
server.
A metropolitan area
network is a computer
network that
interrelates and
interconnects users
with computer
resources in a
geographic area or
region larger than that
canopied by LAN but
smaller than the area
which bis covered by
WAN.
It states wide area
network and it is a
network that exists
over a large scale
geographical area. This
networking technology
connects diverse small
networks, consisting
local area networks
and metro area
networks (Marchewka,
2016).
Features This technology is
able to share and
deliver information up
to 1 KM radius.
This technology is
capable to transfer
data to all the systems
and computers of a
town and city approx
50 KM.
It is able to share
information of local
and metro area
networks. It covers
large distance like
states, countries and
continents.
Advantage The information can
easily transfer over
networked computers.
It provide fast
communication via
high speed carriers
like fibre optic cables.
The information can be
sent quickly and
information picture
and sound.
Use he management of the
company can use this
networking technology
to share and transfer
Organisation can adopt
this technology then
they can make
connection with its
The administration of
the company can use
this networking
technology to make

information to all the
computers of its floor
and office.
different offices which
are incorporated in a
specific region or
geographical location.
connection with the
computers of those
offices which are
established in different
regions.
The importance of social media in business
Social media is an important tool and technique for the success and development of the
business of a company. With the help of it, the management of each organisation can create
awareness about its products and services so that consumer can familiar with them and show
their interest to purchase them (Ngai, Tao and Moon, 2015). It will help in maximising
profitability, productivity and customer base. Social media is also beneficial to Sainsbury's and
the importance of this tool in context of respective company is mentioned as below:
Creates brand Awareness- In Sainsbury's, the administration can create awareness
about the brand by providing information about its existing and new products and services of the
company so that people aware with the company and attracted towards it in context of taking the
advantages of its products. There are different social media tools like Instagram, Facebook,
Twitter, web advertising, print media etc. which help in creating awareness about the the brand
of the company. It will also assist in maximising profit and productivity of the business firm.
Cost effective- It is another effective importance of social media which also help in
development of the business. If an organisation want to advertise its products, services, business
then social media is the most expenditure efficacious way (Xiang and et. al., 2015). By
generating an account and signing up it free for almost all social networking platforms, the
organisations can promote its business. In context of Saisnbury's, the management of the
company can also use paid advertising on social media just by investing a little amount and time.
It will help in minimising cost of promotion and help in improving economic situation of the
company.
Healthier customer satisfaction- Social media shows an essential role in networking
and abstraction. In Sainsbury's the management can take feedback and response from its
employees so that they can aware with the needs and changes that customer required. With the
help of it, they can provide trade good and services as per consumers need and provide them

satisfaction. For example, by using social media like mobile application, chat box and others
company can make effective relation with its potential clients. Here, individual can share their
issues and get information about products and services of the company.
Marketplace awareness- Social media is beneficial to create awareness about the needs,
demands and make direct communication to employees (Schwalbe, 2015). By observing the
actions on customer's profile, the management can see consumer's interest and opinion that what
they want. This help in getting information and an effective understanding about the industry.
With the assistance of it, the management can get information about changes which are occurred
in trends and taste & preferences of consumers. So that they can offer goods as per their
requirements.
Different stage of system development life cycle
In current era, number of organisations are suffered with the problem of data leakage so
they are not allowed to bring their mobile phones or other own devices to the workplace (Shafer,
2015). The brief explanation of development life cycle is as below:
System planning- This phase is most important phase in creating a booming system, in
this phase the company determine precisely what they want to do and the issues they are trying
ton resolve by defining problems, objectives and resources like personnel and costs. The
management of an organisation identify that why they require to implement new system.
System analysis- In this phase, the necessities should be ascertained and referenced that
what they expect from the system and it will be perform. The management of the company
conduct a feasible study for this involve whether it is economically, organisationally, socially
and technologically executable.
System design- This phase comes after analysing the requirements of the system. It
explains the components of a system, components, security level, modules and various interface
and kinds that goes through the system. In this phase, the administration review the proposed
design and assure that the final design must meet the needs stated.
Implementation and development- In this stage, the management of respective
company implement and application of developed IT system (Sheikh and et. al., 2015). the new
system can be phased in, accordant to application and the old system gradually replaced.
System testing and integration- It is the final phase of this life cycle, in it, the
administration of the company test the ability of the system that it is capable to make

development and improvement in the way of working of the company. Simply, in this phase, the
management monitor all aspects of performance of developed system .
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
If the company investing in IT systems then its make effective relation with its
employees, operating its business in effective manners and resolve issues in less time frame. By
investing in information technology, the company can provide protection to its information and
make effective communication to employees. The major draw backs of IT is that if the
organisation use IT system then it consume more cost and time. The major disadvantage of it is
that it will old passes with time and company will require to adopt new system.
CONCLUSION
As per preceding define information, it can be summarise that information technology
play an essential role in growth of the company because by using different IT tools like social
media application like Instagram, Facebook and others. These all are help for the success and
growth of the company. There are several issues like theft of data and leakage of information that
are related to ethical and social problems which are suffered by business. System development
life cycle is beneficial for the execution of new software and system so that related issue can be
minimise.

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