IT Networks, Management, and Ethical Considerations for Sports Direct

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of Information Technology (IT) within the context of the Sports Direct organization. It begins by highlighting the importance of IT in today's business environment, emphasizing its impact on various aspects of the organization, including digital and social media presence, online buying experiences, and overall customer experience. The report delves into the ethical issues that arise within Sports Direct, such as diversity, fair pay practices, and health and fitness concerns for employees. It then explores different types of networks, including PAN, LAN, MAN, WAN, VPN, and SAN, along with the role of ICT in the organization. Furthermore, the report discusses the impact of IT on management practices and the phases involved in system development. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizes the significance of IT in the success of a modern sports retail organization.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Table of Contents
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
ROLE OF IT IN THE ORGANISATION.......................................................................................3
Digital and social media............................................................................................................3
Buying.........................................................................................................................................4
Experience..................................................................................................................................4
ETHICAL ISSUES IN SPORTS DIRECT ORGANISATION......................................................5
Diversity......................................................................................................................................5
Pay for work...............................................................................................................................5
Health and fitness issues............................................................................................................5
DIFFERENT TYPES OF NETWORKS.........................................................................................6
PAN.............................................................................................................................................6
LAN.............................................................................................................................................6
MAN............................................................................................................................................6
WAN............................................................................................................................................6
VPN.............................................................................................................................................7
SAN.............................................................................................................................................7
ICT...................................................................................................................................................7
ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGEMENT............................................8
PHASES OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT.....................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is considered to be one of the crucial aspects of the today’s growing
world. There are many factors associated with technology. Whatever be the industry or
organisation, every sector is connected by the use of the information technology. To make things
easier and possible and save time for making things happens, the technological implementations
are a necessity now a days (O'Sullivan, 2020). With the use of technology, there can be relations
pertaining to the foreign transactions. Development is a never-ending aspect in today’s world.
Adding to this, the aspects that will bind all the work together making it a better place to carryout
the tasks that are associated with information technology will enhance the work. The entire
report will depict the use of information technology and its applications with respect to the
retailer store Sports Direct.
ROLE OF IT IN THE ORGANISATION
In the present scenario, information technology changed the entire world in a gigantic way.
There are tremendous ways in which the technology impacted and altered almost every industry.
The organisations that use information technology are now in a blooming stage of being the best
out of the lot. The information technology in the sports organisation remains as a milestone in
overcoming certain challenges. If the sports retailer is considered as the ship then the information
technology will be its fuel. The role of information technology in the sports direct retailer is as
follows:
Digital and social media
There were days when people sit around the television and wait for the entire day just to witness
the advertisements that are going on. Now there comes an un ending version of just going
through the live and online because of the technology that is implemented, innovated and
enhanced to such an extent that it makes people feel the freshness of the match though they are
not present. The information technology as and when applied to the sports organisation will be
able to store more data and the servers that are associated in running the lives will make people
enjoy the real essence of online shopping (Vlahovich and et.al, 2017). The social media now a
days is so enhanced. There is a certainty that when a famous retailer tweets in twitter, the
viewers and can connect with them and in return they can be addressed by the same retailer. The
technology can store a large amount of data and convert it to be available to the customers. The

social media platform made every tool accessible to increase the levels of enthusiasm in the
people. this in turn increases the amount of customers both online and offline.
Buying
The advancement in technology not just made people realise the importance of time but also
brough forth the importance of the materials and resources. The online shopping will help people
to get the materials even before the commencement of product such that people from any nook
and corner can make it happen to buy their products (Bolton and Shankar, 2018). There was a
time when people used to wait long hours to shop. Sometimes there comes a point when the
stock run out and there is no scope but to just get back. Now internet made everything easy that
they may not be physically there in order to get their stuff. They can even sit in a calm
atmosphere in their place and can buy online with the same charges. Quite a few things will have
to be dealt with technology and one of the major aspects of that is the online shopping services.
One may not be able to be in a position to get through the toughest of the situation just to make
sure that their interest towards the online purchasing is going to be ruined. The technology will
make a person get through the real essence of shopping (Sparks and Letham, 2018). The most
authentic view of getting the best out the lot is to just get into your comfort zone and shop.
Experience
There are sports freaks all over and some might not be able to make their way tremendously into
getting branded materials. But the technology is so advanced that it makes a person’s wish of
buying the best come true just by making everything live in the imagination. There is technology
called the smart helmets which when put into use will shift the entire world into the place where
the person individually is assisting the role of being the sports man (Reddy, 2018). The visuals
are so very effective that the person will actually feel like the real sport is going on. The
advancement is such that there is no further need to be present in the place where the entire game
is going to be held. The data base with regards to the sports direct organisation is designed in
such a way that all the information that is concerned wit the sports point of view are available by
not just having to hustle. These are available in the sports direct store that will bring out the
dreams of athletes. Every smart phone is provided with an access of online shopping (Markova
and et.al, 2019). The equipment that covers live and the latest 360 drones will make it possible to
judge the match is also available. Every product is made available to the people around.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN SPORTS DIRECT ORGANISATION
The word sports direct retailer, is not just confined to a particular one. There are numerous sports
material some of which include shoes, jersy and other playing material. This is a wide store that
will have to focus upon the different categories as per the interest. The ethical issues pertaining
to this will have to be dealt in a way that will make the possibilities easier. Some of the ethical
issues related in this context are as follows:
Diversity
Any point on there is an issue related to diversity. The point is that these negotiations arise in
every individual and that will show a much greater impact on the management (Ehrenfeld, 2017).
The sports direct organisation is meant for people of all categories and the person from one
particular zone will have to play combinedly with another. There might be issues pertaining to
the colour, country and regional issues. These are obviously the ones that are existing since ages.
There was a time when white men dominated every sector and every industry. Now the
advancement in the thinking abilities and the laws that govern the individuals and management,
people are some-how away from the thoughts of being the most diversified. Yet there are issues
with the employees where they show the effect of diversity by only prioritising one gene pool.
The era is in such a way that even the women from all over the world are entering and working
the best out of everything. This issue related to diversity will have to be properly monitored to
withstand the circumstances.
Pay for work
There is a scope for an increase in the number of employees in 10 years span. Many of the sports
interested people and the athletes are arising from the midst of the education. The people that are
taking part in the retailing receives pay that is 20% of the total that is invested. Some of the
employees based on the sales accomplishments were able to get immense pay. The issue here
related to ethics is that, when people are being invited into the sports retailing sector, there are
many people out there who are already well versed in business tactics. The people might not be
able to make their mark continuous because of the regular alterations based on their schedule.
This will in turn affect them if they are not capable of maintaining the mark of being the best.
Health and fitness issues
Whatever profession or an industry it is, the main concern is with regards to health. Every
organisation will fore look towards the health of the people since it is an essential that is to be

taken care of (Vanpoucke and et.al, 2017). On a long run if an organisation must be able to move
ahead withstanding the pressures and challenges, the main criteria that is to be followed is with
regards to the well being of being in it. This with regards to sports retailers is something that is
more than overcoming challenges. The sports retailer organisations will at times look after the
health of the people that are involved in the particular sports material sales division with regular
monitoring. The physical involvement of employees with customers is more important and that is
maintained by altering the heavy tasks. In order to maintain the heathy sales, customers plays an
enormous role in the organisation. The management will have to provide benefits to the
customers that will increase energy and decrease negotiations. This is because where the person
is taking in gigantic amounts of sales the profit levels will not meet the requirement (Xiang,
2018). This will further become an achievement. This is to be maintained as a part of ethics.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF NETWORKS
The different networks that are associate with the technology keeps changing based on the
ongoing circumstances and needs. Some of the networks are as follows:
PAN
The Personal Area Network (PAN) is the one that is existing since long time. its main focus is
the workspace. The data transmission is successfully done in the digital gadgets that a person
uses on a daily basis some of which include smartphones, tablets, systems etc.
LAN
The Local Area Network (LAN) is a type of network that usually connects the devices that are
existing in the same area. The devices can be anything that include computers or any other
connectable gadgets that are in the same area.
MAN
The Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is the one in which the connections are of wide range
and will last in different places. This particular network is larger than LAN but smaller than
WAN. Sometime the connections include that of the entire city.
WAN
The Wide Area Network (WAN) is said to be larger than both LAN and MAN. The network is
said to connect multiple devices, multiple cities and also multiple countries. This network also
supports other devices like smartphones and tablets.

VPN
The Virtual Private Network is said to use the existing private or public network infrastructure to
connect the devices. This is usually done by creating a secured tunnel that carries the network.
SAN
The Storage Area Network is said to store a huge amount of data within. this data includes that
of the files that are an essential on a long run.
ICT
The use of information technology is now a common factor by many companies and
organisations. It has become a basic essential in the management. There are many uses pertaining
to the usage of information technology. The employee data can be recorded using the data base
and the so-called applications in order to store and share data to the individuals. These will also
act as a reference as and when required. The information communication technology (ICT) is
said to be the heart and the core of its components are such that they enable every task to
accomplish. Right from retailers to a well known auto mobile industry, every firm is based and
fixed upon the information technological issues with regards to management (Lloyd, 2020). The
data security is enabled only because of the use of ICT. There are many evidences from various
journals that ICT brough tremendous changes in the sectors that will never make any information
perish. The companies when trying to evolve on a long run will first aim to develop their sources
based on the infrastructural component of the information technology and that is the major lack
in many companies. The information technology basically deals with the creation, storage,
communication of the data and that is an important aspect of many firms and organisation. when
it is noted that any small firm is using the technology which can maintain the virtual records.
This is indeed a practice that is incorporated in order to strive for excellence. The data sharing is
made easier and companies use different technologies to safely carry out the ideas that they have.
There are many points of criteria while running a company which include those of the details of
employees, finances, resources and major files that are crucial to submit in the renowned
conferences. Today a huge amount of data is being stored in a small pen-drive and that is carried
overseas to explain an idea. Technology has attained a grace that is felt by many. The ICT now a
days is regarded as a gift from the innovations. To have a solid platform people will have to
maintain strong technological infrastructure. The ICT will help people maintain the infrastructure
that is associated with the usage of a quick server.

ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGEMENT
Information technology is a boon to the HR management that maintains the employee records.
Management of organisation is different for different commodities. Every organisation works
upon the same features where they differ is that with the ethics. The organisational management
includes the recruitment, maintenance of records and storage of data. Few professionals will also
include the ain marketing. Information technology has reached the brim in the management point
of view. The use of internet and systems are now in every firm. The components of management
that requires technology include:
Employee data: every organisation affirms upon using the technology to store the employee
data. The storage is now made online using the different organisational portals where every
employee is allotted with an individual data base that stores their particulars. This is a very
useful factor because, the data can be further used to track the old employees records and any
fraud can be easily identified. This will save time of maintain the physical record where people
will have to maintain statistical records of the employees.
Advertising: for creative agencies and businesses the marketing is a criteria. Marketing is done
based on various technological elements. The information technology and the social media
makes every organisation’s marketing possible. In order to carry out the marketing in different
portions, people will have to adopt technologies and different applications to make it visual. The
virtual synopsis of the company is portrayed and then the marketing is carried.
PHASES OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
There are seven phases in system development:
Planning: planning is the first stage and the first phase of the systems development. This phase
is essential to find out the problems and then the problems can be given accurate solutions.
Systems analysis and requirements: this is where the functional requirements of the projects
are considered and then the scalable solutions for the systems are derived.
Systems design: this is the stage in which the actual operations are performed like analysing the
specifications, operations ands management. The actual modification is possible in this phase.
Development: after identifying the requirements then the next stage is to develop the
applications. Every element that is sorted for development and their thematic verification is
performed in this stage.

Integration and testing: this is usually performed by the quality assurance team that is hired in
every organisation whose duty is to check the applications by running them.
Implementation: after testing the procedure in all the possibilities in the user interface then the
development will be implemented. Here the technology comes into usage.
Operations and maintenance: the operations and maintenance is when there are any changes
and modifications are to be adhered , they can be performed.
CONCLUSION
The entire report deals with the usage of information technology. The information technology is
an art and is a greater substitute to physical applications. The way it is applied to the sports direct
organisation and the main roles that it played in the organisation are all mentioned in a sequence
that will enhance the usage of technology. There are various aspects to which many applications
are allotted and from there the implementations are done. The different networks are mentioned
in the report followed by the appreciation of the information technology in the management of
the industries and organisations.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
O'Sullivan, 2020. The divided workforce: Zero hours work at Sports Direct. In Case Studies in
Work, Employment and Human Resource Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Vlahovich and et.al, 2017. Ethics of genetic testing and research in sport: a position statement
from the Australian Institute of Sport. British journal of sports medicine. 51(1). pp.5-11.
Bolton and Shankar, 2018. Emerging retailer pricing trends and practices. In Handbook of
research on retailing. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Sparks and Letham, 2018, May. Sport and retailing. In Managing Sport Business: An
Introduction (pp. 346-363). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Reddy, 2018. The Fat Controller: Slimming Down the Excesses of Controlling Shareholders in
UK Listed Companies. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies. 38(4). pp.733-763.
Markova and et.al, 2019. Implementation of cloud service models in training of future
information technology specialists.
Thatcher and et.al, 2018. Mindfulness in information technology use: Definitions, distinctions,
and a new measure. MIS Quarterly. 42(3). pp.831-848.
Theis and Wong, 2017. The end of moore's law: A new beginning for information technology.
Computing in Science & Engineering. 19(2). pp.41-50.
Vanpoucke and et.al, 2017. Leveraging the impact of supply chain integration through
information technology. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Xiang, 2018. From digitization to the age of acceleration: On information technology and
tourism. Tourism management perspectives. 25. pp.147-150.
Online
Information technology: [ONLINE] Available through: <
https://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/IT>
Role of information technology: [ONLINE] Available through: <
https://study.com/academy/lesson/information-technology-roles-responsibilities.html>
1

Types of networks: [ONLINE] Available through: < https://www.networkstraining.com/different-
types-of-networks/#:~:text=10%20Different%20Types%20of%20Networks%201%20Personal
%20Area,9%20Campus%20Area%20Network%2010%20System%20Area%20Network>
Sports direct organisation: [ONLINE] Available through: < https://www.sportsdirect.com/>
2