ISY10212: ICT's Impact on Business, Society, and Culture Essay

This essay explores the multifaceted impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on business, society, and culture since the advent of the Internet. It examines both the positive and negative outcomes across these domains, highlighting how ICT has revolutionized business operations through cloud computing, automation, and remote collaboration, while also acknowledging societal impacts such as increased isolation and resource depletion. Furthermore, the essay delves into the cultural implications of ICT, noting its role in globalization and the dissemination of information, alongside concerns about cultural erosion and ethical considerations. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for responsible development and use of ICT to maximize its benefits and mitigate its potential harms, particularly in the context of emerging technologies and the responsibilities of computer professionals.

RUNNING HEAD: TECHNOLOGY 0

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
ICT applications (Positive and Negative)..................................................................................2
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Information technology is related to using various machines and software in order to manage
effective information. These handle various functions, processing and communication with
extended form of information. ICT is the using of such information in various diverse areas.
There is not any pre-assumed definition of information and communication technology and it
is comprised of various components, applications and new devices delivering benefits to
society, business and communities (Gungor et al, 2011).
This report outlines the importance of information and communication technology in
response to business, society and culture. It also highlights various ways, which allows
individuals and users to communicate simply and thus makes the operations flexible. Since
the invention of internet, these technologies offer both positive and negative outcomes and
these are also discussed below.
ICT applications (Positive and Negative)
ICT is a comprehensive term that comprises all sorts of technology used for exchanging,
storing and creating information including various equipment such as servers, computer
devices, internet connectivity equipment and so on (Buhalis and Law 2008). ICT also offers
various ways in which communication is effectively done from one individual to another in
distinct geographical area through the help of technologies.
In the first phase, the impact of information and communication technology on business is
being discussed. In terms of information technology, cloud computing is used as an effective
platform in business allow them to raise their capability with improved efficiency. With the
help of cloud computing, it is possible for many organisations to securely store their data on
the network and make access possible to various client, businesses and individuals (Marston,
et al, 2011). In terms of other benefits, these information technologies also help businesses in
making the process automatic. Building automated process helps in reducing the cost also
saves the time. In many businesses, meeting and decisions carried out at different
geographical locations and with the help of these information technologies, a remote

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connection is possible that allows teams in the organisation to communicate and share data
effectively (Shachaf, 2008). Thus, the rise of information technology will help all through
offerings of efficiency and convenience. In addition, the productivity is also increased with
removal of manual work and making the operations instinctive. The technology also makes
focuses on the data to be more integrated, secure, authentic and confidential. Hence, ICT
plays an important role for organisation through proving a platform with a channel for sales
and taking initiatives to raise the level of employment. With various levels of information
technology, customers can easily interact with one another with also identifications new ways
of improvement (Melville, 2010). Thus, there is a tangible impact on the business by the
technology. It is also significant as it provides efficiency in operations including a channel,
which makes communication effective. These technologies also provide benefits with
offering of security to make the sensitive data secure (Tallon, 2007). It also allows ways to
share knowledge and help employees to work remotely. It decreases the overall business
costs and enhances communication with formation of new process. A business can reach to
new economic market with the help of various ways offered by the technology. Moreover, a
business can also outsource their operations and services in the global markets and reducing
automatic operation cost. As most of the manual work is eliminated, productivity will
automatically will increases.
In addition, with the help of these ICT applications, small business can also venture into new
and global marketplace. This drives innovation in the path to business success. Innovation in
business has the same impact that steam had on the industrial revolution (Hollands, 2008).
The way business evolves in the past few years is only possible due to the rise in information
technologies. Therefore, emergence of these technological changes brings various
opportunities for enterprises as they can explore new markets and made business operations
smooth in this competitive business environment.
Now, it is also important to ascertain how information and communication technology has
influenced society. There are both positive and negative ways in which these technologies
impacted the people in society. In some sense, these technologies control the way of our lives
to some extent by making our life easier (Cook, Augusto and Jakkula, 2009). Information and
communication technology has a negative impact on society as well on personal behaviour.
These technologies isolate people with decrease in family relations as all are busy in their
own life. However, on the other side, technology also positively influenced with development
of new products in the industry and thus improving daily activities. In addition, it also

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improved the way of agriculture harvesting by enhancing the transportations and introduction
of technologies like automobiles and other services. Making effective use of the malleability
of an ICT requires specific level of technical skills and perhaps, investment of some
resources. This can considerably improve the environment potential of ICTs and restricts
users from exercising some bad strategic choices at the end, may help in tapping of creativity
for the benefits of various principles. On the other side, with the help of these ICT
applications, the process of communication is also increased as it enables people ways with
the help of inter-exchange ideas and getting aware about the all latest events and trends in the
society. It has improved education and learning process by focusing on various aspects in
relation to digital media. This changed the children perception to learn something new with
the help of advanced tool. On the contradictory side, some negative aspects also have been
seen on the various functions of society. Due to these technologies, natural resources were
depleted with innovation of certain ICT applications. For instance, the intensive farming
practices have depleted the spoil with using of chemicals and other fertilisers (Erdmann and
Hilty, 2010). The impact of technology and various ICT applications can be seen on the
several practices in the health care sector with improvement in the treatment practices. The
pollution has also raised due to advancement in technologies and there is a direct impact on
the growing crops where impact can be seen in manufacturing and processing factories.
Technology affects the daily lives of the people and has positively impacted on growth of
economy including the living standards of the individuals. It also helps in other areas such as
offering flexibility to the people shopping and ordering things with a single click. However,
the negative impact can be seen as these technologies in the form of television and mobile
phones consume of the time of student. In addition, it also increases security breaches with
making of sensitive information visible. On the other hand, it has presented long distance
communication but somewhere personal contacts are lost as all are busy on their own social
networks (Koutroumpis, 2009).
Lastly, the impact of information and communication technology on culture will be presented
below. The emergence of ICT applications influenced culture directly as it offers access of
one individual to another with sharing of thoughts and ideas easily. Moreover, it also
provides wide expansion to telecom industry. It also impacts on various aspects of society
and economy at a particular side. One of the prominent cultural effects can be seen in areas
like education and business healthcare. They create a dynamic relation between technology
and culture and offers urbanisation to society with making adaptions of new functions

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(Afshari et al, 2009). In other words, it has also offered globalisations by making society to
take part in international events and increase the concept of culture division. There are some
negative aspects also as learners are learning lot of bad things like unuseful communication,
bad literature and adverse impact on health. The culture is impacted by technology as it can
be seen that people are busier in their personal life and relations rather than offers concerns to
others. The technology has impacted how cities grow, how they live and adapt to new
learnings. In addition, it also changes ways of communication of people belongs from one
culture in light with ethical assumptions. It forms a bridge with a gap between gender and
other parameters. Within a strong cultural environment, ICT applications uphold people
beliefs and overtime changes impact everything.

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Conclusion
It can be said that information and communication tool is a collection of diversified
applications that help individuals, people and societies in the function of creating,
communication and managing information. It is comprised of electronic devices that allow
users to acquire new processes and thus enhance the overall work and operations.
Development of specialized knowledge and praxis of field of social change also requires
casting the field of specific normative frameworks related to certain ICT application. In
business, it also helps in making operations automatic by reducing manual work. This helps
the enterprise to expand their activities in the global markets through creativity and
innovation. Hence, it makes people life easier with simplification of various aspects.

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References
Afshari, M., Bakar, K.A., Luan, W.S., Samah, B.A. and Fooi, F.S. (2009) Factors affecting
teachers' use of information and communication technology. Online Submission, 2(1), pp.77-
104.
Buhalis, D. and Law, R. (2008) Progress in information technology and tourism management:
20 years on and 10 years after the Internet—The state of eTourism research. Tourism
management, 29(4), pp.609-623.
Cook, D.J., Augusto, J.C. and Jakkula, V.R. (2009) Ambient intelligence: Technologies,
applications, and opportunities. Pervasive and Mobile Computing, 5(4), pp.277-298.
Erdmann, L. and Hilty, L.M. (2010) Scenario analysis: exploring the macroeconomic impacts
of information and communication technologies on greenhouse gas emissions. Journal of
Industrial Ecology, 14(5), pp.826-843.
Gungor, V.C., Sahin, D., Kocak, T., Ergut, S., Buccella, C., Cecati, C. and Hancke, G.P.
(2011) Smart grid technologies: Communication technologies and standards. IEEE
transactions on Industrial informatics, 7(4), pp.529-539.
Hollands, R.G. (2008) Will the real smart city please stand up? Intelligent, progressive or
entrepreneurial?. City, 12(3), pp.303-320.
Koutroumpis, P. (2009) The economic impact of broadband on growth: A simultaneous
approach. Telecommunications policy, 33(9), pp.471-485.
Marston, S., Li, Z., Bandyopadhyay, S., Zhang, J. and Ghalsasi, A. (2011) Cloud computing
—The business perspective. Decision support systems, 51(1), pp.176-189.
Melville, N.P. (2010) Information systems innovation for environmental sustainability. MIS
quarterly, 34(1), pp.1-21.
Shachaf, P. (2008) Cultural diversity and information and communication technology impacts
on global virtual teams: An exploratory study. Information & Management, 45(2), pp.131-
142.

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Tallon, P.P. (2007) A process-oriented perspective on the alignment of information
technology and business strategy. Journal of Management Information Systems, 24(3),
pp.227-268.