Introduction to Information Technology: HSBC's Business Analysis

This report provides an analysis of Information Technology within HSBC, a multinational financial service provider. It explores various application software used by the organization, including web browsers, presentation software, spreadsheets, graphics, and database software, highlighting their impo...Read More

Introduction To
Information
Technology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................3
Analysis and Discussion .................................................................................................................4
Different types of application software that could be used by businesses..................................4
Identify and discuss the important ethical and social issues for run the businesses...................5
Discuss the impact of information and communication technology on businesses....................6
Discuss the role of IT in helping managers to manage businesses.............................................7
Support your analysis with a discussion of the potential benefits and drawbacks of your
chosen company investing in information technology................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is an digital platform where lot of equipments, software and
various models of systems are used for running the service activities systematically. Due to the
use of information technology organization easily deliver their product and services to customers
in time. It leads to increase the positive word of mouth from customers towards firm in long run.
With help of information technology management easily process, develop, retrieve, exchange
and store different types of electronic information and data effectively. The organization which is
chosen for understanding the IT department is HSBC (Ali and Haseeb, 2019). It is an
multinational financial service provider and investment bank which is headquartered in United
Kingdom. This report will be covered various types of application software which is utilized by
the organisation, identifying the social and ethical issues which is faced by company. It also
covered the role of information technology in helping managers to run their businesses
effectively.
TASK
Literature Review
According to Sreejith, 2020 application software is essential highly essential run the service
activities smoothly between user and HSBC. Because in the aspect of financial and other
services consumer plays the most important role for generating revenue of company. According
to this author the elements which is mostly important for run the digital platforms are web
browser, spreadsheet, presentation software, database, graphics and so on. With help of these
elements convenience are effectively increased for customers in various aspects. It includes
buying the services and product in low time, easy access of information regarding their product
from any location.
According to Ashusharma, 2020 when HSBC run the services at global manner then
management faced lot of issues due to the competitors and hackers. The factors which are
considered for increasing threat for organization are phishing, Viruses and Malicious Programs,
Denial of service and Personal piracy. All these factors are also responsible for enhancing the
negative impression in the minds of customers. Because due to these factors sometimes
consumers did not receive the services from organization in time. Due this the profit of firm are
also decreased effectively in long term.

According to Steven Scheck, 2022 information and communication technology impact the
organization in various aspects which include Working remotely, Protecting information,
Providing customer satisfaction and Management of resources. Because IT is one of the key
which played major role for run the service functions smoothly. With help of technology
management of HSBC also received feedbacks of customers in time in the form of various
problems. Due to effective use of technology employee convenience are increased effectively for
solving the problems of customers quickly from any location. In this way communication with
customers are maintained effectively in long term.
According to Jayne Thomson, 2020 information technology has various importance for HSBC
in various aspects. It includes Research and analysis, Use of artificial intelligence, IoT (Internet
of things) and others. With help of all these elements managers has the potentiality and ability to
solve any king difficult problems easily. These elements are also helpful for analysing the real
problems of the customers in accurate manner. In this way effective solutions are provided by
employees to consumers in time. It leads to enhance the popularity of organization in market for
long time.
According to Rich Castagna 2020, information technology is one of the element which is
responsible for creating positive and negative impact on organization. IT is also responsible for
maintaining good relation with consumers for long period.
Analysis and Discussion
Different types of application software that could be used by businesses
According to Sreejith, 2020 Application software basically refers to the programme
which was designed or installed by the IT employees. With help of this type of software
equipments are worked automatically and in effective manner. The major advantage of this
application software is that multiple task are done in single time and in fast way. The various
types of software which is utilized by organization are described below -
 Web browser – In this software the convenience of the employees and customer are
easily increased in aspect of product and services (De Graaff, ten Brink and Parmar,
2020). In context to HSBC from workers side it is useful for sending the different types
of services to users in time. It is beneficial for customers because with help of effective

web browser consumers easily access the information of various product and services
which is provided by the company.
 Presentation software – The main purpose for using this software by the employees of
HSBC is to increasing the visualization of data in front of senior officers. In this method
the informations are displayed in effective way in the form of slides. But in customer
point of view HSBC used this method to facilitate accurate data in the form of financial
services. It includes showing records of transaction amount in digital way or in passbook.
 Spreadsheet – In this application the data are created in tabular form which is essential
for organization to maintaining records on daily basis (Farley and Campbell, 2019). The
other use of this software is to identify the profit and loss regularly with help of applying
various formulas effectively. In context to HSBC, management used this method for
reducing the risk in financial activities.
 Graphics – This software is highly essential for attracting the customers in large number.
Because in this stage IT employees are using different types of attractive designs and
images in their data. In mean when HSBC used this software then definitely the desires
and wants of the customers are effectively increased to know about their financial
services.
 Database software – The main function of this software is to managing the personal and
confidential information of the customers and organizations systematically. In this
software the security measures are highly focused by company. In context to HSBC,
management used this software to understand the demand and supply of the product by
customers on regular basis.
Identify and discuss the important ethical and social issues for run the businesses
According to Ashusharma, 2020 The he important issues which is faced by the
organisation from competitors at the time of running business are -
 Viruses and Malicious Programs – It refer to those risks which are which are installed
or send from hackers or crackers. In this programme the hacker are send the mail or the
attachment for attract the each clients or employees. In this mail the viruses are present in
the form of code it mean with the single click the virus are spread in the computer or in
other systems. In context to HSBC, it is necessary for management that they must use

strong security firewall and other type of anti viruses for protecting their information for
long time.
 Phishing – It is one of the most dangerous threat for the system of organization at the
time of operating various financial services (Gokhale, Bhat and Bhat, 2018). Because in
this stage fraud and wrong messages are sent to employees and customers from company
side. Due to this the equipments of the company are hacked which creates negative
impact in minds of the users towards the performance of company.. Due to this type of
phishing risk are highly increased for the important data of customer and organization. In
context to HSBC, management must facilitate effective training to all categories of
employees regarding to the use of various types of technologies. In this way awareness of
employee’s are increased regarding various types of cyber attacks or phishing techniques
and productivity are also increased.
 Denial of service – It refer to occurring of interference or the slow speed at the time of
services are delivered to customers (Sun, Hahn and Liu, 2018). The main reason for
facing these problems by the organization and customers are ineffective network and
taking time to access the information because the data are moved in the form of packets
from one place to another place. In context to HSBC, management must use their own
software with help of highly qualified technical employees for maintaining the smooth
flow of digital services with consumers in long run.
 Personal piracy – It is the another type of phishing but little bit difference is that in this
method crackers and hackers are only focused on personal informations of of companies.
Due to this sometimes operational and service activities of firm are not worked properly.
It also create threat for the distribution channel of the company at large extent through
online mode.
Discuss the impact of information and communication technology on businesses
According to Steven Scheck, 2022 in any situation information and communication
technology which mostly impact the organization in positive manner which are described below-
 Working remotely – It mean that technology is one of the essential factor which is
highly useful for enhancing the convenience of the employees in their job. In this facility
employees are able fulfil their responsibilities and roles easily from any location. In

context to HSBC, management must use this method for running the services in efficient
manner between customer and organization for long time.
 Protecting information – It refer to maintaining the records of personal informations of
clients with safety and security in long term (Hansen, Saridakis and Benson, 2018). For
maintaining the safety of data it is necessary for organization that they must use advanced
storage equipments which leads to enhance the security for consumers at large extent. In
context to HSBC, management must use virtual storage systems such as cloud computing
and others for keep the information safe at longer time.
 Providing customer satisfaction – In this stage information and communication
technology played the crucial role between consumers and organization. Because
customer satisfaction level is a very mandatory part of organization for increasing their
portfolio and revenue on monthly and yearly basis. With help of ICT the complaints of
the customers are easily solved in low time. In context to HSBC, management must
establish social media, Email and message sources for customers effectively for
understanding their problems.
 Management of resources – It means business has wide range of resources which
includes human resource, financial resource and so on (Hoy, 2018). Therefore for
managing these type of resources in smooth manner information and communication
technology played crucial role in the form of providing wide range of effective solutions.
For example HSBC is one of the organization who used AI technology, cloud and
biometrics for run their online activities in faster speed in multiple locations.
Discuss the role of IT in helping managers to manage businesses
According to Jayne Thomson, 2020 IT roles which are mostly used by managers for
managing the business effectively are -
 Research and analysis – It is a very essential tool for manager for solving the problems
employees in workplace on daily and monthly basis. In this method various types of
technology are used by managers for reducing the misunderstanding between lower
workers at the time of facilitating services to users. In context to HSBC, management
must facilitate effective training to all managers of department in form of assigning case
studies about technology. In this way the potentiality of managers are enhanced then, the
manager are ready handle any type of situation easily.

 Use of artificial intelligence – It basically refers to use of advanced software and
programme in equipments for completing the work fastly and in time. Managers of
HSBC used this method for provide best service to consumers in any situation. With help
of using this tool the automation are increased in banking industry effectively. The main
highlight of this technology is that all types of functions are done by machines which
leads to decrease the stress from employees.
 IoT (Internet of things) – In this stage the main role of manager is to collect the
problems of customers with help of using various devices (Hutcheon, Lian and Richard,
2019). Then after collecting information managers resolve the problems in low time by
using various sensors. In this way the relationship between HSBC and customer's are
built effectively for long time.
Support your analysis with a discussion of the potential benefits and drawbacks of your chosen
company investing in information technology
According to Rich Castagna 2020, management must face various types of benefits and
drawbacks at the time of using information technology which are described below -
Advantages of HSBC in information technology are -
 Saving of money and time – It refers to HSBC is one of those organization who used
advanced equipments for facilitating best quality products and services to users in time.
The main feature of this firm is to their services are run in the aspect of 24 * 7 hours it
means customers did not face any type of problems for availing services (Kirilova,
Maslov and Astakhova, 2018). The company is also used AI technology in their various
services which is important for consumers on daily basis. It includes cash deposition
machines, installation of ATM machines in various and nearest locations. Due to using
these type of facilities the positive word of mouth are increased easily from consumers
for long duration.
 Error reduction – It means that due to high osooraj.mf technology various types of
errors are easily decreased which is mostly occurred by the employees with in the
organization . Due to use of technology the money translation between the customer and
organization are smoothly maintained for long time. It this stage technology also helps to

to deliver right products to right customer in any location. Use of effective equipments
customers always get reliable and accurate information about the company product.
 Increasing productivity – It refers to when technology are properly utilized by the
company then definitely interaction with customers are increased for long time. In this
way the coordination are properly maintained with users at the time of facilitating service
(Munthe and Strandberg, 2019). For increasing productivity management of HSBC are
mostly used the automated machines which is highly essential for run the service activity
in fast manner. For example if customer want to take the bank statement through on line
mode then the machine send the statement in few minutes. In this way the waiting time of
customers are highly decreased and level of customer satisfaction are also enhanced.
Disadvantages of HSBC in information technology are -
 Increasing cost – The main reason for increasing the cost in their product and services
are huge investment in the technology which are made by the firm. In context to HSBC it
is one of the company who highly focused on middle and upper segment customers for
delivering best quality service. But in this strategy chances are easily increased for
decreasing the customer's in effective manner. Therefore it is necessary for management
that they must maintain their supreme quality in affordable price which is favourable for
all customer segments.
 Totally depend on technology – HSBC is one of those organization who mostly depend
on their technology but it creates negative impact on their performance and workforce.
Because when company mostly focused on technology the values and development of
employees get decreased in their job role (Park and Yeom, 2021). The other problem is
that due to the use of new technology lower level employees faced difficulties for
understanding their functions and in this way productivity are also decreased. Therefore
for reducing this problem it is necessary for management that they must facilitate all
categories to all categories of workers. It leads to develop awareness of employees about
new equipments in workplace for doing the work in fast manner.
 Increased risk for employees in their job – It means that when management believes
the all types works are easily done by machines then, the importance of manual work are
easily decreased. Due to this reason in COVID pandemic lost their jobs from various
departments at high rate. Due to effective use of technology management consider only

those employees who are belonging from IT field in comparison with others. Therefore it
is important for HSBC that they must also give importance to the skills of employees
such as unique ideas and creativity which is essential for increasing the productivity and
profit of company in long. Because machines are developed by human beings with their
unique ideas.
 Increasing productivity – It refers to when technology are properly utilized by the
company then definitely interaction with customers are increased for long time (Romero
Ugarte, 2018). In this way the coordination are properly maintained with users at the time
of facilitating service. For increasing productivity management of HSBC are mostly used
the automated machines which is highly essential for run the service activity in fast
manner. For example if customer want to take the bank statement through on line mode
then the machine send the statement in few minutes. In this way the waiting time of
customers are highly decreased and level of customer satisfaction are also enhanced.

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that the information technology plays an major role
role for maintaining their global presence between consumers. It is also helpful for maintaining
the productivity of employees in workplace constantly for long time. Effective technology also
helped the organization for saving the time and cost service activities which is essential for
deliver the product to customers in fast manner. It means services are running in 24 * 7 hours on
daily basis. HSBC is a international bank which have world wide presence for all categories of
customer segments. Due to the use of various types of equipments difficult numerical problems
are easily solved by employees within organization. With help of various types of equipments
confidential information of the customers are secured easily for long time. Due to this type of
security the trust and loyalty of user towards company are continued for long period and positive
relation are also build in short time.

REFERENCES
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