CFPBUS003 - IT Impact on Business Operations Report, Suffolk Uni

This report analyzes the impact of Information Technology (IT) on business operations, focusing on the retail sector, specifically using Tesco as a case study. The report begins with an introduction to IT and its role in modern business, followed by a literature review covering IT's role in retail, ethical and social issues, networking technologies, social media's importance, and the software development life cycle (SDLC). The analysis and discussion section delves into the role of IT in Tesco, ethical and social issues within the company, the types of networking technologies used, and the significance of the intranet and internet. The report highlights the importance of IT in improving operational efficiency, managing data, and enhancing decision-making. Ethical considerations, such as data privacy and potential misuse of technology, are also discussed. The study emphasizes the importance of social media for marketing and customer interaction. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and their implications for businesses leveraging IT.

Impact of Information Technology on business operations
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Abstract
In this report, it has been discussed about the Information technology which help for
implementing innovative idea to handle the business complex operation and function. In general,
IT (Information technology) is helping to manage both personal as well as entertainment
technologies. However, IT is primarily consider as subset of data or information in term of
modern communication technology. This report has been summarized about the Information
technology which involves for processing of data or information by computers. All of these are
extremely crucial for emerging modern technologies that led to the big advance in term of
Information technology field. Furthermore, identifying the different kind of ethical and social
issue when using IT. In this documentation, explaining the different network technologies in
which supports for enhancing the overall business performance. Moreover, analyzing the
significance of social media in order to target the potential consumers, which provide the better
options regarding product as well as service.
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Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4
2. Literature Review........................................................................................................................4
2.1 Information Technology and its role in retail business.........................................................4
2.2 Ethics and Social Issues of using technology........................................................................5
2.3 Networking Technology, different types...............................................................................5
2.4 The importance of Social Media in business.........................................................................6
2.5 Software Development Life Cycle........................................................................................6
3. Analysis and Discussion..............................................................................................................8
3.1 Role of Information Technology in the Tesco.......................................................................8
3.2 Ethics and social issues in Tesco...........................................................................................8
3.3 Types of Networking Technologies that used in the Tesco...................................................9
3.4 The importance of Intranet and Internet in the Tesco..........................................................10
4. Conclusions................................................................................................................................11
5. References..................................................................................................................................12
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1. Introduction
Explain the purpose of the assignment and provide and any background information
Information technology is based on the innovative concept that use of different computers to
store, collect, retrieve, transmit and manipulate large amount of information. Typically, IT will
support for business to handle the complex operations which opposed to both personal as well as
entertainment technologies. However, IT is primarily consider as subset of data or information in
term of modern communication technology. The purpose of this assignment is to identify the
concept of information technology and use in the business context. Background study of
Information technology that involves the processing of data by computers. It origin of IT
developed by Guglielmo Marconi in 1894, All of these are extremely crucial for emerging
modern technologies that led to the big advance in term of Information technology field.
Furthermore, identifying the different kind of ethical and social issue when using IT. This report
will discuss about the network technologies and also understand the importance of social media
in business development.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Information Technology and its role in retail business
According to Chen (2020) Information technology plays an important role in term of
management within retail business operations. In this way, it can handle the market knowledge
and control of information. While increasing the globalization of retail enterprise which needs to
be adopted as Information technology in order to establish a strong coordination with potential
consumers. Usually, Tesco is one of retailer in which use Information technology concept that
help to gain competitive advantage in marketplace.
As per Suyono and Rahim (2017) Retailers have been used the Information technology
(IT), which plays important role to implement suitable system and obtain as better tracking to
integrate with system. In this way, it can easily record, store large amount of information related
to the customers, product purchase, sales data.
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2.2 Ethics and Social Issues of using technology
As per Langarizadeh, Moghbeli and Aliabadi (2017) Information technology specified to
the essential components that are mainly used to store, fetch and manipulate the information.
Some of the major ethical issues by Information technology. Personal privacy is based on the
ethical issues in IT, which facilitates user having own hardware. A major challenge for IT which
lead to disclose the sensitive or hidden information for organization, personal detail of individual
groups. On the other hand, second aspect of ethical issues in Information technology which
become accessible. It became consider as high priority ethical issue for IT and chance to increase
unauthorized access by different people. Patent is also consider ethical issue which need to be
used for preserve as unique or secret aspect of idea. But at certain point, it would be increased
the chances of information disclosure with Information technology or software.
According to Ferrell, Harrison and Hair (2019) social issue is a kind of problem that
influence many citizen within a society and difficult to recognize in proper manner. There are
different kind of social issues which applicable in certain levels. Online harassment,
discrimination is one of the social issue which has been increasingly number of reported online.
For Example- harassment is targeting the immigrants and other group of individual people, who
are working to protect appropriate rights and racial justice.
2.3 Networking Technology, different types
As per Chege, Wang and Suntu (2020) network technology involves the use of
information or data system in order to manage and deliver digital resources over hardware
network. Different industries are mainly focused on the computer hardware or software that
maintain or handle the network system in systematically. Moreover, there are different kind of
network technologies used in the organization.
Wireless Local area network technology- it is based on the wireless technology such as
Wi-Fi. It make use of proper functioning to handle the transmission of signals from one node to
another. These type of technology will help to use different hardware device rely on the physical
cables and establish a connection to the network.
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Wide area Network- this kind of technology is helping to establish a connection with
hardware together across longer physical distances. It allows for computers and low voltage
devices which are remotely connected to each other.
Virtual network technology- this kind of technology will support to start as public
communication and transmitting data from sender to receiver. This technology is creating a
secure, encrypted link above less secure network such as public internet. Network technology
can uses as tunneling protocol for handling both encrypted and decrypted data at end of sender as
well as receiver side.
2.4 The importance of Social Media in business
The importance of social media in enterprise which is growing at rapidly in global world.
By putting more efforts to integrate with social media sites. In context of business, Social media
has become consider as influential in which create as virtual space where an efficient tool or
platform is not properly used (Tönnissen and Teuteberg, 2020). Social media is consider as
compatible for promoting the various product as well as service in global marketplace.
Companies are using social media to post ads of new product and helping to reduce their price or
cost. Social media ads reach out to the potential consumers.
On the other hand, the importance of Social media allows for better interaction and
consumer feedback. Enterprise is also needed to respond of their targeted customers. In this way,
individual people can use social media to directly interact with staff members. In order to analyse
that social media support for handling the customer service strategy. This is extremely important
for organization to improve overall business profitability as well as productivity in global
marketplace.
2.5 Software Development Life Cycle
Software development life cycle (SDLC) is based on the process or method used by
organization to design, develop and test high quality of software. It supports for providing the
better services in order to meet consumer expectation level. Whenever, designing a new software
which needs to be followed different phases. The life cycle is defined as methodology for
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improving its quality of software and complete development process. There are different phases
of software development life cycle as follows:
Phase-1 Planning and requirement analysis-
It is the initial stage of SDLC which is mainly performed by senior members of team,
identifying all essential resources such as hardware, software. Planning is the important approach
that need to assure the quality of software and identification of risk associated with development
process.
Phase-2 Defining requirements-
Once the requirement analysis is done which may clearly define, document of product
development. afterwards, it will be approved from customer on the basis of market analysis.
Team members should be created or developed SRS (software requirement specification), which
consist of all product need as per designed or development.
Phase-3 Designing the entire software layout or structure-
After successfully design a proper documentation, it reference to the layout which come
out with SRS. On the basis of requirements, it is mainly specified the design approach in which
proposed or documented in design document specification (Ketzenberg and Metters, 2020). In
this phase, it is clearly describing the modules of product along with communication, flow chart
representation.
Phase-4 developing the software-
In this stage, SDLC start with the development process of software. Therefore, it should
consider as programming code which help to perform different activities. Developer must follow
a proper guideline in which defined by the enterprise. Generally, it can be used programming
language such as C, C++ and Java.
Phase-5 testing the product-
In this stage, it is basically describe as subset of all stage in term of SDLC, testing the
different activities in which involves in life cycle. This type of step will help for identifying any
kind of bugs, errors within system. in order to track or monitor a problem within system.
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Phase -6 Deployment and Maintenance-
Once the product is being tested and ready to be developed but it needs to be released
formally in proper manner. Sometimes, it has occurred the product deployment happen in this
process while implementing suitable business strategy. In case, if product have delivered to the
client and give a better maintenance facilities according to the consumer feedback.
3. Analysis and Discussion
3.1 Role of Information Technology in the Tesco
Information technology is consider as modern approach that will support for Tesco in
which deliver as strong profits. Tesco is a one of the world’s supermarket retailer in the global
marketplace. In this way, manager of Tesco can use information technology as tool or platform
for managing, assessing and efficiently running the overall business effectively (Ketzenberg and
Metters, 2020). Therefore, IT plays important role in which provide the better way to gather or
collect large information within organization’s system. The significant role of IT in business is to
improve the efficiency of operations so that Tesco can complete their task cheaper and quicker. It
often occurs with help of business software and also centralise enterprise database.
For Example- The role of IT in Tesco as management decision making by using ERP
software. It will support for manager to identify the performance for organization in real time. In
this way, it is better way to handle finances, customers, marketing and sales trends.
3.2 Ethics and social issues in Tesco
Ethical as well as social issues arising from use of Information technology and also
applicable in different areas. In particular, Tesco has a lead to the creation of new branches in
ethical manner. In Tesco, ethics are embedded and focus on the identifying use of modern
technology, which supports for protecting against misuse of technique. Afterwards, it devise as
common approach to provide the benefit in the ethical society. In context of Tesco, there are
different ethical and social issues involves privacy, unethical leadership in business operations,
toxic workplace environment, harassment or Discrimination etc. These kind of different issues
arise in the business and directly affecting on the overall business profitability as well as
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productivity in marketplace. Various kind of ethical issues in term of Information system and
create understanding of IS ethical ways. There are 4, 00,000 employees working and hold a lot of
their financial as well as personal information. At that time, it should require to increase the
involvement of third party. Therefore, unauthorized person will try to access personal
information for individual people and organizational financial details.
3.3 Types of Networking Technologies that used in the Tesco
There are different kind of network technologies identified such as Wireless LAN, Wired
networking, WAN. These will help for establishing a better connection between sender and
receiver. Tesco can use as single global network infrastructure and will be ongoing applicable,
centralization programme (Ketzenberg and Metters, 2020). Another way, It can be said that
TESCO use Wireless Local area networking technology, which provide the secure connectivity
to create a link between suppliers, customers, partners and other colleagues. In case, Tesco have
planned to establish a connection with different countries so that they can adopt WAN (wide area
networking technology). It enable to deliver better business application consistently to all
stakeholders. Afterwards, company will easily achieve significant cost or price efficiencies.
Tesco has been using wireless LAN technology which supports for improving the
communication signal transmission between one nodes to another. Generally, it applicable as
wireless network components such as routers, Wave link networking kit. This kind of wireless
network technology will help to handle the inexpensive or ubiquitous but at same time, it help to
fix the problem and easily configure security setting or start setup.
Tesco took important steps to make their network wireless with improving its highest
security. To make a better network work for a longer period and use a proper standard. Problem
of Tesco faced with wireless network which involves to slow down their interne performance.
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3.4 The importance of Intranet and Internet in the Tesco
Intranet provide as central place in which store, collect all kind of organizational
documentation. It is always up to date and accessed by anyone on team members. Sometimes, it
ensures that staff turnover doesn’t affect access to knowledge. The importance of Intranet which
help them to establish a connected network of different computers. It enable individual people to
share, exchange large amount of information.
Intranet provide the extremely useful as business in order to establish an internal
communications, act as store corporate information such as Memos, staff news and other kind of
announcements centrally. On the other hand, Intranet will help to deliver information and
business news as handle web documents, directories.
By using Intranet, Tesco will create as virtual workspace and community to facilitate
information storing, sharing and collaborative working. This provide as training platform to
share information for staff members (Tönnissen and Teuteberg, 2020). Another way, the
importance of intranet is to enhance the level of consumer service in which maintain accurate or
consistent data or information in proper manner.
Most of consumer make use of Internet is to accumulate information or data in regards with
product as well as service. Generally, Tesco can use dynamic website that helps to sell the
various products by using online retailer site. In this way, it can easily identify the importance of
internet which may represent as good experience for potential consumers, who have been
purchase items from online platform such as website, smart phone application etc.
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4. Conclusions
From above discussion, it has been concluded that information technology (IT) plays
important role in the organization to handle the complex business operation and function in
proper manner. In this report, it has been summarized about the different kind of ethical and
social issue in context of information technology. It can be analysed the various networking
technologies in which supports for establishing a connection between one node to another.
Furthermore, it can be improved understanding towards the significance of social media in
business growth and development. However, identifying the role of IT which can support for
business in term of success or failure. This documentation can be examined the significance of
intranet and internet in retail business.
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5. References
Book and Journals
Chege, S.M., Wang, D. and Suntu, S.L., 2020. Impact of information technology innovation on
firm performance in Kenya. Information Technology for Development. 26(2). pp.316-
345.
Chen, Y., 2020, June. How the Internet Affects the Development of Retail Industry.
In International Conference on Applications and Techniques in Cyber Security and
Intelligence (pp. 960-965). Springer, Cham.
Ferrell, O.C., Harrison, D.E. and Hair, J.F., 2019. Business ethics, corporate social responsibility,
and brand attitudes: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Research. 95. pp.491-501.
Ketzenberg, M.E. and Metters, R.D., 2020. Adapting operations to new information technology:
A failed “internet of things” application. Omega. 92. p.102152.
Langarizadeh, M., Moghbeli, F. and Aliabadi, A., 2017. Application of ethics for providing
telemedicine services and information technology. Medical Archives. 71(5). p.351.
Suyono, J., Sukoco, A. and Rahim, R., 2017, December. Impact of GDP Information Technology
in Developing of Regional Central Business (Case 50 Airports IT City Development in
Indonesia). In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 930, No. 1, p. 012045). IOP
Publishing.
Tönnissen, S. and Teuteberg, F., 2020. Analysing the impact of blockchain-technology for
operations and supply chain management: An explanatory model drawn from multiple
case studies. International Journal of Information Management. 52. p.101953.
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