Assessing the Role of IT in Business Success and Failure - Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of Information Technology (IT) in the success and failure of businesses, with a specific focus on the travel industry. It begins with an abstract and table of contents, followed by a literature review that examines the advantages and disadvantages of IT implementation, referencing key academic sources. The report then delves into the identification of IT roles in business success and failure, exploring the impact of computer systems, human resource management, and communication. It also addresses ethical and social issues, such as those related to work, occupation, health, and safety, as well as the ethical concerns of fake marketing of culture. The report further differentiates various network technologies, including Personal Area Networks (PAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), and Local Area Networks (LAN). It then explores the advantages and disadvantages of social media marketing for organizations, and concludes with a discussion of the software development life cycle. The report offers valuable insights into the multifaceted role of IT in contemporary business operations.

INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT
The information technology is used to transfer and stored information data with
computers. IT utilized by almost all businesses in order to run the operation smoothly and hassle
free. The study discussed various technologies network that most of the company used so that the
information can be transferred easily from one place to another with the help of computers. This
study aim to highlight issues related with ethical or social and their harmful effects towards the
global economy. Lastly, how the social media did contribution and played the role of marketing
in businesses.

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................5
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................5
Analysis and discussion...................................................................................................................7
1:The identification of role that IT play in the failure or success of business.............................7
2:The issues related with ethical or social in association with running businesses.....................8
3.The various types of network technologies and its differentiation...........................................9
4:The benefits of social media in a business..............................................................................10
5:Software development life cycle-...........................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is basically use of computers to store or transmit information
data. The IT technology is used by many organisation to conduct different business operations as
against to entertainment or personal technologies. Audley travel is basically done its operations
in travel and become on the biggest companies of UK in this market. Audley has been gather so
many achievements over the years like Wanderlust Travel Award, Guardian Awards and
Telegraph travel Awards etc. In this report, identification of various IT roles has been described
in context of failure or success of business. Further, the report elaborate about issues related with
social or ethical with running businesses. The various types of network technologies are identify
or differentiate. Moreover, the importance of social media in a business is explained. Lastly, the
report discuss about the various stages of software development life cycle.
Literature Review
Advantages or disadvantages of IT
As per the view of Choshin and Ghaffari (2017), IT plays major role in the success of
every company because its important for every company to always bring innovative ideas and
carefully implement them as well so that it make them different from other competitors. Again,
IT bring greater productivity in the business because its provide various tools like more effective
manufacturing techniques through which an organisation can use to increase efficiency in
workplace with the help of developed stock management or systems.
Its also improves in the efficiency of business as it enables all the companies to complete
their task with least amount of time and cheaper as well. Audley company can use inventory
management software in order to count their inventory rather than hire the employees for the
same.
As per Bajwa and et.al 2017, it also allows travel companies to easily expand their business
operation all over the world. Audely will use this method to attract its targeted customers and
increases its sales related with all the services its provides. IT also allows Audley to easily get to
know about all their competitors so that they able to make effective decisions.
Vassakis, Petrakis, and Kopanakis, (2018) oppose that, apart from the success IT also
become the cause of failure for business that includes the higher dependency on technology that
become harmful in long run. While using the technology with the latest edition it usually cost

comparatively high for the company and it serious concern specially to small businesses. With
introduction of technology people are now started buying products from online sites and that
cause serious cause for the high street shop owners. Audley can get all other problems right or
fix but if does not be able to fix content of its business then they are wasting a huge amount of
time. The company spend huge investment in technological area but if its did not be able to give
fruitful results than the company might ruin it brands image.
Social or ethical issues in running a business
As per the Mayer and et.al (2019), if any person is engaged in any type of business than it
will bring some serious social issues in the society that might ruin the brand image of the
business. The tourism business is highly emerging industries around the world and it has as huge
impact on people. The travel companies is providing almost all types of services to their clients
starting from the foods, swimming pool, apparels, towels etc. ans it is also a part of their
marketing tool, but because of this all services, companies create huge amount of waste in which
most of it are non-disposable. Further, travel industries attract lot of foreign people and it
becomes unsafe nowadays because of the current pandemic, that its become easily conveniently
to transmit this disease to each other.
Spoorthi,and Kumar, (2020) contradict and said that its not about only social issues that
cause harm but serious ethical issues are largely cause of concern for economy as a whole.
Therefore, travel industry can exploit tourists with providing fake information on their websites
and collect huge amount of cost with online payments system. Moreover, some of the local
people don't have enough funds in order to purchase the local products, while other might not
aware about their money that were they are going.
Types of Network:
Personal Area Network (PAN) – As per Camilleri, 2017, It refers as the most basic or smallest
type of network, as it made of wireless modem ,for example, cellphones, printers, laptops or
computers etc. and it revolves around one person in one apartment
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – According to Voorveld and et.al 2018, these type of
networks are typically larger than LANs but comparatively not bigger than WANs, hence MAN
network is consider as connected elements from both forms of network and better than PAN
network.

Local Area Network (LAN) – According to Laurenti and Göttgens, this network is most
popular one because it connects large number of computers all together and low-voltage devices
across short distances in order to share resources and information for example, between a groups
of two or four buildings in near proximity to each other and even within a building. Large
businesses are mostly mange the network of LAN.
Social media marking advantages and disadvantages for organizations
According to author Kneuper (2017), organizations are changing the ways of advertising
themselves in such a way that it is able to achieve organizational brand awareness and also at the
same time organizational expenditures are also reduced. Through social media, one can start the
conversation quickly, gain customer loyalty and make relationship. Company can save a huge
amount of dollar with advertising on social media as with help of this,company reach its goals
and objectives and has an opportunity to grow more. For Audley, its important that they
frequently post their attractive images so that people can engage and take feedback from each
other through instant chat because sometimes a simple post on social media sites, such as with
pool image of Audley, may receive comments, shares or likes. However according to author
Dwivedi and et.al. (2020)social media marketing is limited to educated and internet users
because of which organizations must tend to integrate traditional marketing with social media
marketing in such a way that customer count can be increased. But according to the author Wang
and Kim, (2017)integrated marketing will increase organizational expenditures which will make
negative impact on goal achieving capability because of which companies must implement
advertisement on the basis of product life cycle and then efficiently choose the intensity and
geographic range of advertisement for saving the expenditures.
Software development
The author Kumar, Choi and Greene (2017) said that software development consist of
several stages on which basis the software is developed in such a way that it is able to fulfil all
the requirements. However, author Ali (2017)argued that software development is a lengthy and
time-consuming process with that it also contains high level of complex programming because of
which it is highly expensive. But the author Akbar and et.al., (2017) suggested that in order to
reduce the time consumption in software development organizational teams can be developed in
such a way that it is able to identify the requirements and then tend to work accordingly. With
that author Kneuper, (2017) also said that increasing market competition and availability of

efficient software the development cost and time consumption can be reduced. However, the
author Kamali, Hewage and Milani, (2018) argued that in order to increase the software
development life cycle productivity the time consumption in resource collection can be reduced
through which high productivity can be achieved. Through planning, project developers can
efficiently identify the goal requirements and can work accordingly in such a way that it is able
to achieve high level of customer satisfaction.
Analysis and discussion:
1:The identification of role that IT play in the failure or success of business.
There are various role that IT plays in different activities of business.
Computer Systems –
It allows all company to store their data in the computer system. Audley company can
use this method so that they decrease use of papers, the security related with data will increase
and data is secure as easy backup is allow.
Human Resource Management -
Audley can use this technology in hiring positions with the use technology like they can
advertise for its open positions, efficiently handle all the applications or able to easily sort out all
the candidates that might fit in the job (So and et.al 2017).
Failure of IT in Travel business :
Failure of Communication
Audley company is dealing with large number of people in every single day. So, its
important for the company to take care of all its customers but it might fail due to online as
clients will not be able to ask for any guidance and solve it instantly.
Lack of Planning
Audley company might fall into unexpected situations like its vary common that
websites crash and takes lot of time to fix it. Again initiatives like SEO require well planned
strategy in handling unexpected conditions (Van Alstyne and Parker, 2017). Hence, many IT do
not have tolerance for this and went to project head without accomplishing gaols.
No Technical Knowledge

Audley will need to hire somebody who is expertise in this field. However, it likely be
possible that company will have worker who is not has little or no knowledge at hand who lead
the enterprise.
2:The issues related with ethical or social in association with running businesses.
The travel industry is facing lots of issues in relation with its business activities. Lets discuss
more in detail about this topic.
Social issues:
Work and occupation
As tourism industries is now emerging all over the world. Since, it creates the job
opportunities among people but provide low level of wages which might not sufficient for their
living. As many countries are now facing the struggle with the employment because of the
current pandemic situation and as a result of this the travel industries is facing major issues in
related with providing job opportunities (Bull and Ridley-Duff., 2019).
Health and safety
The travel industries are generating huge amount of waste which is not at all consider as
healthy for the local community. The resorts or hotels are providing lots of services that includes,
foods and packaged drinking which is the cause of wastage related with plastic as they are
mostly consumed disposable products because of its economical value and provide greater risk to
all local community.
Ethical issues :
Fake marketing of culture
It might be possible that travel companies make the false information of its resorts about
commercialise the local culture and it provide the wrong perception of people about the
destination, and display the wrong advertisements about local living. Moreover, if taking into
considerations and found out that this hotel or resorts are not provide advantages to local society
thus only provide low employment in income level than it will not consider as moral (Boddy and
Dominelli, 2017). All this will results in exploitation of local community and bring major issues
with employment ethics. As in many parts around the world, there are different tourism
industries that does not actually pay enough so that it fulfil standard of living.
Exploitation of tourist

Further, the tourists is staying at one place only and it quite not possible that they did not
leave the place and the money they spend on their holiday is directly going into the corporations
at foreign. Hence, it create the problems for all local consumers, because there are many
unethical clients who is attracted to this type of travel or tourism. It is possible that the
consumers have the trust issues with local product, it results in cause issues because the local are
forced to provide the support of foreign culture so that it suits the tourist and become reason for
their attraction (Donthu, and Gustafsson 2020). This type of behaviour is also consider as
unethical as it does not provide the benefit to local community.
3.The various types of network technologies and its differentiation.
Network Technology includes the use of data systems that manage and deliver resources
of digital with the use of computer network. There are numerous firms that utilize computer
hardware and software that helps in maintains a network, as it also needs for an specialists so
that they effectively manage them.
Personal Area Network (PAN) – These type of devices is usually found on houses, small
offices or organisation as it did not require lot of people and managed by single person or firm
from one device.
Local Area Network (LAN) – This type of network is one of most popular, which is largely
used by many organisation, the most authentic and known as of the simplest type of network.
Campus Area Network (CAN) – This type of network is generally larger than LAN network
but not bigger as compare with MAN network. In this network, resources or information is
usually share across the buildings that are not largely distant with each other. For instance,
mostly large district schools or university are used this type of network in their premises.
Wide Area Network (WAN) - Its quite difficult than LAN, a WAN network is connects larger
groups of computer together across longer area of distance. This network allows computers and
low voltage devices to be able to connect with each other with use of one single network, hence
they are able to connect with each other even if there distance is miles apart. The commonly used
example of this type of network is internet, that help in connecting all computers around the
world. As WAN has wide reach so its owned by many administration.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – This network cover as whole geographic area that
includes the town or city area but usually also cover campus. This network is generally
maintained by an individual or a local council or a large company.

From all of the above network, Audley company is order to use the MAN network as it
give more access to all information or resources an help in increase productivity.
4:The benefits of social media in a business.
Nowadays, presence of social media is vital tool for every business no matter whether its
small or big in size, run a large company or small shop. Te below paragraph will give more
explanation.
Help in build awareness – Its very essential that people should know about the business one
can run. So, Audley company can boost its visibility among its potential clients with the help of
social media, hence it can provide more access to globally reach to larger audiences with very
least amount of time or effort (Swani,and et.al 2017).
Help in growth – Social media provides great opportunities for all businesses to increase its
sale. Audely company definitely use this platforms for marketing its services by videos through
CTAs, sponsored information on timelines and attractive posts become the popular stuff on
social media.
Social media is now become a huge source of advertisement as its simple to use and
mange. Just a simple steps to create profile and begin to engage with all clients (Iankova,and
et.al 2019).
5:Software development life cycle-
Following are the stages of software development life cycle.
Planning-
Planning is the stage in which requirements are analysed and operational plan is develop
in such a way that the developed project is able to fulfil the required criteria described by the
marketing department, market survey and specific domain experts (Lemke, 2018).
Requirement analysis-
Once the requirements are identified which the product must be having for being
successful in the market place then arises the second stage in which the output are analysed by
taking effective communication with the organizational stakeholders. Thus, in this requirement
of specific resources are identified for the implementation of working process on the ground
level in such a way that high work productivity can be achieved.
Designing-

In this stage the software development plan is started to be converted into design plan and
on this basis stakeholder feedbacks are taken for having a critical point of view for problem
solving through which effectiveness of developed product can be increased and then a proper
detailed working structure is developed in such a way that chances of failure is reduced because
concentrated integrated actions are make in order to increase the work productivity (Khan,
Shadab and Khan, 2020).
Software development stage-
Once the requirement is analysed and resources for the development are identified then
arises this stage in which software development and prototyping is converted into working code.
This is the actual stage at which software is developed according to the evaluated blueprint
through which developers can make sure that working is done according to the scheduled
criteria.
Software testing-
Software testing is the stage in which the developed software is evaluated in such a way
that through this actions company can make sure that customers are having a high quality of
developed products. This is done in order to evaluate the effectiveness of developed prototype by
which chances of failure can be reduced because developed prototype is closely evaluated in a
controlled simulated working environment.
Implementation and integration-
In this stage the developers often tend to deploy its developed software to different
customers having working on different platforms through which company can make sure that its
developed software is able to work on different platforms and thus by utilizing creative working
strategy company can identify the effectiveness of developed products and can make sure that
customers are having best in quality product (Olszewska and Allison, 2018).
Operations and maintenance-
This is the final stage at which project developers to maintain operational working of the
developed software in such a way that it can monitor the operation of the software and then tend
to make changes if the software tend to face any bug or may have working problems. Through
this ongoing changes company can make sure that it is able to develop product in such a way that
it can achieve high work productivity.