IT, Ethical Issues, and Networking Technologies at Marks & Spencer

This report analyzes the role of Information Technology (IT) within Marks & Spencer, a multinational retailer. It explores how IT contributes to the company's success by facilitating decision-making, marketing, communication, and sales. The report also addresses ethical and social issues, such as security, software piracy, and identity theft, that arise in business operations. Furthermore, it identifies and differentiates various networking technologies, including PAN, LAN, WAN, WLAN, SAN, and MAN, and discusses the importance of the internet and intranet for Marks & Spencer's operations. Finally, it touches upon the different stages of the system development cycle, providing a comprehensive overview of IT's impact on the business.

INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT
Document has presented the role of Information Technology, within a business
organisation that could help in running operations in much more effective and efficient manner.
On the other hand, ethical along with the social issues as well in regards to pertain to running
businesses has also been pulled out in specified time frame. Along with this, importance of
intranet and internet within the business organisation like Marks and Spencer has also been
presented.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
Role of IT in the success or failure of Marks and Spencer....................................................1
Ethical and social issues that pertain to running businesses...................................................2
Identify and differentiate between various types of networking technologies.......................3
Importance of intranet and internet in Marks and Spencer....................................................4
Different stages of system development cycle.......................................................................6
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Information technology refers to the use of computers in which retrieving, transmitting,
manipulating, storing and rendering processes are being done of information or the data. In
business context, it has been analysed that information technology basically plays a crucial role,
where business organisation uses IT to transmit, transfer the data or files that consists with
important content (Smith and Wong, 2016). Marks and Spencer, a multinational retailer dealing
in different range of sections like, home products clothing and food products was found in the
year of 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. Along with this, present report is going to
cover role of IT in failure or success of Marks and Spencer, ethical and social issues that pertain
to running businesses. Away with this, assignment is also going to cover types of networking
technologies and lastly, various range of system development cycle that will aid a business
organisation in running business in a successful manner.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Role of IT in the success or failure of Marks and Spencer
Information Technology (IT) helps to attain data by way of gathering, transmitting and
getting access to achieve organisational goals and objectives. The significance of IT relies upon a
number of aspects such as assistive management, changes in business procedures and reforms in
systems and processes as these when integrated, lead to changes within the working system of a
company (Rajaraman, 2018). It is also identified that business entities are not intending to
heavily invest efforts, money and time upon technologies and do not strive to carry out
innovation within the organisational premises with a view to facilitate expansion in new markets,
to consequently enhance the share as well as positioning in market place. Information
Technology renders opportunities to carry out measurement of potential data with the assistance
of significant and relevant organisational processes. IT system has an effective role to play in
management of issues associated with technological breakdowns. This can serve as an effective
within companies such as Marks and Spencer for dealing in technological challenges and
appropriately addressing them so as to ensure accomplishment of organisational objectives in the
stipulated course of time. Further, it assists in setting an effective and orderly communication
within different departments of the company for the attainment of long term goals in the desired
manner. The roles of IT in success of Marks & Spencer are mentioned below:
1

Assists in Decision Making: An entity has to undertake effective decisions in relation to
the accountability as well as speed of system (Long, 2018). In relation to the corporate world,
business firms have to make selection of path for enquiry for taking decision regarding
maintenance of orderly conduct within the premise. Marks & Spencer acquire web as well as
other kinds of online modes in order to avail information and ensure its validity and accuracy.
Facilitates marketing as well as growth of business: The success of an organisation is
highly dependent upon the marketing strategies applied by an organisation. These are decided
after taking into account the latest trends and techniques prevailing in market place of Marks &
Spencer. The marketing strategy of this organisation is focussed upon advertisements and
promotional campaigns as these provide assistance in creating awareness among customers and
acquainting with the features and attributes of the products. Information Technology assists in
the process of communication with various types of customers and transmitting them necessary
information regarding the offerings of entity. This facilitates growth and enhanced profitability
of company (Garcia-Penalvo, 2016).
Fosters communication: Effective IT systems ensure the flow of information in an
efficacious manner. Also, this ensures decline in mistakes as well as errors while carrying out
communication with other persons for accomplishment of organisational objectives. It is required
by Marks & Spencer to reform its existing systems in order to enhance the overall productivity as
well as to decrease the drawbacks within the process of manufacturing. This helps in
accomplishing the stipulated goals and objectives within the due course of time.
Rise in sales: By way of IT, sale of products and services rapidly rise owing to the
satisfaction that it provides to customers and the fulfilment of desires that take place. With the
aid of IT, services as well as quality of offerings of M&S can be significantly enhanced in order
to inflate the sales. With this, the loyalty of customers towards the company can be effectively
built and sustained for a long period of time (Rowley and Farrow, 2018).
Ethical and social issues that pertain to running businesses
There are a number of social as well as ethical and social issues that takes place within
the organisational premises of Marks & Spencer. Some of these are explained below:-
Ethical Issue
Security: This is one of the most crucial issues that emerge within an organisation when
the security systems are not up to date and are ineffective to meet the needs and requirements of
2

company. It is easy for hackers to hack essential and confidential data of company by making
use of an IP address (Orna, 2017). In relation to e-commerce, hackers invade the computer
systems while a person is executing a financial transaction and transfers all the quantum of
money to their personal account which directly impacts upon the customers and their bank
accounts. In order to deal with this situation, Marks & Spencer emphasize upon security, privacy
and other related issues as it damages the image and positioning of company.
Software Piracy: This refers to the avoidance of acts such as illegal copying, use and/or
supply of any software without possessing any kind of legal rights over them. It is ascertained to
be risky as the hacker can quickly as well as easily carry out hacking of the software and
consequently attain all the necessary information for any kind of wrong activity. In case a hacker
steals legally protected data of any software, it would directly impact upon the operations and
reputation of the respective organisation.
Social Issue:
Identity theft: One of the biggest spurious activities that takes place owing to IT is fraud.
The major issue that comes under the fraudulent activities is found to be identity theft wherein
personal details of individuals are used by third parties for malicious purpose. This comprise of
conducting illicit online financial transactions as well as other associated activities that may hold
negative consequences (Ross, 2016). Such activities can have an ever lasting impact upon Marks
& Spencer and thus must be taken into account by the entity to avoid repercussions.
Usage of networking for advancement: This is yet another significant issue for any
organisation as it plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of company. In case there is poor
and ineffective networking within Marks & Spencer, it would influence upon all the customer
details as well as the information in a negative manner. Networking provides assistance to
respective company for development of connection with customers across the globe.
Identify and differentiate between various types of networking technologies
Every business organisations, IT department of the company is using certain network
techniques and computer systems for executing their business activities effectively which
contributes in quick achievement of goals and objectives of the company (Beynon-Davies,
2016). There are numerous of networks which are commonly used by business organisation and
that also support in achievement of organisational goals. All of these are stated as below:
3

Personal area networks (PAN): Personal area network refers to the effective and
accessible way through which networks can be developed with the support of computers,
modem, mobile phones and many other devices which contributes in achievement of goals and
objectives. For instance: IT department of Marks and Spencer can use this type of network in
order to handle its basic network related work. Along with this, the same network also does not
require wider area.
Local area network (LAN): The term LAN refers to the computer network which
interconnect two or more computer in particular area. It is completely different from Personal
network area as can easily transfers information and data among different user in the same
company. It has been seen that Personal area network was only giving access to single user
whereas LAN holds capability of the handle networks of medium size company (Benckendorff,
Xiang and Sheldon, 2019). In this types of network information is transferred with the help of
routers within the company.
Wide area networks (WAN) – This type of network holds capability of connecting one
network from another for wider area. It basically connects one computer with the another one
which is being operated in another building or geographical location. It is different from LAN as
it only provides services within local area that is same office.
Wireless local area networks (WLAN) – It is quiet similar to local area network but the
only difference is that WLAN provides its services in local area network wireless. This means
this types of network does require any cable in order to connect different computer system.
Storage area network (SAN) – This type of network does not require to depend upon
wide area networks and local area network. Storage area network basically deals with different
network and use them effectively. The specific network also helps in storing network in
effective manner (Chmiel, Fraccaroli and Sverke, 2017).
Metropolitan area network (MAN) – Metropolitan area network is a kind of computer
network that directly connect clients with different computer network in wider area which
ultimately helps in connecting to the local network.
Importance of intranet and internet in Marks and Spencer
Both internet and intranet within Marks and Spencer plays a crucial role which, helps in
running business in a much more successful manner and these are described underneath:
4

Use of Internet in Marks and Spencer: With the advancement of technology, internet
plays and essential role in enhancing the growth of any business. In the world of digital
marketing, Marks and Spencer uses the platform of website and web portal with high utilisation
of internet to engage with clients across the globe. Effective interactive communication helps the
user to have knowledge about product or service offered to them. Through this, a strong
relationship is been build-up with current and potential customers (Schement, 2018).
The internet offers networks, storing information of potentials as well as current
consumers with the use of various software available on laptops, personal computers. The
smartphones, portable applications are designed for the teenagers and now a days available to all
the generations, because the older generation are learning to use the cellphones. Internet allows
video conferencing calls to know the problem of clients and give them the feedback for better
quality of any product or service given Marks and Spencer. This helps developing a new internal
and external networks at national and international basis. This results in outcome of effective
growth of successful marketing sales as well as market shares (Erasmus, Strydom and Rudansky-
Kloppers, 2016).
Use of Intranet in Marks and Spencer: The key advantage of intranet is that it helps
Marks and Spencer to grow successful business at national level. It provide adaptation of new
technologies with requirement of works and allow employee's to freely utilise the networks and
their potentials. This creates an opportunities to change the older thoughts to new creative,
customised marketing techniques. This reduces chances of manual errors which are done by
users. It helps in provide securities to confidential information which may be use for wrong
purposes which is not allowed by the Marks and Spencer. There are special IT departments
which basically have secured databases used by professionals and only they have right to use the
data (Campbell, Martin and Fabos, 2018).
The intranet allows high quality professionals to works in different segments which
include designing, pilot testing, development of applications which are developed by trained
employee's which have zero errors. This helps, the user to access service freely without ill-usage
of their personal data. It create a sense of anxiety, for knowing more about the product. or service
delivered by Marks and Spencer. This involves mutual participation from consumer as well as
company perspectives (Johnson, 2016). This gives strong platform for boosting of digital
5

marketing which is a new techniques used for boom in market shares which results in increment
of Marks and Spencer shareholder's to invest more in their company.
Different stages of system development cycle
Systems development cycle can be defined as application development life-cycle, which
is being utilised among engineering sector, data systems and it is also enclosed with software
engineering as well. Basically, this process is enclosed with creating, planning, deploying and
testing within a system development cycle (Avgerou and Walsham, 2017). If it is talked about a
business organisation, it's IT department is looking forward to develop a new electronic payment
system. These six different software development processes are going to be enclosed with six
stages and these are given beneath:
 Planning: Considering this plan, it can be said that weaknesses and strengths of different
range of projects are being identified, without this stage, no software could be developed
and it requires a purpose to build up a software. In present context, a business
organisation is looking forward to develop new electronic payment system, it will be
required for the company to deliver this information to the IT department as it will be the
aim for the business organisation's strategy to improve payment process.
 Analysis: This step is about analysing the performance of the software at various stages
and making notes on additional requirements. Considering this, an organisation could go
through both pros and cons of the system design of electronic payment design structure.
 Design: Just when overall investigation gets completed, designing sections comes in
front, which is basically helps developing the overall project in specified time frame.
With the help of this, a company could easily find out all the possible flaws that are
required to be removed in order to build up a much more effective procedure or plans as
well (Petrakaki, Klecun and Cornford, 2016).
 Development & Implementation: If it is talked about, organisation's electronic payment
system software, this stage stays the most crucial as, just when development takes place,
the next phase comes right in front and i.e. implementation of the product which is being
designed.
 Testing: The testing stage assesses the software for errors and documents bugs if there
are any. With the help of this, effective results could easily be pulled out right on time.
6

Here, it can be said that testing a software results in pulling out actual working results of
develop software by IT department of organisation.
 Maintenance: Once the software passes through all the stages without any issues, it is to
undergo a maintenance process wherein it will be maintained and upgraded from time to
time to adapt to changes. Almost every software development business organisation
follows all the six steps, leading to the reputation that the company enjoys in the software
market today. In context with business company, it can be said that software that was
being developed by its IT department, may require proper design as well in regards to
reach to the desired position as well.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Considering the information that is being presented above, it can easily be said that a
business organisation like Marks and Spencer would require to maintain its presence within the
IT field because, business organisations that are dealing in retailing business sector, they have all
changed the way of conducting business and instead of using information of business, companies
have adopted digital information and this transformation has helped them in conducting the
business at international level. On the other hand, benefit that Marks and Spencer can get from
information technology through improving the profit margins in specified time frame. This could
be understood with an example where Marks and Spencer has developed a whole new electronic
payment systems for its customers, it will improve its profits as well through making the
payment process much more faster than the existing one.
7