IT Management Report: Roles, Staffing, and Project Analysis for TESCO

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of IT management within TESCO, a leading British multinational grocery organization. It begins by introducing the importance of IT management systems and their role in overseeing technological operations. The report then delves into the specific roles and responsibilities of the IT department, emphasizing the IT manager's role in strategic planning. Section 1 proposes a mobile application project, TesApp, outlining its objectives, scope, and potential benefits for TESCO's business expansion. The project aims to enhance customer engagement and increase productivity and profitability. Section 2 focuses on the business case, including problem definition, solution, risk assessment, and value analysis. Furthermore, the report details the project management team structure, role descriptions, and the importance of reviewing current IT staffing skills. The report also discusses staffing policy plans and various staffing approaches to ensure the effective implementation of IT projects. The analysis underscores the significance of aligning IT strategies with business goals and the need for continuous IT skills audits and employee training to support technological advancements within TESCO.

MANAGEMENT IN
IT

INTRODUCTION
IT management system is a method for overseeing all matters regarding technological
operations and functions. Information technology management is a process which help in
managing the entire business information and details in effective manner.
TESCO is a British multinational grocery organization and general merchandise retailer
in England. This report will discuss about the different roles and responsibilities of IT
department. Here, an IT manager is playing an important role for planning effective strategies for
achieving goals and objectives (Arnaboldi, Lapsley and Steccolini, 2015).
Further, this assignment will discuss about different staffing approaches that help in
identifying the needs and requirements of business. Every task is depended on the information
technology management for performing various functions and operations such as planning for IT
installation plan, evaluating of technology, staffing approaches, objectives and strategic plans.
SECTION 1
PROPOSAL
TESCO
IT projects and launched own new mobile application that is beneficial for consumer. At that
time, this firm has been change their entire infrastructure by using modern technology. Mobile
application is the best medium for identifying the need and requirement of consumer. This
organization launched new app including different features such as barcode scanning and voice
searching (ausenblas, Schoulda and Smoliga, 2015). This will allow for customer to search the
product by using filtered options, voice and barcode. This application will help for user to locate
the store and build products list. This organization mainly focus on their infrastructure and how
they will manage the entire business operations and functions. They also add security features in
their application and using innovative technology to increase their productivity and profitability
in marketplace.
Project definition
TesApp
TESCO is expanding their business and launched new product by mobile application in
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other countries and offering many services to their consumers. In South Korea, Tesco provide an
opportunity to shop products by mobile phone application (Purvis, Zagenczyk and McCray,
2015). Mobile app is an effective and efficient platform for gathering all information of products
and their specific purpose. Tesco is implementing application for increasing their productivity
and profitability. Mobile app is beneficial for organization because more customer attract
towards their services. It is a marketing tool for promoting their product in market by using
online.
Significance of mobile application:
 It is easy for consumer to access to inventory.
 This application provide notification on special events and launches etc.
 It is the fastest technology to provide information in accurate ways.
 They have one touch access to search all information of particular product and services.
Background of Tesco
Tesco is a leading brand and started in 1919. It is the British and most profitable supermarket
chain. This organization is providing the best quality of product and service to their customer.
TESCO is a retailing business that has evolved rapidly all over the world. This organization is
based on grocery retailer company and there are many types of innovative business run all over
the world (Jennings and Stadler, 2015). This company will provide the best quality of services
for their customers. In 2013, TESCO launched a new smartphone tablet and also provide new
feature product for consumers. Tesco provide broadband and smartphone services to their
customers. This organization is reinvesting in their current shop and opening new stores in
various locations.
Project Objectives
 To increase the productivity and profitability in marketplace
 To minimize their product prices
 To launch new and high quality products.
 To use online application and website for promoting product and service
 To provide job opportunities for local people
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Project Manager
Kevin Smith
The organization will use efficient technique and tool to measure the business needs. Its main
aim is to expand their business across the world and make a profit. TESCO provide groceries and
electronic products to consumers.
Aim- To provide an efficient mobile application for business development and growth.
Desired outcomes
TesApp will help in increasing sales and profits of company through which they will achieve
their goals and objective. Also, they will be able to retain their customers.
Project scope and exclusion
This mobile application project is efficient for future growth and development because it is
reliable and user friendly. There feature and process are flexible to understand which helpful for
consumer and organization. This project will essential for business process because it provides
the best quality of services to their consumer. In this way, many customers operate the mobile
app because it is useful app and download by using play store.
Constraints and assumptions
This project is useful for Tesco to provide the best quality of product and services to their
customers.
The User
User is using different the mobile application for order online product. This project is beneficial
for user to access the application at anywhere and any place
Interfaces
There will be many activities that will be performed in project. First a network architecture will
be developed. Then, strategy is developed on how project will be implemented
Project approach
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The approach followed is agile in which focus will be on retaining customer by increasing their
satisfaction.
The agile method is as follows :-
Plan – in this IT project manager will plan about what app has to be developed. The layout of
project is discussed in a meeting.
Develop- The app design, user interface, etc. will be developed.
Test- testing is done to check the app so that changes can be made before launching.
Deliver- After results app is launched for customers.
Assess- Here, feedback and reviews is taken to gather information.
SECTION 2
BUSINESS CASE
Problem- The app is developed to engage Tesco in online way of doing business both through
B2B and B2C.
Solution- A project can be launched to develop an app.
Approach- The project is initiated on basis of providing an app through which it becomes easy
for customers in shopping and providing a platform where all variety of products are
available at one place.
Risk assessment- The customers may not trust app and it can also be an expensive project for
company.
Value analysis- It will benefit in saving their time and providing brief information about
products so that their needs are met.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM STRUCTURE
In this professionals will be hired that are having experience in completing this type of project.
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ROLE DESCRIPTIONS
1. Project manager- He or she will be responsible for overall project from staring to
completion manager will look after it.
2. Developer- This person will be responsible for developing apps and software that are
required in project.
3. Product management- this person will manage all the tools and equipment’s that are
required in project.
4. Program management- This person will test the application through various programs
REVIEW OF THE CURRENT IT STAFFING SKILLS
It is very important for Tesco to conduct a review of IT infrastructure so that
requirements can be identified. It is done so that a proper project plan and design can be
developed. It also helps in analysing the existing skills and knowledge of employees. By this it
become easy to determine what features are required in new IT project. Then, accordingly
components and application are installed. In order to conduct review of IT skills the following
steps can be followed (Mithas and Rust, 2016). They will gather the data from various sources
and then it will be analysed.
These are as follows:-
 First of all the existing IT components configurations will be written. For this a small
survey will be conducted in which employees and managers of Tesco will be involved. It
will give an overview of applications and software and where they are been used.
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 For this a questionnaire will be developed that will consists of questions related to current
IT software and applications which are used by company. With the help of this tool, it
will allow Tesco to create a temporary plan and outcomes of IT audit. Furthermore,
through this employees skills will be identified that they possess.
 Then, questionnaire will be distributed to employees and information will be gathered.
Afterwards information will be analysed and requirements will be determined. This will
be useful in creating a proper network architecture.
 At later stage training and development programs will be organised to provide training to
employees for using the new IT tools and equipment’s.
Therefore, by conducting survey through questionnaire, current IT staffing audit can be
done. The employee’s skills and knowledge that they possess will be determined (Dong and
Yang, 2015). By gaining this information project manager will be able to access requirements
and resources that are needed. Apart from this, training programs are developed to provide
effective training to employees. Thus, IT audit will give brief information about current IT tools
and equipment’s, configuration, skillset, application, etc. which are used in different departments
of Tesco.
STAFFING POLICY PLAN
A staffing policy plan is developed in order to hire right employees and provide training
to them. It is a process in which organisation ensure that HR planning is integrated with their
goals and objectives. Every organisation has their own staffing policy plan that allows them to
follow a systematic process. With this they are able to achieve their goals and objectives in
specified time frame. Tesco should also develop a plan so that their IT project is executed and
goals are attained.
After doing the IT skills audit it is necessary to develop policies and rules so that needs
are met in proper way. Moreover, it creates a systematic way through which project will be
implemented. Furthermore, staffing is a through which IT project are implemented. It gives an
overview of requirement and how it can be fulfilled. Employees and managers follow this policy
and work accordingly. This is beneficial in installing IT tools at particular place. In addition to
this, policy will restrict employees to use resources in effective manner (Shen, Lyytinen and
Yoo, 2015). Moreover, project manager develop and implement strategies with the help of
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proper schedule. The policy formulated show IT department that what are resources required and
in which areas. Also, it will give them a configuration of current tools and equipment’s and what
modifications are required in it.
At last staffing policy plan will describe that what training and development programs
must be implemented and organised. Moreover, what skills, qualification and experience is
required in new employees that will be hired. Other than this, in what areas employees are
required and in how much quantity.
The policy plan is as follows:
Objective Action Responsibility Action Monitoring
To identify the
requirement of
people.
By analysing
project
requirement and
current
employees’
skills.
HR After project
plan is developed
Project manager
To create a plan
through which
employees will
be recruited.
Conducting
meeting and
developing plan.
HR and Top
management
In between
project
IT
At last policies
and procedure
will be
developed.
Developing
policies
Stakeholders After
determining
current policies
HR
STAFFING APPROACHES
It is very important to select a proper staffing approach so that skilled and experienced
candidate can be hired. Also, company gets an idea whether to implement project globally or not.
The approach helps in completing project in given time. This helps company to take proper and
better decisions (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). Through this it becomes easy in selecting qualified
employees and implementing project. Also, the approaches are selected on basis of project that
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company wants to implement. Basically, there are four common and international staffing
approaches that can be used by Tesco. These are as follows:-
Ethnocentric – Here, managers are appointed as parent company nationals (PCN). Usually, this
type of approach is followed by Japanese and Korean companies.
Polycentric – Here, managers are appointed as host country nationals (HCN). Usually, this type
of approach is followed by European companies.
Geocentric- here, high level management does not focus on one nationality. In this top positions
are hired who are highly qualified from global level (Jennings and Stadler, 2015). They are
considered as third party nations.
Regiocentric – This staffing approach allows upper level management to held position for a
particular region. It is applied as per the region of specific country. Moreover, this is also
known as polycentric approach.
By selecting appropriate approach, it becomes easy for Tesco to initiate its own project.
Moreover, top level management can provide and initiate it with staffing skills. Furthermore,
there will be change in staff and it will help in taking effective decision. Companies commonly
use it to identify qualifications of staff in local country. Due to this, they are able to hire
employees in top management. They are responsible in initiating project and monitoring of it.
For present project Tesco can use polycentric approach. This will enable in developing
strategies and plans on how to hire and select qualified staff. Apart from this, Tesco can manage
its operations in local country and appoint HCN in regions. This will enable in focusing on local
country. Moreover, highly qualified employees of local countries can be hired. The project can
be implemented on basis of market situation (Malik and Al-Toubi, 2018). The top management
will develop norms and practices as personnel requirement. Tesco can hire qualified employees
who will perform role in monitoring app and attaining goals and objectives. Besides this, the
following approach is cost effective and beneficial for long term. It is suitable for Tesco as their
business is expanded in different countries. Thus, company already knows what personnel is
required.
Each approach creates an impact on the organisation. it also affects the implementation of
project. By selection of polycentric approach, Tesco project will also have ethical impact. First
of all top management will have to develop policies according to local country. This will bound
them to follow rules and regulations of country while staffing. Each HCN will have to follow
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ethics of local regions. So, it will create conflicts while taking effective decisions. There will be
minimal impact on Tesco as it is already operating in various countries. Organisation also knows
about ethics which exists and is required in staffing.
In context to above, Tesco can hire qualified staff in local countries. The benefit of using
Polycentric is candidates possess better knowledge about local markets. This leads to enhance in
efficiency in production (Teo and Bhattacherjee, 2014). Project cost will get reduced. It will
enable in following ethics and rules to staffing. Manager will be able to make changes in ethics
that will allow in creating better relation with employees. In this way, staffing will be done
accordingly to project requirement
BUDGET PLAN
In order to implement IT project in Tesco it is necessary to develop a proper IT plan.
Besides this, steps and process must be developed so that it becomes easy to implement it in
systematic manner. Moreover, plan acts as blueprint and shows direction of project. In addition
to this, plan also gives detailed description of what type of software or application is required,
when and where they will be installed.
Along with implementation plan it is essential to determine that what cost will be
incurred in overall project. It is useful in identifying resources that will be required.
Determination of budget gives an estimate of project. The budget is described as below:
Resources Cost required
Designing of IT
infrastructure
$500
Application and
software
$15000
Sever and database $10000
Other tools and
equipment’s
$5000
Staffing expenses $7500
The chart cost describes total budget of project that will be required. It also that what
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resources will be required and its estimate cost. By this it will be easy for manager to utilise
those in effective way. Moreover, it will be easy in working as per cost plan
ANALYSIS OF SOFTWARE, HARDWARE AND OPERATIONAL COST
Software – the software required for developing app will be adobe flash and app inventor. They
can be used to design user interface of app.
Hardware- it refers to the external resources that are required to store data and information. For
project server, database, systems, etc. will be required to store large data sets.
Staffing cost – it means cost which is incurred on hiring of new staff and providing training to
them. It is necessary to determine staffing cost so that training programs can be organised. The
total cost required for this will be $7500.
Operational cost – It includes all those expenses that is incurred in implementation, installation,
monitoring activities, etc. So, cost required will be $2500.
PROJECT PLAN
Activities Status
Determining
configuration
Completed
Developing IT
architecture
Almost completed
Testing of software and
applications
In process
SAS and SDT set up Not executed
Checking systems In process
Testing completed Not started
Installation In process
Monitoring In process
From the above plan, it can be concluded that there are many activities and stages
developed through which IT project will be implemented. The plan gives a brief structure of how
project will initiate and completed in given time. Also, it enables manager to allocate resources
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