Identifying Role of IT in the Success or Failure of HSBC Business

This report delves into the crucial role of Information Technology (IT) within the business context, using HSBC as a case study. It examines how IT contributes to both the success and failure of a business, highlighting the importance of communication, efficient operations, customer experience, and informed decision-making. The report further explores ethical and social issues prevalent in business, such as diversity, discrimination, social media usage, health and safety, environmental responsibility, and data privacy. It also provides a comparative analysis of various networking technologies, including LAN, MAN, WAN, PAN, and VPN. The significance of social media in modern business operations is also discussed, focusing on its impact on product recognition, website traffic, lead generation, sales, and customer feedback. Finally, the report outlines the different stages of the software development lifecycle.

Introduction to
Informational
Technology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Identification of role of IT in context to success of failure of business:.....................................3
Finding ethical as well as social issues that are associated with businesses:..............................4
Identifying and differentiating among various types of technologies of networking:.................5
Discussing importance of social media in business:....................................................................7
Listing and explaining different stages in life cycle of software development:..........................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is the sum total of various technologies, which makes use of
computers and software, and similar equipments that is used in production, storage and
transmission of data. Data is the information and IT can be regarded as its source (Zhylin,
Divitskyi and Kozachok, 2019). Chosen organization for this report is HSBC. Entity was
established in the year 1865 by Sir Thomas Sutherland. It serves in banking sector.
This report covers identification of the roles of informational technologyfor success or
failure of business. further, issues related to ethical as well as social are analysed. Various types
of technologies related to networking as identified as well as differentiated. Importance
associated with social media are discussed. Lastly, various stages of life cycle for development
of software are explained.
MAIN BODY
Identification of role of IT in context to success of failure of business:
Information Technology can be regarded as usage of computer, software technoloogy,
internet services and similar advanced technical equipments and methodologies as well, with
support of databases as well, to carry out business operations in most recent and updated manner.
Innformation technology is helpful in quicker, effective and efficient conduct of business
ctivities.
Improve Organizational Communication: Through Information Technology and the
services that comes along with the Technology, an enhanced communiocation channel between
employees can also be seen. They can communicate in effective and efficient manner and in a
stabilised and constant manner. This also improvise the unhurdled working in organization.
 Effective Daily Work: Information technology allows in quick and consucting business
operations in such manner where cost and time of businessess are utilised in cheapaest
way possible. This is usually supported by the fact when a company use single database
as integrated part of its business (Yang, 2020) .
 Better Customer Experience: IT supports a company in acquiring customer
satisfacrtion in the manner which is totally unprecedented. Customers of HSBC can
simply go online over the website of HSBC to mention any of their doubts and queries or
regarding complaints as well, for getting their grievances solved at any point of time and

from place wherever they want. Similarly, for customizing of services as well, they can
sigle handedly report it over the website of company.
 Information Technology and Business Decision Making: IT supports decision making
in management through the use of various softwares such as ERP software. These
software helps management in identifying and controlling performance of employees and
business activities as per the plan. Any deviations between planned and actual results can
be esaily identified and solved in best time possible.
 Information technology has improved customer support: Information technology has
enebled better communication between company and its consumer base. Customers of
HSBC can report their feedbacks and reviews regarding any service that they consume.
When copmpany will be able to solve these issues in time, best and long term relations
cab be built between customers and company (Cepeda and Arias-Pérez, 2019).
 Information technology has improved resource management: In nowadays
companies ae seen having very wide operations. This results in companies having huge
databases, which are all critical and thus should be managed properly as well. Cloud
computing and similar services have enabled companies to manage these resources and
datas in most efficient way.
Finding ethical as well as social issues that are associated with businesses:
Problems in business ethics affect a variety of factors related to the overall performance
standards of a business All personal feelings are set aside, it is still true that current events have
also changed the current issues of business ethics and, to a large extent, increased the focus
placed on work ethic. Following are some ethical and social issues faced by HSBC:
Diversity and Discrimination: Diversity and discrimination related to busineesses are
seen in the workplaces sometimes very commonly an frequently. These issues can be drived by
social ethos and steretyopes in the minds of senior managements and also in same level
employees. Also, favouritism is another driver.
Social Media: Use of social media in ethical and apprporiate manner is a sort very recent
but very serious issue. Employees in HSBC arwe free to write and post their personal opinions
and thsi may get sommetimes detrimental to reputation of company. Also public opinions, driven
socio-political sentiments can be detrimental.

Health and Safety: Health annd safety is just not ethical part but a compulsion for any
business orgganisation. Any lacunaes that HSBC leaves in respect of negligence towards
employees of organisation can even put managment behind bars.
Environmental Responsibility: Envrionmental responsibility is most needed social issue
to pay attention in modern times. Long years of massive industrialisation have left climate and
environmental conditions very poor. It seems that natuire will not be sustained for future
generations if same pace of industrialisation is maintained together with fast lifestyle. Hence,
governments around the worl and people in general also have become serious towards mitigating
impacts of negative nature on environment. Thus, abiding by environmental ethics is very
necesary to protect reputation of organisation and save it from legal penalties as well.
Data Privacy: These days business is under tremendous pressure to find anyone who does
not have access to sensitive data stored digitally - including employees (Betz and et.al., 2019).
Accounting Actions: Accounting actions are related with the ways company is keeping
and maintaing its financial and transactional records. These records are economical
representatives of company and hence they are the one having utmost potential in dealling with
reputation of company. Any fault in reflecting information correctly, either deliberately or
mistakenly can mount to cheating and company can be sued under legal penalties. Also,
administration in government are very concerned about these ethical issues of Accounting.
Identifying and differentiating among various types of technologies of networking:
Networking technologies: Networking technology is that computer technologies which
are in support of maintaining communication that can be done through computer and internet
channels like emails, portals and many more such methods. In Networking technology linking
between channels is made through cables and wires alog with other hyper technical channels like
Optic Fibre pipe.
Types of Network Technology
There are different types of Technologies classification of which can be based on different
modes of transmission and scales. With help of these technologies transmission of data and
exchange of same can be done.
Network Technology is based on Transmission: Transfer based technology have further
categorisation made on two concepts, point-to-point transmission and Multi-point transmissions.

 Point to Point: In point-to-point transmission, the network nodes of sender and the
reciever are directly connected to each other, leaving scope for no further interruption and
connection to anyone else. The mainttenance of communication can be done through
wired and wireless networks. Multi points: Under multi-points network technology, the communication channels are
accessible by many people. Here all these people are senders and receiver at multiple
points of time. There are two ways of maintaining Multi-points networking, one under
which the network can be accessed by two people at a time, whereas in the second one
connection is accessible by everyone at a single time (Frizzo-Barker and et.al., 2020).
Network Technology is based on Scale: For the Networking based on Scale, there are
various methods under which it can be done. These methods are LAN, MAN, WAN, PAN and
VPN. Some of the important ones are dicussed as follows.
 LAN (Local Area Network): Local area network is the network tha operates in an
area, which is mainly categorised in the range of 10 to 100 km. Through this
network, various computer, laptops and mobiles get connected with each other.
However, the compatibility of networking depends on various factors like speed,
range, number of users and error rates.
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): Metropolitan area network refers to that
networking which is little wider than Local Area Network. Under this networking
various Local Area Networks are connected with each other and their
synchronisation takes place in MAN.
 WAN (Wide Area Network): Wide Area Network connects various networks in
devices through a single route. Under this single route all devices are operational
and their connection is established. This also hepful in identifying any single device
from this network as well. WAN can be further categorised in to Public WAN and
Private WAN.
 PAN (Personal Network): Under Personal Area Network, different devices that
falls under the range, close to a single computer device can be established under
this network. Devices such as USB, Broadbend, Firebend, Net-setters etc. That falls
unders the range of a single computer are connected through this network (ŞAHİN
and Topal, 2018).

 VPN (Virtual Private Network): Virtual Private Network is the one network that
enables virtual exchange of data, between sender and the receiver. The network is
although an advanced enabling one but it is the one that is much unsecured one like
Public internet.
Discussing importance of social media in business:
Social media can be regarded as the digitally oriented and directed interactive channels
which is such a productive platform, helpful in connecting people from distinct corners of the
world under one roof. The platform is sometimes cosidered as one of the foundational pillar of
new age technology and technological revolution. There are various processes under this
platform that are together leading its significance in the world. These processes varies from
Official websites to platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. In the business, the main
prominence of this platform lies in Consumer organization as well as organization within the
business as well. Some of the importance of Social media in business is dicussed as follows:
Create Product Recognition: Social media is very effective in targeting large scale
audience at a single time. Companifes through their official social media accounts and websites
generate direct interaction with people who are alraedy in connection with company and also
many new audfioences as well can be targeted by company. Over these websites, company keeps
updating posts regarding launch of any new product and also various schemes that they puts
forward for thheir customers. Therefore, much attention can be gathered for product and
services, thhey can be effectively made known in market and thus consumer base can be
attracted.
Increase website traffic: Social media, official wewbsites of company and advertiosment
as well as informations that comapny keeps updating over their accounts and portals, increase
tarfffickinjg over thhe website of company. Increased tarfficking is an effective maketing
strategy as it build a status symbol for company in market that many people are frequently
indulging in interaction with company. It build a reputation for company and a perception of
large image is build in consumers around the society and among many stakeholders as well.
Generate leads: Social media generates a lead for company in consumers and market. As
a range of people can be seen intteracting with company on social media, they can be seen
btalking and commenting and generating trends about it. Therefore an perception of wide
accpetability of company in market is built up.

Improve sales: All such factors, like frequent interaction with copnsumers, public
appearance and generated leads of company in market is supportive of company to increase its
reputation. Making more and more people known about efficacy of its product helps company lto
increase its sales in market (Luftman, Lyytinen and Zvi, 2017).
Customer feedback: Social media is best tool to gather support and reviews of
consumers. Consumers, as making frequant use of their social media accounts and writing their
personal blogs and opinions can easily reflect their partcular opinion about services of HSBC.
Also when other people will indulge with them on the same subject, HSBC will be helped on
seeking feedbacks from consumers, even when it will not be mmaking any particular effort in
this regard.
Listing and explaining different stages in life cycle of software development:
Softwadre baiscally the information systems. But they are digital and artificial and
mechanical in nature and hence it is needed to develop them. They are developed in mannner to
support best ways, that company is requirinmg them to fulfil its goals and objectives. Developing
a software is a process in itself. It is peocess of identifying, planning, developing, testing and
launching of the infiormation system, hhelping present as well as future needs of organisation.
Software Development Software (SDLC): The software life cycle model (also called the
process model) is reflective all necesary steps and purposes as well that are required for a
company in planning aboutr a software till launching it authenticatedly for use of company, its
employees and various other stakeholders.
Stage1: Planning and needs analysis: Planning about a software needs various
manalysis that a company have to make. They are regarding the needs of company and what are
its expectations that the software be serving. Alos it is analysed that how many people shall be
accessing that software.
Stage2: Description of needs: After analysing the needs and expectations of company
regarding development of software, a company is needed to list down all these needs in a
partcular and planned manner, and also elbortae them so that after developing software
completely no deficiencies will be there and software would be caering all needs what it should
be serving.

Stage3: Designing Software: A proper, menaingful and useful design of software is the
one that along with fulfilling all the expectations of company, must contain some other features
of consumer support and features of social informations.
Stage4: Envilronment- Envrionment are controlled areas where organization have to
serve through its software. All steps in SDLC have particular environment that they are needed
to serve. Developers of Software are needed to offer, control, configure and execute the system
in these environment.
Stage5: Testing: Testing is the process of checking the reliability and alignment of the
codes that are generated, in those areas which software is needed to serve. It is a step of
launching software on trail basis.
Stage6: Posting: When results of trial are ready, there can be noted many deficiencies and
deviations betweem desired and actual results. And, these deficiencies are mainly in the form of
bugs and errors. Under this stage of SDLC, these errors are corrected.
Section 7: Maintenance: Once a software is launched successfully, serving needs and
expectations of company, its clients and other stakeholders as well. The task doesnot end here.
Company is required to maintain the intact of Software, along with updating it through new
featires comming in technological envrionment of business.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that IT is regarded as a collection of information
and communication technologies. Although the technology of such wide scale and the one
evolved so much falls under the ambit of various definitions and interpretations. But in the
pragmmatic world, its usage are the basic matter that decides its meaning to an individual and
any business organisation. Business IT applications include computer technology and
telecommunications. The topic of business ethics issues focuses on the actions taken by the
entity and any policies that the entity makes in its efforts to resolve emerging ethical questions.
The importance of ethical issues in business cannot be overstated, especially in the modern age
and age of social movement and political correctness.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Luftman, J., Lyytinen, K. and Zvi, T. B., 2017. Enhancing the measurement of information
technology (IT) business alignment and its influence on company performance. Journal
of Information Technology. 32(1). pp.26-46.
ŞAHİN, H. and Topal, B., 2018. Impact of information technology on business performance:
integrated structural equation modeling and artificial neural network approach. Scientia
Iranica. 25(3). pp.1272-1280.
Frizzo-Barker, J. and et.al., 2020. Blockchain as a disruptive technology for business: A
systematic review. International Journal of Information Management. 51. p.102029.
Betz, U.A. and et.al., 2019. Surveying the future of science, technology and business–A 35 year
perspective. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 144. pp.137-147.
Cepeda, J. and Arias-Pérez, J., 2019. Information technology capabilities and organizational
agility. Multinational Business Review.
Yang, K. H., 2020. Informational Monopoly: An Equivalence Result (Doctoral dissertation, The
University of Chicago).
Zhylin, A., Divitskyi, A. and Kozachok, A., 2019. Problems of protection of informational
resources when using cloud technologies. Collection" Information technology and
security". 7(2). pp.171-182.
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