Information Technology Impact on Morrison's Operations - LSC & UoS

This report explores the impact of information technology on Morrison's business operations, focusing on network technologies, ethical considerations, and the system development lifecycle. It begins with an introduction to Morrison's, highlighting its online presence since 2012, and then delves into the roles of IT, including the use of decision support systems and management information systems. The report discusses various network technologies employed by Morrison's, such as WAN, LAN, and MAN, and addresses ethical and social issues like data protection and worker rights, emphasizing the importance of initiatives like the Ethical Trading Code and SEDEX. Furthermore, it examines the significance of internet and intranet for business connectivity and marketing strategies. The analysis concludes by outlining the stages of the system development life cycle within Morrison's business context. Desklib provides access to similar reports and study tools for students.

London School of Commerce
In Association with the University of Suffolk
Introduction to Information Technology
Impact of Information Technology
on business operations of Morrison
Student name:
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Executive Summary
Today is the age science and technology. The science is inventing newer technology to
perfect the human life and daily basis of activities. Business today is digitalized and mostly
depends on the technological tools and scientific theories. The Morrisons business operations
worldwide and from the very beginning of online business inauguration and popularity
internationally the business started as online beside its physical business outlets. They started
their first business website in 2012 named Morrisons Cellar to sell wine worldwide as their
IT expert innovated several purchasing options for the customers. This report aims to discuss
the various aspects and importance in human life by the grace of information and technology
usage in the Morrisons business workplace and how they make a digitized business
atmosphere for their customers. The report discusses about various network topologies and
network technology adaptation by the companies. Then, this paper summarises the ethics and
its impact to the Morrison’s business.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................2
1. 0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................4
1.1 Purpose........................................................................................................................4
1.2 Background.......................................................................................................................4
2. Literature Review...................................................................................................................5
2.1 Information Technology and its role................................................................................5
2.2 Several Types of Networking Technologies....................................................................5
2.3 Ethical issues and Social Issues of using technology.......................................................6
2.4 The importance of Internet and Intranet in business........................................................6
3. Analysis and Discussion........................................................................................................7
3.1 Various roles of Information Technology in Morrison’s business...................................7
3.1.1 Different types of Information Systems that are used in Morrisons like Decision
Support Systems, Management Information System, etc...................................................7
3.2 Different types of Networking Technologies that are used in Morrisons........................8
3.3 Ethics and social issues in Morrisons...............................................................................8
3.4 The importance of Intranet and Internet for Morrisons Business.....................................9
3.5 Role of Information Technology in Management............................................................9
3.6 Various stages of System Development life cycle of a Business...................................10
4. Conclusions..........................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12
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1. 0 Introduction
Morrisons is the UK’s 4th largest supermarket chain which headquarter is situated in
Bradford, England. The business was founded by William Morrison in 1899. The business
was started as an egg and butter shop at Rawson market in Bradford, England. Morrisons has
more than 110,000 employees are serving to about 11 million customers each week in their
supermarket stores. The company uses technology to develop their business capacity and
functions (MORRISONS, 2020). The Morrisons use latest technology and tools to support
their modern customers. The business now available around 500 stores in South of England,
Scotland, and Gibraltar. The authority is well skilled management in the Morrisons business.
1.1 Purpose
This report purposes to discuss the information technology and its several roles in the
business operation today, different types of network technology in the Morrison’s business
perspectives. Secondly, the report discusses the social issues and ethical factors related to the
information technology in business. Then, it discusses the importance connect to business by
internet and intranet. Thirdly, the report aims to outlines the importance and usage of
Information technology by the Morrisons business. The report discusses about the different
information systems, various types adopted network technology, social and ethical issues in
the workplace of Morrisons. Finally, the report outlines several stages of system development
life cycle of the Morrison’s business.
1.2 Background
As the Morrisons has wide range of outlets having huge customers and the brand awareness
by the customers encourage the business to start their online business platforms, the
management in 2012 started their online business by launching their website. Now, they are
very popular online business and home delivery services provider to their customers. For the
uninterrupted internet connection, the business management afford the various types of
network connection in their workplace and working areas. The management today operate
many of their business functions through digitalized process of production, manufacture,
packaging, supply, and delivery. The business using several IT tools research the local and
international market of their products and services.
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2. Literature Review
2.1 Information Technology and its role
Information regards as the assets of the present age and the age is defined by the technology
and information. The individual and organization have various aspects of using, collecting,
manipulating, and storing various sources of information. Information technology refers to
the application of modern tools, systems, telecommunication devices to store data, retrieve
messages, and sending data to the targeted person or receiver (Rouse, 2020). Nowadays,
every business organization operates their regular basis of working and activities though
using internet and information technology, tools. Computerized business structure and
workplace is common phenomena today business operation and management. The
information technology by the business has several prospects of business functions having
cloud storage, computers, networking and physical infrastructures and processors use to
secure, and exchange the data with their varied stakeholders.
2.2 Several Types of Networking Technologies
Using connection through a fabric, structure of cords, wires which generally cross at regular
intervals working by knotted and secured devices and medium— a network builds to provide
the information and data from one place to another. Network technology comprise several
communications by the different range and capabilities. From this the network technologies
are classified as WAN, MAN, LAN, PAN, WLAN, SAN etc, in the business workplace and
community. Personal Area Network (PAN) can be connected as underwired like FireWire or
USB and these may be tuner like IR, ultra-wideband, ZigBee etc. (Zahariadis, 2019). The
business covers the various types of network according to their demands and working range.
WAN is wide area network supply network signal over a state or whole country which is
geographically larger. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) works for a definite metropolitan
area as to their customer demands. Local Area Network (LAN) works for small are like 100
m to 10 km capacity network provider.
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Figure: Metropolitan area Network Source: Zahariadis (2019)
2.3 Ethical issues and Social Issues of using technology
Fake account in social media cheats and counterfeits the users in online business strategies.
The marketers face harassments by the fake users and the users also become helpless when
they face fake products instead of the original products they ordered to the online stores. In
this respect the brand awareness and authenticity of the brand websites can help the
customers largely having and to be satisfied with the exact products the wanted. Technology
users have in this case bad experiences of the fraudulent works like hacking, stealing
customer data, user’s personal information. The management needs to heck their cybercrimes
issues, cyber security, hacking prevention, malware protection, to ensure the customers
(Mahadevan and Zhou, 2018). The database management in this case can help the marketers
to secure their website and virtual data from hacking and leading their customer to fake
products. So, ethical practices and social responsibility to help the customers are very
important strategy by the marketers from online and digital marketing fields.
2.4 The importance of Internet and Intranet in business
The internet connection is an obvious networking system today for the learned person to be
connected to the world and having business support, medical support, security services,
governments services and all other services they need from the systems are connected to their
life and necessities support for regular basis. Internet in the business operation is very
essential today to connect the online users in several social media like Facebook, WhatsApp,
Viber, Imo, QQ, Qzone etc. platforms to attract them to the specific products and services
previously the serve them in traditional business process (Kosaka et al., 2020). Internet
marketing enables the special characterised and unable individuals to get services as home
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delivery support and products they wish to have. The online marketing approaches today
promote the business in more technical way that required more space and time before. The
marketers use the lead generation strategy to connect with the collected email address
through their business proceedings and registered members in online purchasing. So, email
marketing can be best way to send the promotional message to the customers and updated
products and services by the business.
3. Analysis and Discussion
3.1 Various roles of Information Technology in Morrison’s business
Morrisons is the UK’s 4th supermarket business online and offline services with several kinds
of products like Household, Health & Medicines, Bakery & Cakes, Home & Garden,
Toiletries & Beauty, Fresh, Food Cupboard, Frozen, Beer, Wines & Spirits, Baby & Toddler
and many other brand products. The Morrisons authority implemented computerized
workshop and with cyberspace connection. They maintain several procedure operations in the
office such as business through websites, HR administration, miscellaneous workplace
management, stockholder returns management, accompanying movements to COVID-19
circumstances (Singh, 2019). The IT officers research and develop their products by applying
R&D business analytic tools. The engineers in the business development to design and
products development, software application, website implementation as the part of their
regular information technology management. The management incorporated with Blue
Yonder to have support for their artificial intelligence business approach to lessen the loads
from their traditional busines procedures and management.
3.1.1 Different types of Information Systems that are used in Morrisons like Decision
Support Systems, Management Information System, etc.
Artificial intelligence by Morrisons named as Roboshop to support their customers more
generously and according to their needs and requirements from their online business and
products finding approaches. There are different information systems and technologies in
Morrisons business operation like commercial and corporate technology, supply chain
technology, security systems, architecture, manufacturing technology, environment and
automation management, Service Now Products and Services, Security Architecture,
Reporting and Analytics, PMO management, Scrum master, innovation analyst system,
Mobile App Developer etc. (Power, 2017). These systems enable the business Morrisons to
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adapt with the modern technology purposes. By the project management office (PMO),
Morrisons research for the market development, and market analysis.
Figure: Decision support system for Morrisons Source: Power (2017)
3.2 Different types of Networking Technologies that are used in Morrisons
The management in the Morrisons business to ensure their online and digital technological
business workplace adopts several networking hub and switches in the office. Computers
need to be connected with a switch and hub in their office. So, the networking types the
require like WAN— for wide area network for the use of connection to the whole country
customers. They use LAN basically to connect their ring topology-based computers at office
indoor (JAVAPOINT, 2020). The PAN networks for device to devices information share they
use in the office. The management use the MAN networking to their offices connected to the
metropolitan areas networking purposes. The managers form the same city connected through
the specific hub networking by implementation MAN networking.
3.3 Ethics and social issues in Morrisons
The Ethical Trading Code and Ethical Trading Policy in the Morrisons business offices are
the main ethical supportive strategies to support their customers (MORRISONS, 2020). By
the applications of these methodology of ethics in the Morrisons management the authority
ensures the mitigating human rights, monitoring of the worker’s performances in several
activities like in supply chain management, setting out the key rights for employees including
wages, safety, working hours, freedom of association, security and discrimination. The
SEDEX approach for Supplier Ethical Data Exchange policy ensure the suppliers to store
their information and to let the customers to know their raw material information so that they
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may be satisfied with pure and delicious foods. Collaboration business strategy by Morrisons
with external partners cause the data protections issues and confidentiality that hinder their
reputations and business growth. Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) by the authority since 2015
ensure the business security of data protection by which they connect other business, trade
unions etc. and brand, franchising.
3.4 The importance of Intranet and Internet for Morrisons Business
Morrisons.com today reach to the more than 75% of British customers as households and the
customers can connect the business online as the retailer expanded its online delivery
catchment to Surrey, Kent, South London, Devon and the south coast and the varied cultural
customers from Edinburgh and Glasgow can order groceries online from the Morrisons
business. Thus, the business has established a strong online business platform to ensure their
customers with online payment gateways using support. The importance of internet using for
the business helped the management to research what the customers expect and what their
demands from their business to cope with the modern trends of fashion and necessaries. The
coronavirus pandemic led the business to collect and produce several PPE equipment, mask,
and reliable hand sanitizer, hand washing products and increased sales of the company. By
the application of their social media marketing and email marketing strategies helped the
business largely and the customers can opine suggestions and mek comments for the products
revies and development with the Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger and many other mobile
applications. They launched their mobile applications based on modern programming
language so that they communicate with the customers in an instant replying process.
3.5 Role of Information Technology in Management
There are several roles of information technology in business management. The role
information technology in administration is very important. The directors need to manage
worksheet of the wages of the employees. For this purpose, the authority set up computerized
business culture. They apply the web application and online application to store their data by
cloud servers and maintain server security. The officers in Morrisons apply the various
software for their data storing, database management, defines and setting the work schedules,
salaries, accounts, modern survey reports, the treaties and acts records with the business and
government authority. All the HR activities by the business organization can be done through
information technology such as job design, job opportunity, job analysis, performance
evaluation, job specification and description, salary structure, job evaluation. These can be
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very effective by the machine learning technology (Benedetti, 2020). These actions by the
management required publication of advertisement needs expenses before. The Taxation
process, government billing was difficult in traditional business procedures and these
activities are performed by the management easily than the traditional business procedures.
3.6 Various stages of System Development life cycle of a Business
The business uses the SDLC model to research customers, market segmentation process,
products penetration model, competitive advantages, imitation products avoidance and
preventive measures. These activities within the business can impact the other process of
products promotion. The models describe various thing related to customer’s needs,
customer’s choices analysis, customer demands, modern trends, modern fashion and
behaviours of the customers, technology management, social media marketing suitability,
availability of the raw materials and other supplier chain and flows. Planning— By the use
of modern technology business progresses well and ensure more increases. The marketers
plan to use the social media platforms to attract their customers and employees. Planning
covers the customers and investors would help the business in several ways like buying,
purchasing and donating (Lewis, 2018). Analysis— In this stage of SDLC the managers
collect the data of the customers to establish potential development and growth for earning
revenues for the company’s achievement management. Analysis help the business to justify
the suitability of the targeted segmentation, products needs and choices.
Figure: Seven phases of SDLC Source: Lewis (2018)
Design: The marketers need to afford various designs in their business framework to take
measures to establish the styles or software in the business for specific success proceeding
and marketing development like online business and social media marketing, or website
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business. Development— Development is the non-stop process which step helps the
marketers to develop their business according their stabilities, capacities, and proper financial
funds. The marketers find the possibility of new efficient technology. Implementation—
The marketers apply the techniques in this stage, and implement the software design and
development managed to the commercial operation. The business for instance, Morrisons
adopted software designs to apply and launched websites, email marketing and instant
messaging etc. Testing— The technology-based stages like website and request design and
testing is very vital in which the engineers treasure the excellent structures and style.
Maintenance— the Marketers need to secure the structure, software systems, and business
model implemented, are well developed, and finally the marketers uphold the templates,
language, codes, illustrations and enterprises to protect from cybercrimes like hacking and
malwares.
4. Conclusions
The Morrisons business applies this to be itself can ensure the responsibility to the
employees. Like the Muslims and other religious customers wish to have the halal marked
foods and the authority can ensure them with the guarantees of their expectations and needs
for further business development and promotion. Thus, their online business functions are
summarized and minimized of loads. For the Ethical issues’ assurances, they adopted actions
are as bighearted by the employees to provide the exact products in online shopping and
purchasing. The legal rights help the both the sellers and buyers. The ethical leadership
maintain the ethics more than the profit making for the business. The workers are bound to
perform their duties in more clear and integral way to ensure the ethical corporate
governance. Thus, the business is doing well in the information technology-based
marketplace.
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References
Benedetti, M. J. (2020) How machine learning is enabling Morrisons to innovate around its
customers. Also available at: https://www.retail-week.com/retail-voice/how-morrisons-is-
innovating-around-customers/7019809.article?authent=1 [Accessed on: 19 Dec. 20]
JAVAPOINT (2020) Computer Network Types. Available at:
https://www.javatpoint.com/types-of-computer-network. [Accessed on: 19 Dec. 20]
Kosaka, M., Wu, J., Xing, K. and Zhang, S. (2020) Business Innovation with New ICT in the
Asia-Pacific: Case Studies. Springer: London
Lewis, J. (2018) SDLC 100 Success Secrets - Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) 100
Most Asked Questions. 3rd Ed. London: Independently Publishing
Mahadevan, V. and Zhou, J. (2018) Computer and Network Technology. 2nd Ed. London:
World Scientific
MORRISONS (2020) Ethical Trading. Available at:
https://www.morrisons-corporate.com/cr/policy/ethical-trading/. [Accessed on: 19 Dec. 20]
Power, D. J. (2017) Decision Support Systems: Concepts and Resources for Managers. 4th
Ed. London: Greenwood Publishing
Rouse, M. (2020) Information technology (IT). Available at:
https://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/IT. [Accessed on: 19 Dec. 20]
Singh (2019) Information System Management. 3rd Ed. London: Sage
Zahariadis, T. B. (2019) Home Networking Technologies and Standards. 3rd Ed. London: IGI
Global
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