Research Project: Tesco Plc and the Role of IT in Operations

This research project analyzes the role of Information Technology (IT) in the success and failure of business operations, focusing on Tesco Plc, a leading British multinational retailer. The study investigates the impact of IT in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its importance for business progression. The project includes a literature review covering the role of IT in business, ethics and social issues, network types, and software development life cycle. The analysis section discusses IT's specific role within Tesco, ethical considerations, network implementations, and the use of internet and intranet. The conclusion emphasizes IT's role in enhancing communication and customer engagement. The research covers various aspects like IT's role in improving business communication, inventory and data management, and marketing. Ethical and social issues such as personal privacy, cybercrime, and copyright are also discussed. Different network types, including personal area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks, are examined, along with the importance of the internet and intranet. The software development life cycle is also explored as a means to enhance business operations.

Research Project
(An organisation in the retail sector
Tesco and a desk and or Internet research
on the organisation together)

Abstract
The aim of the study is to determine the aspect of determining the role of IT in success and
failure of the business operations, therefore, this is the wide area of study which is imperative in
providing suitable idea and recognition in relation to the specified subject. Information
technology is an effective aspect which performs wider role in the business to enhance the
operations and progression of the business. In this analysis has been executed over the study of
Tesco Plc, thus it is a leading British multinational grocery and general merchandising retailer.
However, in the current pandemic of COVID 19, IT technology plays an effective role in
developing the profitability and progression. In this, literature review is created over determining
the suitable role on IT within business and the ethics and social issues arises due to IT at
workplace. In addition to this, the type of networks is also discussed in detailed manner and
software life cycle is also discussed. Furthermore, the analysis and discussion is imperative in
evaluating the accumulated information in suitable manner. The conclusion of the project
initiates that, Information technology plays effective role in developing effective communication
channel and enhance the customers for the business to gain advancement.

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
2. Literature Review........................................................................................................................1
2.1 Role of IT in the context to business.....................................................................................2
2.2 Ethics and social issues of IT within the business.................................................................2
2.3 Networks and their types within business.............................................................................3
2.4 Importance of internet and intranet in the business...............................................................4
2.5 Software development life cycle...........................................................................................4
3. Analysis and Discussion..............................................................................................................5
3.1 Role of IT within Tesco Plc...................................................................................................5
3.2 Ethics and social issues of IT within Tesco Plc.....................................................................5
3.3 Networks and their types within Tesco.................................................................................6
3.4 Internet and intranet in a business.........................................................................................6
4. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7
5. References....................................................................................................................................8

1. Introduction
The study initiates an analysis over the aspect of determining the role of IT in success and
failure of the business operations, therefore, in the modern business era, information technology,
its applications and services are imperative for the businesses to attain growth and success. IT
plays an important role in managing business operations, in the current pandemic of COVID 19,
information technology provides a wider way to businesses to execute their operations effective
within the commercial world to maintain sustainability within market (Knight and Paroutis,
2017). In this present study, analysis is based on Tesco Plc, thus it is a huge British global staple
goods and general product retailer. The settle of the firm is in Welwyn Garden City, United
Kingdom. Tesco is perceived as the thirst biggest retailer on the planet through estimating its
gross income and the ninth biggest on the planet estimated by its incomes. The organization was
established by Jack Cohen in the time of 1919. The organization is worked in various areas with
its 6800 shops. The organization is having around 450000 workers who are contributing their
huge endeavors in the development activities of the business. In the current pandemic of COVID
19 the activities of every little just as enormous business organisation are affected widely and for
managing suitable success of the business, Tesco Plc is concern over implementing IT and its
applications to maintain business operations effectively without hampering the operations due to
lack of staff. The present study contains study with the support of creating literature review in
which the role of IT in business, ethics and social issues of IT, networking and their types and
software development life cycle are discussed effectively (Tatli and et. Al., 2012). After this,
analysis and discussion will have carried out to effectively evaluating the information and that
conclusion will be generated to reaching at the effective findings to evaluate the significance of
IT is managing the operations of the business.
2. Literature Review
Literature review is defined as the survey of scholarly sources that are connected to a
specified subject. Therefore, literature is imperative in providing in-depth evaluation over a
specified subject to enhance understanding and recognition (Hankinson, G., 2012). This section
of research is based on secondary sources like books, journals, articles and so on.
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2.1 Role of IT in the context to business.
According to MacKechnie (2019), information technology is modern business era has
become an important and integral part of business plan, from the multinational businesses that
assist operations via mainframe systems and the data base system to small and medium size
business who owns a single computer, Information technology plays important role. In the
modern and competitive business era the key formula of business success is to drive innovation
within information technology. According to Donohoe (2019), information technology has
different role to perform in the business therefore, Improved business communication with
employee’s suppliers and customers is the key role performed by IT within business. Inventory
management system, data management system, management information system, customer’s
relationship management. However, these are the significant role which are effectively
performed by information technology within business. Businesses in the current pandemic are
surviving with the bad performance and lack of staff to perform their operations and in this
pandemic, the implementation of information technology transform the way of conducting
business and provides wider way for the businesses to resolve complex problems, provide
assistance to the employees with the help of email, and video call facilities to operate operations
effectively (Silva and et. Al., 2019). In addition to this information technology is performing
important in improving marketing, therefore internet using online advertising tools like SEO,
PPC, Fcebook Ads and so on to enhancing the recognition of the business within commercial
centre.
2.2 Ethics and social issues of IT within the business.
According to Sargolzaei and Nikbakht (2017), the New advances mainly within the field
of information technology have brought new technical improvements or advantages to the people
however it should be noticed that the development of new logical and mechanical fields will
consistently have moral issues and impediments. Information technology mainly specifies to the
aspects which are implemented to store, fetch and manipulate the data at minimal level with the
server having an operating system (Vu, 2016). Therefore, the ethics and social issues of IT
within business involves personal privacy, access right, harmful facts, cybercrime, copy right,
trade secrets, liability, piracy and so on. The development and improvement of the web and its
applications has made it conceivable to store an enormous number of individuals' very own
enlightening depending on the high level data framework and the abuse of the private data and
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privacy violations in the field of information technology is increasing (Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana,
Aguilera‐Caracuel and Morales‐Raya, 2016). Therefore, businesses within the modern era are
facing the issues related to Information technology and needs suitable recognition to aid the
operations in right manner without offending private information. In addition to this, cyber
bullying and communicating with anonymous people, visiting them, sharing the invigorating
substance of the I web and sharing individual data over the web have been assessed as the peril
of data innovation.
2.3 Networks and their types within business.
According to Norton (2020), a network is mainly consisting of two and more than two
separate devices like laptop, printer, server, computer system and so on that are linked together
so they can communicate effectively. In addition, this, network is recognised as the most
effective branch of information technology and is one of the fastest growing areas of IT which
mainly involves the process of building implementing and maintaining computer networks
(Kaidalova, 2014). The type of network is categorised among different aspects, in which some re
associated as under:
Personal area network: This has been around for a long while and this sort of organization
mainly concern over individual’s workspace. Therefore, this network mainly handles information
transmission within devices like wise, tablet, personal digital assistances, smartphones and so on.
Wide Area network: Wide Area Networks or WAN is recognised as the networks which length
over wide topographical areas, that could be available within more than one buildings or even
multiple cities or countries.
Wireless LAN: This organization doesn't utilize links for start to finish network. A WLAN
makes appropriate utilization of a Wireless Access Point (WAP) gadget, that fills in as the
purpose of availability for remote customers over the organization (Ahva, L. and et. Al., 2017).
Metropolitan Area Network: The MAN network type, realize which is mostly a huge PC
network on a more extensive geological zone which includes a few structures and LANs, or even
the whole city or metropolitan territory.
Local Area Network: LAN is perceived as the organization which fundamentally interfaces
gadgets explicitly in a similar structure or neighborhood. This could be PCs or different gadgets
which are inside a place of business, which are associated together to share assets.
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Enterprise Internal Private Network: This is likewise a compelling kind of organization which
is intended for private correspondence inside a business. This parts of organizations are just open
through inside the venture since its significant objectives is to deliver security for clients inside
the business (Imrie and Dolton, 2014).
2.4 Importance of internet and intranet in the business.
According to Berry (2019), internet is defined as the world wide arrangement of PC
networks which principally permits the entrance and trade of other PC data, empowering a
variety of administrations which covers correspondence, amusement and news. Though, intranet
then again has a decreased arrangement of capacities that are fundamentally adjusted through
aiding workers inside a business. Internet carries multiple benefits within business like improve
communication, access to information, cutting extra cost, improve efficiency, finding effective
and advance business opportunities, work more closely with suppliers, enhancing customers
base, reaching at the global audience and so on. On the other side, intranet also having assorted
benefits like improving internal communication, connects the business through locations and
time zones, help employees to find information, provides organizational clarity, increasing
employee engagement and so on (Kornelakis, 2018). Therefore, internet and intranet are two
different aspects and both are imperative in creating value for the business in enhancing
operations and progression within market.
2.5 Software development life cycle.
According to Altvater (2020), software development life cycle refers as the philosophy
with plainly characterizing the method for growing top notch programming. Therefore, the
SDLC methodology focuses over different aspects like requirement evaluation, planning,
software design likewise architectural design, software development, testing and deployment.
The SDLC or the software development life cycle is also recognised as the system which
produces programming with the highest calibre and least expense in the briefest time
conceivable. SDLC basically renders a well-structured flow of stages which aid a business to
quickly yield high-quality software that is well-tested and ready for production practise (Wood,
Wrigley and Coe, 2017). Therefore, businesses are widely concern over implementing software
development life cycle for the intention to enhancing the operations of the business with the
assistance of suitable tools and technologies. SDLC mainly works through bringing down the
expense of programming advancement while at the same time building up the quality and
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shortening season of creation. SDLC essentially achieve these evidently dissimilar points
through after an arrangement which eliminates the regular traps of programming development
ventures. That arrangement begins by assessing existing frameworks for insufficiencies.
3. Analysis and Discussion
This is the another important area of a project which creates value in providing detailed
analysis over the accumulated information. Therefore, in the context to this present study
analysis and discussion is imperative in providing descriptive evaluation to generate suitable
outcome (Brannen, Moore and Mughan, 2013).
3.1 Role of IT within Tesco Plc.
According to Ayodele (2013), technology is recognised as the imperative aspect which
effective changing the way of conducting business throughout the globe. Information technology
are constantly designed and re-designed through the input of human resource management in
relation to ensuring the outfits they work for enjoy the very best that technology has offers.
Tesco Plc is the leading grocer in the United Kingdom which is accounting for 25 percent sales
from offline sources and around 43 percent of all grocery sales from online way. Tesco is
operating at world-wide level and carefully changed their purchasers experience, association
model and working model through interests in a cutting edge site with snap and gather
usefulness. Therefore, advancement within the store experience and an information driven
customer’s loyalty platform. Information technology has performed effective role within Tesco,
therefore the managers of the business’s use effective information system for managing,
assessing and efficiently running their operations and departments. Managers also use
information technology to aid them in the direction to comprehend their purchasers more which
consequently helps them in evaluating examination and faithfulness plans. In addition to this, IT
performs significant role in attracting customers form wider range and keeping the data of
customers safe and ensure them appropriate security to protect their information. Therefore, this
helps Tesco Plc in enhancing the operations and performance.
3.2 Ethics and social issues of IT within Tesco Plc.
As per the detailed analysis of the aspects of author within the segment of literature
review, it has been analysed that, the involvement of information technology has created benefits
for the business to enhance its operations and progression ability, thus this also has ethical and
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social issues which affects the operations in adverse manner. Tesco is operating at a wider level
and recognised as the leading grocery retailer. Therefore, the firm and its management are
concern over using information technology is increasing the operations of the business, thus, a
technical failure is one of the Tesco’s major issue which is faced by the business due to in
appropriate recognition of IT. However, the system has implied clients have passed up
conveyances, in this manner Tesco clarified an issues with its IT framework which implied
sometimes it couldn't pick things for a portion of the requests set through its staple home
shopping services. In addition to this, the firm is also facing the issue of privacy and cyber
security as the business needs to implement all the aspects to taking precaution from the issues.
3.3 Networks and their types within Tesco.
The analysis executed via the opinion analysis of the authors, it has been analysed that,
there are different network of information technology, like Personal area network, Wide Area
network, Wireless LAN, Metropolitan Area Network, Local Area Network, Enterprise Internal
Private Network and so on that are imperative in providing effective information technology
system to gain growth and progression. As per the analysis of the study it has been determined
that, Tesco Plc is operating at wider level and the business, is using enterprise internet private
network to support the advancements within workplace, thus in this suitable networking are
provided to the systems and operates the technologies effectively. However, the Tesco mainly
using Big data and analytics in practice to controlling the lighting and heating the costs,
improving the value chain, anticipating the future trends and so on. Therefore, in the pandemic
situation company using information technology to maintain the progression of the business. In
addition to this, company use wireless LAN, to support the business operations effectively to
increase the productivity and operations.
3.4 Internet and intranet in a business.
From the detailed analysis of the authors view, it has been discussed that, businesses are
widely concern over using internet and intranet both for the intention of enhancing the
productivity and performance of the business. Therefore, Tesco Plc is operating at wide level and
using both internet and intranet for developing the operations ability of the business, thus internet
aid value for Tesco in increasing the customers base, developing the awareness at global level,
increasing the customers reach, rendering product facilities and so on. Whereas, intranet is
implemented by the business to improve the internal communication, the way of establishing
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connecting among employees, enhancing coordination and collaboration at workplace.
Therefore, the two sources i.e. internet and intra net are valuable for Tesco Plc in managing the
internal and external business operations to gain growth and progression.
4. Conclusion
According to the detailed analysis of the project it has been concluded that, information
technology is an basic viewpoint which principally assessed as the investigation, plan,
improvement, execution, backing or the board of PC based data frameworks which are especially
programming applications and PC equipment's. Therefore, businesses are widely concern over
using Information technology and its applications, like, server, computer, laptop, printer,
networks and so on to enhancing the operations of the business. IT plays essential role in the
growth and progression of the business, thus IT helps in Inventory management system, data
management system, management information system, customer’s relationship management and
businesses to resolve complex problems, provide assistance to the employees with the help of
email. In addition to this, information technology mainly plays a vital role in establishing
communication within and outside of the business to enhancing the operational ability to attain
higher growth and success. The evaluation of the study also states that, there are multiple social
and ethics issues of IT like primary, security, breach of information and so on that are widely
faced by the business. Businesses are also implementing internet and intranet as the effective
source to manage internal as well as external operations.
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5. References
Books and Journals
Ahva, L. and et. Al., 2017. A welfare state of mind? Nordic journalists’ conception of their role
and autonomy in international context. Journalism Studies, 18(5), pp.595-613.
Brannen, M. Y., Moore, F. and Mughan, T., 2013, September. Strategic ethnography and
reinvigorating Tesco Plc: Leveraging inside/out bicultural bridging in multicultural
teams. In Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2013, No. 1,
pp. 282-299).
Hankinson, G., 2012. The measurement of brand orientation, its performance impact, and the
role of leadership in the context of destination branding: An exploratory study. Journal of
Marketing Management, 28(7-8), pp.974-999.
Imrie, R. and Dolton, M., 2014. From supermarkets to community building: Tesco plc,
sustainable place making and urban regeneration. Sustainable London, pp.173-194.
Kaidalova, J., 2014, May. Positioning Enterprise Modeling in the context of Business and IT
alignment. In International Conference on Business Information Systems (pp. 202-213).
Springer, Cham.
Knight, E. and Paroutis, S., 2017. Becoming salient: The TMT leader’s role in shaping the
interpretive context of paradoxical tensions. Organization studies, 38(3-4), pp.403-432.
Kornelakis, A., 2018. Why are your reward strategies not working? The role of shareholder
value, country context, and employee voice. Business Horizons, 61(1), pp.107-113.
Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana, N., Aguilera‐Caracuel, J. and Morales‐Raya, M., 2016. Corporate
governance and environmental sustainability: The moderating role of the national
institutional context. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental
Management, 23(3), pp.150-164.
Silva, L. M. D., Bitencourt, C. C., Faccin, K. and Iakovleva, T., 2019. The role of stakeholders in
the context of responsible innovation: A meta-synthesis. Sustainability, 11(6), p.1766.
Tatli, A., Vassilopoulou, J., Ariss, A. A. and Özbilgin, M., 2012. The role of regulatory and
temporal context in the construction of diversity discourses: The case of the UK, France
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Vu, M., 2016. IS THE BALANCED SCORECARD USEFUL IN A COMPETITIVE
INDUSTRY?: Using Tesco PLC as a case study in the UK grocery retail industry.
Wood, S., Wrigley, N. and Coe, N.M., 2017. Capital discipline and financial market relations in
retail globalization: insights from the case of Tesco plc. Journal of Economic
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Online
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