Analyzing Westfield's Digital Innovation: IT Governance & Ethics

This case study report provides an analysis of Westfield's digital innovation, examining the ethical and IT governance implications. It highlights the significance of ICT in modern business and explores the ethical consequences of transitioning to a digital firm, focusing on diversity, inclusion, a...Read More

Running head: WESTFIELD CASE STUDY
ICT Professional Practice & Ethics: Westfield
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Executive Summary
This report aims at providing a clear description of the case study for an Australian
supermarket, Westfield. They have involved digital innovation in their business after proper
analysis of ICT significance and importance. This type of technology focuses primarily on
communication technologies and ensures that the business or user is getting proper updates
regarding such communications or information. Information and communications technology
includes Internet connection, cell phones, any kind of communication medium, wireless
networks and few other technologies. These technologies have provided the society with a
vast array of several new communication capabilities. Thus, ICT and movement to a digital
firm would be extremely advantageous for Westfield.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................3
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................3
2.1 Selection of Appropriate Ethical and Information Technology Governance Frameworks
for Analysis of the Case Study...............................................................................................3
2.2 Proper Assessment of the Ethical Consequences to move to a Digital Firm on Diversity
and Inclusion of IT Governance Issues and Technologies to be used...................................6
2.3 Suitable Recommendations on Assessment with Justification for convincing
Organizational Management................................................................................................10
3. Conclusion............................................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................14

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1. Introduction
Technologies that provide proper access to confidential information by means of
telecommunications in an organization is termed as information and communications
technology or ICT (Schwalbe 2015). Digital innovation is considered as one of the most
significant advancements of information and communications technology that has been
making distinctive and rapid changes by proper utilization of digital technology for the core
purpose of enhancement in services, processes, products and traditional models (Marchewka
2014). By proper understanding of all users’ needs and motivations, it becomes extremely
easier for an organization to take proper measures and steps regarding their involvement of
customer satisfaction and business process execution. This type of innovation even is
responsible for bringing significant creativeness in the products and services of that particular
company (Bloom et al. 2014). This report will be providing a brief discussion about the case
study of Westfield supermarkets regarding their recent move to digital innovation.
Appropriate recommendations will be delivered in terms of IT governance and ethical
consequences.
2. Discussion
2.1 Selection of Appropriate Ethical and Information Technology Governance
Frameworks for Analysis of the Case Study
ICT encompasses both the Internet enabling sphere as well as the mobile sphere that
is being powered by certain wireless networks (Andrade and Doolin 2016). Information and
communication technology even involves antiquated technologies like landline telephones,
television and radio broadcasting, all of which are widely utilized with cutting edged ICT
pieces like robotics and artificial intelligence. It is even sometimes utilized synonymously
with the information technology, although the respective technology is being utilized for

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better representation of a broad and comprehensive list of components that is associated to
digitalized as well as computerized technologies in comparison to IT (Watson and Tinsley
2013). The description of two frameworks for governance of all IT issues and ethical
consequences is provided in the following paragraphs with ethical and IT governance
frameworks:
a) Framework for Ethical Analysis: This is the first and the foremost framework,
which is required to be analysed in understanding all types of decisions in an organization
(Von Solms and Van Niekerk 2013). Ethical framework mainly provides a proper summary
of all types of relevant sources regarding ethical thinking and for execution of decision
making procedure (Bloom et al. 2014). Moreover, it is even needed by a company to
eventually maintain ethical aspects within the business for the major complexities associated
to every ethical dilemma to be resolved properly. Any ethical decision is even needed to be
maintained or followed by the organization of Westfield for involving digital innovation
within the company (Ullah and Lai 2013). Digital ethics will even be deployed within the
business, to shape all types of social, moral and political existences.
Since Westfield has already involved few digital innovations like digital signature,
frictionless cars, digitalized store fronts as well as effective mobile apps for food delivery; it
would be extremely important for their business to include digitalized ethics, hence ensuring
that ethical implications are appropriate for the business (Hills 2018). Consequentialist
framework is termed as the most effective and suitable framework for ethical analysis in the
case study of Westfield. This particular framework is termed as responsible to recognize all
types of decisions in respect or incorrect and must be linked with respective individual
contexts (Schiller 2014). The most significant advantages of this specific framework would
be emphasizing on all possible outcomes of the actions to help out all individuals to be
included eventually. Moreover, as per this framework, all the consequences should be

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appropriate and should provide some of the core utilities for every customer and user (Tafti,
Mithas and Krishnan 2013). Digital innovation will even ensure that some of the most
significant business objectives are being achieved by the organization for resolving every
distinctive ethical and moral dilemma in Westfield.
b) Framework for IT Governance Issue Analysis: The second appropriate and
effective framework that can be used for subsequent analyses of the case study of Westfield
is a framework for IT governance issues (Roztocki and Weistroffer 2015). A proper and
successful model that can be significant for building long lasting and quality shopping malls
in the world and it is mainly driven by means of connectivity as well as technology. This
particular framework even has become absolutely evident to deal with shopper’s changing
behaviour and mentality. It states about distinctive methodologies and techniques, by which
the organization could easily implement, manage as well as monitor IT governance (Madon
and Krishna 2018). Legal compliances are even ensured and possible after successful
deployment of IT governance framework.
The most popular and significant examples of IT governance frameworks are COBIT,
ISO/IEC38500 and AS8015–2005 (Dedrick, Kraemer and Shih 2013). In the case study of
Westfield supermarket, the IT governance framework of COBIT would be appropriate so that
a complete collection of controls and technologies helps in driving business objectives and
providing understanding of techniques and tools. COBIT even ensures higher data security,
thus eradicating any kind of complexity or issue by better governance (Okumus 2013).
Organizational people can even communicate in real time with all others throughout the
world by involvement of few technologies like voice over IP or VoIP, video conferencing
and instant messaging.

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Social networking web sites such as Twitter and Facebook enable their users from the
entire world to remain in contact, hence communicating on a regular basis (Bai and Sarkis
2013). The modern information and communications technology has created a global village,
through which these users could easily communicate with all others in the entire world.
Westfield would be hence able to manage their inventories or assets by systematic utilization
of every computer based system or equipment (Coeckelbergh 2013). Moreover, COBIT
framework even provides with a basic method to integrate external standards effectively.
2.2 Proper Assessment of the Ethical Consequences to move to a Digital Firm on
Diversity and Inclusion of IT Governance Issues and Technologies to be used
Movement to a digital firm is termed as one of the most significant and effective step
towards better competitive advantages and gaining efficiency (Melián-González and
Bulchand-Gidumal 2016). High diversification is also possible with this particular
technological step in the company. A proper management and distribution of signals and
cables can even become possible after including information and communication technology
in an organization (Marinagi, Trivellas and Sakas 2014). Moreover, better storage, retrieval,
manipulation, transmission and recovering of sensitive data is possible and done in a better
manner by involvement of this specific technology. This information technology even
involves every kind of obsolete technology that is not being used vastly in present
technological world (Taipaleenmäki and Ikäheimo 2013). The new technologies such as
robotics as well as artificial intelligence are parts of ICT and these are required to eradicate
the complexities of business management to a higher level.
An organization could even utilize this ICT for simple purpose of entertainment as
well as commercial usages of technologies in the organization. Moreover, maintenance and
application of computer systems or equipment is also possible with successful involvement of
this particular technology (Strohmeier 2013). For making the most significant benefit through

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a purpose building machinery that is eventually designed for performing a limited chance of
functionalities in the company. The computer based machineries are also effective for
analysing that every business related task or process is being executed in the most efficient
manner. ICT also includes every kind of software, systems and peripheral equipment that is
required for making the business processes operating in the respective company (Luftman,
Lyytinen and Zvi 2017). Information and communication technology provides a proper
platform to its users for performing several business related tasks and achieving
organizational objectives and goals.
ICT also provides with various products and services and makes sure that information
is being distributed effectively and these products are associated with few applications of
computer software, computer hardware and even telecom equipment or products (Wang, Hu
and Hu 2013). This ICT is also responsible for better integration of telecommunications with
every required storage, audio visual system, software or middleware, which can easily allow
the users in successful accessing, storage, manipulation and also transmission of each and
every business associated data or information (Trantopoulos et al. 2017). It is even termed as
quite unethical for making a successful move to digital firm for bringing out subsequent
efficiency and effectiveness in the business. With this type of distinctive move, the respective
organization could even evaluate a significant effective or impact of information based
system as well as Internet connection, hence securing or protecting the intellectual properties
in a better manner (Ray, Xue and Barney 2013). All of these principal management
challenges could be eventually recognized for obtaining all types of ethical advantages,
significances or consequences in the business.
In spite of the factor that they will be extremely advantageous from this move to
digital firm, few major and noteworthy issues or problems associated to IT governance are
present that can pave ways for significant vulnerabilities eventually for systems and

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equipment (Taipaleenmäki and Ikäheimo 2013). The major governance issues associated to
IT that are responsible for bringing out all types of illegal and unethical consequences are
being described in the following paragraphs:
a) Organizational Value Delivery after Inclusion of Information and
Communication Technology: The first as well as the most significant and important issue or
challenge associated to information technology, which is responsible for bringing any kind of
unethical and illegal activity or consequence is organizational value delivery if ICT is being
included (Marinagi, Trivellas and Sakas 2014). This particular issue is extremely common
while moving to a digital firm and the value delivery can be termed as quite complicated,
thus the organization might face few significant and important issues or risks towards IT. The
attackers or intruders might even obtain a major scope to extract the organizational values or
information with the core purpose of prevailing a high risk for every lost value.
b) Establishment of a Framework for IT Governance: The next significant and
noteworthy issue or challenge associated to information technology that can be extremely
problematic for any business or organization is establishment of a framework for the
information technology governance (Melián-González and Bulchand-Gidumal 2016). This
particular framework can also be termed as extremely complicated or complex, hence it is
needed to simplify IT infrastructure for successful eradication of redundant or duplicate data
repository and application for making every organizational decision absolutely appropriate
and inconsistent in nature. Moreover, presence of the specific issue can also be termed as
responsible to increment every expense towards a better level.
c) Lack of Data and Asset Security: Another distinctive significant and noteworthy
issue or challenge associated to information technology, which can be quite effective to bring
vulnerability during movement to a digital firm would be lack of data or asset security and

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privacy (Dedrick, Kraemer and Shih 2013). There often remains a significant chance to lose
these data and assets by attackers as they could allow these intruders to get into
organizational system to hack sensitive data. Moreover, losing of data integrity is also
possible for this purpose.
Although, there are few distinctive vulnerabilities during movement to a firm, few
technologies are present that can help the company in better movement and these
technologies are described in the following paragraphs:
a) Big Data: This is an important and noteworthy technology that is extremely helpful
during movement to a digital firm (Madon and Krishna 2018). Since, big data can be termed
as responsible to provide some of the core and distinctive benefits towards efficient
management of every large data set, it is being termed as the major method technique that has
become quite common for this type of movement. Chance of losing data is not possible with
big data, hence it is extremely effective for the business.
b) Artificial Intelligence: AI is termed as the next important and significant
technology for moving to a digital firm. It is also referred to as the most appropriate problem
solving tool that is responsible for helping in better description of machines after pretending
as a human being and machine learning (Roztocki and Weistroffer 2015). Since it can easily
eradicate need of involvement of human beings, the entire movement to a digital firm could
be referred to as extremely easy. AI also provides ethical decisions for the business.
c) Cloud Computing: This is yet another significant and vital technology that is
extremely effective towards movement to a digitalized firm. Cloud computing can easily
transfer large collection of sensitive information through Internet connection (Tafti, Mithas
and Krishnan 2013). Cloud is even cost effective, thus every organization gets the
opportunity to implement this technology in their respective business.

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2.3 Suitable Recommendations on Assessment with Justification for convincing
Organizational Management
Since, Westfield supermarket is eventually concerned regarding involvement of
digitalized innovation within business, three distinctive and appropriate recommendations are
given in the following paragraphs:
a) Proper Development of an Information and Data driving Business Model: The
first as well as the foremost recommendation for the significant organization of Westfield is
to properly develop an information or data driven business associated model. Since, every
customer or shopper in the company consists of the most significant tendency of tending to
digital services and products, this is quite vital for this supermarket to include digital
innovation. A data driving business model can even be termed as ethical for not involving
any kind of unethical or illegal activities in business. The business models for dealing with
sensitive information or data could be properly developed when physical products would be
getting expanded by involvement of any type of efficient and noteworthy digital features.
Westfield supermarket should also emphasize over higher monetization, effective use of data
mining to have a major purpose of ensuring higher efficiency and innovativeness to be gained
easily and promptly.
b) Involvement of Creative and Innovation Lab Methods for Procedural
Innovation: The next vital and appropriate recommendation for the Australian supermarket,
Westfield is involving creative and innovation based lab methodologies for enhancement of
procedural innovation. This particular innovation lab method even makes the process of
business extremely easier in comparison to any other innovation model. All the existing
business processes such as finance management, marketing management and human resource
management are eventually held responsible to bring out the most important and significant
effectiveness within business. Moreover, a successful involvement and implementation of the

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technology of AI is even referred to as absolutely appropriate for the respective Australian
supermarket, Westfield.
They would be having a proper portfolio unit regarding every kind of expanded or
existing innovation labs within the business. The organization would then have a major
capability to bring better creativeness and innovation in business, hence there exists a high
chance to increment the competitive benefits in a higher level. Each and every innovation and
creativity lab method also comprises of the most efficient rethinking and rebounding of
business processes about effective execution of business related operations as well as
processes. They would even able to bring out majorly acquired skills and talents that can be
termed as a fundamental requirement of the business to change or alter business processes
and following a proper structure in the organization of Westfield and other organizational
members.
c) Effective Searching out and Evaluating about Organizational Capacities and
Resources: Another effective and important recommendation or suggestion for the Australian
supermarket, Westfield will be effectively searching out as well as evaluating regarding the
major organizational resources and capacities. They would be involving digital innovation for
maintenance of technological governance and ethical governance in the ICT. This type of
searching and testing of the business based resources or capacities helps in ensuring a total
cycle of the digitalized innovation to be kept efficiently. Moreover, it is even needed to use
for basic as well as successful generation of every fresh idea within the business model and
process.
The digital innovation even searches to find out new scope and techniques for
innovation lab implementation so that Westfield is able to thrive to make high scope for the
most innovation oriented objects and products. Since this particular Australian supermarket,

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Westfield mainly deals with customers and is involved in shopping and supermarket industry,
this specific suggestion of searching and evaluation of organizational resources would be
termed as the most efficient for each of the members for ensuring that innovation and
creativity is taking place for their products and services. To reduce any type of complexity or
problem with the new products and services, this is being recommended to Westfield
supermarket for their business. Moreover, the organization would be comprising of a major
ability to maintain high completion with all other subsequent competitors in Australia, such
as Woolworths, Coles and Aldi, hence gaining competitive advantages.
3. Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that ICT or information and
communication technology comprises of few components and infrastructure, which can
enable modernized computing. This type of technology is accepted to all devices, systems,
applications, networking elements, which are being combined for allowing organizations and
people to eventually interact with one another in the digital world. A proper application of
several components is required in this particular technology in respect to potential and power.
ICT could be leveraged for interpersonal, societal and economic transitions as well as
interactions. This particular technology has even changed the procedure of working condition
for people, communication, living and learning processes as well. Furthermore, this
technology also continues in revolutionize every part of human experience. Every
organization throughout the world is implementing information and communication
technology within their business for ensuring that innovation and creativity are enhanced in
their businesses. Westfield is a popular and significant supermarket in Australia that is
providing several online products and services to their customers. They are trying to maintain
ethics in their organization with the incorporation of these several products and services. This
report has briefly described about ethical implications and impacts on all such distinctive

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changes, which consist of the major occurrence in business for better enhancement of
digitalized innovation. Moreover, an entire process to maintain competitive advantages for
this company of Westfield is demonstrated in the report with relevant details.

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