Essay --

INCREASED FLEXIBILITY According to Forbes (2013) ’home-based work accounts for savings of more than $10,000 per employee per year... With the introduction of new technology (ICT), Tesco's office staff can now work from home, and communicate using laptops, tablets and smartphones. This is a benefit for Tesco because they will save money on reducing the number of office facilities - less office area is needed as people are working from home. In addition, another benefit is that the homeworkers and people who are working in the office can use the same software to carry out their tasks, and save them on the Cloud storage. This reduces the need for buying expensive hard drives and memory sticks. Also, flexible working practices (homeworking) can increase employee's motivation because they feel valued. Therefore, the work will be of higher quality (more professional) and higher quantity (more tasks completed). Improved communication and communication cost reduction ICT allowed Tesco to use e-mails and video-conferencing to improve the communication systems. E-mail is a very good way of communicating (especially when people are working from home), and it enables Tesco staff to: experience fast and instant communication with other Tesco staff in the world, save money on sending mails (paper, envelopes and stamps are not needed), sent e-mails to many people at one time, and send documents as attachments (meeting documents, decisions, budgets). Video-conferencing is providing Tesco with the opportunity to hold international meetings without the need to travel (less working time is lost, and money is saved on transport and accommodation). Access to the vast amount of data By using ICT, Tesco can access the internet to find ... ...ted because the cheap products (Tesco own brand products) are not on sale. Therefore, some profits will be lost as less products are sold and brand image will be damaged as the customers are dissatisfied. Conclusion As the presentation outlined, there are 5 significant advantages and 5 significant disadvantages for Tesco of using ICT. All of them are very important for Tesco to consider, because they can make the difference in terms of efficiency, flexibility, profitability and productivity. The advantages of ICT can be described as great sources of success, whereas the disadvantages can be explained as the factors that stops and slows Tesco from achieving the success. Therefore, it is very important for Tesco to monitor the progress met towards finding the best way of overcoming the disadvantages, and become more competitive and more successful in the market.