Assignment

A major UK manufacturing company employs you as a new business analyst in the accounting department. The Head of Finance has asked you to prepare a 2000 word report to discuss and evaluate a particular trend in IT and how it would affect the business operations of the company.

Required

1. A critical (i.e., non-biased) description of a particular trend in IT. To ensure that the company fully understands all of the issues, the Head of Finance has asked that you clearly explain the trend, drawing attention to the underlying information technology and the contexts in which it typically manifests itself.

2. A discussion of the opportunities of this IT trend for companies in the UK and manufacturing companies in particular. You are requested to consider both the external business environment and as well as the potential impact on the company's internal processes.

3. A discussion of the potential risks involved regarding this trend, for example, with regard to its implementation in the company. Please include an assessment of how real these risks would be for a typical UK company.

4. The report should conclude with a thoughtful assessment of the future of this trend.

You are asked to consider the impact of the trend on accounting and finance in particular. It should balance the opportunities against the risks, and should end with a summary evaluation.