Research Proposal: Internet Technologies Impact on Business Growth

This research proposal investigates the impact of internet technologies on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), focusing on digital transformation, e-commerce, and technology integration. It outlines the research background, aims, objectives, and questions, emphasizing the importance of the internet for business growth and competitiveness. The literature review covers digital transformation, the impact of digital integration on SMEs, challenges to integrating emerging technologies, and the role of e-commerce in driving business success. The proposed research methodology includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches, employing exploratory research design with primary and secondary data collection methods. Ethical considerations and limitations are addressed, and a timescale for the research is provided. The proposal aims to assess the understanding of digital technology in SMEs, evaluate the impact of the internet on business operations, identify challenges in technology integration, and analyze the importance of e-commerce in stakeholder engagement.

Research Proposal: Impact of internet
technologies on business

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
Research outline...........................................................................................................................1
Research background...................................................................................................................1
Aims and objectives.....................................................................................................................1
Research question and hypothesis...............................................................................................2
Rational of the research...............................................................................................................2
2. Literature review..........................................................................................................................3
Digital transformation of the business.........................................................................................3
Impact of digital integration on SMEs.........................................................................................3
Challenges to integrate emerging technologies...........................................................................4
Ecommerce to drive business success.........................................................................................4
3. Research methodology.................................................................................................................6
Research type...............................................................................................................................6
Research approaches....................................................................................................................6
Research design...........................................................................................................................6
Data collection.............................................................................................................................7
Sampling......................................................................................................................................7
Ethical consideration and limitation............................................................................................7
4. Timescale.....................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

1. Introduction
Research outline
The current research proposal is based on the general topic of impact of digital technology on
small and medium term business. The main reason to select this topic is based on understanding
the technological and competitive environment that will help to improve the operations of the
business. Study will guide about research background, suitable research questions and also
meeting with definite aims and objectives Smith (2015). Internet platform is one of the huge
platforms that help business to handle entire functions and will reduce the human effort that is to
be produced. This is one of the emerging platforms that will help business in gaining possible
success in future.
Research background
It is effective for researcher to understand the impact of internet that will help in improving the
success and growth of the business. Platform of Internet will lead to improve the functions of
administration that will help business to share effective share of information regarding products
and services. There are some of the challenges that are faced by the business regarding the
security, risk, etc Denscombe, (2014). It also includes business to improve the communication
that will help in developing relationships on global level. Internet of things used is the suitable
concept that is used throughout the business for effective storage of business data and also for
bringing innovation in improving the distribution process.
Aims and objectives
Aim:
Specific aim of the research is based on analysing the impact of Internet on business also to
understand the integration with using Internet of Things.
Objectives:
 To assess the understanding of digital technology on small and medium enterprise. To evaluate impact of Internet on business and its operations. To identify the challenges associated with integrating emerging technologies Bell, (2014)
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 To analyse the importance of E Commerce in engaging stakeholders through Internet
technology
Research question and hypothesis
The research is evaluated with developing research questions and also helps to develop
understanding about the topic in detail. Some of the research questions are mentioned below:
 What do you mean by Digital technology and its influence on business?
 What are the impacts of digital transformation that lead to success of the organisation?
 What is the critical influence of Internet that leads to growth of the business?
 How E commerce platform will lay importance to meet with the needs of the
stakeholders?
Rational of the research
The part of the report reflects the reason to choosing the topic and understanding the same from
which knowledge can be applied in future. Internet platform is one of the necessary elements that
need to be studied as industry is growing with taking effective advantage of this platform.
Business is trying to be much familiar with the choice of appropriate platform for key growth
and expansion of the business. For conducting research, it is necessary for using effective tools
and techniques will help in achieving objectives of the research Flick, (2014). Economy of the
country is emerging with more small and medium businesses that will help in generating
effective revenues and profits. Research need to analyse the gap from the literature and draw out
effective conclusion for meeting with the strategic objectives and aim.
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2. Literature review
Digital transformation of the business
Digital technology of business is based on the opportunities of business that is based on
accelerating growth of all age groups and brings changes in industry. It is also necessary for
improving the accessibility and it helps in improving the business process. As per Matt et.al
(2015), employees of the business should engage in bringing digital transformation that will lead
to create more profitable business models. Digital technology will rely on clear and focussed
strategy that will impose on uniforming strategies of leadership and following culture and
mindset for bringing the real change. Defining the clear process of digital transformation
business could manage and improve the lead generation that will help in increasing the rate of
customer retention. Rather than relying on local servers and personal computers it is necessary
for using cloud platform that will help to increase flexibility, capacity and reducing cost of the
business. Kane et.al (2015) states that online transformation in the business could manage
coordinating operations and sharing brand by high quality content.
Impact of digital integration on SMEs
According to Stankovska et.al (2016), Internet is one of the huge platform that will help in
developing, mutating and bringing changes in the environment. In addition, social media is one
of the effective platforms that will help in integrating with help in meeting effective relationships
with the consumer. Technology is effectively bringing changes in any aspect of the business also
for improving the operations of the business. Small business can use technology for reducing the
cost of the business that will enable firm to improve the actual business costing and maintaining
functions such as record keeping, accounting and overall payroll. Business owners can use
technology to create secure environments for gaining stability of the business and also securing
consumer information.
As per Awa et.al (2015), Internet technology helps in improving the process of communication
with the help of emails, texting, mobile applications, etc. This requires business to use special
communication methods that will help to survive within the economic environment with gaining
competitive advantage. For example, intranet software gives employees a centralised portal to
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access secured information and update the organisational information on website for proper
management of departments. Technological change within the business environment will help to
reach more consumers and increase key sales and revenues.
Challenges to integrate emerging technologies
It is one of the challenges task to think that implementing new technologies but it has some of
the disadvantages that can impact on productivity on push back from users. Cyber security and
privacy issues needs organisation to face challenges that can impact on private information of the
organisation. IT audit practices needs some of the skills and practice with ongoing transition with
related to cloud and virtual networks.
According to Anderson, (2016), organisation with bringing advances in the products and services
are trying to build regular innovation and set expectations for achieving growth in the future. It is
reducing the potential for cyber hackers and unethical practice individuals to try every best
possible to destroy organisational information in order make profits. These issues can be
overcome with proper management by the organisation and with optimum utilisation of
resources.
Ecommerce to drive business success
In today’s world, people are adopting comfortable and convenient ways to purchase products and
services. E-commerce platform has emerged with the platform of to sell and purchase goods
online that will help in developing more customer base. Having an ecommerce website or
business will help firm to list a comprehensive description of selling the products and increase
the brand awareness of the customers. This wealth of the information makes buyer at ease and
customers are much connected to business through the website. According to Turban et.al
(2018), E-commerce is one of the essential business options to emerge into the modern world
that will replace the traditional mode of the business.
E commerce adds to large group of the business that connects people throughout the nation and
around globe of the business. Further, E commerce set up the brand name and build name of the
organisation that enriches customers to reach the business with Internet platform. Within the
major variety of shoppers, current trend has enabled customers to reach up to 80% that prefers
online platform to purchase products. In addition, it increases the business opportunity for firms
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to increase the key visibility among the target group. It pays direct link to promotion through the
platform of Facebook and Twitter that will help in effective purchase decisions Sila, (2015). As
the business grows, it is likely want to grow product range and target audience that will help to
meet with requirements of the customers and product range. It offers broader range of
opportunity that will help in increasing key sales and achieve organisational objectives.
Immense number of small and large business will be benefited with the help of E commerce
platform that is concerned with increasing the demands and overall performance of the business.
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3. Research methodology
Research type
It is based on the type of basis of the nature of the research. Research is based on both the
aspects of qualitative and quantitative nature. It is based on the data and information collected
throughout the study. Quantitative style includes presenting the numerical data and non-
numerical data include conducting research on the basis of qualitative style Denscombe, (2014).
Objective type of research will be conducted as research is effective to meet with several aims
and objectives. In addition, current research includes using both the style such as qualitative and
quantitative research and this will help to draw out effective outcomes. Researcher will focus on
detailed analysis of the research.
Research approaches
Research technique will support the research to extend the range of hypothesis and support of
data collection methods and interpretation of the actual results. There are basically two main
approaches of the research project that includes inductive and deductive. Inductive approach is
helpful for involving the hypothesis and mainly resulting to meet with actual outcomes with
meeting the research questions Robson and McCartan, (2016). Deductive approach is only based
on evaluations of outcomes with carrying out research with appropriate use of designs and
techniques. Here, researcher needs to use deductive approach that includes testing hypothesis
with developing the understanding of the topic.
Research design
Appropriate choice of research design gives idea about on which topic study needs to be
undertaken and meeting with objective of the research. There are different kinds of research
design such as exploratory research design, descriptive research design and explanatory research
design. Current study will utilise exploratory research that will help in analysing suitable criteria
of the research that will help to analyse the presence of conducting preliminary study Sekaran
and Bougie, (2016). Research design will help in investigating about Internet technology and
developing greater understanding about the research topic.
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Data collection
Suitable method of data collection through different sources will help researcher to carry out
effective image out of the research. There are two methods of data collection that include
primary data and secondary data. Here, research will be conducted on the basis of both the
sources that will help researcher to draw out effective analysis. Primary data collection is one of
the raw data and is collected for the first time that include with the methods of Interview and
questionnaire. Secondary data is collected with the help of Books, Journals, articles, etc that are
used in the past and is collected for another use Palinkas et.al (2015). Primary data will help
researcher to collect practical information regarding use of Internet technology by different
businesses and secondary data is used for collecting theoretical information on the basis of
research questions and conducting the further study. Further with help of using both the data
collection methods that will help to develop deep understanding of the research.
Sampling
For conducting the research, sampling include using suitable sample size and analysing the views
of the respondents. Random sampling is used for analysing the sampling of the data. In addition,
sample size chosen for conducting the research include 50 respondents that are been chosen
randomly.
Ethical consideration and limitation
There are different limitations that are needed to be faced by the researcher such as limitation of
time and cost and also effective monitoring of data collection. Sometimes the behaviour of the
respondents might fluctuate as researcher can ask for personal information about the respondents
and they might not feel to answer the questions freely Bryman, (2017). In addition, no bias
procedures are needed to be adopted to overcome the challenges of the research.
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4. Timescale
For completing the entire research, it is divided into different activities and completion within
the suitable period of time. Research will be completed in 6 weeks with completing different
activities in each of the week. In addition, below timescale will help to complete each stage on
time that will deliver out effective results.
Activities/
Schedule
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
Research Project
development
Introduction
Literature
Review
Research
methodology
Data analysis and
interpretation
Conclusion and
recommendations
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References
Books and Journals
 Anderson, T., 2016. Theories for learning with emerging technologies. Emergence and
innovation in digital learning: Foundations and applications, pp.35-50.
 Awa, H.O., Ojiabo, O.U. and Emecheta, B.C., 2015. Integrating TAM, TPB and TOE
frameworks and expanding their characteristic constructs for e-commerce adoption by
SMEs. Journal of Science & Technology Policy Management, 6(1), pp.76-94.
 Bell, J., 2014. Doing Your Research Project: A guide for first-time researchers. McGraw-
Hill Education (UK).
 Bryman, A., 2017. Quantitative and qualitative research: further reflections on their
integration. In Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research (pp. 57-78).
Routledge.
 Denscombe, M., 2014. The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
 Denscombe, M., 2014. The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
 Flick, U., 2014. An introduction to qualitative research. Sage.
 Kane, G.C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A.N., Kiron, D. and Buckley, N., 2015. Strategy, not
technology, drives digital transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte
University Press, 14.
 Matt, C., Hess, T. and Benlian, A., 2015. Digital transformation strategies. Business &
Information Systems Engineering, 57(5), pp.339-343.
 Palinkas, L.A., Horwitz, S.M., Green, C.A., Wisdom, J.P., Duan, N. and Hoagwood, K.,
2015. Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method
implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health
Services Research, 42(5), pp.533-544.
 Robson, C. and McCartan, K., 2016. Real world research. John Wiley & Sons.
 Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R., 2016. Research methods for business: A skill building
approach. John Wiley & Sons.
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 Sila, I., 2015. The state of empirical research on the adoption and diffusion of business-
to-business e-commerce. International Journal of Electronic Business, 12(3), pp.258-301.
 Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods.
Sage.
 Stankovska, I., Josimovski, S. and Edwards, C., 2016. Digital channels diminish SME
barriers: the case of the UK. Economic research-Ekonomska istraživanja, 29(1), pp.217-
232.
 Turban, E., Outland, J., King, D., Lee, J.K., Liang, T.P. and Turban, D.C., 2018.
Business-to-Business E-Commerce. In Electronic Commerce 2018 (pp. 123-166).
Springer, Cham.
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