Impact of Digitalisation on Small Business Enterprise: A Case Study on 3COM

This report discusses the impact of digitalisation on the development of small business enterprises, using 3COM as a case study. It explores the aims and objectives of implementing digital technology, the project management plan, work breakdown structure and Gantt chart, and the findings of a small-scale research conducted. The report also highlights the importance of digitalisation in achieving growth and success in a competitive environment.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1....................................................................................................................................................3
P1: Aims and objectives....................................................................................................................3
P2: Project management plan............................................................................................................4
P3: Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart.................................................................................5
TASK 2....................................................................................................................................................7
P4: Small scale research....................................................................................................................7
TASK 3....................................................................................................................................................9
P5: Data analysis...............................................................................................................................9
P6 Recommendation........................................................................................................................18
TASK 4..................................................................................................................................................18
P7: Reflection..................................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Digitalisation refers to a process of transmitting important and material information into
digital form which can further used by an organisation in order to make an effective decision
and plans regarding achieving desired goals and objectives. Moreover it implies the adoption
of digital technology such as electronic media and tools in order to perform various business
functions such as marketing process, production process etc. Thus, all organisations whether
small, medium or large tried to adopt advanced and updated technology within an
organisation in order to gain competitive advantage and sustain in competitive market world
for longer period of time. The present assignment report is based on the importance of
digitalisation and their contribution in achieving growth and success in competitive
environment. In addition with this, the role of an effective management plan which is formed
by an organisation with a motive of executing business activities in an effective and efficient
manner. The project report also covers the data accumulation which is done with the help of
suitable tools and techniques (Awais Ahmad Tipu and Manzoor Arain, 2011). An effective plans
and strategies made by the management to eliminate hidden barriers which affect the growth
and success of an organisation are also discussed under this report.
TASK 1
P1: Aims and objectives
Topic: “Impact of digitalisation on development on small business enterprise: A case
study on 3COM”
Aim: The main motive of “3COM” is to create and introduce new and advanced technology
in order to provide innovative products or devices to people in future and thus always
focusing on promoting digitalisation. Therefore, the company’s main aim is “to introduce and
implement updated digital technology in order to achieve growth and success of small
business organisation (Basu, 2014). Basically adoption of digital technology brings beneficial
result to an organisation as well as help in improving the standard of living of people. It will
also contribute more in the economy of the nation which make huge impact on people as
well. Thus, the major objectives of this project are described as under:
 To introduce digitalisation in 3COM as well as entire industry to develop society.
 To consider the changes required in existing tools and techniques which were used by
3COM in order to get profitable result in near future.
 Evaluation of the effectiveness of adoption of digitalisation in business organisation.
After identifying the aims and objectives of this project and selected organisation then it
is important for management to conduct research on the effectiveness of implementing digital
technology. The relevant questions which need to be asked in research related with
digitalisation are listed as below:
 What is the main purpose of 3COM to implement modern technique?
 Are there any changes required in existing technology used by 3COM?

 How the adoption of modern and latest equipments will bring beneficial result to
company?
After collecting and analysing all answers, learner need to be aware pre-decided aims and
objectives and accordingly make an effective plans and strategies in order to achieve them
within pre-determined period of time. Thus, management also play an important and crucial
role in growth and success of an organisation (Geraldi and Lechter, 2012).
P2: Project management plan
Planning is an essential requirement for every business organisation if they want to
achieve competitive advantage and survive in competitive market environment for longer
duration. In order to execute project activities in an effective and efficient manner, a suitable
planning is essentially required to be made by management of an organisation after
considering all relevant information and figures collected from different sources. But on the
other hand, it becomes difficult to make and implement an effective plan that ensures in
getting positive result as it requires specialised skilled and knowledgeable person who are
able to perform specific and crucial roles and responsibilities in an effective and efficient
manner. Along with this, there are several factors which make pre-determined plans more
successfully. Such factors are mentioned as below:
Cost: Money is considered as backbone of every business thus it is important to have
enough financial resources so that the management are able to invest in execution of business
activities with a hope of getting profitable result in near future. Therefore, before
implementing pre-determined plan, the management should required to prepared budget in
order to allocate cost to different departments after identifying the important areas that will
ensure an organisation to recover invested amount.
Scope: The management of “3COM” need to first identify the possibilities of making
plans and strategies more successful that will ensure an organisation to bring beneficial result
in future. And it can possible only when the company fulfils customer’s needs and
requirements with the help of using advance digital technology. Thus, it is important to create
new and innovative ideas and devices for gaining maximum benefits (Harish and Kumar, 2014).
Time: 3COM is one of the fast growing business organisation as they always focuses
on creating new and innovative products and tried to make changes in their current devices
according to the customer’s needs and requirements. Thus, time is an important factor which
forces every business to comply with it and adopt changes in exiting business activities on
regular basis. The management is required to define roles and responsibilities to their
employees and motivate them to perform their roles within given time frame so that the
company can able to grab competitive opportunities and gain strong image in market.
Quality: 3com offers quality devices to their customers with the help of management
which always tries to give extra efforts in enhancing quality and maintain their standard in
order to attract large number of customers. Therefore, it is also become an important part of
project management plan as producing quality products can easily grab an attention of

customers and influences their interest and buying behaviour towards their product which
indirectly improves sales figure of company as well and generate huge revenues.
Communication: It is also an important factor which helps in bringing unity among
employees in order to give combined efforts in achieving desired goals and objectives. Thus,
the management need to create a platform or channel through which employees of different
departments can easily communicate with their respective managers and other employees.
This will help in establishing healthy relationship between managers and employees which
are motivating them to achieve growth and success in their professional goals. Hence, planner
of management is tries to give maximum efforts in designing unique devices with different
features which facilitate each employee to easily communicate with each other (Hwang and
Ng, 2013).
Risk: As business environment is complex in nature which changes rapidly thus it
creates risk as well which affects and influences the future project activities. Therefore it is
important for managers to make an effective plans and policies in order to identify risk on
time so that it can be eliminate as quickly as possible. The plans may be related with
providing training programs to employees who makes them ready to face challenges without
any fear.
Figure 1 Project Management Execution
(Source:- Project Management Execution, 2016)
P3: Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
A work breakdown human brain structure can be defined as classes’ classification of
business start in smaller units in order to achieve desired goals and objectives by allocating
roles and responsibilities to employees according to their skills and knowledge. It is very
helpful for every business organisation as it helped in distributing roles and responsibilities to
the staff members so they can perform better and achieve profitable outcome in near future.
Basically 3com is required to adopt creative and innovative technique in order to execute and
accomplished their predetermined project activities in effective and efficient manner

(Verzuh,2015). It is important for managers to reduce or minimise their workload through
delegating work to their subordinates after analysing their qualification and skills. It is
generally a framework or blueprint which helps in providing direction and guidance to
overall company at the time to performing delegated roles and responsibilities in such an
effective manner that will help them in achieving organisational as well as personal goals.
However, it is design in a tree structure which clearly specifies the subdivision of
efforts which are needed to achieve desired goals such as session, report and contract. The
management are held liable to form such structure and divide roles and responsibilities to the
workers after analysing their capabilities of doing given task. Work break down structure
helps each and every employee to know their duties and they can able to perform
accordingly.
On the other hand, Gantt chart is an effective bar which defines a proper schedule of
report in which starting point as well as finishing timing is also mentioned. The main
objective of this chart is to help management to make an effective decision for the betterment
of an organisation through representing relevant data collected by researcher. Gantt chart was
first developed in 1896 by Karol Adamiecki who named it as “Harmonogram”. But thereafter
the name has been changed on the name of Henry Gantt who formulates his chart during
1910-1915. USA was the first country who used such applications during world war first.
Hence, after thorough below relevant data and information, it has been understood that
Gantt chart may become the useful strategy which must required to use by company at the
time of formulating their management plans to achieve desired target. Moreover, it also
shows the delegated roles of employees, duration of specific project, future activities which
need to be executed in future and other relevant things which are associated with business
operations. Therefore, it is also named as blueprint of official document which contains all
relevant information regarding necessary activities which are going to execute in order to
gain maximum result on investment.

TASK 2
P4: Small scale research
3Com is a small sized company whose main objective is to introduce new and
innovative devices in order to grab attention of maximum customers and gain their trust and
loyalty which further help them in sustaining in comeotive environment for longer period of
time. Thus, the management before executing business activities they need to conduct
research on the basis of which they are able to make an effective decision and plans regarding
eliminating the chances of facing losses in performing future activities. To conduct a research
the management should required focusing on two modes of research which provides them
accurate and reliable information. Such modes of research are described as below:
Qualitative research: With the help of this tool, an enterprise gathered data in the
form of symbol, name, and number code and so on. There are various systems which are used
under this research such as interviews, survey, questionnaire etc. Through which researcher
get accurate and reliable information in order to make an effective decision for company.
This method help in reading human brain and what are their perception and attitude towards
company’s product (Leach, 2014).
Quantitative research: According to this tool, the gathered information are represent
in numerical form or statistical which requires specialised knowledgeable person to
understand. 3Com comes under telecom sector which always tries to design best network
while communicating to different countries and focuses on keeping all people living across
worldwide more closer through their network. Thus, it is important for the management to
appoint finance knowledgeable employee who simply understand data and converting them
into useful outcomes for company.
Primary research: It is also called as first hand information which is gathered by
research directly from the customers without using any mediator. Thus, it provides accurate
and reliable information thus the chances of making an effective decision will be more. The
researcher c an easily analyse the behaviours and emotions of customers while asking them
relevant questions. This will help in identifying the actual picture of company in market
(Marston and et. al., 2011).

Secondary research: It is also call as second hand information in which the
researcher collected information through literature, books, previous records of 3Com and
various other things which are recorederlier by third person. Thus, such information should
not be accurate and reliable but it saves time and money for company.
Sampling: As per this tool, the researcher is collected few data among large pool and
acquire feedback from them in order to execute business policies according to the customer’s
needs and requirements. Such tools are mostly adopted by large companies who have no time
to conduct research in order to gain competitive opportunities in market. For example, a
company distribute questionnaire to 30 respondents but out of them all, they only consider
answers of only 10 respondents due to saving time. Thus, such information may not accurate
and reliable but it helps company in identifying the current trends that exist in market. Such
questionnaire should prepare in following manner:
Questionnaire
Name:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sex:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. Digitalization brings profitable outcome to an association or not? Yes No
Q.2. Does adoption of digitalisation brings longer term benefits to 3Com? Yes No
Q.3. Does making changes in existing technology contribute more in achieving growth and
success of an enterprise? Agree Disagree
Q.4. Is digitalisation make positive impact on company performance? Yes No
Q.5 Is there any needed of alteration in products of 3Com? Yes No
Q.6. Is necessarily required for an association to invest amount on new technology in order
to attain strong image in competitive market? Agree

 Disagree
Q.7. Is there any impact of digitalization on company goodwill? Yes No
Q.8. Which technique of marketing is more profitable in current scenario of 3com? Traditional Modern
Q9. What are the factors which affects implementation of advanced technology at
marketplace? Employees Managers Recent trends Legal laws
 Competitors
TASK 3
P5: Data analysis
Theme: 1 Digitalization brings profitable
outcome to an association
Frequency
 Yes 25 No 5

Interpretation: - It has been observed from above graphical representation that most
of the respondents thinks that implementation of digitalisation will definitively brings
profitable result to company. As above, out of 40 respondents there are only two respondents
who think that there is less chances of getting profitable outcomes after adoption of
digitalisation (Porwal and Hewage, 2013).
Theme:2 Adoption of digitalisation brings
longer term benefits to 3Com
Frequency
 Yes 26 No 4
Interpretation: - :- It has been observed from above graphical representation that
most of the respondents think that adoption of digital technology will bring benefits to
company for longer duration. As above, out of 40 respondents there are only four respondents
who think that there is less possibilities to get benefits for longer duration. Whereas
remaining respondents thinks opposite.
Theme:3 changes in existing technology
contribute more in achieving growth and
success of an enterprise
Frequency

 Agree 24 Disagree 6
Interpretation: - :- It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondents thinks that digitalisation contribute more in achieving
growth and success for an organisation. As above, out of 30 respondents there are only six
respondents who think that digitalisation play no role in growth and success of an
organisation whereas remaining respondents thinks digitalisation contributes more in
achieving growth and success of an organisation (Sharon and Dori, 2015).
Theme:4 digitalisation make positive impact
on company performance
Frequency
 Yes 26 No 4

Interpretation:- It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondents thinks that digitalisation makes huge impact on
company’s performance. As above, out of 30 respondents there are 26 respondents who
thinks same whereas remaining respondents thinks opposite.
Theme:5 Needed of alteration in products of
3Com
Frequency
 Yes 15 No 15

Interpretation:- It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondents thinks that it is essentially required to make changes in
existing product. As above, out of 30 respondents there are 15 respondents who think that
changes in existing product are essentially required organisation whereas same number of
respondents thinks opposite (Smith, Gonin and Besharov, 2013).
Theme:6 Necessarily required for an
association to invest amount on new
technology in order to attain strong image in
competitive market
Frequency
 Agree 10 Disagree 20

Interpretation: - It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondent’s thinks that management should required to invest
amount in digitalisation. As above, out of 30 respondents there are 20 respondents who thinks
that currently there is no need to incurred cost in adoption of digitalisation due to lack of
funds whereas remaining respondents thinks opposite.
Theme:7 Impact of digitalization on company
goodwill
Frequency
 Yes 20 No 10

Interpretation: - It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondents thinks that digitalisation make huge impact on the
goodwill of company. As above, out of 30 respondents there are about 20 respondents who
think that digitalisation play an effective role in gaining strong goodwill in market whereas
remaining respondents thinks opposite (Ryan and Campbell, 2012)
Theme:8 Most suitable technique of
marketing in current scenario of 3com.
Frequency
 Traditional 5 Modern 25

Interpretation:- It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondents thinks that modern technology is more suitable as
compared to traditional in order to marketing products and grabs attention of people. As
above, out of 30 respondents there are 25 respondents who thinks that modern technique of
marketing are more suitable whereas remaining respondents thinks traditional (Stoshikj,
Kryvinska and Strauss, 2014).
Theme: 9 Factors which affects
implementation of advanced technology at
marketplace.
Frequency
 Employees 10 Managers 5 Recent trends 5 Legal laws 5 Competitors 5

Interpretation: - It has been observed from above graphical representation that
maximum number of the respondents thinks that employees are the main asset of company
which make huge impact and efforts on adoption of digital technology. After that managers,
competitors etc. are giving equal contribution in implementation of digital technology (Project
Management Execution, 2016).
P6 Recommendation
After making proper evaluation of above data it has been confirmed that an organisation
need to adopt digital technology as it brings profitable outcome to company in near future
and help them in achieving competitive advantage in market. In addition to this, it also helps
in bringing efficiency in performance of employees and enhances their interest level while
performing allotted task at workplace (Thomas, 2011). But before this, the management need
to identify the current trends that exist in market environment and accordingly think to
implement corrective decision and plans to fulfil customer’s needs and requirements. Apart
from this, an organisation needs to focus on important matters which are mentioned as below:
 Provide training and learning programs to their employees so as to perform work on
digital technology in more effective and efficient manner.
 Learn ways to implement advanced technique at workplace.
 Concentrate in customer’s needs and preferences.

TASK 4
P7: Reflection
After determining all aspects from the this report, I should recommend every
organisation whether small, medium or large to implement digital technology in their
business structure if they want to compete with their rivals in more effective and efficient
manner. Digital technology not only makes all business operation easier but also enhance
efficiency and profitability of an organisation that help them in sustaining in front of their
rivals in more competitive manner (Viaene and Van den Bunder, 2011).
Apart from all these, I have learned that to make an effective decision and plans, it is
important to conduct research in order to indentify the trends exist in current market which
further help me to get profitable result. I have experienced different phase such as
constructing a Gantt chart, diagrams and understanding statistical data and so on. To get
accurate information from such charts and diagram, enhancing skills and knowledge is
essentially required. Apart from this, there are various factors which need to be considered
before implementation of decision regarding digital technology for example cost, time, risk
etc. Hence, these all motivate and educate me how to make corrective actions in order to
achieve profitable result (Digital strategy and capabilities to win in a digitized world, 2017).
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above project report that decision taken regarding
implementation of digital technology will brings profitable result to company in near future.
It should require for every organisation to go for digital marketing in order to achieve
competitive advantage in market. There are several factors which influences such decision
such as cost, time, risk etc. which need to be considered by the management of 3Com. It is
also important to conduct research in order to determine the exact situation exist in market so
that they can compete in more effective and efficient manner. There are different methods of
conducting research such as primary, secondary, sampling method etc. which can be adopted
by management after considering the time and cost incurred in conducting such research.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals\