Impact of Digital Technology in supporting small business growth and innovation

This assignment focuses on the impact of digital technology, specifically social media, in supporting small business growth and innovation. It explores the concept of social media as a marketing tool, different types of social media that can be adopted, and the relationship between social media marketing and business performance. The assignment also includes a project management plan with cost aspects, scope, time, quality, and communication risk, as well as a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart. Additionally, it discusses the implementation of qualitative and quantitative research methods, and evaluates the data collected through appropriate tools and techniques.

Managing Successful
Business Project

INTRODUCTION
Management play an important role in managing and functioning business functions
more effectively and efficiently. Nowadays, it has been observed that Digital Technology makes
easy for small, medium and large organisation to operate its business activities. Investment in
adopting of digital technology ensures in getting maximum profitable outcome to company thus
management of an organisation are required to prepare budget so as to implement digital
technology in its business operations which drives them to achieve desired goals and objectives
within pre-determined time period. The present assignment is based on Continental Consulting
Limited which is engaged in business process re-engineering of small and medium
manufacturing companies. The project covers the aim and objectives of company along with an
appropriate management plans which includes cost, scope, time, quality and communication. In
addition with this, work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart are also briefly discussed under
this report. The project also includes methods of research, tools and techniques used to evaluate
research, recommendation and reflection which can assist management in making an effective
decision for the betterment of an organisation (Adzic, 2011).
TASK 1
P1: Project aim and objectives
Continental Consulting Limited is medium sized company of United Kingdom is engaged
in providing consultancy services to small and medium manufacturing companies regarding
making changes or re-engineering their business process. It is located in London for the last
eight years and continuously making efforts in expanding its business to large scale operations in
order to achieving high sustainability and profitability. For this, the management has decided to
implement various digital technologies such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence, social
media platforms etc. These technologies drives an organisations to achieve its desired goals and
objectives within pre-determined time period and also compete with their rivals in market in
more effective and efficient manner (Brady and Davies, 2014).
Topic: “Impact of Digital Technology in supporting small business growth and innovation”.
As per the current scenario, innovation is must required to adopt in business operations
by every organisation irrespective of the size whether small, medium or large. Computerised
innovation makes easy for employees to perform their allotted task with minimum time and cost.

It allows an organisation to grab competitive opportunities of market through which they can
easily compete with the existing rivals in more effective and efficient manner.
Aim: “Impact of Implementation of Social media as digital technology to support small
business growth and innovation”.
The essential aim of preparation of such report is to examine the effectiveness of social
media in business operations of small and medium scale organisations like Continental
Consulting Limited.
Research objectives
 To identify the concept of social media as a marketing tool for an organisation.
 To examine the different types of social media that can be adopted to achieve growth and
expansion of Continental Consulting Ltd.
 To analyse the relationship between the social media marketing and business
performance of Continental Consulting Ltd.
Research questions
1. How social media makes huge impact on the business operations of an organisation?
2. What are the different tools of social media adopted by Continental Consulting Ltd. to
achieve growth and expansion?
3. How social media marketing and business performance are interrelated with each other?
P2: Project management plan with cost aspects, scope, time, quality and communication risk
Project can be successfully executed only if the management having enough knowledge
and capabilities to prepare project management plan consisting various elements such as cost,
time, quality, scope, communication and risk. These all elements are compulsorily required to
consider by management while making decision regarding implementation of digital technology
in business operations of an organisation (Crane and Matten, 2016). Such project management
plan assist management in assigning roles and responsibilities to their members involved in
execution of project activities. It can be further understood through describing such elements in
brief:
Scope: Before decide to implement digital technology in business operations, the
management first determine their scope and their role in achieving growth and expansion of an
organisation. Implementation of social media in working procedure has wider scope as it makes
easy for employees of Continental Consulting Ltd. to reach its targeted clients through the world

within minimum time and efforts. It enables members of company to influence their targeted
customers through offering the valuable suggestions and information about the new technologies
that can be used by them so as to achieve business growth and innovation (Drucker, 2012).
Cost: It refers to value of money which is essential need of an organisation to execute
project activities in more effective and efficient manner. Continental Consulting Ltd. is engaged
in re-engineering business system of small and medium sized organisations which are located in
London. Thus, it requires huge amount of money in order to bring new technological system in
business procedure of targeted clients. Adoption of social media to expand its business requires
huge cost due to which the management need to prepare a budget containing information of
allocation of cost to different activities. For example, payment made to different companies in
exchange of displaying their advertisement on their own official websites. Therefore, it is
important to prepare statement showing cost incurred in different project activities whose sample
are given as under:
Time: Setting time frame for completion of desired project activities brings maximum
profitable outcome to company. It binds employees as well to focus on completing allotted task
within given time frame which brings out maximum efforts from them in completion of project
activities. Therefore, the management of Continental Consulting Ltd. is required to prepare and
follow critical path in order to direct their employees to perform according to the time duration
allotted to them to complete allotted task (Kowalkowski, Kindström and Brehmer, 2011).

Quality: Quality easily attracts targeted clients due to which it becomes the main reason
an organisation go for quality instead of deduction of expenses. Continental Consulting Ltd. is
engaged in providing consultancy services to different businesses and customers of London.
Thus, to attract and communicate with them more effectively an organisation must have skilled
and knowledgeable employees who know how to deal with clients of different nature. Allotting
amount to conduct training and development programs for the employees enhances the quality in
work (Loch, DeMeyer and Pich, 2011).
Risk: Risk is always exist in every project activities which can affect the desired outcome
of company as well. Therefore, there is need to tackle future risk through pre-assuming the
situations that comes during performing of business activities. The management of Continental
Consulting Ltd. are held liable to identify the risk which can be related with lack of funds,
inadequate employees support, rivals new strategies etc. and plan accordingly. For example,
having improper knowledge of employees regarding using social media platform brings adverse
result to company due to which training and learning programs shall be conducted for them
before starting project.
Communication: In the context of an organisation, communication is necessary between
management and employees so as to maintain equality and diversity at workplace. There are
various communication tools such as meeting and conferences, interview etc. which help
managers in identifying the situations occur at workplace due to lack of equality. This will make
easy for managers to make corrective actions related with implementing employment acts so as
to maintain equality at workplace. On the other hand, researcher also uses various
communication tools such as interview, questionnaire, emails and texts etc. to get feedbacks and
reviews from the employees working within Continental Consulting Ltd. (Morris and Geraldi,
2011).
Resources: While conducting an appropriate research, various kinds of resources which
Continental Consulting Ltd. and researcher need to arrange and manage either from within or
outside of an organisation. In the context of an organisation, employees, financial reports etc. are
some resources which the management can use in order to determine the importance of
maintaining equality and diversity at workplace. In the context of researcher, support from team
members, respondents, funds etc. are valuable resources which need to attain to carry out an

effective research. Utilising these resources increases the chances of getting favourable outcome
at the end of research.
P3: Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
WBS is one of the recommended disintegration of the work which is done under this
particular research into a reasonable area. This structure incorporates different advance which
are needed to be done to direct the exploration. Thus, the venture group of Continental
consulting Ltd has implemented with individual separation of projects with a particular aim to
recognise practical goals and objectives. This particular project structure talks regarding project
arrangement of various exercises that are being done and reliable measures are taken into
consideration during the time of conducting all those activities which are being done. This
process will increase the basic leadership capacity of users that will give clear vision regarding
projects and targets to them. The WBS structure assist an organisation through giving a chances
to make an individual to distinguish customer’s responses and their essential demand. This
specific strategy will also assist an organisation to attain their valuable aims and business
extension and advancements. This particular technique provides the management to make
decision and make valuable planning for the business growth and their expansions. It is prepared
on the basis of overall aims and goals of an organisation. This basic structure of project report is
divided into as follow:
1. Primary main and objective under this research.
2. Literature review
3. Conflicts features by the company
4. Aim of research projects
5. Selection of target respondents
6. Formulation of effective plan.
7. Analysis and criticise the information collected from the research
Technology is playing an eminent role in the arrangement of research which has been
conducted by using primary sources of research. Technology specialist of this organisation has
planning an effective survey that has been related with inquiries with relation to effects of
advanced innovation on their business performance. There are 35 respondents are chosen to
elaborate the scenario and connecting the goals of the project. Teenagers, young generations,
college students are the groups selected for survey.

TASK 2
P4: Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research
Qualitative and quantitative are two main methods of conducting an effective research
which are further discussed under the below:
Qualitative research: Under this research, the investigator searches for reliable and
accurate information about the market towards the decision taken by company for its growth and
success. It helps in identifying the thoughts, opinions of small number of respondents through
using different methods such as focus groups, individual interviews and observations. The
sample size is typically small and limited number of respondents are selected.
Quantitative research: Under this research, the researcher quantity the decision by way of
generating numerical data which can be further transformed into usable statistics. It is more
structured than qualitative data. Using mobile surveys and kiosk surveys, face to face interviews,
telephone interviews, the research can able to collect information from large number of
respondents.
Primary data: It is adopted by researcher with an objective of collecting reliable and
accurate information through using various primary sources such as interviews, questionnaire
etc. It is generally adopted if researcher have sufficient amount of time and money (Morrison,
2013).
Secondary data: It is adopted by researcher due to having lack of time and money.
Newspapers, journals, articles etc. are some sources through which the researcher can collect
data regarding the impact of digital technology on business performance. It contains less
accurate and reliable information which reduces the effectiveness of decision made by the
management for the betterment of an organisation.
Sample size: Under the research, 50 respondents are taken as sample whose views and
feedbacks are taken into consideration while drawing a valid conclusion at the end of research.
These respondents include employees, managers, customers etc.
Due to having more accuracy and reliability, Continental Consulting Ltd. has appointed
researcher to conduct qualitative research and uses primary sources in order to reach to an
effective and profitable decision. For this purpose, Questionnaire are prepared by research which
are given as below:
Questionnaire

Name
Gender
Age
Q1. Do you think social media can support Continental Consulting Ltd in achieving growth and
expansion?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2. Which social media tools brings maximum profitable outcome to Continental Consulting
Ltd.?
a) Facebook
b) Twitter
c) Instagram
d) Other tools
Q3) What are the main advantages that can be received by Continental Consulting Ltd after
adoption of Digital technology?
a) Enhancing overall performance
b) Minimising defects
b) Optimise uses of resources
Q4) Is there any requirement to invest funds in training and development programs for

employees to work on using digital technology?
a) Yes
b) No
Q5) Does digitalisation reduces workload of employees working in Continental Consulting Ltd?
a) Yes
b) No
Q6) What are the main barrier for company to adopt digitalisation in its business operation more
effectively?
a) Cost
b) Time
c) Conflict
Q7). Did social media reduces communication gap between Continental Consulting Ltd?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8). Is digitalisation play an important role in achieving high sustainability and profitability of
Continental Consulting Ltd?
a) Yes
b) No
Q9. Is there any requirement of increment in salary of employees working on using digital

technology within Continental Consulting Ltd?
a) Yes
b) No
Q10. Provide own recommendation to deal with challenges after implementing social media
tools?
TASK 3
P5: Evaluation research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Evaluation of research is important as it assist research to draw a valid conclusion to the
company that whether to follow pre-determined decision regarding adoption of digital
technology or should re-think about this once again. Below is the proper evaluation of data
collected through research (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017).
Q1. Do you think social media can support Continental Consulting Ltd in
achieving growth and expansion?
Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 15

Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
35
15 Frequency
Interpretation: It has been identified from the above graph that social media play a
vital role in supporting Continental Consulting Ltd to achieve growth and expansion.
Among 50 selected people, 35 respondents are there who thinks the same whereas
remaining 15 respondents thinks differently.
Q2. Which social media tools brings maximum profitable outcome to
Continental Consulting Ltd.?
Frequency
a) Facebook 20
b) Twitter 10
c) Instagram 15

d) Other tools 5
a) Facebook b) Twitter c) Instagram d) Other tools
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
20
10
15
5
Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly seen from the above graph that Facebook and Instagram will
bring more profitable outcome to company. Out of 50 respondents, there are 2o respondents who
are in favour of Facebook, 10 in favour of twitter, 15 in favour of Instagram and 5 are in favour
of using other tools.
Q3) What are the main advantages that can be received by Continental
Consulting Ltd after adoption of Digital technology?
Frequency
a) Enhancing overall performance 30

b) Minimising defects 10
c) Optimise uses of resources 10
a) Enhancing overall performance
b) Minimising defects
b) Optimise uses of resources
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
30
10 10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly examine from the above graph that the main advantage that
Continental Consulting Ltd can receive after adoption of digital technology is in overall
performance of company. Among 50 respondents, there are 30 respondents who thinks the same
whereas 10 respondents think it reduces defects and remaining 10 respondents thinks that it helps
employees in utilising available resources in an optimum manner.
Q4) Is there any requirement to invest funds in training and development Frequency

programs for employees to work on using digital technology?
a) Yes 40
b) No 10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
40
10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly observed from the above graph that employees of
Continental Consulting Ltd required training and learning programs so as to work on digital
technology in more effective and efficient manner.

Q5) Does digitalisation reduces workload of employees working in
Continental Consulting Ltd?
Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 20
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
30
20
Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly identified from the above figures that implementation of
digital technology reduces workload of employees working in Continental Consulting Ltd.
Among 50 respondents, there are 30 respondents who thinks the same whereas remaining 20
doesn’t agree with them.

Q6) What are the main barrier for company to adopt digitalisation in its
business operation more effectively?
Frequency
a) Cost 15
b) Time 25
c) Conflict 10
a) Cost b) Time c) Conflict
0
5
10
15
20
25
15
25
10 Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly seen from the above graph that time become the one which
brings difficulties towards Continental Consulting Ltd in adoption of digital technology in its
business functions Out of 50 respondents, 25 respondents has same view whereas 15 and 10
thinks cost and conflict respectively.

Q7). Did social media reduces communication gap between Continental
Consulting Ltd?
Frequency
a) Yes 38
b) No 12
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
38
12
Frequency
Interpretation: It is seen from the above data that that the decision of adoption of social
media as a digital tool reduces the communication gab among company and its targeted clients.
Among 50 respondents, there are 38 responders who thinks the same whereas remaining 12
responders doesn’t agree with them.

Q8). Is digitalisation play an important role in achieving high sustainability
and profitability of Continental Consulting Ltd?
Frequency
a) Yes 32
b) No 18
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35 32
18
Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly observed from the above graph that digital technology
support Continental Consulting Ltd in achieving high sustainability and profitability. Among 50
respondents, there are 32 respondents who thinks the same whereas remaining 18 respondents
doesn’t agree with them.

Q9. Is there any requirement of increment in salary of employees working
on using digital technology within Continental Consulting Ltd?
Frequency
a) Yes 40
b) No 10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
40
10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is clearly seen from the above graph that employees demands increment
in their salary in order to work on using digital technology which requires more efforts and time.
Among 50 respondents, there are 40 respondents who thinks the same whereas remaining 10
respondents are much satisfied with the current pay scale.

P6: Appropriate recommendation as a result of data and research analysis
Continental Consulting Limited is medium sized organisation which provides consultancy
services to different businesses of London regarding re-engineering their business process. The
main objective of such organisation is to achieve growth and expansion in their business
operations due to which the management has decide to implement social media as digital tool
within its business operations. After conducting research, it has been clearly analysed from the
data collected from primary method, Digitalisation makes positive impact on the growth and
expansion of business (Primary source and secondary source, 2018). Therefore, it has been
recommended to an organisation to invest money on adoption of digital technologies so as to
make easy for employees to reach targeted clients within minimum time and efforts. Attracting
and influencing decisions of targeted clients through using media platform, it makes easy for
company to achieve high sustainability and profitability. It is also required that management
should focus on enhancing the skills and capabilities of their employees which can be possible
through conducting training and learning programs at workplace.
TASK 4
P7: Reflection upon undertaking to attain objectives
During research, I have gained lots of experience and knowledge about the market trends
which are changing on continuous basis. I had selected 50 respondents whose thoughts and
feedbacks are taken on priority in order to assist management of Continental Consulting Ltd.
whether to implement social media as a digital tool in business operations or not. I have faced
lots of difficulties as well such as due to having limited time, I have given less time to each
respondents to fulfil the questionnaire form. Lack of funds also restricted me to reach different
locations to collect data related with the content of research due to which I also used secondary
source along with the primary source. Availability of employees of Continental Consulting Ltd.
are also low due to their busy work schedule. Apart from this, I have gained knowledge about
the thoughts and perception of respondents coming from different culture and background.
During interaction with them, I have developed communication and interaction skills which
further help me to conduct other research for different company as well. Apart from this, as a
researcher I have identified some weaknesses which I need to work on such as communication
skills, team working etc. These skills can be developed by engaging in training and learning
sessions, seminars, working in a team etc.

CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above project report that an organisation can successfully
executed its project activities if they have an effective management who are much capable to
prepare project management plan containing all information regarding the roles and
responsibilities performed by employees within allotted time frame. Social media as a digital
tool support maximum in the growth and success of an organisation. To bring valuable evidence
about effectiveness of digital technology, an organisation should appoint researcher who knows
to deal with targeted respondents and collected relevant data which will be useful to
management in making an effective decision.

 REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Online
Primary source and secondary source, 2018. [online] Available through;
<https://businesscasestudies.co.uk/food-standards-agency/market-research-and-
consumer-protection/primary-and-secondary-research.html>.

APPENDIX
Log BookLog book
Project Logbook for the chosen
:
organisation Continental
Consulting Limited
:
Name of the learner
:
Name of the Supervisor
:
Project Title Managing successful
business
:
Date
/
Update of weekly research tasks
(
achieved Account for a minimum of
)
six weeks with dates
?
What have you completed
?
Did you fulfil Task requirements
Are you on track and within
?
deadlines set
Did you need to make any changes
to your project management
?
plan
Comments
Completed research on toopic of “Impact
of Implementation of Social media as
digital technology to support small
business growth and innovation”."
Yes
Yes
No requirement of making any changes
/
?
Any risks and or issues identified
l
/
Did you identify risks issues
with a lack of skills required
for undertaking research
?
tasks
Yes, facing shortage of funds restricted
me to gather data from large number of
respondents.

l
Did you identify any additional
/
risks issues that have an
impact on the project
?
management plan
No
Problems encountered
l
?
What barriers did you face
l
?
How did you overcome them
Lack of knowledge about communicating
in different languages.
Through interacting with people of
different backgrounds and culture.
New Ideas and change of project
direction Collecting data from secondary sources as
well.
What Have I learnt about myself
?
this week
l
How did I feel when I had to
/
?
deal with tasks problems
l
Did I find it useful to complete
?
the tasks
l
?
How well have I performed
?
What did I contribute
l
What can I improve on next
?
week
I think that approaching issues
and situation supply an effective
.experience for long duration
Yes
This report is effeciently
performed by me and i
contributed various reaserch
.work by my project
My communication ability is

l
How might this learning apply
?
in the future
.needed to be enhanced
It will be helpful in interpreting
positive ways to director by
which coming judgement can be
.taken
Tasks planned for next week
l
?
Which tasks are priority
l
Have you set aside sufficient
?
time for completion
Setting aims and objectives and analsying
of gathered data.
No, having limited time restricted to
gather data from large number of
respondents.
( ,
Project plan status to date on
,
)
ahead behind
Up to date
Supervisor comments to address
Signature of the Supervisor and
:
date
Performance review
1. What was the Project supposed to accomplish?
This project is executed in order to bring effectiveness of social media
to support the growth and success of company.
2. Did the project succeed in its objectives/ how do you know?
Specifically, please outline any evaluation and assessment undertaken.
The major objective of the company was to alter the current image of firm
in mindset of customers in order to enhance their profitability level. This
helps in accomplishing their social objective.
3. What things do you think worked well and why? Evaluate all
aspects of the project from a range of perspectives.
I have taken respondents into confidence which makes easy for me to get
accurate and relevant information about the topic of research.

4. What problems emerged during the project and how were they
tackled? Was there timely identification of issues and resolution during the
project process?
Lack of funds and hesitation while dealing with different culture people
brings difficulties for me to reach to different areas to collect information. It
can be tackled through printing questionnaires in their first language
which makes easy for them to better understand. No, due to lack of time, I
failed to reach maximum number of respondents.
5. What did you learn from undertaking the project?
I have learnt that digital tool bring long term advantages to company.
6. How would you rate your performance as a management consultant
leading the project?
I ranked myself 9 out of 10.
7. What strengths and weakness of your performance did you identify?
I have good communication skills but facing lack of interpersonal skills.
8. How will this inform and support your continuous professional
development?
It is important for corporate level to modulate free flow of abstraction in
company as they can get with together.