HNBS 306 Managing Successful Business Project: Assignment

Managing Successful
Business Project
(HNBS 306)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Overview......................................................................................................................................1
Background of company..............................................................................................................1
AIM and OBJECTIVE....................................................................................................................1
Aim..............................................................................................................................................1
Objective......................................................................................................................................1
CONDUCT RESEARCH................................................................................................................4
Research philosophy:...................................................................................................................4
Research approach.......................................................................................................................4
Data collection.............................................................................................................................5
Sampling......................................................................................................................................5
Data Analysis...............................................................................................................................5
PRESENTING.................................................................................................................................5
Research Questionnaire...............................................................................................................5
Presentation..................................................................................................................................7
FINDING and CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
PREFORMANCE REVIEW.........................................................................................................16
REFERNCES.................................................................................................................................18

TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Implementation of digital technology within Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd........................8
Figure 2: Usefulness of digital technology for all operating functions of Thomas Cook & Sons
Ltd....................................................................................................................................................9
Figure 3: Challenges faced by company while implementing digital technology...........................9
Figure 4: Digital technology impacting department of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd.......................10
Figure 5: Digitalisation helping Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd in product differentiation by
competitors within market.............................................................................................................11
Figure 6 . Importance of digitalisation in increasing customer base.............................................12
Figure 7: Safety of digital technology from view point of company............................................13

INTRODUCTION
Overview
Digital technology is regarded as a program which is implementing and formulating
major changes which will be leading to simplify means of operating and working within market
and industry (Baller, Dutta and Lanvin, 2016). Impact of digital technology is very effective in
recent times upon all operating departments of company like that of marketing, financial, human
resources and operations. It becomes important for any company for their sustainability, growth
and development into market; if an organisation wants to remain for longer duration within
market then they should use and implement digital technology that helps the company to modify
their existing products or launch new products in markets making them profitable and
innovative. This is enabling them to increase or diversify their markets and product portfolios
having its impact on all activities of organisation like introduction of cloud technology used in
sharing and storing data (Mithas, Tafti and Mitchell, 2013).
Within this current business plan which is showcasing the impact of digital technology on
department of Thomas Cook & Sons limited which is the most reputed and innovative travel and
Tourism Company of UK.
Background of company
Thomas Cook with partnership of his son created a travel agency in the year 1872 and
named it as Thomas Cook & Sons limited, was having a shop selling different articles of travel,
and then ran a hotel over their office. Now the company is regarded to as best company in field
of travel and tourism and having limited liability status as well (Bharadwaj, and Venkatraman,
2013). Management is using digital technology with having its implementation in almost every
department including finance, operations, marketing and human resources.
AIM and OBJECTIVE
Aim:
“To analyse ways by which digital technology is transforming business activities of an
organisation: A study on Thomas Cook & Sons limited”
Objective:
 To identify ways of digital transformation of business activities of Thomas Cook & Sons
limited
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 To analyse barriers for implementation of digital technology within various activities of
Thomas Cook & Sons limited
 To recommend methods of transforming business activities with use of digital technology
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled Research Project 3 days Wed 6/6/18 Fri 6/8/18
Auto
Scheduled
Preparation phase of
ERP plan 9 days Mon 6/11/18 Thu 6/21/18
Auto
Scheduled
Choosing a theme or
subject 5 days Mon 6/11/18 Fri 6/15/18 1
Auto
Scheduled
Defining project scope
and objectives 2 days Mon 6/18/18 Tue 6/19/18 3
Auto
Scheduled
Select subject or
problematic in carrying
out installation
2 days Wed 6/20/18 Thu 6/21/18 4
Auto
Scheduled
Application step of
development 8 days Fri 6/22/18 Tue 7/3/18 5
Auto
Scheduled
Technical infrastructure
preparation 1 day Fri 6/22/18 Fri 6/22/18 5
Auto
Scheduled
Identifying development
environment 3 days Mon 6/25/18 Wed 6/27/18 7
Auto
Scheduled
Quality assurance
environment 2 days Fri 6/22/18 Mon 6/25/18
Auto
Scheduled Training environment 2 days Mon 6/25/18 Tue 6/26/18 7
Auto
Scheduled Business blueprint 3 days Wed 6/27/18 Fri 6/29/18 10
Auto
Scheduled
AS-IS business process
analysis 1 day Tue 6/26/18 Tue 6/26/18 9
Auto
Scheduled
Identifying end to end
current business process 1 day Thu 6/28/18 Thu 6/28/18 8
Auto
Scheduled
Identify process
integration point 3 days Fri 6/29/18 Tue 7/3/18 13
Auto
Scheduled
Concluding point of
ERP project 5 days Wed 6/27/18 Tue 7/3/18 12
Auto
Scheduled
Portrayal the valid
assumption 2 days Mon 7/2/18 Tue 7/3/18 11
Auto
Scheduled
Providing effective
endorsements 2 days Wed 6/27/18 Thu 6/28/18 12
Auto
Scheduled
Certification of 2 days Wed 6/27/18 Thu 6/28/18 10
2

assignment
Auto
Scheduled
Submission the ready
project 2 days Wed 6/27/18 Thu 6/28/18 12
3

CONDUCT RESEARCH
Research philosophy:
It is the idea and belief of how to conduct research and what all methods should be
applied with considering ethics and morals of project (Brynjolfsson and McAfee, 2012).
Research philosophy will be making difference between what is the correct and what is not
within this report as it is stating the ways of implementing digital technology and what are the
barriers to it. Interpretivism type of philosophy will be used within this as it is helping in linking
with social factor of topic and inculcating human’s views and ideas within.
Research approach
This is included to as set theoretical background of topic set in order to collect correct,
valid and reliable data then analysing or interpreting it all to make conclusion. As the current
research is based on introducing ways of which digital technology could be transforming
business activities of Thomas Cook & Sons limited (Mbogo, 2010). Therefore, it is important to
use qualitative form of research approach that will be having or using human as factor of
analysing results.
4

Data collection
The method of gathering, summarising and reporting of valid data or information related
to that particular topic will be called as data collection (Fitzgerald, Kruschwitz and Welch,
2014). This is regarded as the most important section or part of research that must be correct and
valid in all aspects of ethical consideration. Basically, there are two sources or methods of
collecting correct and relevant data such as primary and secondary and into this analysing
primary data would be used.
Sampling
It is taking out or extracting small number of sample from population so that valid
conclusion could be drawn (Matt, Hess and Benlian 2015). So for this current analysis of way to
digitally transform operation of company which is Thomas Cook & Sons limited for it 50
employees of company from various departments are taken.
Data Analysis
This is regarded as an important step of the entire research, which is including analysis of
data to be collected in above data collection part (Hanelt and Kolbe, 2015). It becomes important
to interpret data so that valid, relevant and useful information could be derived with the use of
various techniques like that of qualitative data analysis.
PRESENTING
Research Questionnaire
Demographic information
Name: ____________
Age: __________
Position: __________
Q1. As per your opinion is digital technology been implemented within Thomas Cook & Sons
Ltd?
 No
 Yes
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 Neutral
Q2. The digital technology useful for all operating functions of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Neutral
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Q3. In your opinion, what are the challenges that are faced by company while implementing
digital technology?
 Limited budget
 Organisational structure
 Lack of expertise
 Immense cost
Q4. For which department digital technology is impacting the most?
 Finance
 HR
 Marketing
 Operations
Q5. Does digitalisation help in product differentiation by competitors of Thomas Cook & Sons
Ltd in the market?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Neutral
6

 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Q6. Is digitalisation important for increasing customer base?
 No, as there are others who are providing the same products
 Increasing customer base and competition as well
 No idea
 Yes, by bring the whole world at same global platform
Q7. Is use of digital technology safe from company’s point of view?
 Data leakage is the biggest problem of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
 Safe to some extent
 No idea
 It is safe as the company is following all the safety and security measures.
Presentation
1. Implementation of digital technology within Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
Particular Respondents
No 20
Yes 20
Neutral 10
Total 50
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Figure 1: Implementation of digital technology within Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
2. Usefulness of digital technology for all operating functions of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
Particular Respondents
Strongly agree 14
Agree 7
Neutral 9
Disagree 10
Strongly disagree 10
Total 50
8

Figure 2: Usefulness of digital technology for all operating functions of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
3. Challenges faced by company while implementing digital technology
Particular Respondents
Limited Budget 10
Organsiational structure 15
Lack of expertise 15
Immense cost 10
Total 50
Figure 3: Challenges faced by company while implementing digital technology
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4. Digital technology impacting department of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
Particular Respondents
Finance 14
HR 15
Marketing 10
Operations 11
Total 50
Figure 4: Digital technology impacting department of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
5. Digitalisation helping Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd in product differentiation by competitors
within market
Particular Respondents
Strongly agree 16
Agree 11
Neutral 9
Disagree 6
Strongly disagree 8
Total 50
10

Figure 5: Digitalisation helping Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd in product differentiation by competitors within
market
6. Importance of digitalisation in increasing customer base
Particular Respondents
No, as there are others who are providing the
same products
10
Increasing customer base and the competition
as well
10
No idea 10
Yes, by bring the whole world at same global
platform
20
Total 50
11

Figure 6 . Importance of digitalisation in increasing customer base
7. Safety of digital technology from view point of company
Particular Respondents
Data leakage is the biggest problem of Thomas
Cook & Sons Ltd
15
Safe to some extent 12
No idea. 11
It is safe as the company is following all the
safety and security measures.
12
Total 50
12

Figure 7: Safety of digital technology from view point of company
FINDING and CONCLUSION
Theme 1: Implementation of digital technology within Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
Interpretation:
It is essential that use of digital technology is been implemented and its usefulness is
included within company like that of Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd so that they are been able to
make profits out of this implementation (Howard, 2010). The company if they are able to
implement technological advancement within their various departments which will be helpful for
them in acquiring customers and profit maximisation as well. So 50 employees of Thomas Cook
and Sons Ltd were interviewed about whether their company is been implementing digital
technology with their use or operations or not. So 20 of respondents said that yes Thomas Cook
and Sons Ltd is implementing technology due to which company is earning higher number of
profits.
While 20 of them also said no for this question stating that firm is not using digital
technology and then Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd should be implementing digital technology so
that they are having higher number of customers with earning profits as well. While 10 of them
who were new to organisation and they are not having clear idea for whether company is using
digital technology or not.
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Theme 2: Usefulness of digital technology for all operating functions of Thomas Cook & Sons
Ltd
Interpretation:
Then after this respondents were asked that if this digital technology has been helpful for
company or not. 14 out of 50 said that they completely agree with the point that digital
technology is useful for all operating function of Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd (Kane and
Buckley, 2015). 7 of them said that they agree with the statement but only to specified extent
only which means that they included that organisation must be making their efforts in using
digital technology in operating functions. While 9 of them were neutral about this statement and
they did not included very much for it that whether company is using and implementing or not. 9
of them said that they did not agree with this point that whether Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd are
using digital technology and 10 of them also completely disagree with the point.
Theme 3: Challenges faced by company while implementing digital technology
Interpretation:
There are many challenges that are been faced by Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd while they
will be implementing digital technology within their company and management must be utilizing
their capabilities and strength in meeting out these challenges (Liang, You and Liu, 2010).
Challenges at time of implementation of digital technology will be including like that of
increased in cost and decreased in capability of workers. So for this purpose 50 employees or
respondents included that what are the challenges which are company face at time of
implementation of digital technology. 10 of the employees said that one of the most important
challenge for Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd is their limited budget which is not helping them to
grow and develop within market. 15 of them said that organisational structure is the reason or
challenge which company is facing and regarded to as barriers to implementation of digital
technology. While 15 of them said Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd is having lack of expertise
knowledge which is regarded to as challenge for them. Then 10 of them included that if company
is ready to implement digital technology then they could be occurring huge cost which could be
barrier for them
Theme 4: Digital technology impacting department of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd
Interpretation:
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All departments of company must be implementing digital technology so that growth of
whole firm is equally divided and there is contribution of almost all section of company (Terzi,
2011). So they were asked the question regarding that which department of company is been
using digital technology so about 14 of them included that finance department of Thomas Cook
& Sons Ltd is using digital technology, 15 of them said that HR department is using it, 10 of
them said that marketing department is using it in form of social media and mobile marketing
tools and then 11 of them said that operations department is using it in form of cloud technology,
by artificial intelligence and Internet of Things as well.
Theme 5: Digitalisation helping Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd in product differentiation by
competitors
Interpretation:
Then they were asked that whether technology is helpful in product differentiation by
their competitors of firm (Westerman, Bonnet and McAfee, 2014). So for this about 16 of them
said that yes it is helping them and they were completely agreeing with this point. While 11 were
of them said that they only agree with it and not completely agreeing 9 respondents said that they
were having not specified idea about it so they were all neutral for it. Then 6 of them were
disagreeing the statement and 8 of them were strongly disagreeing with it. So it was found that
most of the respondents included digital technology is helping Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd in
product differentiation by competitors like that of TUI and other travel and tourist operator.
Theme 6: Importance of digitalisation in increasing customer base
Interpretation:
Most commonly digital technology is helpful for increasing base of their customers
which is in tern helping Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd in improving profits of firm. So within this
context 10 of the respondents included that there are many companies who are providing same
quality of products without their use of digital technology so it would not be required to
implement it. While 10 of them said that digital technology is increasing their base of customer
with increase in level of competition as well. 10 of them were having no specified idea about it
while 20 of them said that whole world will be there on same global platform.
Theme 7: Safety of digital technology from view point of company
Interpretation:
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Apart from the above said challenges there are ways of securing data privacy of Thomas
Cook & Sons Ltd which is regarded to as safety of digital technology from view point of
company. They were asked what the limitation of technology is so 15 of them included that data
leakage is one of the biggest problem of Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd. 12 of them said that
technology is safe to some extent only while 11 of them were having no specified idea about
limitation of it. Whereas 12 of them said that if company is implementing safety and security
measures then data of company will also be secured.
CONCLUSION
It is analysied by the above mentioned impact of digital technology that Thomas Cook &
Sons Ltd is using most of the digital technologies which is making them to increase profits of
firm. However, there are some recommendations which are made for company so that they could
be gaining more with implementation of digital technologies:
 Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd should be increasing their use of digital technologies in areas
like introducing artificial intelligence, big data analytics and cloud computing.
 Safety measures should be implemented before use of digital technological tools which
will be avoiding threat to data and information of company.
PREFORMANCE REVIEW
What was the project supposed to accomplish? Aim:
“To analysis ways in which digital
technology is transforming business activities
of organisation: A study on Thomas Cook &
Sons limited”
Did the project succeed in its aims?
Specifically, please outline any evaluation and
assessment undertaken.
Yes, the project succeeded in its aim
There was many data analysis technique used
like that of thematic which was helping in
analysing data in simple and meaningful term.
What things do you think worked well and
why?
The choice of data analysis technique and that
of data collection worked well.
What problems emerged during the project and
how were they tackled?
There was lack of respondent and many data
collected was not correct choice.
What did you learn from undertaking the Impact of digital technology, barriers to
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project? implementation and how departments of
company could be using technology.
How would you rate your performance as
project manager?
I would give my performance rating as 3.5
from the scale of 1-5.
What strengths and weaknesses of your
performance did you identify?
Strength- managing whole work on time and
data analysing.
Weakness- use of corrective data and analysing
the sampling
How will this inform and support your
continuous professional development?
This will be helping me in my continuous
professional development as could be used to
support as I could be easily managing my work
on time. Then analysing of data will be
supporting me to find out clear understanding
of aims.
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REFERNCES
Books and Journals:
Baller, S., Dutta, S. and Lanvin, B., 2016. Global information technology report 2016. Geneva:
Ouranos.
Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O., Pavlou, P. and Venkatraman, N., 2013. Digital business strategy:
toward a next generation of insights.
Brynjolfsson, E. and McAfee, A., 2012. Race against the machine: How the digital revolution is
accelerating innovation, driving productivity, and irreversibly transforming employment
and the economy. Brynjolfsson and McAfee.
Fitzgerald, M., Kruschwitz, N., Bonnet, D. and Welch, M., 2014. Embracing digital technology:
A new strategic imperative. MIT sloan management review, 55(2), p.1.
Hanelt, A., Piccinini, E., Gregory, R.W., Hildebrandt, B. and Kolbe, L.M., 2015, March. Digital
Transformation of Primarily Physical Industries-Exploring the Impact of Digital Trends
on Business Models of Automobile Manufacturers. In Wirtschaftsinformatik (pp. 1313-
1327).
Howard, P.N., 2010. The digital origins of dictatorship and democracy: Information technology
and political Islam. Oxford University Press.
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, pp.1-25.
Liang, T.P., You, J.J. and Liu, C.C., 2010. A resource-based perspective on information
technology and firm performance: a meta analysis. Industrial Management & Data
Systems, 110(8), pp.1138-1158.
Matt, C., Hess, T. and Benlian, A., 2015. Digital transformation strategies. Business &
Information Systems Engineering, 57(5), pp.339-343.
Mbogo, M., 2010. The impact of mobile payments on the success and growth of micro-business:
The case of M-Pesa in Kenya. Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in
Africa, 2(1), pp.182-203.
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Mithas, S., Tafti, A. and Mitchell, W., 2013. How a Firm's Competitive Environment and Digital
Strategic Posture Influence Digital Business Strategy. Mis Quarterly, 37(2).
Terzi, N., 2011. The impact of e-commerce on international trade and employment. Procedia-
Social and Behavioral Sciences, 24, pp.745-753.
Westerman, G., Bonnet, D. and McAfee, A., 2014. Leading digital: Turning technology into
business transformation. Harvard Business Press.
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APPENDIX
PROJECT LOGBOOK
Name:
Project title: “How digital technology has transformed
business activities e.g. operations, marketing,
accounting, HR in Thomas Cook & Sons
limited.”
Date: 13-07-2018
Any risks and/or issues identified? Risk of privacy of data and that of leakage
Problems encountered Wrong method of sampling, data collection
was not correct and lack of use of respondents
New ideas and change of project direction Sampling must be corrected and information
gathered need to be stored in secure area for
avoiding ethical issues.
What have I learnt about myself this week? I feel that the task which I underlined for my
self which is data collection could be
accomplished
Tasks planned for next week Interpretation of data collected
Project plan status to date (on, ahead, behind) As per planned status I was supposed to do
data collection which I’m doing at present I’m
collecting data only.
Supervisor comments to address Yes I addressed all comments of supervisor.
20