The impact of digital supporting small business growth and innovation

Managing Successful
Business Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Project aims and objectives...............................................................................................3
P2 Project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication,
risk, and resources..................................................................................................................5
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart ...................................................................6
..........................................................................................................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate for meeting project aims and
objectives................................................................................................................................8
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................11
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques................................11
P6 Recommendations and conclusions................................................................................17
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................18
P7 Reflection........................................................................................................................18
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................19

TOPIC: “The impact of digital supporting small business growth and innovation.”
INTRODUCTION
In modern era, digital technology has changed entire process of the operating business
activities. It also provide opportunities in which company can easily enhance their productivity
level. With the advancement of technology, each and every activity and aspects of the company
becomes easy and smoother as well. In this context, cloud technology is also playing a vital role
in business organization because it help in storing as well as sharing information in systematic
manner (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). Current report is based on Continental Consulting Ltd,
which offer business solution to another companies for improving entire operational activities in
appropriate manner. Report also covers aims and objectives of the project which aid in
improving the chances of attaining positive outcomes. Project management plan is also
mentioned in this project. In addition of this, work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart is
discussed which provide time frame of entire activities. At the last, qualitative and quantitative
research methods are also includes through which researcher easily gather relevant data.
TASK 1
P1 Project aims and objectives
Every business organization wants to enhance their productivity level at market level. For
this company needs to use digital technology within their operational activities as it provides
various opportunities through which business organization improve their overall performance
level. In this context, digital technology is considered as a process of making as well implement
entire activities of company appropriately . For attaining set goals and objectives, new and

innovative technology help in making communication and sharing information process effective.
This will help in attaining the positive outcomes. Under this concept , Cloud computing is one of
the important and innovative way to sharing and storing relevant data and information. With the
help of this, company can easily establish their positive brand image and at the same time also
capture market attention (Jeston, 2014). In context of Continental Consulting Ltd, company
provide business related solution to another companies in order to enhance their productivity
level at market place. By using Cloud technology, company can easily store and share huge
amount of data with entire department. This will help in managing entire activities of the
company.
Background of research:
Cloud computing refers to a method for delivering information technology services
through web based tools and application with the purpose of directly connecting to the server.
With the use of this, company can easily manage their entire activities for attaining desirable
results. In this context, Continental Consulting Ltd is a business consultancy which provide
services to another companies for improving their overall performance level. Mainly, company
operate their business at small scale with the aim of achieving higher success at market place.
For attaining the same, company needs to upgrade their application and system to maximize the
capabilities. In addition of this, concept of cloud computing can increase their efficiency level
through which company can easily improve their performance level (Keller, Parameswaran and
Jacob, 2011). By using this, company can easily share large number of data by using internet
internet. It may contribute in keeping data secure.
Research aim:
The main aim of this research is “To evaluate the effectiveness of cloud technology in
upgrading business activities. A case study on Continental Consulting Ltd.”
Research objectives:
 To determine the concept of cloud technology.
 To evaluate the importance of cloud technology in Continental Consulting Ltd while
improving their business activities.
 To define the challenges faced by Continental Consulting Ltd while implementing cloud
technology.
Research Questions:

 What is concept of cloud technology?
 What is importance of cloud technology in Continental Consulting Ltd. while improving
their business activities?
 What are challenges that are faced by Continental Consulting Ltd while implementing
cloud technology?
P2 Project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication,
risk, and resources.
Project management plan is necessary for doing things in better manner. Project
management plan refers to a formal document that is used while implementation of project. The
project management plan is helpful in execution, monitored and also controlled the project in
significant manner. There are different aspects related to project management plan mention
below:
Scope- It can be defined as a specific goal of the project in detailed manner for attaining
set objectives. Under this, scope of this project is wider and to collect accurate information, firm
uses different tools and sources such as primary and secondary (Doherty, Ashurst, and Peppard,
2012). Under this, manager arrange on the activities in systematic manner and so that they can
conduct their business activities at large scale.
Time- It is a necessary aspect in project plan. In this top management should arrange as
time on the basis of allotted activities. With the help of this research can easily perform activities
within the appropriate time frame. By using the digital technology in business, Continental
Consulting Ltd. can perform its activities in significant manner. It will helpful in develop
positive impact on project management plan. Along with this, researcher also set their activities
as per specific time frame with the aim of reducing the chances of arising any kind of issues
within the project.
Cost- It is an essential factor and without money, company can not perform any single
activity or task. It is estimation of money that will be needed to finish project. In order to make a
project, cost is related to resources, materials, labor charges etc. So, it is the responsibility of
manager of Continental Consulting Ltd to arrange the costs or money for completing project in
systematic manner. For doing things in proper manner, there is requirement of accurate cost
management.

Communication- It is an important aspect because under this communication is required
at every level or stage. If communication will not be better then all employees will not work on
project in a proper manner and conflict will also arise. It is a responsibility of manager of
Continental Consulting Ltd to make better coordination and communication among all
employees so that they can work on project management plan and perform all activities in
effective way. It will help to enhance their motivational level to work and focus completing
project within mention time period.
Risk – It is considered as a necessary step in the business management plan because risk
is uncertain in nature. Thus, project manager of Continental Consulting Ltd have to take several
steps so that they can overcome from the risk and obstacles in the future.
Resources – In this step it is important to allocate resources in proper manner as per the
requirement of each and every department. So that, they can do their work by maintaining
quality of products as well as services.
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure - It is the project management structure that assist in dividing
team work into different manageable sections. Main work of WBS (work breakdown structure) is
to divide work in small parts so that there will be no burden on individual for completing their
project. Most important is that through WBS things will be easily manageable and task get
completed on time in proper manner (Turner and Zolin, 2012). When Continental consultancy
limited will implement work break down structure in their working then they will be able to
manage work in better manner without any burden on individual person. Apart from this, with
the assistance of WBS project can be completed on specified time as well result in generating
more and more revenue.
Gantt Chart- It is type of bar chart which shows schedule related to the project as well as
on the vertical axis of the chart task to be performed are listed. Whereas, on the horizontal axis
time intervals are given. Moreover, width of horizontal bars in Gantt chart illustrate the duration
of each and every activity. Along with this, it help in completing work on time within specified
time period. Gantt chart is an project management tool which will assist Continental consultancy
limited in allocating job to employees with their starting and finishing time. With the assistance
of respective project management Tool Company can do their work in effective manner and
completed on specified time period.

TASK 2
P4 Qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate for meeting project aims and
objectives.
Research is divided into different types for the sake of its better understanding of the
overall concept (Lin and Chen, 2012). Various bases can be adopted for dividing it. These are
nature of data, branch of knowledge, place of investigation, extent of coverage, time frame and
several others. Below mention are basic types of research which is involved in this project.
Descriptions are as follows:-
Quantitative Research – It is a research which is based on numeric figures and several
other numbers. Main aim of quantitative research is to measure the amount or quantity and then
compare it with the past result for trying to project future periods (Basu and Wright, 2012). The
researcher analyse data and information with the help of statistics and hope that number will be
yield an unbiased result that can be generalized to some large population. Apart from this,
quantitative methods can be used for verifying which hypotheses are true.

Qualitative Research – This is a form of research which is conducted for gathering non-
numerical data. Qualitative research mainly refers to the concepts definitions, meaning,
metaphors, symbols, descriptions and so on. In this research, qualitative method is using by the
researcher for conducting overall process. Apart from this, below mention are two data collecting
method these are as follows :-
 Primary method – This is the method through which researcher gather first hand data
which was never utilised nor published in books, journal and so on (Dutta and Bose,
2015). For Continental consultancy limited, primary method of data collecting is best
because through this they can directly contact with peoples and know about their views.
There are various type of primary methods but in this research Questionnaire is used for
overall project. Through primary method will research get new data or information in
their hand. There are several source of collecting respective data such as survey,
questionnaire, observation, experiments and many more.
 Secondary Method – It is mainly second hand or already published data and can be
historical information of the company. In this type of research, there is required of
gathering and collecting fresh data and information from the respondents. Thus,
secondary method is not needed. There are various sources of collecting secondary data
such as books, magazines, news paper, trade journals and so on.
Sampling – It is the process through which researcher choose or select representative subset
or part of the total population. That could be studied for the topic of research and in the end will
be able to draw conclusion of the research (Muller, 2017). Moreover, there are 30 no. of
respondent’s chosen for collecting or gathering information.
Questionnaire
Name :
Age :
Q1: Does cloud technology help Continental Consulting limited in upgrading their
operation capacity?
 Yes
 No
 Can’t say
Q2: Does adoption of cloud technology aid Continental consulting limited to attain

competitive advantage in market?
 Yes
 No
Q3: Does Continental Consulting limited have sufficient amount of resources to implement
this technology successfully?
 Yes
 No
Q4: What are the main resources required for implementing cloud technology within the
Continental consulting Limited?
 Financial
 Technological
 Human Resource
Q5: Does adoption of technology aids Continental consulting Limited in expanding their
business?
 Agree
 Disagree
 Can’t Say
Q6: What will be the main advantage for organisation after implementation of Cloud
technology?
 More Storage
 Easy sharing of information
 Attracting number of clients
Q7: Does implementation of this technology aid in improvement of profitability of
organisation?
 Yes
 No
Q8: What are the major challenges faced by the organisation while implementing cloud
technology?
 Employees resistance
 Lack of fund
 Lack of technological knowledge

Q9: Does more number of clients contracted with Continental consulting limited after
implementing cloud technology?
 Yes
 No
Q10: Is there any suggestion for Continental Consultancy limited related to cloud
technology?
TASK 3
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Theme 1: Cloud technology help Continental Consulting limited to upgrading their operation
capacity
 Yes 15
 No 10
 Can’t Say 5
Interpretation: As per the above mention graphical representation it has been analysed that, out
of 30 respondents 15 people are saying that yes cloud technology is assisting Continental
Consultancy limited in upgrading their operation capacity. Whereas, out of remaining 15, 10 are
in the favour of n that it is not upgrading their operation capacity as well as 5 don’t have any
knowledge about it. Hence, Cloud computing technology helping respective organisation in
upgrading their operation capacity.

Theme 2: Adoption of cloud technology aid Continental consulting limited to attain
competitive advantage in market
 Yes 10
 No 20
Interpretation: According to the above mention graph it hs been identified that out of
30respondents 10 are saying yes that cloud computing is providing competitive advantages to the
business (Cleden, 2017). Whereas, remaining 20 are in the favour of no that such technology
don’t provide competitive advantages to the business. Because major work of the same
technology is in storing data and information of the business activities.
Theme 3: Continental Consulting limited have sufficient amount of resources to implement
this technology successfully
 Yes 15
 No 15
Interpretation: For implementing cloud computing technology there is requirement of
resources. Thus, from the above graphical presentation it has been analysed that out of 30

respondents, 15 are saying yes that respective Continental consultancy limited have resources for
implementing the same technology. Whereas, remaining 15 are saying no they don’t have.
Theme 4: Main resources required for implementing cloud technology within the Continental
consulting Limited Financial 15 Technological 10
 Human Resource 5
Interpretation: As per the above graphical and tabular presentation it has been identified that
out of 30 respondents 15 are saying that there is requirement of financial resources for
implementing cloud computing technology in Continental Consulting Limited (Kowalkowski,
Kindström and Brehmer, 2011). Whereas, out of remaining 15, 10 states that technological
requirement is there and rest of the 5 are in favour of Human resource. Thus, much requirement
is of financial resources so that cloud computing technology implemented in better manner.
Theme 5: Adoption of technology aids Continental consulting Limited in expanding their
business
 Agree 20
 Disagree 5
 Can’t say 5

Interpretation: Cloud technology help Continental consultancy limited in expanding their
business because through this they can store their information and data which help them in doing
future project in appropriate manner. In this out of 30 respondents, 20 are agree that yes I help
respective organisation in expanding their business. Whereas remaining 10 are not agree with
and some people don’t have any knowledge so they can’t say about it.
Theme 6: Main advantage got by the organisation through implementation of Cloud
technology More storage 18 Easy sharing of information 7 Attracting number of clients 5
Interpretation: There are several advantages which is gained by the company after implement
cloud computing technology (Crane and Matten, 2016).One of them major is more storage and
out of 30 respondents, 18 are in the favour of this. But 7 respondents are saying that through the
existing technology they can share information or data easily as well as 5 states that through

cloud computing technology it will be easy for attracting large number of clients. Hence, major
advantage of the same technology is in more data storage.
Theme 7: Implementation of this technology aid in improvement of profitability of
organisation
 Yes 20
 No 10
0
5
10
15
20
Yes
No
Interpretation: From the above graphical as well as tabular presentation it has been identified
that, implementation of cloud technology aids in improving profitability of Continental
Consultancy limited. Out of 30 respondents, 20 are in the favour of yes that it helps in improving
profitability of business. Whereas, remaining 10 are saying no it don’t improve profitability of
business firm.
Theme 8: Major challenges faced by the organisation while implementing cloud technology
 Employees resistance 9
 Lack of fund 11
 Lack of technological knowledge 10

Interpretation: There are several problems which are faced by the Continental consultancy
limited when they implementing cloud technology in their daily operations work. Major issue is
lack of fund because small scale organisation doesn’t have many resources for applying such
advance technologies as well out of 30 respondents 11 are in the favour of this (Duffield and
Whitty, 2015). Whereas several other issues are also their employee’s resistance because no one
want to change their working style in which they are doing work same situation will be face by
the employees of Continental Consulting limited 9 respondents are saying this. Remaining 10
states that lack of technological knowledge is also an problem which is faced by the respective
organisation.
Theme 9: More number of clients contracted with Continental consulting limited after
implementing cloud technology
 Yes 10 No 20

Interpretation: From the above shown graphical presentation it has been analysed that, with the
implementation of cloud computing technology Continental Consulting limited has no more
number of client contract. Because out of 30 respondents, only 10 are in the favour of this that
with the implementation of respective technology number of client are increasing. Whereas, 20
are saying that no contracts are not enhancing in numbers they are same. Because through cloud
computing technology organisation can upgrade their activities such as data storage and so on.
P6 Recommendations and conclusions
Recommendation – After conducting the research, it has been recommended that
researcher of this project come to a point that if Continental Consulting Limited implements
Cloud Computing in their business activities then things can be managed effectively such as data
storing, recalling past information if required and so on. With the assistance of such advance
technology, manager of Continental Consulting Limited will be able to manage things in better
manner in future (Morris and Geraldi, 2011). in order to implementing cloud technology in
Continental Consultancy limited, management requires to manage appropriate funds for proper
installation of its software. It is also required for organisation to provide training and learning to
their employees for the efficient use of cloud computing at workplace. Upcoming projects
required past data and information of the company which can be only possible when historical
data is saved and it can be possible with the help of cloud technology only. Thus, the same
advance technology is necessary to be applied in the working of small medium enterprises.
Conclusion – From the above assignment it has been concluded that, that cloud computing
technology is important for every kind of business because it assist organisations in storing their
data and various other information that is historical. Past data is important as well as necessary
and can be required in future for managing various upcoming projects in better manner. After
going through the above questionnaire and answer of different respondents, it has been identified
that cloud computing is the best technology which play important role in storing information as
well as data in every type of business same as in the Continental Consulting Limited.

TASK 4
P7 Reflection
Above conducted research involve qualitative research which include primary method of
conducting research. Because questionnaire is the best way through which Continental
Consulting Limited can ask their customers and several other peoples about Cloud computing
technology as well take their suggestions also. But while implementing this technology in the
respective organisation, several problems is faced by the manager such as cost and resources, it
is time consuming also, most important is that to work on Cloud technology there is requirement
of providing training to their workforce. Because Cloud technology requires huge cost as well as
time for implementing it in the company.

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