Research Methodologies and Theories

The provided document discusses various research methodologies and theories applied in management studies. It includes references to articles and books on topics such as paradigm development in Chinese management research, place in research methodology, applying critical realism in qualitative research, digital technology and marketing management capability, and more. The document aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of research methodologies and theories relevant to management studies.

RESEARCH PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESEARCH TOPIC- The effect of digital technology on Small medium enterprise ...................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
PROPOSAL FOR RESEARCH .....................................................................................................1
Introduction ...........................................................................................................................1
Research aims and Objectives ...............................................................................................2
Literature Review...................................................................................................................2
Activities and Timescales.......................................................................................................6
Research methodology...........................................................................................................8
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................9
Primary and secondary research methodology.......................................................................9
Data analysis ........................................................................................................................12
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................15
Research outcomes in appropriate manner ........................................................................15
TASK 6..........................................................................................................................................25
Effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of business research project.
..............................................................................................................................................25
Alternative research methods and lessons learnt in the view of outcomes.........................26
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................27

RESEARCH TOPIC- The Implication of Digital technology On
Softwire Solutions Ltd, UK.
TASK 1
PROPOSAL FOR RESEARCH
Introduction
SMEs are considered as those business enterprises that usually regulate their business
operations at domestic and national level with an aim to maximize the profitability. In the UK,
these small and medium sized enterprises have achieved a wide growth as they focused towards
continuous innovation. Small and medium sized enterprise that has embraced digital technology
has shown faster growth than companies that have not according to new research. Application of
new and unique technologies in business have made it easier for companies to perform their
functions in an appropriate manner. There are important functions that have been performed by
owners and entrepreneurs of small and medium sized enterprises such as production, marketing,
finance, administration, distribution and storage. Digital technologies have made it easier for
these enterprises to perform these functions within specific duration and also, to reduce their cost
The various development have taken place In context of engineering. It is crucial to ensure that
they should utilize technology in order to provide high quality services to customers.
There are various digital technologies such as cloud computing, connectivity, DBMS,
social media, E- commerce and other important software that have been used by SMEs to
improve their functions. Implementation of these technologies has increased various
opportunities for business to attract customers and attain high growth in market. Further, main
objective of organisation is to increase profitability and the set goals can be easily achieved by
facilitating innovation and improving business functions by using digital technologies. Current
investigation is based on analysing important of digital technology in context of supporting
small business enterprise in facilitating innovation and fostering growth. . At organisation have
to face different problems. Employment of digital technology have optimistic and destructive
impacts on business. The sofwire organisation has been selected for the present study. Company
operates business in IT sector as well as firm offers bespoke software service, digital design
solutions and consultancy service to some top leading UK brands. Company’s aim is to build the
best possible environment to produce outstanding software. Softwire analyses the requirement
1

of their clients and resolves their issues for creating brand recognition in market. However, there
are some challenges which are faced by company due to which revenue and growth of firm gets
negatively affected.
Research aims and Objectives
Research aim
“To analyse the implication of digital technology on functions of small medium
enterprise- A survey on Softwire Solutions Ltd, UK.”
Research Objectives
 To understand the conception of digital technology in accordance with SMEs
 To analyse significance of digital technology in context of regulating small business
enterprise
 To analyse the application of digital technology in functions of Softwire
 To ascertain implications of digital technology on functions at Softwire To recommend and suggest strategies for improving application of digital technologies
for operations management at Softwire
Research Rationale
Rationale behind carrying out this research project is to achieve knowledge and
experience of different functions performed by small medium enterprise for regulation of
business. This topic for investigation is selected to gather detail facts about various form of
digital technologies used by companies for improvement of functions and business operations.
Research Questions
 What is the conception of digital technology in accordance with SMEs?
 What is significance of digital technology for regulating SMEs?
 How digital technologies are applied in functions at Softwire?
 What are the implications of digital technology on functions of Softwire?
Literature Review
Concept of digital technology in accordance with SMEs
According to Tang and et.al, (2017), digital technologies are various applications and
software which are developed and used for performing business activities and function by
2

companies. Application of these technologies has improved the efficiency and enabled
entrepreneur to establish business operations and focus on innovating products and services. In
the UK, 99% of private sector companies are SMEs and they have achieved almost 49% of
growth in revenues. This has become possible for them after application of these technologies in
enterprise. The different business functions which are carried out for management of business
along with maximizing profitability.
Foroudi and et.al, (2017) describes that digital technologies is mainly applied by SMEs to
perform marketing function as it provides support in getting customer’s attention for products
and services. Different communication channels such as social media, internet and direct mails
are technologies which are used by companies for marketing of products among target
customers. Further, SMEs are also known in market as continuously innovating enterprises as
they provide focus on making changes in products and service for attracting customers.
Implementation of digital technology has made it possible for them to carry out innovation and
transform products at low risk.
Importance of digital technology for regulating small business enterprise.
According to Krishnan and Ravindran, (2017), efficiency of SMEs of enterprises in all
industries have increased after application of digital technologies. It has enable the company to
improve their processes and apply new method to perform functions. In IT sector, companies
have attained major support from these technologies in creating new software and provide
consultancy to their clients. Various technical application and systems are formulated by
companies to facilitate reliable and quality services to their clients. Clients of IT sector
enterprises are leading organisation which requires professional systems and software for
carrying business activities. This technology has made it possible for software development
companies to exceeding requirement of clients.
According to Quinton and et.al, 2017), digital technology also plays an important role in
increasing work efficiency of employees at workplace. This technology has enabled them to
attain skills and competencies required to performance different functions at workplace. Further,
digital technologies like Social media, digital advertisements and internet have facilitated
organisation to improve its functions and adopt new ideas for developing products and services.
Through this, organisation has become able to provide information and attract clients towards
3

new services. In UK, SMEs have achieved high growth in revenues and profitability after
application of new technologies in business, according to research. However, it can be said that
digital technology have major importance among small business enterprise.
Application of digital technologies in functions of Softwire.
As per view of Jin and Hurd, 2018), for marketing of products and service among
customer company usually focus on using different types of technologies through which they
can attract their target customers. Social media application and internet is used by company for
communicating with their clients in different countries. Wide presence of people on social
media have improved promotion of business in market. In IT sector, cloud computing
technology is utilized by companies to store and secure data of their clients. They also provide
cloud computing software for their clients for protecting their data from any kinds of damages
and maintaining security.
In order to meet requirement of clients, SMEs continuous make innovation in service by
making conducting research on internet and using other technologies.
According to Bouwman and et.al, (2018), companies provide focus on hiring qualified employee
which have experience of using these technologies and provide support in performing functions
appropriately. Qualified professional helps in adopting new technologies and also resolve
problems that occurs in management of operations. On contrary to this Tang and et.al, (2017),
stated that SMEs are less efficient in implementation and using digital technologies because they
have less number of efficient employees and does not have potential to pay high salaries to
experts. They usually perform their functions by using traditional methods.
Implications of digital technology on functions at Softwire
According to Foroudi and et.al, (2017), Sources internet and media channels have
provide positive impact on business of organisation by generating various opportunities to attract
new and retaining previous customers. Gathering information about customers through digital
technologies have also enabled to organisation to develop new and transform their existing
products and service. This aids the organisation in attaining customers loyalty and recognition in
market. these new technologies have enabled the HR manager to transform recruitment and helps
in hiring qualified employees at workplace. SME always aims to earn high profitability in
market by increasing sale of products and service and reducing operating. By implementing this
technology, requirement of employees in organisation have been decreased which has reduced
4

labour cost of organisation in market. By using these technologies, IT sector enterprises has
achieved major support in generating new idea and concept for improvement in their software
and quality of services. Improvement in products and service have increase their number of
clients in overseas nations.
In contrast Krishnan and Ravindran, (2017), technology have increased profitability of
SME undoubtedly but also raised some issues like high maintenance cost, resistance of
employees, requirement of expertise and competition. These issues will tend to create negative
influence on company's growth and profitability in market. Implementation of new technology in
enterprise such as Social media has reduced requirement of marketers for company and
increased conflicts with employees. However, these kinds of issues needs to resolved by
management by taking effective measures and should implement digital technologies in their
business.
5

Activities and Timescales
Activities Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8
Choice of
topic for
investigat
ion
Establish
ment of
of aim
and
objectives
Literatur
e review
Collectio
n of
Informati
on
Analysis
of
informati
oon
Drawing
conclusio
n
Changes
in
research
report on
the basis
of
suggestio
6

ns
Final
submissio
n of the
research
report
7

Research methodology
For executing investigation, it is essential for researcher to utilize appropriate and
relevant research method which helps in collecting of data and achievement of objectives,
Research methodologies are analysed as qualitative and quantitative tools as well techniques
which are applied researchers for carry out study and achievement of relevant outcomes. Below
given are important research methods and approach that will be used by scholar in this research
such as:
Research Philosophy
This usually implies to the belief on the ways utilized by scholar for collection,
measurement and analysis for achievement of relevant outcomes (Robson and McCartan, 2016).
There are four types of research philosophy such as Pragmatism, positivism, interpretivism and
realism etc. Interpretivism philosophy will be used by scholar in this research project to analyse
of implication of digital technology on business operations. It is based on naturalistic approach
of data collection by using interview and observation.
Research Design
It is considered as overall strategy which researcher will select for integration of various
element of survey in coherent manner. It is used to ensure that research problems will be
addressed by appropriately (Silverman, 2016). There are various kinds of research design such as
descriptive and conclusive research design. In this project, research will use descriptive design
which cane be explained as a statement of affairs because they are at present with scholar having
no control over variable. It helps the scholar in addressing research problem appropriately.
Research Approach
It has been considered as plan or procedure which involves various important steps of
broad assumptions to the elaborate know-how of information accumulation, logical thinking and
representation. There are three kinds of research approach such as inductive, deductive and
abductive research approach (Ledford and Gast, 2018). For completion of this project,
investigator will utilize inductive research approach which start with the observation and
theories which are proposed towards the end of research process as the outcomes of observation.
This research approach is appropriate as it does involved hypothesis and it helps in testing
assumptions.
Research strategy
8

A strategy of research is analysed as step by step action plan which provides direction to
the assumption and efforts of scholar(Humphries, 2017). The two kinds of research type such as
Quantitative and Qualitative research strategy. In this project, Scholar will utilize both research
plan of action because it helps in collection, measurement and analysis of both primary and
secondary data in appropriate manner.
Sampling
It is analysed as process which used in applied mathematics in which few people are
selected as a participants in research (Boyd, 2017). Sampling has been classified in two
categories which involve various techniques such as probabilistic and Non probabilistic. In this,
Simple random sampling will be used by research for taking sample size from target population
such as employees of Softwire. In this method, each member in population gets a chance for
being a part of sampling. 30 employee of Softwire from different departments will be selected as
sample size.
Data collection
It implies to methods used for gathering data from different sources in order to
accomplish the project and achievement of relevant outcomes. Usually there are two method
for data collection such as primary and secondary (Fletcher, 2017). In this, scholar will utilize
both the methods because it helps in making research more reliable and getting relevant
outcomes.
Data analysis
This implies to the process which is used by scholar for transformation of gathering data
in to useful information which clearly determines the outcomes of research. The 2
methodology which can be utilised for analysing the information such as qualitative and
quantitative methods of data collection (Bilau, Witt nd Lill, 2018). In this research, Scholar will
utilize thematic analysis method for analysis of data using relevant charts and diagram. It is
used because graphical representation of data will help scholar in determination of research
outcomes to users in appropriate manner.
TASK 2
Primary and secondary research methodology
9

Research design
In the proposed study there has been selection of adequate research types. Researchers
has approached towards selecting investigating research design which insists over antialiasing
the issues in the market and present their fruitful ideas and thought to reduce the impacts of such
obstacles. Techniques are make for addressing the issues as well as suggesting the suitable ways
for reducing their impacts over operational activities (Ledford and Gast, 2018). Moreover,
ascertainment of such issues will be helpful to the professionals as per determining market needs
and making effective changes accordingly.
Research approach
It consists of influences from two kinds of research approaches such as indicative and
deductive. Here, scholars has selected indicative research technique which will be effective and
attainable to professionals as per meeting needs in market. It suits their qualitative investigation
over the impacts of digitalisation in small businesses (Boyd, 2017). Consisting the framework of
this research study is based on generalizing the theoretical influences in performing the research
study. Moreover, it will be assistive methods in consideration with addressing issues as well as
making effective analysis over the market. Theories will be based on bringing the adequate
solutions to the research issues.
Research philosophy
Consideration of two philosophies which will be adequate addressing for the business
performance as well as appropriate management of the operations. It includes interpretvitism
research philosophies and positivism. Thus, on which researchers have selected Interpretvitism
research philosophy which will be adequate as well as suitable for effective management of
operations (Bilau, Witt and Lill, 2018). Moreover, considering this research technique which will
be helpful in addressing positive and negative impacts of digitalisation over entity. Assessment
of appropriate information will have positive influences over business activities as well as
management of operational activities in terms of addressing requirements in prominent way.
Sampling
Implication of a sampling technique will address and helps in determining the adequate
survey requirement in the operations. Therefore, there has been selection of simple random
10

technique for addressing the appropriate research techniques in the market (Guest and et.al.,
2017). In considerations with such an operational framework there has been selection of 30
employees which were selected randomly. Moreover, there have been asked through the changes
incurred in the business operations with the influences of digitalisation in work.
Data collection
It consists of various techniques of collecting information as well as analysing them to
have fruitful solution to research issues. In this regard, scholar have approaches towards primary
and secondary data collection techniques. Thus, such techniques will be helpful and addressing
to them as per making suitable survey and research in the market (Clarke, 2018). Through
primary research techniques they have prepares the set of questions which were going to be
asked to 30 professionals of entity. Similarly, in relation with the secondary techniques there has
been changes in operational activities which includes changes in the operations such as making
productive changes into operational practices. Secondary research has been based through
analysing the online sites, social media, books, journals, articles and blogs. Therefore, such
analysis will be effective and helpful as per meeting required solution to research issues.
Data analysis:
It implies to procedure that involves transformation of data collected by Scholar from
questionnaire in to useful information so that research outcomes can be clearly determined.
There are research quantitative method of data analysis has been utilized by scholar which
involves collection of data in appropriate manner (Adhariani, Sciulli and Clift, 2017). In this,
thematic analysis methods is used by scholar to analyse research findings from the feedback of
respondents. Data collected is shown in tables, charts and diagram for determination of clear
outcomes.
Ethical considerations
It usually involves factors that needs to be considered by scholar while carrying out
research such as confidentiality of data, consent of respondents, citation of secondary sources
and using ethical practices for carrying out research (Quinlan, 2018). In this research, scholar
has collected data from employees of Softwire after taking consent of their supervisor and
employees as well. Secondary collected from articles, books, literature and journals etc are cited
11

properly. No unethical practices have been used or done for achievement of relevant research
outcomes.
Research limitations
This research also involves some because there are some issues which are faced by
scholar such as:
 Lack of time has created obstacles in carrying research activities in appropriate manner.
 Lack of resources have also created limitation in completion of some important activities.
 Lack of accessibility of some key literatures due to security systems have created issues
in collection of secondary data.
Data analysis
There are various tools, techniques and methods which can be used by scholar in order
to facilitate investigation in systematic manner. These tools, strategies and techniques assist
investigator in reaching to conclusion and accomplishing objectives. There are two types of
tools which can be utilised by researcher in order to facilitate investigation these are qualitative
as well as quantitative (Guercini 2014). In present study on topic to explore the impact of digital
technology on functions of small business enterprise- A study on Software Solutions Ltd.
Scholar will use qualitative research technique (Silverman, 2016). Questionnaire consists of all
the question related to the digital technology and its effect on the growth of small medium
enterprise. Questionnaire has been prepared by the researcher himself. Questionnaire form
comprises close ended questions (Özerdem and Bowd, 2016). Invoviong the close ended
questions has assisted scholar in ensuring the relevant answers from the participants.
Qualitative Research Methodology
Name:_________________
Age:__________________
Gender:_______________
Business:____________
Ques 1 : What Type of effect does development in digital technology have on growth ofg
small medium enterprise?
 Positive
 Negative
12

 Both
Ques 2. Does your organisation use social media sites for promoting brande , goods or
services?
 Yes
 No
 Don't know
Ques 3 . Whatb types of benefits your firm can gain by implementing digital technology?
 Increase in sales and profitability
 Wide customer reach
 Increase in market share.
 Other benefit.
Ques 4. What are the challenges faced by business owner of small medium enterprise?
 Cost required in up gradation
 Cyber security
 Time to fix technical errors
Ques 5. How much percentage of sales growth your company has able to achieve in present
year as compare to last financial year?
 5 percentage
 10 percent
 15 percent
 No growth.
Ques 6. How much crucial technology to the success of an any business?
 Highly important
 Less important
 some what important
 Not at all important
Ques 7. Which type of digital technology n Software Solutions Ltd. Is utilising presently?
 Information technology
 Communication technology
13

 Smart phone
 Laptop
Ques 8. why you organisation is not utilising the high speed internet services?
 Too expensive
 Not required
 Unavailability of broadband
Ques 9 . What online strategy an enterprise is presently utilising ?
 Websites
 Social media
 Facebook
 Linked in.
Ques 10. How much agree you are with the statement that digital technology has positive
effect on the growth of an enterprise?
 Completely agree
 Partly agree
 Completely disagree
 No answer
Ques 11. How much knowledge about the implication of digital technology especially in small
medium enterprise?
 Depth knowledge
 Specific
 No knowledge
 Little knowledge
Ques 12. Which strategy which can be utilised by an enterprise in order to provide appropriate
response to the challenges ?
 Neglect
 Harvest
 Retreat
14

TASK 3
Research outcomes in appropriate manner
It is very essential for researcher to present data or information in systematic manner.
As the reliability, accuracy and effectiveness is measures on the basis of format used for
presenting information or data. There are several techniques, tools and strategies can be utilised
by the scholar in order to make information more presentable as well as understandable by other
users (Robson and McCartan, 2016). Presentation helps researcher in gaining the attention of
user and assist in clearing the purpose for which data or facts has been gathered. It is required by
the researcher to highlight the important facts or information (Rose, 2016). As these highlighters
will assist the investigator in allowing user to analyse the crucial information.
Theme 1 :Positive, impact development in digital technology have on growth of small medium
enterprise.
What Type of impact does development in digital technology have
on growth of small medium enterprise? Frequency Percentage
Positive 15 50.00%
Negative 6 20.00%
Both 9 30.00%
Total 30
15
Positive Negative Both Total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Column B
Column C
Positive Negative Both Total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Column B
Column C

Finding and analysis: From the information present in above table it has been found that there
are 50 percent of respondent have stated that digital technology have positive impact on small
medium enterprise. Among 30 participants 30 percent people have answered that digital
technology has both positive and negative effect on growth of small medium enterprise.
Theme 2: Yes, organisation use social media sites for promoting brand, goods or services.
Does your organisation use social media sites for promoting
brand , goods or services? Frequency Percentage.
Yes 18 60.00%
No 8 26.66%
Don't know 4 13.33%
Total 30
Finding and analysis: Above information represents that Softwire Solutions Ltd. Is utilising the
social media sites for promoting brand , goods or services. This is the significant factor which
has helped business entity in increasing sales nad profitability.Out of 30 respondents there are 8
participants who have stated vthta they does not know abiout the terachniology used by their
organisation which is considered to be as major concern for management.
16
Yes No Don't know
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Frequency
Percentage.

Theme 3:Wide customer reach, benefit firm can gain by implementing digital technology.
What types of benefits your firm can gain by implementing digital
technology? Frequency Percentage.
Increase in sales and profitability 8 26.66%
Wide customer reach 16 53..33 %
Increase in market share. 4 13.33%
Other benefit. 2 6.66%
Total 30
Finding and analysis: Majority of the participants have stated that by utilising the digital
technology, an organisation has able to reach wide number of customers. Whereas 26.66 percent
of respondent has stated that increase in sales and profitability is the major benefit of employing
digital technology at workplace.
Theme 4 :Cyber security, challenges faced by business owner of small medium enterprise.
What are the challenges faced by business owner of small medium
enterprise? Frequency Percentage.
Cost required in up gradation 7 23.33%
Cyber security 17 56.66%
Time to fix technical errors 6 20.00%
17
Increase in sales and profitability
Wide customer reach
Increase in market share.
Other benefit.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Frequency

Total 30
Finding and analysis: It has been analysed from above information that Cyber security is the
major issue faced by the many of small medium enterprise in implementing the digital
technology.
Theme 5: 5 percentage, of sales growth your company has able to achieve in present year as
compare to last financial year.
How much percentage of sales growth your company has able to
achieve in present year as compare to last financial year? Frequency Percentage.
5 percent 20 66.66%
10 percent 5 16.66%
15 percent 5 16.66%
Total 30
18
Cost required in up gradation
Cyber security
Time to fix technical errors
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Frequency

Finding and analysis: It has been found from the above information that there has been increase
in sales growth by 5 percent of Softwire Solutions Ltd. This conclusion has been made by
thoroughly analysing the previous as well as present period sales record. The sales growth has
been possible by implementing digital technology.
Theme 6: Highly important, technology to the success of an any business.
How much crucial digital technology to the success of an any
business? Frequency Percentage.
Highly important 15 50.00%
Less important 5 16.66%
some what important 6 20.00%
Not at all important 4 13.33%
Total
19
5 percent 10 percent 15 percent
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Frequency

Finding and analysis: It has been analysed that majority of the participants has stated that digital
technology is highly important for the success of an any business.
Theme 7 : Information technology, type of digital technology n Softwire Solutions Ltd. Is
utilising presently.
Which type of digital technology n Softwire Solutions Ltd. Is
utilising presently? Frequency Percentage.
Information technology 14 4.20%
Communication technology 5 16.66%
Smart phone 6 20.00%
Laptop 5 16.66%
Total 30
20
Highly important
Less important
some what important
Not at all important
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Frequency

Finding and analysis: It has been a form the above information that Softwire Solutions Ltd. Is
utilising Information technology presently. Business entity can utilise communication
technology. As this will help an enterprise in directly communicating with clients.
Theme 8 Too expensive broadband is, this is the main reason organisation is not utilising the
high speed internet services.
Why you organisation is not utilising the high speed internet
services? Frequency Percentage.
Too expensive 18 60.00%
Not required 7 23.33%
Unavailability of broadband 5 16.66%
Total 30
21
Information technology
Communication technology
Smart phone
Laptop
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Frequency

Finding and analysis: It has been analysed from the above information that cost is the main
reason due to which organisation is not utilising the high speed internet services.
Theme 9: :Websites, online strategy an enterprise is presently utilising.
What online strategy an enterprise is presently utilising ? Frequency Percentage.
Websites 12 40.00%
Social media 10 33.33%
Facebook 4 13.34
Linked in. 4 13.33%
Total 30
22
Websites Social media Facebook Linked in.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Frequency
Too expensive Not required Unavailability of broadband
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Frequency

Finding and analysis: It has been analysed from the above information that Websites is online
strategy an enterprise is presently utilising. Firm should use social media sites, as this online
strategy will support business entity in fostering growth.
Theme 10:Completely agree, with the statement that digital technology has positive effect on
the growth of an enterprise.
How much agree you are with the statement that digital technology
has positive effect on the growth of an enterprise? Frequency Percentage
Completely agree 10 33.33%
Partly agree 9 30.00%
Completely disagree 6 20.00%
No answer 4 13.33%
Total 30
Finding and analysis: The above information indicates that 33.33 percent of respondent have
shown their agreement with the fact that digital technology has positive effect on the growth of
an enterprise.
23
Completely agree Partly agree Completely disagree No answer
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Frequency

Theme 11:Little knowledge, about the implication of digital technology especially in small
medium enterprise.
How much knowledge about the implication of digital technology
especially in small medium enterprise? Frequency Percentage
Depth knowledge 11 36.66%
Specific 4 13.33%
No knowledge 3 10.00%
Little knowledge 12 40.00%
Total 30
Finding and analysis: It has been analysed from the above information that majority of
respondents have little knowledge about the implication of digital technology especially in small
medium enterprise. Whereas there are 36 percent participants have depth knowledge about field.
Theme 12: Harvest, the types of strategy which can be utilised by an enterprise in order to
provide appropriate response to the challenges.
Which strategy which can be utilised by an enterprise in order to
provide appropriate response to the challenges ? Frequency Percentage
24
Depth knowledge Specific No knowledge Little knowledge
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Frequency

Neglect 7 23.33%
Harvest 15 50.00%
Retreat 8 26.66%
Total 30
Finding and analysis: Among 30 participants, 15 that is 50 percent of respondent has suggested
firm to use harvest strategy for dealing with the challenges. Whereas 26 percent participants have
stated that business entity should implement retreat strategy.
TASK 6
Effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of business research project.
From the above analysis, it can be said that digital technology plays an essential role in
growth and development of small business enterprise. In this case, Softwire is a small and
medium enterprise which is incorporating its business activities in appropriate manner. It is also
analysed that different types of digital technologies have been used by organisation to carry out
research in appropriate manner.
Reflection
For carrying out research analysis of implication of digital technology in small medium
enterprises. Softwire is selected by scholar. The research philosophies which are selected by
25
Neglect Harvest Retreat
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Frequency

scholar were effective because they have provided support in collection of relevant data,
measurement and analysing the outcomes. In this research, both quantitative and quantitative
strategies has been utilized by scholar which has provided support in evaluation of primary and
secondary data in appropriate manner. Interpretivism philosophy which is selected by scholar has
provided support in selection of appropriate ways for collection of data such as interview and
observation along with the theoretical aspects of research topic effectively.
Research design helps in comprehending the important theories and analysis of actions
which is used for integration of research components in appropriate manner. Further,
Questionnaire containing 12 questions from scholar have been asked from selected 30 employees
of Softwire to collect primary data appropriately. Primary method of data analysis is effective as
it has made research more reliable and valid. Appropriate data has supported scholar in analysing
the outcomes through thematic analysis methods. Secondary data collected from literatures,
articles and journals was also effective in developing conceptual understanding about different
things and aspects related to research. Thus, it can be said that following research methodologies
has provided support in achievement of desired goals and objectives in appropriate manner.
Alternative research methods and lessons learnt in the view of outcomes.
There are various kinds of methods are available which can be used by scholar for
undertaking research in appropriate manner. The alternative research methods are considered as
those tools and techniques which are not utilized by scholar in this research. In accordance with
this, positivism philosophy can also be used by scholar rather than interpretivism as it also helps
in collected of data through facts and findings. It is complex method but helps in making
research reliable. Instead of using inductive, researcher can also use deductive approach by
developing hypothesis. It is critical method but provides support in determining research aims
and objectives. Instead of using both primary and secondary methods of data collection,
researcher can also use only primary data collection. Apart from questionnaire, interview can
also be conducted for employees of Softwire for collection of data. Conducting interviews
requires more time but it is effective in collection of data from respondents. It aids in gathering
pricise information about utilization of digital technologies in functions of small business
enterprise. However, there are various important ways which can be used by scholar for carrying
out research and achieved relevant outcomes.
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REFERENCES
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