Research Project Part 1

This research project examines the impact of social media platforms on consumer decision-making within the travel and tourism industry, focusing on Thomas Cook. It outlines the research aims, objectives, and methodology, including a literature review, data analysis, and ethical considerations. The project also includes a Gantt chart and work breakdown structure for the research process.

RESEARCH PROJECT : PART 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Research project outline including the aims and objectives with a literature review and
resource implication.....................................................................................................................1
1.2 Identify the factors to contribute the process of data analysis and evaluation.......................2
1.3 Critical review of the references and data sources that are undertaken within the travel and
tourism organization....................................................................................................................3
1.4 Research project specification...............................................................................................6
1.5 Plan and procedure for research.............................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Travel and tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industry around the world.
Especially, in UK is a major contributor to growth of overall economic viability of a nation. It
covers transportation from one destination to another by means of road, rails, water or air. With
the passage of time, digital technologies like social media platforms have become an essential
part of Travel and tourism sector. The advancement of travel will play important and significant
role in setting up of the measures and carrying out of business operations. The present report will
cover the details of impact laid by digital technologies like social media tools on the operations
of Travel and tourism enterprise like Thomas Cook. The research will identify the contribution
laid by digital technologies on the execution of business operations of selected Travel and
tourism firm.
TASK 1
1.1 Research project outline including the aims and objectives with a literature review and
resource implication
The present research process which are carried out by the researcher in organization to
supports the effective assessment of aims and objectives. It aids in enhancing the effectiveness of
travel and tourism operations. As the digital tools and technologies like social media which are
carried out by enterprise will help in proper evaluation of on going market trends, effective
products and services are developed within travel and tourism enterprise. Suitable planning of
using digital tools and technologies will help in improving the overall performance and gaining
essential ideas about the growth or rise this tools provide to an enterprise. Especially, in the
recent time, the social media tools and technologies have found a sustainable use in expansion
and execution of digital tools and technologies. As it is a widely used digital medium, it assists in
improving the accessibility of customer with a Travel and tourism organization.
Aim and objectives
Aim:
“To evaluate the impact laid by social media platform on consumer decision making in a travel
and tourism enterprise: A case study of Thomas Cook.”
Objectives:
 To evaluate the usage of social media tools within travel and tourism sector.
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 To analyze the effectiveness of social media tools and technologies used by Thomas
Cook on consumer decision making.
 To identify the advantages and disadvantages of social media tools that are used.
 To provide proper recommendations for the effective implementation of social media
platform within Travel and tourism enterprise , Thomas Cook for consumer decision
making.
Literature review
As per the view of Irfan and et.al., 2017, this can be said that digital tools and
technologies like social media platforms which are carried out by the organization operating in
travel and tourism industry assists in a significant planning of decision making by the buyers of
tickets and tour services. The implementation of digital tools like social media platforms within
the travel and tourism sector will impact the overall functionality of organisation. It also supports
a great deal of connectivity with customers, which is enjoyed by Thomas Cook helping them to
make effective decisions. It can have a positive or negative influence on overall functionality of a
travel and tourism business enterprise. A good decision making will improve the market
performance of organization and supports a rise in effectiveness of travel and tourism enterprise,
Thomas Cook.
Resource implication
Different resources are taken in consideration by researcher to evaluate the impact laid by
digital tools and technologies like social media platforms. As the research indicates the primary
and secondary assessment of effectiveness that public connectivity tools and technologies for
travel and tourism enterprise. The developing of a close ended questionnaire and effective
interpretation of data sources like books, journals and articles that is been analyzed to support a
data assessment operation for positive growth of enterprise in market. Besides this, the
advantages and issues that are carried out by travel and tourism organization can be identifies in
order to take significant measures. Apart from this, the financial and other operational resources
are also evaluated and required to be maintained.
1.2 Identify the factors to contribute the process of data analysis and evaluation
For the current research process that is been followed, certain factors are taken in
consideration. This factors such as need of improving the organizational knowledge, enhancing
the work force skill set and improving the quality of outputs that are gained by organization in a
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significant manner. Also, it will help in enhancing the knowledge and increasing the efficiency
and effectiveness of management to develop new and innovative products and services. All this
measures which are carried out will support a positive increase in essential growth of the travel
and tourism business enterprise.
Other than this, the distribution of a questionnaire and evaluation of secondary data
sources supports a good and effective part The research will help the researcher to analyze and
improve its knowledge for the impact laid by social media tools on the operations of the travel
and tourism organization.
Factors
 Travel and tourism business is the fast growing business opportunity which rapidly
increasing these days. Different services and competition level is the biggest factor which
impact in the process of project selection.
 Globalization is the another major factor that impact the overall business projects which
might also create.
 Marketing is the another factor which might be creating the uncertainties among the
business growth. Marketing factors include size of potential market for output, probable
market share of output is the following business activities. Also it makes the good impact
on the overall performance. Due to impact on current product line this situation might
also affect the process of selection.
 Financial is the another factor which might affect the process of selection and business
criteria. In which it includes impact on cash flows, payout period, cash requirements and
impact of seasonal and cyclical fluctuations.
 Personnel factor can be the reason due to which company fails to make decision on
project selection which occurred due to training requirements, labor skill requirements,
change in size of labor force.
1.3 Critical review of the references and data sources that are undertaken within the travel and
tourism organization
The effective planning of the data assessment of the operations which are followed by the
organization which will help in improving the effective understanding of operations and thus,
indicates the overall functional measures which are carried out by the assessment of customer
perception and trends that are analyzed by organizations. The proper evaluation of the various
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data measures that are carried out by organization. this will help in improve the quality of
operations which is followed by researcher.
Concepts of Travel and tourism sector with use of digital tools and techniques like social
media on consumer decision making
As per the research and interpretations of Abubakar and Ilkan, 2016, travel and tourism
sector is one of the fastest growing and most important industrial sector around the globe. It is a
major source of revenue and GDP that is been carried out by the organization and hence, it is one
of the largest employer and service provider sector in UK. It assist in the rise in emplacement
measures and other factors that are carried out by the operations. With the rise in the purchasing
power of travelers and more paid leaves in the corporate sector, the traveling has became a more
avid event. Thus, it has emerged as a major opportunity for travel and tourism industry. This has
paved the path of using digital tools and technologies within the travel and tourism sector. The
implementation of latest and advance technologies which are used by travel and tourism helps in
gaining a sustainability. This digital tools and technologies improves the overall performance
and enhance the decision making on the basis of social media tools. All this measures leads the
customers to carry out the effective evaluation of the trips and make suitable decisions regarding
travel and tourism.
Advantages and disadvantages of digital tools and techniques
In accordance with findings of Kim and et.al., 2017, it can be stated that the digital tools
and technologies which are carried out by a travel and tourism enterprise. It will help in
enhancing the quality of operations and thus, it supports a good growth and carrying out of the
operations related to the sector. This will have a range of benefits and advantages which will
modify the overall performance of organization in a significant way. This will not only improve
the sales of the products of travel and tourism enterprise, but also supports in increasing the
connectivity of enterprise with their target and existing customer base. Other than this, it will
help in identifying the ongoing market trends and needs or requirements of customers. It also
supports in developing and innovative products and services like online booking, mobile based
transaction, canceling the trip etc. which are carried out in an effective way.
On contradiction to this, the research and assessment of Nezakati and et.al., 2015
indicates that there are certain risk factors which hinders the effectiveness of utilization and
embedding of digital tools and technologies like social media tools. The major challenge for the
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digitization in travel and tourism enterprise is the data security. This is a major concern which is
required to look after by the enterprise for a significant growth and development of positive
perception and consumer decision making. Any sort of data or digital security threat can hamper
the brand image of travel and tourism enterprise. Absence of significant planning of the
operations and lacking proper technical facilities will also slow down the progress of travel and
tourism enterprise. Other than this, the business enterprise will also look after an major issue
related to digital tools and technologies. Change in technologies and being devoid of having the
ability to make suitable modifications in digital framework as per the changing time will lay a
very deep impact on the consumers decision making of the travel and tourism organisation in
UK.
Looking at all these factors, the customers will make a significant decision in the travel
and tourism industry. Besides this, it will also influence the sales and overall revenue generation
within selected organisation.
Influence of digital tools and technologies in the decision making in travel and tourism
enterprise
The digital tools and technologies which are used by the travel and tourism enterprise,
Thomas Cook will lay a very deep and significant impact on the operations and effectiveness of
consumers decision that is been made on the operations of the travel and tourism firm. In
accordance with views of Ladhari and Michaud (2015), it can be elucidated that use of digital
tools and advance technologies will affect the overall decision making and improving the sales of
the enterprise in an effective way. Establishing the proper digital framework within the
organization which will help in improvement of functionality which are carried out by the
Thomas Cook As this tools and technologies will make the services in travel and tourism sector
to be more easy and user friendly, it helps them to decide the tours and make more bookings.
Besides this, the increase in accessibility of the users towards the services that is offered by the
organization increasing positive decision making.
However, the interpretations of Molinillo and et.al., (2016) suggests that any sort of data
related risk or lack of digital framework can have an adverse impact and influence on the overall
operations and sales of services offered by organisation. The absence of data security digital
presence or response to customer query or doubt can have a negative influence on the operations
which are carried out to cater the needs of organization. Although, the absence of the measures
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which are carried out by the travel and tourism firm will cause the organisation to have a
reduction in effectiveness of overall performance of the business organization.
1.4 Research project specification
Research Question:
Q: What do you understand by concept of digital tools and technologies in travel and tourism
industry?
Q: Are the social media tools which are carried out by Thomas Cook are efficient in influencing
the customer decision making process?
Q: What positive and negative impact does digital tools and technologies like social media tools
can have on customer decision making?
Q: What measures does the travel and tourism firm can take to improve customer decision
making?
Research Project Proposal
Research Philosophy:
Research philosophy is carried out for the data assessment process as it allows the
researcher to carry out the data assessment process in a effective manner. The research
philosophy will help the data analyst to determine the concepts on which the data assessment is
based (Hernández-Méndez, Muñoz-Leiva and Sánchez-Fernández, 2015). There are basically
three classifications of research philosophy: Interpretivism, Positivism and realism. The
interpretivism philosophy emphasizes on the relative assessment of data which will impact the
overall research process. On the other hand, positivism approach includes the assessment of
existing principles and theories related to research topic. The realism approach is very complex
process and is rarely used.
For the research process, Interpretivism research philosophy is used as it will help in
gaining a good idea about the research related to digitization and decision making in travel and
tourism industry.
Research type:
The research type will help in identifying the effectiveness of data assessment measures
that are followed by the data analyst. There are two types of researches: Qualitative and
Quantitative. Qualitative is based on the human perception and used to assess non numerical data
while the quantitative is based on the evaluation of numerical or statistical data. For the current
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research process, both qualitative and qualitative is used with development of a close ended
questionnaire and assessment of books and journals by the researcher (Narangajavana Kaosiri
and et.al., 2019).
Research approach:
The research approach will help in improving the effectiveness of data assessment
measures which are carried out by the researcher. It helps in enhancing the quality of research
process related to the impact of social media tools of customer decision making in travel and
tourism enterprise. There are two types of research approaches: Inductive and deductive. The
inductive research gathers the data and give output on the basis of interpretation. On the the
hand, the deductive approach is based on deduction of hypothesis by researcher on the basis of
available or existing data. For the present report, inductive research approach is taken in
consideration.
Data Collection:
Data collection plays a very significant role in improving the effectiveness of research
process as it helps in gaining the data for the interpretation purpose. There are two formats of
data collection measures: Primary and secondary research process. Primary data collection
measures includes the usage of questionnaire, surveys and interviews while secondary data
collection measures includes the evaluation of books journals magazines etc.. for the present
research process, both the measures are used.
Sampling: The sampling process in the research helps in identifying the extent of research that is
been carried out. This is of two types, probabilistic and non probabilistic (Narangajavana and
et.al., 2017). The probabilistic approach is based on the randomization of the research process
carried out by the researcher. On the other hand, the non probabilistic approach includes the set
number of respondents. For the present research, the random data sampling approach of
probabilistic sampling is used including 20 employees of Thomas Cook as respondents.
Data analysis:
The data analysis includes the data interpretation measures for an effective research
process. This will help in getting the suitable outputs from the data that is been collected by
researcher. For the present research, thematic analysis measures is used that supports in
developing a better understanding related to research process.
Ethical consideration:
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In order to carry out the research process with higher efficiency, ethics are required to be
followed. Ethical data collection, following the research obligations and storing the data in most
secure way are certain measures that will help in carrying out the research process. Other than
this, following the legal obligations like maintaining the privacy of respondents and their opinion
in a lawful way is a very important factor that will be looked after by researcher while carrying
out the data analysis and evaluation process (Al-Badi, Tarhini and Al-Sawaei, 2017).
1.5 Plan and procedure for research
Gantt Chart: it is a graphical representation of the research processes that are carried out by
researcher.
Activities 25/03/1
9
08/04/1
9
22/04/1
9
06/05/1
9
20/05/1
9
17/06/1
9
15/07/1
9
02/08/19
Topic
selection
for
investigat
ion
Framing
aims and
objectives
for the
topic
Writing
of
Literature
review
Gatherin
g
informati
on
Informati
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on
Analysis
Conclusio
n
Making
change
according
to
feedback
Submissi
on of
research
report
Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Schedule
d
Topic selection for
investigation 2 wks Mon 3/25/19 Fri 4/5/19
Auto
Schedule
d
Framing aims and
objectives for the topic 2 wks Mon 4/8/19 Fri 4/19/19 1
Auto
Schedule
d
Writing of Literature
review 3 wks Mon 4/22/19 Fri 5/10/19 2
Auto
Schedule
d
Gathering information 4 wks Mon 5/13/19 Fri 6/7/19 2,3
Auto
Schedule
d
Information Analysis 4 wks Mon 6/10/19 Fri 7/5/19 3,4
Auto
Schedule
d
Conclusion 1 wk Mon 7/8/19 Fri 7/12/19 5
Auto
Schedule
d
Making change according
to feedback 2 wks Mon 7/15/19 Fri 7/26/19 5,6
Auto
Schedule
d
Submission of research
report 1 wk Mon 7/29/19 Fri 8/2/19 7
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Work break down structure: It involves details about classification and breakdown of research
process.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abubakar, A.M. and Ilkan, M., 2016. Impact of online WOM on destination trust and intention
to travel: A medical tourism perspective. Journal of Destination Marketing &
Management. 5(3). pp.192-201.
Al-Badi, A., Tarhini, A. and Al-Sawaei, S., 2017. Utilizing social media to encourage domestic
tourism in Oman. International Journal of Business and Management. 12(4). pp.84-94.
Hernández-Méndez, J., Muñoz-Leiva, F. and Sánchez-Fernández, J., 2015. The influence of e-
word-of-mouth on travel decision-making: consumer profiles. Current issues in tourism.
18(11). pp.1001-1021.
Irfan, A. and et.al., 2017. Role of Social Media in Promoting Education Tourism. Advanced
Science Letters. 23(9). pp.8728-8731.
Kim, S.E. and et.al., 2017. Effects of tourism information quality in social media on destination
image formation: The case of Sina Weibo. Information & Management. 54(6). pp.687-
702.
Ladhari, R. and Michaud, M., 2015. eWOM effects on hotel booking intentions, attitudes, trust,
and website perceptions. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 46. pp.36-45.
Molinillo, S. and et.al., 2016. Hotel assessment through social media: The case of
TripAdvisor. Tourism & Management Studies. 12(1). pp.15-24.
Narangajavana Kaosiri, Y. and et.al., 2019. User-Generated Content Sources in Social Media: A
New Approach to Explore Tourist Satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research. 58(2).
pp.253-265.
Narangajavana, Y. and et.al., 2017. The influence of social media in creating expectations. An
empirical study for a tourist destination. Annals of Tourism Research. 65. pp.60-70.
Nezakati, H. and et.al., 2015. Review of social media potential on knowledge sharing and
collaboration in tourism industry. Procedia-social and behavioral sciences. 172. pp.120-
125.
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