Research Proposal Assignment: Implications of Digital Technologies

Unit 11 RP

Table of Contents
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Research proposal defining research questions and supported by literature review..............1
P2 Appropriate research method.................................................................................................4
P3 Conducting primary and secondary research using precise methods for business research
project..........................................................................................................................................6
P4 Application of appropriate analytical tools for analysing primary and secondary data.........8
P5 Communication of output.....................................................................................................18
P6 Reflection on the effectiveness of research methods...........................................................18
P7 Alternate research methodologies which can be used..........................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX A................................................................................................................................23

TITLE
“The implications of digital technologies on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME’s)”
P1 Research proposal defining research questions and supported by literature review
In the era of globalisation and digitisation, the management of organisations are striving
for generating maximum output by using digital technologies like cloud computing, advance
integrated information systems, communication technologies, etc. so that they can sustain in the
competitive environment (Davies, Coleman and Livingstone, 2015). In this race, small and
medium size organisations are participating more and more in order to put a benchmark on the
national economy of United Kingdom. Digital technologies not only helps in reducing the
manual efforts of the enterprises but it also helps in promulgating the profits and sales
adequately. In accordance with this context, the following research proposal will aim to
investigate the implications of digital technologies in Holiday Inn Express, London, United
Kingdom. The advantages and drawbacks of digital technologies used in the organisation will be
assessed in this proposal by analysing the primary and secondary data. In this context, the aim
and objectives of research proposal is described below:
Aim
“To understand the implication of digital technologies on business activity: A study on The
Holiday Inn Express, London, UK.”
Objectives:
 To comprehend the business activities at The Holiday Inn Express London, United
Kingdom.
 To identify the digital technologies used at The Holiday Inn Express London, United
Kingdom.
 To evaluate the impact of digital technology on business operations of The Holiday Inn
Express London, United Kingdom.
 To recommend and suggest methods through which The Holiday Inn Express London,
United Kingdom, can improve their digital technologies effectively and efficiently.
Rationale of study
I have developed by interest in this specific sector so that research can be conducted
adequately. I have implemented multiple strategies that assist me in improving my performance
level in effective and efficient manner. This research helps me in development of my skills by
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nurturing my abilities. As hospitality sector remains unknown to me, the research proposal
provided me an opportunity to get familiar with the industry. Further, I have acquired adequate
information about implications of digital technologies in the organisation. Eventually, this
research proposal provides me ample of opportunities to interact with employees of the Hotel
Holiday Inn Express. This was very crucial for me in order to collect and analyse the data
effectively.
Literature Review
According to Edelman and Singer, (2015) digital technologies include the technologies
that helps in reducing the manual efforts, helps in saving both time and cost to the organisation.
These includes, smart computers, cloud devices, high tech information systems, etc. In the era,
which is characterised by dynamisms, where customers needs and preferences are changing
rapidly and with the development of new agile policies of government, competition within the
organisations is increasing rapidly. Percy and et.al., (2015) said that each and every organisation
is striving for promulgating its profits and sales by increasing customer base. Digital
technologies and information systems are assisting the management of organisations to increase
the effectiveness in the quality of work and products. Schegg and Stangl, (2017) said that there
were more than 5.7 million small and medium scale organisations in United Kingdom in 2017
which was over 99% of all businesses. This implies that majority of market share was acquired
by small and medium scale enterprises. In order to sustain in the competitive environment, the
management of organisations are using digital technology to robust their existing organisational
system and helps in increasing their profits and sales. Digital technologies revolutionised the
work culture and business process. It helps in reducing the long procedure of production to
distribution in small process (Tyner, 2014). Further it aid in increasing the effectiveness in the
quality of work and products. Taylor, Fritsch and Liederbach, (2014) argues that not everyone
can afford the digital systems and technologies. These are expensive and for small business
enterprises, the management tends to avoid implementing these expensive technologies at their
premises. Thus, it can be understood that digital technologies helped in reducing the time and
efforts of the organisation but also add cost to the organisation. Further, in order to use digital
technologies efficiently, the management needs to train their staff accordingly and precisely.
This increases both training cost and time of the organisation. As small and medium scale
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enterprises have limited staff, the management did not bother to train them adequately (von
Briel, Davidsson and Recker, 2018).
From the above review of literature, it can be understood that digital technologies helps
in increasing the effectiveness in the quality of work in the organisation. It is expensive and
difficult to use without proper training, but management can increase the productivity and
profitability after using digital technology appropriately and precisely.
Activities and timescales
Activity 1th
We
ek
2nd
Wee
k
3rd
Week
4th
Wee
k
5th
Week
6th
Week
7th
Week
8th
Wee
k
9th
Wee
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10th
Week
Identify
research
topic
Review of
Literature
Drafting
Methodol
ogies
Complete
Proposal
Design
question
and pilot
research
Document
ation of
records
Analysing
data and
interpreta
tion
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Discussion
and
Conclusio
n
Final
Report
Editing &
Completio
n
P2 Appropriate research method
To conduct the research in appropriate manner, the researcher will utilise precise research
methodology. To accomplish the aim and objectives of the research, it is very crucial for the
researcher to consider the methods used to analyse the research. These methods will help the
researcher to answer the research questions appropriately and eventually researcher will able to
accomplish the goals of proposal. In this context, the appropriate, which will be utilise by the
researcher, is provided below:
Figure 1: Research Methodology
(Source: Research Philosophy, 2017)
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