Research Proposal: Digitalisation's Impact on SMEs - Nintex Case Study

This research proposal and subsequent report examines the application of digitalisation within Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), using Nintex, a workflow and automation software provider, as a case study. The research explores the background of digitalisation's impact on business operations, emphasizing its role in enhancing efficiency, competitiveness, and economic growth. The study outlines the research aim, objectives, and questions, focusing on identifying the need for digital technology, assessing performance alterations post-implementation, exploring the scope of digitalisation in Nintex, and determining methods for enhancing business operations. The methodology includes an exploratory research design, an interpretivism research philosophy, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data collection methods include primary and secondary data, with ethical considerations. The report delves into data analysis and concludes by summarizing the findings and their implications for SMEs adopting digitalisation strategies. The research aims to provide insights into how digitalisation can improve business processes, reduce costs, and enhance overall performance for SMEs.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
AND PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Overview of the Research......................................................................................................1
1.2 Background of the Research..................................................................................................2
1.3 Significance of the Research.................................................................................................2
1.4 Research Aim.........................................................................................................................2
1.5 Research Objective................................................................................................................3
1.6 Research Questions................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.............................................................................4
3.1 Types of investigation............................................................................................................4
3.2 Research Design....................................................................................................................4
3.3 Research philosophy..............................................................................................................4
3.4 Research approaches..............................................................................................................5
3.5 Data sampling........................................................................................................................5
3.6 Data collection.......................................................................................................................5
3.7 Ethical consideration.............................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 5: COCLUSION...........................................................................................................8
Introduction..................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

TITLE
“The application of digitalisation SME’s”. A case Study on Nintex.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview of the Research
Digital techniques have their vital effect upon business life because these tools are being use
from many years ago and are responsible for effective conduction of business activities.
Digitalisation also helpful in increasing growth rate of company as well as economic condition of
society. Digital tools and technologies are being because they are reducing complexities of life
and making human lives easy. This is the time when competition is so high and every
corporation wants to stay longest duration in marketplace by defeat their business rivals and this
purpose can only be fulfil through installation of digital tools and technologies in business
operations. This is clear that in present time competition is very tough and every firm wants to
deal with in most suitable manner while grabbing competitive advantages. In order to tackle all
rivalry situations, organisations are suppose to manufacture extraordinary quality products that
could give some extra benefits to clients that competitors are giving can retain persons with firm
for longer duration of time. To handle this type of situation, then quality of products and services
should be good and this better quality can bring by installing new and latest technological
devices for effectively conduction of business activities so that rivals could be defeated and a
higher position could be get in marketplace. Technologies and business operations are having
best and direct relationship with each other and this type of situation is responsible for economic
growth. It means when ventures of a country grow then it is clear that they will also enhance
condition of economy and main reason behind organisational growth is digitalisation because use
of digital technologies brings efficiencies in business operations and due to this all task could get
done in shortest time period and this type of organisational behaviour helps in hitting all
associational goal in shortest time period and in remaining time, company can produce more
things for attracting novel buyers for defeating competitors in market. Use of latest and
innovative tools and technologies brings smoother and efficient workflow so that this could be
decided what should be done first and what will come next. When all operations happen in most
appropriate manner than this action brings perfection in business activities that attracts many
new buyers towards company. This research revolves around Nintex company that is a service
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provider company and serve a workflow and automation related software. Major utilisation of
digital tools and technologies is that it provides direction to business activities.
1.2 Background of the Research
Present era is a technological world and each activity that takes place in venture has vast impact
of technological devices and due to this action some kind of perfection has been seen in business
operations and improvements in operations is recorded that ultimately leads higher quality
products for serving better quality items and facilities to clients and then this action will further
bring stronger market position than business rivals. Nintex company was founded in year 2006 in
Bellevue, United States. This firm is having approximately 50 employees whom are contributing
in achievements of organisational goals for attaining greater growth rate and success margin in
market. Main business of company is to provide workflow and a platform that permits users to
automate core business procedures and operational activities. This firm mainly provides solution
to basic associational problems like human resource, finance, administrations and operational as
well.
1.3 Significance of the Research
This research relies upon application of digitalisation in small & medium type business ventures
for enhancing efficiency level of corporation’s actions. Main objective of conducting this
research is to analyse impact of digital tools and technologies in respect to employed cost and in
context of increments in effectiveness level of business operations. This investigation is based
upon utilisation of digital techniques in business operations in respect to productivity. There are
various issues and problems that researcher has faced and fought in conduction of this
investigation and all these types of conflicts make reductions in effectuality of outcomes that are
generated from research program. In order to reduce conflicts and problems, management plans
and conduct appropriate training sessions for employees so that worker could accept
digitalisation with open heart without any doubt. Present research provides a clear picture to
learner about use of digital tools and technologies in business houses that are running their
business operations at marketplace.
1.4 Research Aim
This is a most significant part of any research program because this section provides a clear
picture that why this is being run and what would be the outcomes. This segment of any research
helps researcher in enhancing skills and efficiency of running an investigation program and then
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these talents and virtue will further help in carry out an investigation in order to find out most
relevant outcome that are linked with research aim. The important aim of this specific research is
to find out the application of digitalisation on SME’s”. A case study on Nintex.
1.5 Research Objective
This section is described as results or outcome that is found by researcher at the time of
completion of investigation. In other words it is said as at the end of research program in what
achieving researcher is able. All these objectives are sorted in small sentences that are needed to
be nearly related with case or problem. There are some objectives of this research program that
are stated as further:
 To identify the need of digital technology in small and medium business enterprises.
 To assess the alterations of firm’s performance after installing advanced tools and
technologies at work-place.
 To explore the scope of digitalisation in business operations in Nintex.
 To study the ways by which Nintex can enhance level of their business operations at
marketplace.
1.6 Research Questions
These are some statements that are defined as queries of researcher that he/she wants to solve or
answers of all these statements are required from research and then all statements would be
converted into outcomes of study. This section of research proposal has connection with research
objectives and are constructed by analysing problems related to research program. There are
some questions of this research that are stated as followed:
 What are the need of assessing the alterations of firm’s performance after installing
advanced tools and technologies at work-place?
 Which kind of alterations of firm’s performance after installing advanced tools and
technologies at work-place?
 What are the alterations of firm’s performance after installing advanced tools and
technologies at work-place Nintex?
 What are the ways by which Nintex can enhance level of their business operations at
marketplace?
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CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In this segment selection of technique that is a method that guides how a research would be
conducted is to be selected. This section comprises various steps that help in carrying out a
research program in systematic and effective manner. Researcher uses these phases and then one
by one completes all these stages and then reaches at a prominent and relevant solution of
investigation function. There are many methods that are considered in this section like survey,
interview, publishing of research papers etc. Methodology consists some specific tools like
theoretical model, phases and quantitative process etc. This part is distributed in multiple parts
that are stated as beneath:
3.1 Types of investigation
There are various sorts of research methods are present that can be availed by researcher in order
to conduct investigation in most appropriate manner. Out of all available methods and options,
investigator choose best suitable mode that could generate most relevant and effective research
outcomes that can be enhance level of decision making capacity of business person. There are
two types of research one is qualitative and other is quantitative that are used by investigator for
conducting this research program. Main objective behind selection of these two methods is that
these modes are quite easy and generate more accurate and adequate results that are helpful in
executing various strategies.
3.2 Research Design
Research design is a set of tools that are selected for effectual accomplishment of research
program in marketplace. These techniques are more useful in collecting and recording data that
could solve organisational problems in most effective manner. This section includes collection of
data, analysis process, probable outcomes etc. There are three sort of research design and that are
Exploratory, Descriptive and Casual research design. Investigator can use one or more method
under consideration for effectively conduction of investigation function. In this research project,
exploratory research design has been selected as this is a part of qualitative research.
3.3 Research philosophy
This segment deals with various sort of sources and their nature and skill development program
which is used for making enhancement in knowledge. This is a process of collecting and
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recorded and determination of data that is connected with research program. Research
philosophy is divided into two parts one is interpretivism and other is positivism and researcher
uses interpretism research into consideration while making choice over these two methods. .
3.4 Research approaches
This segment includes that data which is present in numerical format and are been used for
generating most appropriate results that are most useful in conducting research program. This
segment permits researcher in calculating different aspects in numerical format. This section
faces so many complications in order to carry out effective research outcomes.
3.5 Data sampling
This is a process of selection of some people from population as sample size on which future
research would be conducted and then collected data would be manipulate and analysed for
making information. There are some set and sub set of data points. This section is divided into
two parts probabilistic and non-probabilistic.
3.6 Data collection
This is a systematic approach which is used for collecting and recording data that would be
converted into relevant information. This section prepares a clear picture of entire research
program. Main use of data collection is taht it enable an individual and association in reaching
out most specific results of an investigation function by answering some questions.
Methods of data collection:
There are two types of data collection methods like secondary data collection methods and
primary data collection
Primary data collection:
When an investigator conducts a fresh analysis according to his/her research objective then it is
called as primary research. There are various methods available that could be availed by
investigator for reaching out most effective outcome that should closest to desired results.
Secondary data collection methods:
When a researcher uses result outcomes of someone else’s research paper that was conducted for
other reason but is useful in this investigation in some extent then it is defined as secondary
research program. This methods involves some mediums like newspaper, magazines, books,
journals, internet etc.
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3.7 Ethical consideration
This section includes that it is considered by investigator that research should be conducted on
ethical manner otherwise it will lose its relevance and importance. Ethics are some norms and
standards that provides information about research program whether it is right or wrong in
context of legal terminology. Main aim of considering these aspects are to analyse various issues
that are associated with research while running investigation in market.
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS
Questionnaire
Q1) Does Digitalisation is effectual for firm’s growth? Frequency
 Yes 37
 No 3
Q2) What is the importance of Digital technologies on small business
enterprises?
Frequency
 Increasing production 11 Enhancement in Sales 10 Development in performance 9 Improvements in revenue 4 Fascinating customers 6
Q3) In which group of age the utilisation of Digital tools and techniques and
their implication are high?
Frequency
 10 to 15 6 16 to 36 19 38 to 60 11
 60 to 80 4
Q4) Business houses in which segment of economy needs platform of digital
learning?
Frequency
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 Service Sector 19
 Manufacturing Sector 21`
 Agriculture 10
Q5) Does small size organisational enterprises such as Nintex introduce
multiple digitalisation equipments in building organisational performance?
Frequency
 Strongly Agree 26
 Agree 19
 Strongly Disagree 3
 Disagree 2
Q6) What are the effect of digital techniques that could be use on various
elements of an enterprises?
Frequency
 Efficient inventory management 11
 Reduction in production cost 14 Enhancement Customer relationship management 15
Q7) Nintex use digitalisation in respect to make their offered facilities more
easily available or accessible?
Frequency
 Agree 33
 Uncertain 4
 Disagree 3
Q8) Does digital equipments need updates in skills and knowledge of
manpower?
Frequency
 Needed 35 Not Needed 5
Q9) Does digital tools and techniques open up new doors of opportunities for
corporation?
Frequency
 Yes 30
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 No 10
Q10) What are the digital tools needed by organisation for effective execution
of digital learning atmosphere in corporation?
Frequency
 Cloud Computing 11
 Web storage terminals 11
 Electronic Appliances 18
Q11) Recommend several ways by which Nintex can retain a higher position
in industry and grab huge amount of profit & revenue.
CHAPTER 5: COCLUSION
Introduction
This is described as last part of any research program because this section pays attention to
finding out a prominent result and findings of a particular report. Researcher is capable in
making summary of issues and problems that are linked with investigation in an effective
manner. This section helps an investigator in carry out specific outcomes by analysing complete
research in effectual manner.
Conclusion
According to above research project, it is summarised as each and every sort of association
whether large or small are concerned to execute digitalisation at workplace in order to make
increments in efficiency level of production and other functions of a corporate. There are huge
impact is present that digital techniques have on business operations that further helps an
association in grabbing higher growth and success rate by defeating competitors in market. In
present time it is found that major utilisation of digital tools are enhancements in effectiveness of
operational and non-operational activities in order to produce high quality goods and services
that could make customer hundred percent satisfy. Digitalisation are being use on vast level
because this action provides direction and guidance to activities and tasks that are taking place at
workplace by workers. Use of latest techniques are also helpful in implementing multiple
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strategies and plans for adding some extra features in services in order to provide valuable
offerings to clients.
REFERENCES
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