Improving Research Skills Through Practical Experience

The provided assignment details a student's experience with a research project that aimed to improve their technical knowledge, develop various skills such as analysis and problem-solving, and enhance presentation skills. The student employed digital technology and utilized social media sites to collect information from a wide population. This practical experience has contributed to the development of new qualitative research methodologies in management, highlighting the significance of participatory research methodologies in post-disaster/conflict reconstruction.

The impact of digital technology on business activity

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Lo 1.................................................................................................................................................4
P1 Aims and objectives...............................................................................................................4
P 2 Project management plans....................................................................................................5
P3 Work break down structure and Gantt chart .........................................................................6
LO2.................................................................................................................................................7
P 4 Conducting small scale investigation by applying the quantitative and qualitative research
methods.......................................................................................................................................7
Lo 3................................................................................................................................................11
P 5 Research analysis................................................................................................................11
Lo 3................................................................................................................................................21
P 6 Communicating the appropriate recommendation as a result of research..........................21
Lo 4...............................................................................................................................................22
P7 Reflection on the value of undertaking................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23

INTRODUCTION
Sales plays a significant role in growth of an organisation. Sales procedure includes
different activities such as developing the understanding about customers needs and building
healthy relationship with clients. The emergence of digital technology has assisted an enterprise
in fun filing the demands of customers and meeting their expectations. Digital technology
enabled firm to deliver additional facilities to clients. It has also provided business entity an
opportunity to reach wide number of customers and provide them with products or services.
Digital technology has helped an enterprise in increasing sales and profitability. It has provided
business owner or manager analyse the way business is perceived by their clients. Digital
technology allows an organisation to facilitates the direct interaction with consumers and
influence them to buy the products or services offered by company.
Digital technology also enables manager to gain the important information related to the
market , customers and competitors. It also enables business entity to make important changes in
business system , goods or services. In addition to social media platform has helped business
entity in providing good or memorable experience to clients. Emergence of digital media has
changed the pattern of shopping is done by shoppers in the market.
The purpose of the assignment is to develop the understanding about the impact of digital
technology on sales of organisation.
Lo 1
P1 Aims and objectives
Aims – It acts as the roadmap which assist scholar in identifying the activities which are to be
executed during the investigation procedure. Aim is defined as the purpose for which the
research activity has been conducted by the scholar. The aim of the present study is to analyse
the impact of digital technology on the sales of business in context of Tesco organisation.
Objectives- It is considered to be as important tool which assist researcher in making planning
procedures. Designing of objectives is recognised as strategic activity. Objectives are also
recognised as the overall plan made by the scholar in order to achieve desired outcome or
mission. The purpose of present investigation process is :
 To develop the understanding about the effect of digital technology on the sales activity
of an organisation.

 To analyse the implication of digital technology in increasing sales.
 To identify the way digital technology or social media platform assist business entity in
increasing sales.
 To determine the impact of digital technology on business growth.
 To increase the sales by 10 percent within six months.
 To improve customer services by implementing the digital technology.
 To provide the customers with additional facilities such as online payment , acers s to
company information.
 To suggest the strategies which can be utilised by an organisation for increasing sales.
 To recommend the techniques which can be applied by firm in order to yield maximum
benefit by employing digital technology at workplace.
 To develop digital strategy in order to supports an organisation in increasing sales and
profitability.
P 2 Project management plan
After the establishment of the aims and objectives fort the research, next task is design
suitable project management plan. It assists the investigator in identifying the resources which
will be required by them in order to conduct survey in systematic manner. Project management
plan also supports researchers in analysis the several obstacles which might occur in exciting the
research activity (Huang and Sarigöllü, 2014). It also consists of the detail about the different
task or action which will be taken by scholar in order reaching conclusion as well s for achieving
desired outcome. Project management plans also covers various other aspect of investigation
such as cost , time, quality , communication , resources , ethical considerations etc.
Cost : This is considered to be the important part of research activity. There are both
fixed and variable costs are associated with the execution of investigation process. The amount
of cost which will occurred dependents non the nature of project as well as on number of
activities which will be conducted during the survey. The economic factors such as inflation ,
change in tax etc. (Higginbottom and Liamputtong, eds., 2015.) Has direct as well as major
influence on the cost factor which is required to be conduced by the scholar when making the

plan for investigation process. Some fix expenses associated with the research activity includes
communication , transportation , stationery etc.
Quality : This is another important elements in project management plan. Quality is the
factors which has direct influencer ion the decision made by the researcher, Scholar is need to
concentrate on the quality when collecting the data or information from the participants. It
should also be considered when presenting the information.
Time : It is the important constituents , as in investigation procedure each and every task
is interlinked with each other .Error due to limitation of time can have negative impact on
outcome. Time factor also have adverse effect on the quality of work .It is required by the
research to apply timer management strategy. As this strategy will help scholar in completing the
project on time.
Resources: These are the important part of investigation plan,.As lack of resources can
create barriers in completing the project. Researcher need to use the various types of resources
for executing different tasks during the investigation procedure. Some resources which are
required for facilitating survey include technology,capital,human resource, machinery, stationery
, communication devices, and other equipments (Guercini, 2014). Resources are also required for
implementing the plans, strategies. In context of present study raw material or physical
resources will be required by researcher for executing the investigation in systematic manner.
Communication : it is very much significant for investigator to ensure the smooth flow
of information as well as effective communication between the people those who are associated
with the project. As suitable communication strategy will help scholar in preventing the
duplication of task as well as resources. There are different communication devices as well tools
which can be used by the researcher during investigation process. In present study , investigator
will utilise telephone , notice , e-m ail , social media sites for facilitating the interaction with
participants or other people during the investigation procedure.
Ethical considerations: It is very crucial element in research Plan. Ethical
considerations are required to be made by researcher during investigation. As ethical issues are
not managed properly then it might have negative effect on the image of scholar. In present
investigation , researcher speciality have focus on quality of the information which has been
gathered through different sources. As there are high chances of plagiarism. Before conducting

the interview procedure or survey , all the participants were informed about the objective of
study.
Risk – there are several types of risk which might occur in facilitating the investigation
procedure. One of the major risk is ethical issues which have direct as well as significant
influence on the reputation of an organisation a well as image of scholar (Husted, Henriques,
and Crane, 2018). The other types of risk is communication failure or bad weather condition ,
unfavourable political situation in country can create major barriers in the execution of research
activity.
P3 Work break down structure and Gantt chart
Work break down structure is defined as the project management engineering tool. It
assists scholar in managing the people as well as different task in systematic manner. Work
breakdown structure also supports researcher in making the task or activities understandable as
well as easier. It also supports project manager in managing or reducing the work load. Work
break down structure is considered to be as suitable tool which assist researcher in organising
the actions in appropriate manner (Lebow, 2018). It also helps scholar in completing the survey
in systematic , effective and coefficient manner.
Gantt is defined as the graphical representation which consists of the sequence in which
the various activities will be executed during the investigation process. It is considerer to be as
effective tool as Gantt chart supports project manager or scholar in preventing the overlapping of
activities. Gantt chart also support people or employee in identifying their roles as well as
responsibilities during the survey.
1st
Week
2nd
Week
3rd
Week
4th
Week
5th
Week
6th
Week
7th
Week
8th
Week
9th
Week
Introduction
of the topic,
setting aim
and

objectives
Literature
Review
Choice of
methods for
investigation
Data
aggregation
and analysis
of
information
Drafting
conclusion
LO2
P 4 Conducting small scale investigation by applying the quantitative and qualitative research
methods.
There are several techniques , strategies and methodologies are used by the scholar for
facilitating the investigation process. In addition to this investigator also utilises some
philosophies and concept which assist researcher in reaching to the conclusion. The different
hypothesis , approaches supports scholar in making the suitable decisions (McNely, Spinuzzi,
and Teston, 2015). In the present investigation on topic analysing the impact of digital media on
sales of an organisation, researcher will use different methods .These are :
Research philosophy: It provides the steps by step plans or action which are required to
be taken be researcher in order top reach conclusion. Research philosophy assist scholar in
identifying the techniques or new ways which can be used during survey for accomplishing
desired outcome. It also supports scholar in executing the investigation procedure in systematic
manner and allows them to generate quality outcome. Research philosophy mainly provides the
techniques , methods or strategies which can be applied by the investigator for gathering or
accumulating information related to the research topic (O'Brien and Saldanha, 2014). Some

research or investigation philosophies are positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism. These two
research philosophies are considered to be as the two exclusive paradigms which supports
scholar in identifying the nature of problem and analysing the sources from where the various
facts about the topic can be gathered. All three positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism
investigation philosophy can be utilised in single study (Özerdem and Bowd,2016).
In present study on investigation topic analysing the impact of digital technology on the
sales , researcher will consider the nature of the problem will use interpretivism research
philosophy.
Research design: it is considered to be as strategy which is formulated by the scholar in
order to complete the survey in systematic manner. Research design assist investigator in
identifying the problem as well as supports scholar in determining the reason for the same.
There are different research or investigation design such as experimental , explanatory ,
exploratory, descriptive etc. which can be applied by the researcher in order to conduct
investigation procedure (Panneerselvam, 2014). Research design also help researcher in
analysing the suitable solution to the problem. Investigation design can be utilised for gathering ,
analysing , recording , interpretations , representing the data or information.
In present survey,scholar will use descriptive research design. This specific investigation
design has been selected in order to gain depth knowledge or information on investigation topic.
It will further assist scholar in reaching to the conclusion and making suitable judgement.
Research approach : it is considered to be as a plan which comprises detail about the
broad assumptions as well as methods which will be utilised or applied by investigator for
executing the different activities during survey. The two basic investigation approachers are
qualitative and qualitative (Pegoraro,Scott and Burch, 2017). The selection of research approach
is based on the nature as well as type of research .It is also depended on the nature of issue which
has been found during survey.
In present study investigator will use qualitative investigation approach for collection as
well as analysing the information or data.
Data collection : It is the most crucial part of research plan. As without gathering the
information researcher will not be able to reach conclusion and can not make the decision. There
are different sources from where the facts can be accumulated relevant to investigation topic.
These are primary and secondary sources. There are several methodologies can be utilised for

gathering the information or content. In present research the scholar will use both primary and
secondary information which will be accumulated using the different methods as well as
resources (Robson and McCartan,2016). Primary facts will be gathered by conducting the
interview as well as through questionnaire method. Resources used for collecting the secondary
data are books, journal , magazines articles etc.
Sampling : It is the strategy or technique used by the researcher for choosing the few
participants from the wide population. Sampling is done by considering the time factors as well
as size of population. When selecting the participants, researcher should ensure that people those
who has been selected represents the interest of whole population. Biasses should be eliminated
when selecting the participants. As this factor might have negative influence in the decision
made by investigator .In present research , scholar has selected 15 participants through random
sampling techniques (Rose,2016). People those who are selected works in Tesco company.
Employees of Tesco are selected as participant , as these people have much knowledge about
organisation and can provide detail information about the business performance.
Data analysis: It is considered to be as important activity in terms of making the
information presentable as well as useful. Data analysis supports investigator in analysing the
important information (Pegoraro, Scott and Burch, 2017). It also enables researcher to reach
conclusion and make appropriate decision. In present study , thematic analysis has been used
with qualitative technique.
Questionnaire
Qualitative Research Methodology
Name:_________________
Age:__________________
Business:____________
Ques 1. What type of impact digital technology have on sales of an organisation?
 Positive
 Negative
 Both.
Ques 2 How much agree you are with statement that use of social media platform help firm in
increasing sales.
 Completely agree

 Partly disagree
 Completely disagree
Ques 3. What are the techniques company is using for promoting goods or services ?
 Market campaign
 Advertisement
 use of social media sites
Ques 4 . Does increase in use of digital technology has given rise to stiff competition which has
negative impact in business growth?
 Yes
 No
 Don't know
Ques 5. Did your organisation has made sales of goods or services via the Internet in the
reference year ?
 Yes
 No
Ques 6 What type of media an enterprise is utilising for communicating with customers or
promoting goods?
 Websites
 Printing advertisement'
 social media.
Ques 7 . Which of the following facility an organisation is providing presently to customers?
 Online payment
 online order booking facility
 Access to company information
 None of the above.
Ques 8 What type of digital technology is used by the business entity?
 Computer
 Mobile device
 Customer and Supplier Relationship Management Software
 Information technology.
Ques 9 What are the main advantages of installing the digital technology at workplace ?

 Increase in sales and profitability
 Improved business activities
 Increase in firm ability to respond to customer queries.
 None of the above
ques 10. Employment of digital technology will support an enterprise in bringing improvement
in which business activity?
 Great sharing of information
 offline and online business operations
 Collection of data or information related to customers
Ques 11. To suggest the strategies which can be utilised by an organisation for increasing sales.
Lo 3
P 5 Research analysis
Thematic analysis is a technique which can be utilised by scholar for analysing ,
interpreting as well as presenting data or information. The different themes have been designed
by investigator on the basis of questionnaire.
Theme 1:Positive, impact digital technology have on sales of an organisation.
What type of impact digital technology have on
sales of an organisation?
Frequency
Positive 10
Negative 2
Both. 3

Interpretation : The above information represents that digital technology have positive effect on
the sales of organisation. This information has been provided by the majority that is 10
respondents out of 15. There are three participants those who have stated that the digital
technology has negative effect on the sales as well as growth of organisation. These people have
given such answers on the basis of competition which has generated by increase in use ofg
digital technology.
Theme 2:Completely agree, with statement that use of social media platform help firm in
increasing sales.
How much agree you are with statement that use
of social media platform help firm in increasing
sales.
Frequency
Completely agree 12
Partly disagree 2
Completely disagree 1
Positive Negative Both.
0
2
4
6
8
10
Frequency

Interpretation: Majority of the respondents has shown there complete agreement with the
statement or fact that use of social media platform help firm in increasing sales. Only 3
participants has partial as complete disagreement with the fact.
Theme 3:Market campaign, t are the techniques company is using for promoting goods or
services.
What are the techniques company is using for
promoting goods?
Frequency
Market campaign 9
Advertisement 4
use of social media sites 2
Interpretation : From the above information , it has been analysed that Tesco company is still
using the traditional promotional techniques .This is the reason an organisation has not able to
increase its sales in last few years. Business entity is required to implement digital technology or
Completely agree Partly disagree Completely disagree
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Frequency

need to use social media sites for promotion goods or services. As this marketing strategy will
help business entity in reaching to wide number of customers and increasing sales.
Theme 4:Yes, in use of digital technology has given rise to stiff competition which has negative
impact in business growth.
Does increase in use of digital technology has
given rise to stiff competition which has negative
impact in business growth?
Frequency
Yes 10
No 3
Don't know 2
Interpretation : Out of 15 responded, 10 has stated yes that use of digital technology has given
rise to stiff competition which has negative impact in business growth. There are three
participants who has said no , to question being asked to them. Two participants has denied to
give answer.
Market campaign Advertisement use of social media sites
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Frequency

Theme 5 :Yes organisation make sales of goods or services via the Internet in the reference year .
Did your organisation has made sales of goods or
services via the Internet in the reference year ?
Frequency
Yes 10
No 5
Interpretation : It has been analysed from the above information that Tesco company has made
sales of goods or services via the Internet in the reference year. In addition to this , fact found
during the investigation has shown that in reference year there has been tremendous growth in
sales of an organisation.
Yes No Don't know
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Frequency

Theme 6:Website , is the type of media an enterprise is utilising for communicating with
customers or promoting goods.
What type of media an enterprise is utilising for
communicating with customers or promoting
goods?
Frequency
Websites 8
Printing advertisement' 4
social media. 3
Yes No
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Frequency

Interpretation : It has been analysed from the above information or data that Tesco company is
still utilising Websites which is traditional techniques fore communicating with customers. This
is another reason for less growth in sales. It is required by the company to use social media sites
, as this market communication strategy will allow business entity to have two way interaction.
Theme 7:Online payment ,facility an organisation is providing presently to customers.
Which of the following facility an organisation is
providing presently to customers?
Frequency
Online payment 10
Online order booking facility. 4
Access to company information 1
None of the above. 0
Websites Printing advertisement' social media.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Frequency

Interpretation – Out of 15 respondents 10 have stated that presently Tesco organisation is
providing the online payment facilities to its client. It has been analysed by observing the other
business entities using digital technology , that Tesco can provide extra services to customers.
Theme 8:Computer is the type of digital technology is used by the business entity.
What type of digital technology is used by the
business entity?
Frequency
Computer 5
Mobile device 4
Customer and Supplier Relationship Management
Software
3
Information technology. 3
Online payment
Online order booking facility.
Access to company information
None of the above.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Frequency

Interpretation : It has been analysed from the above data that Tesco is using the computer
technology. Tesco organisation should use Customer and Supplier Relationship Management
Software as this will help an enterprise in increasing sales.
Theme 9:Increase in sales and profitability are the main advantages of installing the digital
technology at workplace.
What are the main advantages of installing the
digital technology at workplace ?
Frequency
Increase in sales and profitability 8
Improved business activities 4
Increase in firm ability to respond to customer
queries.
2
None of the above 1
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Frequency

Interpretation :It has been represented from the above information that majority of the
respondent perceives that Increase in sales and profitability are the main advantages of installing
the digital technology at workplace.
Theme 10: Employment of digital technology will support an enterprise in bringing improvement
in sharing of information.
Employment of digital technology will support an
enterprise in bringing improvement in which
business activity?
Frequency
Great sharing of information. 10
offline and online business operations. 3
0
2
4
6
8
Column C

Collection of data or information related to
customers.
2
Interpretation : Out of 15 respondents , 10 have stated that Employment of digital technology
will allow an enterprise to share information about products or services direct with client.
There are 3 participants who have said that installation of digital technology will support
organisation in bringing improvement in offline and online business operations.s
Lo 3
P 6 Communicating the appropriate recommendation as a result of research.
It has been concluded from the study that the digital technology has both positive and
negative impact on the sales of an enterprise. Report has also concluded that if the digital
technology is used in appropriate manner and implemented at right place , can drive firm towards
success. Project has also concluded that social media sites have enabled an organisation to
reach wide number of customers and inform them about products or services. It has also been
concluded from the research that the emergence of digital technology has bough opportunity ties
as well as challenges for business . Digital technology especial social media sites have contribute
in driving firm towards growth and accomplishment of desired business objectives.
0
2
4
6
8
10
Frequency

It has been recommended to Tesco that business entity should employ digital technology
within an enterprise. As installation of digital technology will allow an enterprise in providing
the additional facilities to customers. It will also enable an organisation to expand business
operations. Marketing manager in Tesco has given recommendation that firm should use new or
modern approachers to marketing. As new marketing techniques will help business entity in
increasing sales and profitability.
Lo 4
P7 Reflection on the value of undertaking
By executing the digital technology I have able to increase my knowledge about the
digital technology and its use in business. I have also developed the various skills as well as core
competencies which I believe that will assist me in my personal as well as professional
development. By facilitating the investigation I have able to improver my communication ability
and enhanced my technical knowledge which I perceive I can use for conducting research in the
future. I have learned about the different tools, techniques and methodologies which I will use
ion further investigation on different topics. I have also realised that there are some areas in
research activities where improvement can be made. I have established aim to accomplish
following objective which was to improve my technical knowledge, development of various
skills such analytical as well as problem solving. I have been successful in achieving desired
targets. I have collected the information from the questionnaire through which my analytical and
observation skill has developed. I have also able to improve my presentation skills. I have also
learned that the techniques or strategies which can be utilised or developed in order to yield
maximum benefit by employing digital technology at workplace. I have also realised that I can
also use social media sites for identifying the problem as well as collecting information from
wide population.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal:
Özerdem, A. and Bowd, R., 2016. Participatory research methodologies: Development and post-
disaster/conflict reconstruction. Routledge.
Robson, C. and McCartan, K., 2016. Real world research. John Wiley & Sons.
Silverman, D., 2016. Qualitative research. Sage.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
Rose, G., 2016. Visual methodologies: An introduction to researching with visual materials.
Sage.
O'Brien, S. and Saldanha, G., 2014. Research methodologies in translation studies. Routledge.
Guercini, S., 2014. New qualitative research methodologies in management. Management
Decision.52(4).pp.662-674.
Husted, B.W., Henriques, I. and Crane, A., 2018. Quants and Poets: Advancing Methods and
Methodologies in Business and Society Research.
Lebow, J.L., 2018. Discursive research methodologies and couple and family therapy research:
Reflections. Journal of marital and family therapy.
McNely, B., Spinuzzi, C. and Teston, C., 2015. Contemporary research methodologies in
technical communication. Technical Communication Quarterly.24(1).pp.1-13.
Higginbottom, G. and Liamputtong, P. eds., 2015. Participatory qualitative research
methodologies in health. Sage.