The Impact of Digital Technology on Business Activity: A Case Study of Total Solutions Inc.

This project examines the impact of digital technology on business activities, focusing on the implementation of the Smart Voice project at Total Solutions Inc. The study explores the project management plan, including objectives, aims, timeframes, and a detailed work breakdown structure. It also delves into research methodologies, data collection techniques, and analysis of the project's impact on the organization's sustainable performance. The paper highlights the importance of digital technology in enhancing business operations, customer satisfaction, and overall organizational success.

THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON BUSINESS
ACTIVITY
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
LO1: Establishment of project objectives, aims and timeframes on the impact of digital
technology in business activities.....................................................................................................3
Part 1 - Project Management Plan................................................................................................3
LO2: Conduction of small-scale research, data collection and information gathering to generate
knowledge in order to support the project.....................................................................................12
Part 2: Project Log Book In order to gather information three of the mentioned techniques has
been followed in the project and listed in below.......................................................................12
LO3: Presentation of the designed project and appropriate communicate recommendations based
on meaningful conclusions drawn from the evidence findings and/or analysis............................14
Part 3: Performance Review Template......................................................................................14
LO4: Reflection on value gained from conducting the project and its usefulness to support the
sustainable organisational performance.........................................................................................15
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17
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Introduction
The project management plan in this study to analyse the impact of digital technology on the
business activities. In this regard, a rapidly growing industry namely Total Solutions Inc has
been considered for the study. In recent years it has been found that Total Solutions Inc is
achieving good profits and stands ahead among the competitors. Technological implementation
is one of the basic advantages of the generated revenue. This project mainly deals with the
implementation of Smart Voice project in the operational sector of the Total Solutions Inc.
Digital technology has transformed the business activities like marketing, operation, HR and
accounting firms. There is a huge change has been observed from traditional methods to the
transformation of technology implementation. The main of this paper is to analyse skills which
are required for project implementation. This paper helps to gain an understanding of problem-
solving techniques, decision making and research activities involved in the implementation of
digital technology in the organisation.
LO1: Establishment of project objectives, aims and timeframes on the impact of digital
technology in business activities
Part 1 - Project Management Plan
Project management:
As per the comment of Kerzner (2017), project management is a practice of planning, initiating,
controlling, executing and closing the work by teams. This in terms meets specific success
criteria and also achieves specific goals of the organisation in the specified time period. The
project management involves triple constraints namely scope, time and costs in its operations
however other involved activities are quality, risk, people and resources (Alam and Gühl, 2016).
Key stages of project management
Project management has been divided into six main categories which are listed below.
1. Project Definition
2. Project Initiation
3. Project planning
4. Project execution
5. Controlling and monitoring
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6. Closure of the project
Figure 1: Key stages of project management
(Source: Created by the Researcher)
Advantages of project management
Project management in an industry gives guidelines, repeatable processes and techniques and this
in term helps to handle the work, available resources and people involved in project (Cicmil, et
al. 2017). One of the basic advantages is related to delivery projects in the efficient and
consistent manner within allocated budget and time. Some of the other benefits are listed below.
 Improves desired results
 Prioritise business resources
 Improves productivity
 Satisfies various needs
 Mitigates risks
 Increase customers satisfaction
 Gains competitive advantage
 Boost bottom line
Initiation of the project and project planning phase:
Refer to project plan template
1. Project Definition
Total Solutions Inc has planned to design the Smart Voice project which in terms helps the
organisation to move forward for initiation of project within the group of Research and
development (Fleming and Koppelman, 2016). This digital technology will have a greater impact
on the business process. This device in terms helps government and private bodies to detect the
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voice of the personnel. The digital technology implementation provides security from the rates
and identifies the criminals.
Problem Statement
The Total Solutions Inc has been facing an issue in the project design and marketing. Since the
company has evolved there is no such innovative product has been launched yet to attract the
potential customers in the market (Harrison and Lock, 2017). In order to attract more customers
into business the design of Smart voice recognition software is one of the innovative steps taken
by the end of Total Solutions Inc.
Project Strategy
The designed project will help in developing new voice recognition software and also supports
the organisation for the corporation of business strategy (Heagney, 2016). This designed digital
technology will provide progressive solutions to the clients which in terms improves the
company's productivity both in a home environment as well in the workplace.
Project Objectives
Strengthening the relationship with potential customers has done with Total Solutions Inc by
delivering the high-quality software on time. One of the main objectives of designing the Smart
Voice Recognition software is to become most preferred vendor for developing expertise on the
software systems and products.
Performance, Time Objectives and Cost
The cost baseline in project of Smart Voice recognition software development includes budgeted
cost for the successful implementation of project.
Project
Phase
Total
Budget
Comments
Planning
phase
$35000 This performance activity includes the work hours spent by the
project team members for planning project and gathering
requirements.
Designing
phase
$45000 This performance activity includes the designed work hours of
project team members to work on conceptual design of the Smart
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Voice project
Coding
Phase
$80000 This includes the work hours of technical codes to execute the
project
Testing
phase
$15480 It includes the performance activity of testing of the designed
software. Beta testing has been done on this digital software
Transition
Phase
$10000 This includes the hours and activities to make transit the software
to the client
Project
Closure
$900000 The operation has been involved to close the project by reviewing
the proper execution (totalsol.com, 2018).
Table 1: Performance, Time Objectives and Cost
(Source: created by the Researcher)
Deliverables
The voice recognition software is currently available to all over the electronics market; however,
the deliverables of this particular project will enable the team members to develop solution far
better than superior technology which is available at current (Hight and Novak, 2017).
Project Scope Statement
The scope of Total Solutions Inc Smart voice project includes design, planning, testing,
transition and development of voice recognition software packages. This digital technology
implementation software will meet the organisational standards and rest of the additional
requirements established in designed project charters (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). The project
scope also includes completion of training aids, manuals and documentation in conjunction with
the designed software. Project completion occurs when documentation package and software
successfully transitioned and executed to the Total Solutions Inc manufacturing group of
production (Martinelli and Milosevic, 2016).
Included Scope
The project work of Smart Voice software design will be performed internally. None of the
portions of software will be outsourced.
Excluded Scope
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The scope of Total Solutions Inc Smart voice project does not include any kind of changes in the
requirements of standard operating systems in order to run the software updates, software and
any revisions to it (Meredith and Mantel, 2011).
Success Criteria
Total Solutions Inc's has been successful in recent days for its availability of market shares. This
designed project of Smart Voice recognition has expected to gain market share due to its
availability of good product quality, better customer’s service, flexibility and ease of use (Papke-
Shields and Boyer-Wright, 2017). Additionally, designed product will be applied to the wide
range of usages like personal functions and businesses.
Project Assumptions
By leveraging superior quality, user-friendly products and capitalising on the new technology,
the Total Solutions Inc's can be able to position itself in list of premier providers. It is also
expected that the designed project will bring more success in terms of gaining recognition in the
current running IT marketplace.
2. Implementation Plan
The project implementation has been done by the sponsors and the senior managers associated
with Total Solutions Inc's. In order to execute the defined plan following procedures will be
followed. Taking into account of Gantt chart and Work Breakdown structure the whole of the
project implementation has been done. The impact of this designed digital technology project
will be successful by the active participation of project team members and cooperation of the
senior personnel (Ramazani and Jergeas, 2015).
Work Breakdown Structure
As per the comment of Schwalbe (2015), the work breakdown structure in the project
management helps to organise the teamwork and available resources into manageable actions.
The PMBOK known as Project Management Body of Knowledge defines the WBS as the
hierarchical decomposition of work that to be executed in project team. The work breakdown
structure helps the project manager to decompose executed work by the destined project teams
(Snyder, 2014). The work breakdown structure of Smart voice recognition software development
in Total Solutions Inc's has been shown below.
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Figure 2: Work Breakdown Structure
(Source: Created by the Researcher)
The work breakdown structure of Smart Voice project in Total Solutions Inc comprised of work
packages which do not exceed more than three months in any single work. The work packages in
the project management are developed through making close collaboration among stakeholders
and project team members (Suliman and Kadoda, 2017). The input has been given from the end
of the functional managers from the past projects.
Figure 3: Network Diagram 1
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(Source: Created by the Researcher)
In the work packages of the Smart Voice projects includes resources, deliverables and tasks
associate in project management (Suresh and Dillibabu, 2018). Every work packages in Work
Breakdown structure has been defined through aiding resource planning procedures, ensuring
deliverables and task completion.
Figure 4: Network Diagram 2
(Source: Created by the Researcher)
Schedule (Gantt chart)
The schedules of Smart Voice project has been derived from the designed Work Breakdown
Structure. The project charter has been considered for inputting project team members. The
designed schedules are completed by the team members of the project and review by the project
sponsors. The project plan has been approved and base lined by project managers. This schedule
has been maintained by using MS project Gantt chart by Smart Voice project managers of Total
Solutions Inc's. The proposed changes in Gantt chart schedule follow the Total Solutions Inc
change control process (Svejvig and Andersen, 2015). In case any issues arise in project
management, the project manager will be able to accept the change request. The Team members
and the project managers in the Smart voice project will be able to determine the impact of the
change in schedule, scope, resources, time and risks.
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Figure 5: Schedule (Gantt chart)
(Source: Created by the Researcher)
Completion of Smart voice project in Total Solutions Inc's takes nearly 10 months of time.
3. Project Processes
The standard development process of Total Solutions Inc will be followed for the project. In
meanwhile of the project execution, Rational Unified process methodology will be followed by
the project managers.
Standard process deviation Added, modified and
deleted methods
Reason for the deviation
The considered use cases will be
elaborated at the point of time
Modified Iteration based
development has been
done.
Development of logical object seen in
the first iteration
Modified Conform to the model
Development of unit test plan done on
the reach of iteration procedures
Modified Conformed to the model
Table 2: Project Processes
(Source: created by the Researcher)
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Communication Plan
As per the comment of Turner (2016), the project management plan sets communication
frameworks for executing the project. This plan helps in identifying the role and responsibilities
of the managerial people in case of Smart Voice project management. This management plan
includes the communication matrix which in terms helps in mapping communication
requirements to the communication conduit. Some of forms in project management
communication plan include meetings, presentation, telephone conversations and attending the
presentation. The project manager in the company is responsible for delivering effective
communication with the team members following the below-mentioned steps.
Table 3: Communication Plan in Total solution Incs
(Source: totalsol.com, 2018)
Communication Conduct:
Meetings: Meeting agendas will be distributed two days prior to the team members by the
project manager. In this, a brief discussion on project deliverables will be discussed.
Emails: Regular emails will be sent to the team members related to project activities.
Informational Communication: Face to face talk will be allowed in case of requirement.
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Table 4: Team members in Total solution Incs
(Source: totalsol.com, 2018)
LO2: Conduction of small-scale research, data collection and information gathering to
generate knowledge in order to support the project
Project execution phase:
Part 2: Project Log Book
In order to gather information three of the mentioned techniques has been followed in the project
and listed in below.
 Joint application development: Following this technique the group members has been
analysed about the innovation of the software product.
 Use cases: This process defined discrete way of executing the process work. Following
this method, the working process has been designed for project.
 Brainstorming: Based on this method needs of the customers have been identified. A lot
of ideas were generated about the innovating new products into the market. One of the
software products has been finalised for manufacturing by end of Total Solutions Inc's.
As a data collection method, a group of customers has been focused. Based on their preferences
the product requirements have been analysed.
Distinct Phases
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There are four distinct phases has been involved in the project of Smart Voice of Total Solutions
Inc's. In the initiation phase, strong arguments have been supported to identify the business
problems, needs and opportunities. In the planning phase, project has been approved to move
forward with the statements of work. In execution phase, the developed business plan has been
approved and in closure, the work has been sent for final delivery (Varajão et al. 2017).
The secondary research method of online customer’s preference has been selected for the study.
Based on consumer's preferences for Voice detection products the company has been planned to
go for the project. In the qualitative research technique, a half an hour interview has been taken
among the team members of Total Solutions Inc's. In this, opinions of the employees have been
taken regarding new software development. Total of 20 members has been considered for
interview process among which 15 of the members were willing for project initiation. Rest ten of
the members has shown their unwillingness for project initiation. In quantitative research method
survey has been conducted on the potential customers of Total Solutions Inc's. 50 of the
members have been selected for the survey method.
Fieldwork:
The qualitative and quantitative data has been gathered on the basis of a sample of the consumer
market. The probability and nonprobability sampling approach have been considered for data
collection method. In the probability sampling technique, the project manager has been selected
for the interview process. The project manager has been asked for several questions related to the
software project development.
Ethics, reliability and validity:
All of the above research has been done on keeping an eye on the ethical value. Since the
research has involved a great coordination and cooperation of different people, hence the
standards drawn from the research has helped to promote values in a collaborative manner. The
research methods are reliable as similar results have been achieved from the similar available
samples. This research is valid enough to drag the information related to the need of
digitalisation in business activity.
Analyzing information and data:
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The information drawn from the data collection tools helped to realise the importance of
digitalisation in Total Solutions Inc's. In the interview process, a brief analysis of the
introduction of new innovative digital technology has been produced. Questionnaires methods in
Total Solutions Inc have helped to find out the upcoming issues in the project management.
Analytical technique in the project research methods helped to analyse the procedures and
methods involved in the issues of project execution. Based on the analytical techniques the trend
of the market has been analysed in a brief manner.
Refer to project log book
LO3: Presentation of the designed project and appropriate communicate recommendations
based on meaningful conclusions drawn from the evidence findings and/or analysis
Communicating outcomes:
Part 3: Performance Review Template
For the project of Smart Voice of Total Solutions Inc's, the communication method of email and
memo reports has been sent to the hierarchy as well to team members. Using the verbal
technology of face to face communication as well as meetings solutions related to the project has
delivered. The communication medium of online feedback, reports delivery and presentation has
been included in the project management communication process. Both of the used
communication medium and methods have helped to enhance the communication procedures of
Smart Voice project.
Convincing arguments:
Based on the findings available in communication methods it has been observed that the
audience has no knowledge about the process of designed project. The audience has less
knowledge about the various processes of project initiation, planning and execution. In order to
evaluate the knowledge of audience in the project, a brief training process has been delivered to
the team members of Total Solutions Inc's.
Critical and objective analysis and evaluation:
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The primary data and the secondary data drawn from the survey and interview process is
inevitable for the project initiation. Based on the review of employees and customers the project
initiation has done in Total Solutions Inc.
LO4: Reflection on value gained from conducting the project and its usefulness to support
the sustainable organisational performance
Reflection for learning and practice:
This project delivered a diverse range of views and knowledge through the learning process. The
correspondings implications have been delivered by the barriers and opportunities faced in the
project management. This in terms helped the organisation to draw attention to the firm's ability
to observe the new knowledge associated with the project management.
The cycle of reflection:
As stated by Walker (2015), reflective skills are important in project management for enhancing
the learning processability. There is a number of approaches have been followed in the reflection
activity, however, for this project of Smart Voice structured reflection has been considered into
account. The reflection activity in the project management helped in following ways.
 Negotiating and identifying the project
 Managing and leading the project plan
 Developing the project plan
 Evaluating the project in a timely manner
Reflective writing:
This project management plan has helped to develop key skills of negotiation, communication
and interaction skills in the employees.
Generalisation:
As part of the project management, PowerPoint presentations have been delivered to the project
members of Total Solutions Inc's. The competence of employees has been developed. This
project has taught some of the basic skills to employees are listed below.
 Team Building
 Report writing
 Budget planning
 Progress monitoring
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 Negotiation
 Collaborating
 Risk Assessment
Refer to Performance review Template
Conclusion
This paper mainly focused on the impact of digital technology on the business activity. Total
Solutions Inc has been considered for this paper which is going to implement the project of
Smart Voice in its operational sector. A brief analysis of project deliverables with the Gantt chart
and work breakdown structure has done in the paper. Taking qualitative and quantitative
methods this paper has analysed the importance of project in Total Solutions Inc.
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