The implication of digital technology on business functions of SMEs

This research project focuses on the impact of digital technology on the business functions of SMEs. It includes a research proposal, literature review, research methods, data analysis, and communication of research outcomes.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................
P.1. Produce a research proposal that clearly defines a research question or hypothesis
supported by a literature review.............................................................................................3
Literature Review:...........................................................................................................................
Activities and timescales..................................................................................................................
P.2 Examine appropriate research methods and approaches to primary and secondary
research...................................................................................................................................7
P.3. Conduct primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business
research project that considers costs, access and ethical issues.............................................8
P.4. Apply appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data.......................10
P.5. Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience
..............................................................................................................................................17
P.6. Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the
business research project......................................................................................................18
P.7. Consider alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of the
outcome’s.............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................
Annexure:.......................................................................................................................................

TITLE
The implication of digital technology on business functions of SMEs'
INTRODUCTION
There are various areas of study that can be conducted. These are carried out so that
solution for some specific prospect can be recognised. The present investigation is executed
on ascertaining identifying the impact of digital technology on business activities of SME.
There are many changes that have taken place in relation with technology and this has
positively helped in developing strong relation with customers. Different type of aspects will
be covered and focused to make the business reach their goals and objectives.
MAIN BODY
P.1. Produce a research proposal that clearly defines a research question or hypothesis
supported by a literature review
Running a successful business is the most challenging tasks. In today's world, digital
technology has made great impact upon SMEs' business sector growth. It is essential for each
organisation to understand the requirement of customer so that organisation will be able to
develop their existing services at top quality scale. It is being necessary for organisation to
adoption of the latest digital technological applications, which enables them to deliver highly
quality of products and services to their existing customers (Sigala, Christou and Gretzel,
eds., 2012). In context of carry out research, The Qbic hotel is taken into account by
researcher. They go for understanding the prerequisites of clients and convey their
administrations. As per finding out impact of digital technological applications, all relevant
research practices will apply in proposal to execution of research within respective manner.
Aim and objectives of the organisation which is as follows:
Aim:
“ To understand the significant impacts of digital technology upon business functionalities: A
study on Qbic Hotel”.
Objectives:
 To gaining knowledge about impact of digital technology on Qbic Hotel's
functionalities.
 To break down the advanced innovative digital technology utilised at Qbic Hotel.
 To assess the effect of advanced innovation on organisational practices of Qbic Hotel. To prescribe methodologies to expand business activities by using of advanced
innovation at Qbic Hotel.

Research Questions:
 What are major business practices that are executed at Qbic Hotel in United
Kingdom?
 What are the mobile and computerised technologies are being utilised at Qbic Hotel? How digital technological based business practices are being affected at Qbic Hotel?
Reason for choosing the research project:
There are numbers of reasons, which has been affected me to choosing this topic.
Various types of strategies that can be adopted by the business so that they would be able to
make betterment within existing performance level of entity. In this manner, the present
research will enable me to know about implication of digital technology in order to improve
quality of business practices and performance level within Qbic hotel.
Literature Review:
It is very important prospect of each research to have considerations of other research
points within current businesses to carrying out the research practices at reliable manner.
Further, the researcher will take considerations of some authors review on research topic.
According to Costabile & Spears, (Eds.). (2013) it has stated that, in today's world,
numerous types of digital technological instruments are being utilised by hospitality
industrial organisations in state to make betterment within current performance level of
organisation. However, digital technology has made improvement within each business
sector, in context of Hotel industry, by engineers, there are several types of digital
technological tools and techniques has been developed by them to helping organisations to
carrying out their business practices within easy manner. As per Nichols, (2012) it being
necessary for hotel organisations to understand the needs and demand of consumers and
according to it, they have to deliver services at workplace. Numbers of departments are being
associated in the hotel organisation such as, chef, employees, receptionist, and management.
Waiters, etc. they all are work together for accomplishment of common gaols of business.
Top carry out all the business practice, there are numbers of digital technological applications
can being used by Hotel businesses to betterment within existing performance level of
enterprises.
According to Miller, (2014) Digital marketing is considered to be the source for
interactive entertainment. There are different type of strategies that are implemented so that
they are able to attract customers in effective manner. When information is provided, then it
becomes favourable to make them boosted up and meet their needs. In situations when people

get to know that data’s provided is not proper, then causes serious issue in which the firm
faces problems. When details are not provided properly, then individuals develop negative
perception within their mind (Eubanks, 2012). Thus, it can be stated that companies are
expected to convey appropriate details so that they are able to work in appropriate manner.
Apart from this, Avital, and et.al., (2014) stated that digital technology has helped in the
business to contribute effective towards economic growth. Organizations are able to attain
their set of goals and objectives in appropriate manner.
As per Dredge, Airey & Gross, (Eds.). (2014) it was elaborated that, varied of
innovative digital engineering has been evolved in today's world. In context of Hotel
business, its professionals require realising the benefits of digital technological instrument at
workplace and gaining competitive advantages from it by utilising digital tools. However, in
day to day activities of Hotel, variety of digital instrument can be utilised by its professionals
to make it easy to completion of daily business tasks within easy manner. According to Jones,
Borgman & Ulusoy, (2015) it has stated that, employees contemporary issues which faced
into daily operations, has been removed by organisations by utilising digital technological
instruments. Thus, digital technology has made great impact upon performance level of firm.
To completion of research practices, the following activities and times scales has followed by
researcher during completion of research tasks.
Activities and timescales
Activit
y
1th
Week
2nd
Wee
k
3rd
Week
4th
Wee
k
5th
Week
6th
Week
7th
Week
8th
Wee
k
9th
Wee
k
10th
Week
Find
resear
ch
Topic
Develo
ping
aim
and
objecti
ves
Litera

ture
Revie
w
Analys
ing
journa
ls,
online
source
s, etc.
Drafti
ng of
metho
dology
Finish
Propos
al
Design
questi
on and
pilot
resear
ch
Carry
out &
Recor
d
Resear
ch
Data
Analys
is and
Makin

g
Graph
s
Discus
sion
and
Concl
usion
Final
Report
Editin
g &
Compl
etion
P.2 Examine appropriate research methods and approaches to primary and secondary research
In perfect and systematic research manner, it is mandatory that all the kinds of
techniques use in that research, should be reasonable and the best. Now here some methods
and techniques of research methodology are given for make better research -
Research Philosophy: It is compulsory that determine the proper sources, where it comes or
information can be gathered (Norman and Verganti, 2014). Two types are come here for this
purpose which name is positivism and interpretative. For better research result, investigator
will make use of both in combined the positivism and interpretative. From this technique
overall focus are on the main target and the aim that set in previous.
Research Design: This method provides the research in systematic manner to the
investigator. It includes three different types that are experimental, exploratory and
descriptive. From all these three methods the investigator use the descriptive research
approach because it provides the all theories which are necessary for this research topic.
Research approach: Research approach have two type of techniques that are deductive and
inductive. The deductive approach depend on testing theory its main objective is also used
the theory which are in the context of research topic and get the result. The other one is
inductive which is focus on developing theory or objective at the pre fix manner through

which data is gathered. The investigator use most of inductive research approach from both
of them.
Data collection: There are two types of conducting research primary and secondary method.
Both two method are used by research program. In first method which is primary are
conducted with the use by questionnaire from some employee like 10 and secondary method
are utilized threw journals, books, online web portals and many more. There are different
type of researches that are carried out on similar topic. All these information which are
gathered by some other investigators are known as desk research and these are effective
enough to develop in depth understanding.
Data Analysis: After collecting all required data there are need of proper analysis made. In
his criteria, thematic will be use as practical the data in the form of graphs, tables etc.
P.3. Conduct primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business
research project that considers costs, access and ethical issues
For implication of digital technology for conducting the present research, the
following research techniques have been used -
Research Philosophy: It stated with the trust related to the analysis of data and gathering of
data. Research philosophy is totally related with source and nature of knowledge. In research
methodology, the research philosophy is like an over view so it comes at first level in
research methodology. Four method are comes in this technique which are positivism,
Interpertivism, pragmatism and realism (Eubanks, 2012). Interpertivism and positivism are
use in combined form in the Qubic Hotel.
Research Approaches: For a better research design it is mandatory to determine the pre plan
so that research will be easy. It has two type of methods which is deductive and inductive
method. In both method the inductive is very useful because in digital technology it makes
specific observation.
Research Design: An investigator have needs of information about the strategy which he
adopted for coherent and logical integration of various levels of the study, it all provides by
research design. Some types of research design are determined here like descriptive,
explanatory and exploratory etc. Qubic hotel is considered descriptive research design. This
technique's phenomena is based on depicting all participants in a proper manner. The
descriptive model consist three methods of carrying out the research. These three methods are
survey, case study and observation. Any of them which is suitable for Qubic Hotel are
utilized and conduct a study for the implications of digital technology on their running
business activities.

Data Collection: All required information are getting by this method because it uses the best
method for receiving at the desired level of success. Two techniques are use in this method
that are primary technique and secondary technique for data gathering. Both technologies are
used in implications of digital technology (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully, 2013). For any
study first time collection of information is known as primary data collection. For primary
data collection some techniques are used which is surveys, observations, interviews, and
focus group etc.
Sampling: The two methods are use for sampling these are probabilistic and non-
probabilistic. In today's the probabilistic method is more useful.
Data Analysis: in analysis of data some various techniques are used that are coding, cleaning
and transforming of data for reached at desired level. Data analysis also have two techniques
which are qualitative and quantitative.
Ethical considerations:
For conducting any research the following issues related to ethics are comes : -
Informed consent : The first issue is comes that, to take pre consent from the people who
involves in the study. If did not take any prior consent then it will become an ethical issue so
it is need to take a prior permission from them.
Confidentiality: The second issue come against the researcher is the confidence level of
involved people while in study running on (Theodosiou and Katsikea, 2012). It is mandatory
that anonymity of the persons are give in right way. For solving this issue for better result the
investigator would be ensure to the people about their identity. Now they can provide
accurate information with the confidence. In addition, they ensure about the confidentiality of
information gives by them. The researcher should also check the unauthorized access to the
data.
Cost considerations: In any research there are various steps going for better result so the cost
may also increase. From different methods are utilized like information gathering, analysing
the information are the main reason of cost increasing. And now the problem is financial
resources are also limited. Reduce the number of research assistants can a solution of this
issue. And researcher can also decrease this cost by carried out many functions by
himself/herself.
Access issues: There are also a different type of issue is generated that is access issue when
gathering the information about primary and secondary data. Access issue in primary data
collection is gaining access of the participants of the research study. And this issue can be
rectified from concerning with the organisation. Now at the time of secondary data collection

the issue may be come against the investigator is, the investigator can restricted to use some
journal articles and authorised books. For solving this issue the investigator should take pre
consent from the authorised entity.
P.4. Apply appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data
While gathering of data, it is required for researcher to adopt correct investigation
approaches so that each response gathered from questionnaire can be analysed within
respective manner. Following given are the assessment which has made with the assistance of
thematic in which table, chart, etc. has utilised:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Employees Name:
Age:
Sex:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q.1. What types of digital technologies that are being utilised by Qbic hotel?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Q.2. Does using of digital technology is advantageous for the Hotel to improve its performance
level?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Q.3. Presently using digital technology effectively utilised by its professionals?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Q.4. Does using of technology has given positive impact on performance?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Q.5. Is digital technology has made great impact upon business practices and performance

level?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
Q.6. What are the benefits that you think firm gets when digital technology is used?
 Reduces wastage
 Improves performance level
 Better quality services
 Improves satisfaction of customers
Theme:1. The Qbic Hotel is using advanced or updated digital technology
What types of digital technologies that are being utilised by Qbic
hotel?
Frequency
Yes 9
No 3
Not Sure 3
Total 15
Interpretation: From the survey conducted at Qbic Hotel, London, it can be stated that,
numerous changes that has been taken lace within the company. In order to gaining
knowledge about Hotel to which types of digital technologies are being utilised by

organisation at workplace to assisting its employees to completion of tasks. However, out of
15 selected employees of Qbic Hotel, 9 employees were agreed with the statements,
organisation is using updated digital tools to completion of their day to day works. Moreover,
3 employees were not agreed with this statement and remaining were not agreed with what
kinds of digital instruments are being utilised by firm. Thus, it can be said that majority of
employees implicated that, various types of digital tools are being utilised by organisation
which is helping them to execution of their day to day practices.
Theme:2. Using of digital technology is advantageous for the Hotel to improve its
performance level
Does using of digital technology is advantageous for the Hotel to
improve its performance level?
Frequency
Yes 8
No 4
Not Sure 3
Total 15
Interpretation: Digital technological instruments are helping the organisation to improving
performance level of business in order to attaining their business objectives. From the survey,
it can be implied that, out of 15 selected employees of Qbic Hotel, 8 employees has said that.
After implementation of digital engineering upon business exercises level of the business,
numbers of digital tool and techniques are being utilised by company, which has greatly

improved performance level of organisation. Majority of employees were agreed with the
statements to using of digital applications has improved performance level of business.
Theme:3. Presently using digital technology effectively utilised by its professionals.
Present using digital technology effectively utilised by its
professionals?
Frequency
Yes 7
No 4
Not Sure 4
Total 15
1. Interpretation: From the survey conducted at Qbic Hotel, employees of organisations
are using digital technologies efficiently at workplace to completion of their day to
day activities. The latest and updated advanced digital technologies are being used by
its employees to deliver services in Hotel perfectly. Out of 15 employees of Hotel, 7
executives were agreed with the statement, that implies that, Hotel has adopted
advanced digital instruments to execution of their daily business practices. Rest of
them were not sure and not agree with the statements. Thus, it can be stated that, its
employees were comfortable with digital technology which is currently being used by
organisation at workplace.
Theme:4. Using of technology has given positive impact on performance
Does using of technology has given positive impact on performance? Frequency

Yes 9
No 2
Not Sure 4
Total 15
Interpretation: From the survey, it has stated that, in Qbic Hotel, after implementation of
digital instrument within its existing business practices, uses of digital tools and mechanism
has helped the organisation to functioning of their daily operational functionalities give them
to improvement within performance level of firm. Out of selected 15 employees of the Hotel
were agreed with uses of digital technology has positively impacted upon performance level
of business. Rest of them, were not sure and not agreed about it. Thus, it implies that, after
adoption of digital application within daily works of hotel, it has gained effective growth.
Theme:5. Digital technology has made great impact upon business practices and
performance level
Is digital technology has made great impact upon business practices
and performance level?
Frequency
Yes 10
No 3
Not Sure 2

Total 15
Interpretation: There are numbers of daily business practices which has been done by its
professionals at workplace. Provision of facilities by Hotel must be efficient which attract its
customer more and more to having frequent consumption of its services. Out of 15 selected
employees, majority of employees were positively agreed with this statement.
Theme:6. Benefits of digital technology gets through using digital technology
What are the benefits that you think firm gets when digital
technology is used?
Frequency
Reduces wastage 7
Improves performance level 3
Better quality services 3
Improves satisfaction of customers 2
Total 15

Interpretation: From the conducted survey at Qbic Hotel, London, the question has been
asked by researcher to benefits of digital technology gets through using digital instruments.
Out of selected 15 employees of the firm, majority of employees were agreed with major
benefits got to organisation through reduction of wastages. In addition, 3 workers thinks that,
it has given most benefits towards better quality of services and rest of them were agreed with
improve satisfaction level of customer at workplace. Thus, uses of digital technology has
made great impact towards waste reduction in the hotel.
P.5. Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience
From the above entire analysis, it can be stated that, the Qbic Hotel is currently using
digital technology which is advanced and updated. From the entire research, the main
outcomes has found out by researcher which is, the Hotel employees are functioning their
daily practices within easier manner with the help of implementation of digital technological
applications. In today's world internet has made impact in each business sector to completion
of their works within the respective manner. In order to operate digital instruments,
professionals require to have access of internet into existing application to running them
properly via internet. Before adoption of digital instruments, organisation were not about to
perform their daily practices as quickly as now (McNiff, 2016). So after implementation of
digital instrument at workplace, the Hotel employees has made good communicational level
with each other at workplace in context of delivering their services to its customers
efficiently.
In addition to this, technology has improved the working efficiently and productivity
of the business. With utilisation of digital tools, automation within existing facilities has
gained by them. Auto check-in and check-out services save quality of times of their
employees. Solar technology has improved the energy of the business at workplace and it is

also proving cost effective techniques for Qbic Hotel. Apart from it, mobile and computerised
technology has helped its employees to easy gather relevant information and effectively
connect with other departments of organisation which is also operation within the same
organisation. It also helps company to reduction of over costing which is bearing by
organisation by having high numbers of employees (Selwyn, 2014). In addition, it also assists
them to increment within communication flows of employees at workplace while performing
their tasks.
P.6. Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the
business research project
From the above entire analysis, it can be concluded that, utilisation of updated and
advanced technology help the business professionals to attaining their desired business goals
and objectives within the business environment. In Qbic Hotel, on daily basis, there are
numbers of digital technologies has been utilising by its professionals to easily completion of
daily works of hotel and also make betterment within existing performance level of
organisation. Apart from it, it is necessary for the organisation to conduction of effective
training and development program at workplace to make their employees efficient to
operating of digital instrument at workplace with effectiveness. From the survey, it has stated
that, after adoption of uses of digital instrument at workplace,Qbic Hotel will be able to
betterment within saving wastages of the hotel's prepared materials and improve the quality
of services as well.
Reflection:
The research techniques has applied into the present research on Qbic Hotel that has
proved to be effective in accomplishment of the aim and objectives of the study. Appropriate
project management and time frameworks has made within Gantt chart to completion of each
activities on determined time. Further, relevant research methodology techniques has utilised
by researcher to conduction of each research practices of the present research within
respective manner. Defines survey has been conducted at Qbic Hotel to asking aim oriented
questions to 15 selected sample of hotel's employees. From the data gathered from the
analysis, it can be stated that, depth of detailed information has been gathered by researcher
at workplace to knowing about impact of digital technology upon hotel. Thus, hotel's
professionals can adopt more updated digital instruments to improve performance level of
business.

P.7. Consider alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of the outcome’s
Beside from the above research techniques, numbers of alternative research
methodology can be considered to carry forwards the research. In this context, interview
method could be taken into account by researcher to gaining detailed knowledge about
impact of digital technologies on performance of business (Rodríguez, Williams and Hall,
2014). Other than this use of survey can also be used so that the perception that are carried
out for research topic can be focused in appropriate manner. Use of telephonic interview can
also be done so that people from different location so that their perception can be determined.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis can be obtained by researcher to gaining furthermore
detailed knowledge about it.
In order to conduct the research in effective manner, it is important to make sure that
selection of respondents are done in effective manner. In this context, information can also be
taken from customers as they are the one who make use of the service4s that are delivered by
organization. They know better about the performance that are made by the firm in terms of
delivery of their products and services. This way, the type of perception that are carried out
by individuals can be determined. Apart from this, number of respondents can be increased.
When number of respondents are high, then research can be relied. This will be helpful
effective enough to make sure that adequate information can be gathered relevant with the
research topic.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Miller, C. H., 2014. Digital storytelling: A creator's guide to interactive entertainment. Focal
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Eubanks, V., 2012. Digital dead end: Fighting for social justice in the information age. MIT
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Theodosiou, M. and Katsikea, E., 2012. Antecedents and performance of electronic business
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Rodríguez, I., Williams, A. M. and Hall, C. M., 2014. Tourism innovation policy:
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Dredge, D., Airey, D., & Gross, M. J. (Eds.). (2014). The Routledge handbook of tourism and
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Jones, N., Borgman, R., & Ulusoy, E. (2015). Impact of social media on small
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