The Impact of Digital Technology on Small Business Growth Report

This report assesses the impact of cloud technology on business growth and innovation, using Continental Consulting Limited as a case study. It begins with an introduction to digitalization and cloud technology, followed by a project management plan covering cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. The report includes a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project timelines. Small-scale research, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, is conducted to gather data. The findings are analyzed using appropriate tools and techniques, leading to recommendations. The report concludes with a reflection on the research's value in meeting objectives and enhancing learning, supported by references and an appendix.

Managing Successful
Business Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Project aims and objectives....................................................................................................1
P2 Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk, and resources............................................................................................2
P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide time-frames and stages
for completion.............................................................................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research method...7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.......................................9
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations on the basis of research and data analysis....18
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................19
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance........................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX ...................................................................................................................................22

INTRODUCTION
Digitalisation means accepting computerised methods in performing business operations.
With the help of digital technology, it is easy to perform business operations. There are many
changes which are taking place in business environment, digitalisation is result of it. As there are
up-gradations taking place in digital techniques, so organisation has to accept those alterations.
This helps them to compete with external parties. Digitalisation helps to keep data stored, safe
and in systematic manner (Amshof and et. al., 2015). Digital technology helps different
departments of organisation such as marketing, production, supplies, stock verification, etc. This
report is based on Continental Consulting Limited which is research and business consulting firm
headed by Mario Bindas. They are thinking to accept cloud technology for storing, sharing of
data. In this report there is discussion about project aims, objectives and time frame, small scale
research for information gathering and data collection, recommendation and conclusion based on
research.
TASK 1
P1 Project aims and objectives
Digitalisation is effective for growth and development of business because there is use of
latest technique which reduces processing time and minimise possibilities of defects. Digital
technology is a medium which provides perfection in services and hence consumers get
satisfaction. Cloud technology is part of digitalisation as it helps to store and access data. With
cloud technology, there is requirement of change in working style such as more use of
computers, mobile phones, internet, etc. Cloud technology helps to provide instant solution to
customers because there is proper information available about client on just one click. Hence this
approach provides satisfaction to consumer and make good and long term relation with
Continental Consulting Limited . In research and consultancy segment, there is competition, so
accepting digitalisation in working, it is easy to compete with competitors (Chui, Manyika and
Miremadi, 2015).
Background of the project:
As per case of Continental Consulting Limited, they deals in research and business
consultancy. They have clients from London and Greater London. Mr. Mario, CEO of
Continental Consulting Limited has team of 22 expert consultants. A per changing environment,
digitalisation is accepted by various organisation. Hence Mr. Mario is also thinking to give up
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old obsolete machinery. They are thinking to accepting new IT facilities. Hence in order to
achieve this criteria, they are thinking to accept cloud technology. Cloud technology is a part of
digital technology which provides ease in maintaining, storing, recording data of client. This
technique is effective for growth and development of Continental Consulting Limited because it
reduces waiting time of consumers and appropriate data can be evaluated about consumer. Cloud
technology helps in storing data, so timely evaluation of client can be done. There are less
possibilities of miscommunication and confusion between consumer and organisation (Dirican,
2015). Cloud technology provides ease in working style and enhance knowledge of employees to
deal with technological changes.
Topic: “The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and innovation”.
Aim: “To evaluate the impact of cloud technology in communicating information and achieving
competitive advantage.” A case study Continental Consulting Limited.
Objectives:
 To ascertain necessity of cloud technology in business growth and development.
 To analyse the conception idea of cloud technology with respect to communicating
information. To evaluate relationship between cloud technology and competitive advantage.
Questions:
 What is the basic concept of cloud technology in regard to communicating information
among inter departments of Continental Consulting Limited?
 What is the need of cloud technology for business growth and development?
 What type of relationship between cloud technology and competitive advantage?
P2 Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk, and resources
Project management plan means a road map which guides to perform operations in
effective and efficient way. This is the concept which is performed by top level managers in
order to guide workers how to implement cloud technology (Garnham, 2017). While
implementing cloud technology, there is requirement of many different resources such as time,
cost, etc. So with the help of project management plan these resources can be planned and
actions can be taken accordingly. Project management plan prepared by managers of Continental
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Consulting Limited covers cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk and resources
associated with project.
In order to implement cloud technology, managers of Continental Consulting Limited
have to decided different sources from where resources can be raised in cheap rate. This helps
managers to accept technological changes as per pre determined budget (Intelligence, 2016).
Cost- Cost is one of the important component in accepting digitalisation to working style.
In order to implement cloud technology, there is requirement of different resources such as
computer, internet, LAN connection, etc. so managers has to consider this under There is up-
gradations in digitalisation, so this approach sounds to be costly. This helps employees to learn
about new technique and hence this is effective for performing commercial activities. Cost of
implementing digitalisation may increase because of frequent up-gradations in techniques. When
some new technique is implemented in Continental Consulting Limited then there is requirement
of training also. In order to implement cloud technology in business operations of Continental
Consulting Limited are as under-
Total forecasted budget
Particular 2017-18(£)
Implementing technology cost 20000
Promotional expense 8000
Maintenance cost 3000
Training charges 5000
Total cost 36000
Scope- Scope of cloud technology is increased because this is the way through which
Continental Consulting Limited can share and store data properly. This helps to get perfection in
working style as there are less chances of miscommunication. As there is competition in
consultancy sector, so cloud technology helps Continental Consulting Limited to compete with
other firms. There is ease in working style and it is easy to analyse overall problem of consumer
and give best solution. For Continental Consulting Limited scope of growth gets increased and
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they are able to represent themselves in industry. It is easy to communicate with external as well
as internal parties which helps to deliver information properly.
Time- Cloud technology requires around 76 days to be implemented at Continental
Consulting Limited (Kaplan, 2015). Time is also considered by managers because technological
changes are taking place frequently. So cloud technology must be implemented in accordance
specified time. This helps to give reliable and ethical solution to client's problem.
Implementation of digitalisation in Continental Consulting Limited is time consuming because it
is essential to lead employees and resolves their problem.
Quality- These days’ consumers are more quality conscious, so with the help of
digitalisation quality of services gets improved. When Continental Consulting Limited provides
good services, then customer satisfaction can be achieved. It helps to increase consumer base and
sales of Continental Consulting Limited. When quality of services is of good quality, then they
can achieve competitive advantages and able to make good brand image in industry. Quality of
product and services delivered by Continental Consulting Limited gets improved. This helps in
satisfaction of consumer and growth is possible in industry. Employees are also satisfied that
they are working with latest technique hence this reduces labour turnover and absenteeism.
Communication- Communication gets easy with the help of cloud technology. Cloud
technology is about storing and sharing data in systematic manner (Moro, Cortez and Rita,
2015). So this helps to create proper communication among employees and transfer relevant
information. In order to communicate with worker’s managers can use mail, business phones,
conference call, etc. can be used. Sometimes meeting can also call to know workers view about
such techniques and analysis their ideas. Continental Consulting Limited is a consultancy firm,
there are various clients who are not able to visit office. So in this case with the help of digital
technique communication is fast because data is saved in appropriate manner. While conducting
research, team mates use different communication channel such as e- mail, telephone, etc. To
transfer information such as documents, questionnaire, etc. then e- mail in used. But when there
is requirement of discussion in such as business phones are used. This helps in video
conferencing.
Risk- In cloud technology, there is risk up- to some extent. In applying cloud technology,
there are possibilities of data hacking, crashing of system, etc. This might affect working style of
Continental Consulting Limited. In case data gets hacked, then confidential information gets
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leaked and it affects brand image. Apart from this there is risk of obsolete technology because of
frequent software up- gradations.
Resources- there is requirement of some resources such as human resources in order to
learn and implement cloud technology effective at work place. This can be done when managers
select best employees as per job profile and they are ready to work under dynamic business
environment. While conducting research, there is requirement of technician, legal personnel,
electrician and other human resource. Apart from this there is requirement of Internet, computer
system, business phones, etc.
P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide time-frames and stages for
completion
Work breakdown structure- Work break down structure means structure which has
different levels of hierarchy. There are many activities to be performed in order to implement
project in effective way. So there is requirement of different workers which helps to perform
project activities in effective way. This structure helps to perform project operations in effective
way and every personnel is aware of their roles and responsibilities (Ng, 2016). Managers of
Continental Consulting Limited must focus on delivering information to employees as per their
skill, competencies. With the help of work breakdown structure, it is easy to assign roles and
responsibilities and at the same time managers can easily fix accountability.
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(Source: Work Breakdown Structure, 2018)
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Illustration 1: Work Breakdown Structure

Gantt Chart- Gantt chart is a graphical representation of activities which are required to
performed in order to complete project. There are different activities such as developing aims
and objectives, literature review, research methodology, data interpretation, etc. so with the help
of Gantt chart, its pictorial representation is possible (Ongsakul and Dieu, 2016). This is one of
the most important technique of project management, which helps to fix time period through
time scale for project activities. This chart helps to bring coordination and simulation in activities
of project. Gantt chart is represented on horizontal and vertical axis. It represents time required
to complete a project on X- axis i.e. horizontally. While it represents tasks or activities on Y-
axis i.e. vertically.
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TASK 2
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research method
Research can be conducted with the help of some methods which helps to provide
appropriate knowledge about perception of respondents. This helps to attain goals and objectives
behind research. Mainly there are two methods of research i.e. qualitative and quantitative
research.
Qualitative research- Qualitative research is a way through which data is collected and
used with non-numerical data (Osoba and Welser 2017). This research helps to know perception
of targeted consumer. With the help of qualitative data, emphasise is more on “why they think
so” as compared to “what they think”. This method allows in- depth analysis of data which helps
to give interpretation with justification. This research has more descriptive approach so
interpretation can easily known. In-depth interview, observation, etc. are methods of qualitative
research.
Quantitative research- Quantitative research is a way of systematic collection of data
from various sources. Mathematics, statistical, computational techniques are used in this
research. Online survey, questionnaire, etc. are methods of quantitative research. As per this
research method, issue is recognised and then actions are taken on the basis of sample
population.
Continental Consulting Limited is using qualitative data in order to know effective for
cloud computing. Qualitative and quantitative data is collected with the help of primary and
secondary research respectively.
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Primary research- In primary method, data is collected personally from respondents.
This method is more reliable because information is collected from respondents by researcher
personally. This method is more time consuming and expensive because information is collected
on personal basis. Qualitative research is part of it (Pannu, 2015).
Secondary research- In secondary research, data is collected from online sites, books,
journals, newspapers, etc. This information is less reliable as compared to primary research. In
this report total number of respondents are 50 and questionnaire is used to collect information.
Employees are target respondents.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Gender:
Occupation:
Contact no.:
Email id:
Q1) Is cloud technology necessary for business growth and development?
 Yes No
Q2) Do you have conceptional idea of cloud technology with respect to communicating
information?
 Yes No
Q3) What kind of relationship lies between cloud technology and competitive advantage?
 Positive Negative
Q4) Does storage of data become easy with cloud technology?
 Yes No
Q5) What are the benefits of using Cloud technology for Continental Consulting Ltd?
 Less possibilities of miscommunication
 Ease in sharing of information
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 Data Mining
Q6) Is cloud technology economical and time saving technique for Continental Consulting
Limited?
 Yes No
Q7) What are the major drawbacks of using cloud technology at Continental Consulting Ltd?
 Employees turnover
 Costly approach Frequent changes in technology
Q8) Is training required by employees to learn cloud technology?
 Yes No
Q9) Which type of training is more preferable?
 On the job training
 Off the job training Any of the above
Q10) Any recommendation to Continental consulting Limited related with cloud technology?
TASK 3
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
In order to perform research, there is requirement of some tools and techniques which are
effective and significant for getting correct information related to cloud technology. These tools
and techniques are used to give correct and complete overview about research. Research tools
and techniques helps to perform research work in effective way.
Research design- Research design is a way in which research is conducted. There are
three types of research design i.e. descriptive, exploratory and experimental. In case of
Continental Consultancy Limited, descriptive research is used (Rivera-Ruiz and Ferrer-Moreno,
2015).
Data analysis- Data analysis is done by managers of Continental Consulting Limited
under thematic analysis. In this analysis, themes of every question is made. This helps to get
overview of question.
Theme 1: Necessity of cloud technology
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