Continental Consulting Limited: Cloud Technology Implementation Report

This report examines the impact of cloud technology on Continental Consulting Limited, an IT firm specializing in business process re-engineering for small and medium manufacturing enterprises. The report outlines a project management plan, including cost analysis, scope definition, time management, quality control, communication strategies, risk assessment, and resource allocation. It also presents a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart for project organization. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the impact of cloud technology on business strategies and performance, addressing research questions regarding its influence on small businesses, the needs of business strategies for future performance, and the relationship between cloud technology and business strategies. The report concludes with recommendations and a reflection on the findings.

Managing Successful Business
Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Aims and Objectives.........................................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan..................................................................................................2
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart...................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative........................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques..................................9
P6 Recommendation.............................................................................................................15
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................15
P7 Reflection........................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Information technology has a wide concept that enabled an organisation to work
efficiently. It play a crucial role in managing business procedure, strategies as well as to running
operational activities in a smooth manner. Cloud technology is a most important part of
information technology that enable a company to store maximum data at a specific place,
generate connectivity and retrieve data when needed. This report is based on Continental
Consulting Limited which provides re-engineering activities for small and medium
manufacturing company. The initial objective of this report is to identify the impact which can be
catered with implementation of cloud technology within organisation. Furthermore, this report is
going to highlight importance of Project management plan that assist to determine overall
requirement for the accomplishment of undertaking project of implementing cloud technology.
The primary research will be undertaken so that views of respondents can be identified and
evaluated. Recommendation and reflection will be offered at the end of the report
(Drucker, 2012).
TASK 1
P1 Aims and Objectives
In a business organisation, technology play a most important role that assist to reduce
complexity in the operational activities and create digital database for the smooth functioning. It
assist to implement innovation in firm for the desired alteration and modifications. Information
technology is a wide concept that consider Cloud technology, artificial intelligence, Social media
networking, The internet of thinks and so on. Each of these technologies are considerable for
different areas in order to create efficiency in several practices. On the basis of this, an
organisation can accomplish their desired objectives and goals easily.
Topic:
“The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and innovation”. A
case study on “Continental Consulting Limited”.
Background of the project:
The concept of this report is based on Continental Consulting Limited which is a
Information technology firm and working as business process re-engineering for small and
medium manufacturing enterprises (Hillson, 2017). The business wants to upgrade their software
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to compete with challenges in market. For this, Continental Consulting Limited want to
implement Cloud technology that enable them to make changes in business operations through
effective filing and storing of information (Adzic, 2011). On the basis of this, firm can attain
their future business strategies in effective and efficient manner.
Research aim:
“To identify the influence of cloud technology on future business strategies and
performance. A case study on Continental consulting Limited”
Research objectives:
 To analyse the impact of cloud technology on small business.
 To identify needs of business strategies for its future performance. To analyse the relationship between cloud technology and future business strategies.
Research Question:
 What are the impact of cloud technology on small business ?
 What are the needs of business strategies for its future performance ?
 How to analyse the relationship between cloud technology and future business
strategies ?
P2 Project management plan
Continental Consulting Limited is IT sector organisation which needed to upgrade their
software services to attain higher competitive advantages. In this procedure, Cloud Technology
assist them to make changes in their internal business services by focusing on data storage
services, connectivity approaches, drastic recoveries as well as additional access at anywhere
when it needed. This is a wide concept which requires appropriate understanding of each feature
of new technology (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). Thus, it is required for firm to create a project
management plan that aid to build proper knowledge regarding overall procedure of cloud
technology from adoption to implementation. Project management plan for the firm is
determined below -
 Cost:- This can be described as most important fcators which is essentila to conduct any
project in proper manner thoruhg arranegmnet of overall resources in proper manner. It is
necessary to collect desired amount of funds whihc is important to apply cloud
technology in Continental Consulting Limited for achieving better outcomes of the same.
Moreoiver, it is mandatory rto arrange sufficient amount of capital to invest for adopting
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the givn technology which helsp to attain desired outcputs in qappropriate way (Gareis,
2010). It is observed and analysed that the considerable cost required to implement for
cloud technology has been estimated as £20K which aid to manage resources for new
technology in firm. Cost budget for this approach is determined below as -
Cost budget on Cloud Technology
Particulars Amount
Initial investment £20000
Expenses:
Research and developmental activities £2650
Operational expenses £5560
Cost to IT experts £2150
Maintenance £3640
Licensing fee £6000
 Scope:- This inckludes the importance and scope of specific technivcal changes in terms
of providing benefits to organsation to achive growth of business. It is observed that,
cloud technology is helpful to fulfil advanecd business requirements along iwth
containing broad scope of achieving success in future. However this technology will
provide support to generate effective storage of information, host internet security at high
level and establish efficient connection for proper acces. It can be consider as an
appropriate technques to compile overall activitie whihc facilitate to reduce complexity
of tasks and rism of dat safety as well. Moreover, it has been analysed that cloud has
wide scope as it helps to conduct projects pr tasks in more accurate way thoruhg gaining
maximum outcomes in limited duration of time. In context of Continental Consulting
Limited, they are required to apply this technology in oredr to store importnat data
properly and manufacture desirde products to satisfy clinets for retaining thme for along
time thoruhg gaining better profits (Turner and Zolin, 2012). Time:- This can be described as to conduct proper time mamangmnet of several activities
of single task so that it can be completed properly in correct duration of time. It is
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necessary to make accurate schedule of overall procedures of specific project in terms of
completing task with desired outcomes appropriately. However, it has been analysed that
cloud technology can be consider as time saving technique which is required to be
applied in given organsation. It will render help to reduce complexity of project and
facilitate to easily conduct lengthy projects in desired manner by managing work load
properly. It is possible for project manager will complete the project within 6 to 14
weeks. With th help of doing this, they become capable to gain maximum advantages of
information technologies in the terms of accomplishment of future strategies as wel as
target objectives (Viaene and Van, 2011). Quality:- This factor of quality is very esntial to be manitained and boist up the same by
applying effective strategies and techniques in correct manner. It is importnat for
attarcting new customers along with retaining new ones for increasing profitability of the
organisation. Moreover, it is evaluated that, cloud technology is appropriate concept to be
adopted in given company in terms of providing digital security as well as correct
utilisation of stored data and informations. However, it will render help to gain support to
make storage of information accurately in safe manner for fulfilling future purposes for
increasing quality of services efficiently to satisfy clients. In case of Continental
Consulting Limited, the project managers should putt efforts to make sure about service
and their maintainance of qualityalong with security algorithm to save the information. Communication:- Continental Consulting Limited is IT sector firm which provides re-
engineering services to their clients. For this, firm needs to identify their services user's
need and requirement to provide quality services to them. In this, process of
communication play a most important role which helps in identifying customer's demand
for specific services. Communication is not only required for customers management
approach but it helps to resolve internal issues of firm. In order to implement the project
in an effective way the project manager needs to establish a communication throughout
the team. So that they can share their perceptions and issues regarding the cloud
technology. They can communicate through email and intranet to resolve the problems
and risk factors while developing the technology (Den and Van, 2010). Risk:- Cloud technology is application of information technology which requires high
security for networking outsourcing. The major concept of this technique is based on
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coding which assist in managing higher level securities on different clouds. This is not a
easy concept because inappropriate working can create complexity in data storage and
security servicing. Therefore, firm needs to address legal licensing practices that assist to
secure information and data from major risk. Major concept of this approach is provide
authorised access to those firms who are register for legal liability. These terms assist to
reduce risk of cyber crime on the basis of networking servicing. Moreover these risk
aspects, another risk factor is the rigidity of the employees as they are working on the
outdated systems from past eight years. They may not cop up with the new technology in
a frequent way and if they do not utilise the upgraded technology then the invest on it
might gone in vein. As the employees will not use the cloud technology and the firm's
money can be waste which is the biggest risk for the company because the employees are
not friendly with it (Doherty and Ashurst, 2012).
 Resources:- Continental Consulting Limited requires to mange their resources in
effective manner that helps to access cloud technology in business procedure. Major
resources for the firm which are required first and foremost is funds, developer,
technology accessors, proper infrastructure and so on. On the basis of this, Continental
Consulting Limited can implement digital technology in their firm with a easy procedure.
There is requirement of some resources while implementing technology such as financial,
latest tool to do work, employees and many more.
This project management plan will helping Continental Consulting Limited in the terms
of easy adoption and implementation of Cloud technology.
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
Work breakdown is a most effective tool which helps to manage a overall project in
separated elements. On the basis of this project manager can reduce complexity of entire projects
by dividing them in small portions. These practices are different to general procedure of project
management plan because in this each element has been classified in different proportion on the
basis of their cost, time consumption, raw material labour and so on. It also helps to identify
overall cost of particular business approach. Main objective of work breakdown procedure is to
divide the project in small chunks to estimate the cost and time to accomplish the project. These
kind of business practices helps to providing effective directions to developer and accessors of
Continental Consulting Limited for the effective implementation of cloud technology by the
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effective identification of each practices. Through this, they can classify services on the basis of
their the cost of each module because every chunk needs different cost to finish the work. It
assist to reduce complexity of working so that company can implement such technology easily in
business operations. The project manager can identify the cost of each section separately and
then calculate the cost of the entire project. For them, it is required to have an excellent
understanding of information technologies for the effective utilization of equipments as well as
programming software for the appropriate accomplishment of project (Morris and Geraldi,
2011).
Gantt chart is a most specific concept which is used to manage a project work on the
basis of time approaches. The concept of Cloud technology requires appropriate planning,
testing, developing and implementation of practices for their effective utilization. Therefore,
manager requires to monitor each and every aspect properly in order to manage them in easy
processing methodology. These things can be related to funds, machinery and further
infrastructure which are requires to identify for getting desired outcomes. Through this, manager
can classify activities in approaches in different module so that they can reduce complexity and
risk from further practices easily (Kowalkowski and Kindström, 2011).
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TASK 2
P4 Small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative
For a business organisation, it is crucial to identify view point and opinion of their clients
upon the new strategies of management. These activities assist to analyse their requirement and
need for further changes and modifications. “Continental Consulting Limited” is planning to
adopt Cloud technology in their business procedure that helps them to upgrade additional
software essential to combat different market forces (Mankotia and Adams, 2010). Therefore,
various methods are discussed below which are used for accumulating necessary information.
Quantitative research – This method is used to collect the data from large population
that can be measured in the form of statistics. The core objective of quantity research is to
analyse the attitudes, opinions, behaviours through surveys, interviews, pools and observation.
Qualitative research – It is used to investigate the reasons, opinions and motivations
because it provides the deep study of the problem. This is also uncover the opinions and point of
view of the people. Qualitative research can be conducted through group discussions, individual
interviews, and participation/observations.
Primary research – Through this research, the Continental Consulting Limited can
gather raw information from the people. This is collecting a fresh data as it is conducting for the
first time. Primary research can be conducted through focus groups, surveys, interviews, and
observations.
Secondary research – In this research the company caters the information from other
sources who have conducted the research previously. This kinds of investigation is easy because
this information can be retrieve through internet but it may not give accurate results of the
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research because the opinions changes over time that may impact on the decision making of the
company (Crawford and Nahmias, 2010).
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1) Are you familiar with the concept of cloud technology?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Which is the most important cloud technology for firms for executing their business
operations?
a) Google drive
b) Dropbox
c) One Drive
d) All the above
Q3 According to your view does cloud technology helps in bringing changes in performance
of firms?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) Among the following which one is the most beneficial advantage of cloud technology
which is implemented by Continental Consulting Limited for attaining growth?
a) High Flexibility
b) Easier maintenance
c) Minimum expense
Q5) According to your opinion which is the most important challenge faced by company
while implementing cloud technology?
a) Insufficient Budget
b) Change Management
c) Cyber Security
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Q6) According to your views what is the main reason behind implementing Cloud
Technology by firms?
a) Safety and Secrecy
b) Easy to access
c) Reliability
Q7) Does implementing cloud technology helps in enhancing overall growth and
profitability of firms?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8) What is the major use of cloud technology at Continental Consulting Limited?
a) Storing of confidential data
c) Proper utilisation of assets
Q9) Provide suggestions by which firms can retain loyal and satisfied customers?
TASK 3
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Theme 1: Requirement of training in Continental Consulting Limited
Q1) Are you familiar with the concept of
cloud technology?
Frequency
a) Yes 19
b) No 11
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Interpretation – As per the above graphs it has been observed that out of 30
respondents, 19 are are familiar with the cloud technology because they are using it on their
phone and knows the advantages of the technology. On the contrary, the 11 percent respondents
are not familiar with as they are working with the old technology from eight years.
Theme 2 : Most important cloud technology for firm
Q2) Which is the most important cloud
technology for firms for executing their
business operations?
Frequency
a) Google drive 12
b) Dropbox 8
c) One Drive 6
d) All the above 4
10
0
5
10
15
20 19
11
Familiar with the concpet of
cloud technology
a) Yes
b) No
0
5
10
15 12
8 6 4
Most important cloud technology
for firm a) Google drive
b) Dropbox
c) One Drive
d) All the above