Continental Consulting: Digital Tech Impact on Small Business Growth

This report examines the impact of digital technologies, particularly cloud computing, on small businesses, using Continental Consulting Limited as a case study. It begins with an introduction to digitalization and its benefits, followed by an analysis of project objectives, aims, and a project management plan encompassing time, cost, quality, and communication. The report includes a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project timelines. Task 2 involves small-scale research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including primary and secondary data collection methods, such as questionnaires. Task 3 focuses on examining research information with appropriate techniques, tools, and recommendations. The research explores the advantages of cloud computing, its impact on human resources, and financial implications. The report concludes with a reflection on understanding research and offers recommendations for project management, referencing various academic sources throughout.

Managing a Successful Business
Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Objectives and aims of project.........................................................................................1
P2. Project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost, quality and communication
................................................................................................................................................2
P3. Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart in order to set time frames and offer different
stages of project......................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4. Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies..6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5. Examine of research information with right techniques and toolsP6. Recommendation for
draw conclusions....................................................................................................................9
P6 Recommendation on project management......................................................................16
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................17
P7 Reflection on understanding research.............................................................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
Today technology has developed in rapid manner which aids organisations in operating
their business in more easy and systematic manner. In UK and rest part of the world, business of
small companies are enhancing more as compared to large enterprises. Transforming
digitalisation into working system aids business owners of small associations to manufacture
products in less costs and time as well as it reduces wastage of production also. In this manner, it
is required by companies to introduce cloud computing in business which helps in preventing
data from loss or theft. In this regard, a report has been prepared on evaluating the impact of
digital technologies on business of small companies (Lian, Yen and Wang, 2014). For this
process, Continental Consulting Limited of UK has been taken who wants to implement new
technology in business like cloud computing. The main aims and objectives of this project has
been disclosed along with a management plan. In addition to this, Gantt chart and work break
down structure with some recommendation is also given in further part.
TASK 1
P1. Objectives and aims of project
Digitalisation change way of conducting business of enterprise like mobile technologies
help them in staying connect with customers. In addition to this, cloud computing, market
segmentation, connectivity and more aids managers in building a continuous supply chain. It
helps in making connection with different suppliers of the world through which productivity of
business can be increased.
In context with Continental Consulting Limited, this company deals in consultancy sector
has headed by Mario Bindas (Chang, Walters and Wills, 2013). It has an expert team of 22
members who contributed their entire efforts in enhancing business adequately. There members
are highly experienced and skilled who help this organisation in making decisions related to
adoption of technology. Currently this firm wants to introduce cloud technology which helps
administration in effective filling, sharing information as well as storage the same in proper
manner. Cloud technology provide various benefits to companies like allowing workers to work
in more flexible manner, accessing to automate updates and more.
Topic: How digital technology help small enterprises in enhancing growth and innovation of
business.
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Background of research
Digital technology is used to reshape entire business structure of a company as well as
change all aspects of operational activities. With introducing cloud technology, a firm can move
its business to servers of other companies who can access the same by internet connectivity. This
will result in making variable data packages available without fear of loss (Papadopoulos,
Stamati and Nopparuch, 2013). In addition to this, by using cloud computing, system of
enterprise will regularly updated with latest versions of software. It also upgrade server as well
as processing power of system.
Aim: “To analyse the impact of cloud technology in business organisation for sharing
information with others. A case study based on Continental Consulting Limited.”
Objectives:
 To determine the effect of cloud computing on business
 To ascertain impact of cloud computing on human resource who are associated with
business of a company To analyse financial implication of cloud computing
Research questions:
 What are the advantages of using cloud computing in business?
 How cloud technology create an impact on human resource of enterprise?
 How cloud computing affect on consistency of company's budget?
P2. Project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost, quality and communication
Project management refers to the practice of planning, controlling and implementing
work of particular team with motive of achieving goals and objective. A project manager is
required to design proper pattern or blueprint for his team members to accomplish their desired
goals. Every project is formulated for specific period of time and it is the responsibility of the
project manager to project in given time (Gupta, Seetharaman and Raj, 2013). In relation to
Continental Consulting Limited, project manager is concentrating on implementing cloud
technology in their business to improve the usage of software and other application in smooth
way. Cloud technology saves the space of hard disk as it stores whole data on the cloud based
storage. Its easier for the employees to access their information from any place at any time. It is
beneficiary for Continental Consulting Limited as this technology will save their storage space
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and also improves the working practices of employees. Project management involves various
elements like scope, communication, time, risk, quality and these are described as below:
Scope of project: Cloud technology is internet based service and application which can
be easily operated by the employees are they are habitual of using web based application for their
official work (Agnihotri and et. al., 2012). In context to Continental Consulting Limited, this
technologies is beneficial for improving their working practices as it can be used at any place
where internet is accessible. In this, scope of cloud technology is very vast as it will help the
manager in maintaining records of the employees with security for long duration of time.
Time: For the success of each project, it is important to complete the every task on given
time period. If the assigned work is not implemented on the preset time it will directly affect the
due of the project as well as financial resources (Lin and Chen, 2012). In relation to Continental
Consulting Limited, it is essential for the project manager to analyse the task and set time
according to the work.
Cost: It refers to the availability of financial fund for particular project. Continental
Consulting Limited have to raise fund to execute cloud technology in their firm to improve the
storage problem of the employees as well as manager. Project manager of this project is required
to make appropriate budget to implement this technology in firm.
Quality: It refers to the effectiveness of the project (Cegielski, and et. al., 2012). It is
essential for every project manager to maintain the quality of work while completing it in the
given time period. To attain the quality of the work it is mandatory for project manager to
monitor performance of employees. Implementing quality project is beneficial for the company
in achieving high profitability.
Communication: This term refers to exchange ideas and thoughts to give appropriate
meaning to it. In relation to Continental Consulting Limited, it is necessary to use two way
communication method to implement cloud technology in the work place (Turban and et. al.,
2013). Open communication helps the project manger to guide to discuss the issues and
problems with the team members and find feasible solution by their suggestion.
P3. Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart in order to set time frames and offer different
stages of project
In a project management, it is needed by managers of Continental Consulting Limited to
use some effective tools which aid them in completing all activities in set period of time. It
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includes Work Breakdown structure and Gantt chart. Procedure of both techniques are
interlinked with each in the following way:-
Work Break-down Structure (WBS): According to Project Management Body of
Knowledge (PMBOK), WBS can be defined as procedure of dividing activities of task into
manageable sections. This tools helps in organising and defining project work in a structural way
which includes work, time duration as well as requirement of costs for each task (Brettel and et.
al., 2014). Thus, by developing WBS, project manager can force team-members to complete
each activity in set duration.
(Source: Work Breakdown Structure, 2018)
Gantt chart- It is given by Henry L. Gantt which shows all tasks of a project which was
divided by WBS tools into visual presentation. It shows overview of duration for activities as
well as inter-dependence of each (Garrison, Wakefield and Kim, 2015). In general, this tool
represents various tasks on vertical bar and time duration of each on horizontal axis. Thus, it
force members associated with project to work in predetermined time through which overall
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Illustration 1: Work Breakdown Structure

efficiency improves. It provide various benefits like giving clarity of dates, ensures
accountability, easy to understand as well as bring efficiency.
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In addition to complete a project, it is necessary for researcher of Continental
Consultancy Ltd. to follow following format:
 Problem identification
 Literature review
 Identify main issues
 State and define concept of study
 A sample of respondents whose perception help in conducting project research
 Development plan
 Data collection
 Analysis and review
As per mentioned Gantt Chart, it has revealed that for conducting literature review,
researcher team will take near about 15 days. While for using methodologies to collect relevant
information, they will need approx 28 days. Further, for data collection and analysis, they want
25 and 16 days respectively. Other than this, to make project report after conducting all
activities, 25 days are needed. At last, for final presentation, project-makers need 7 days more.
TASK 2
P4. Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
While conducting any research, investigators are used two methods generally that are
qualitative and quantitative. In this context, qualitative research helps them in exploring different
perceptions of targeted customers of a company. While quantitative states how many of them
think equally. Qualitative research aids a firm in analysing thoughts of people in depth manner
and questioning can adapt in more flexibility way. But for this procedure, investigators are
required to take a small size of sample as it is more difficult to generalise large data. In addition
to this, such researchers are needed to possess high skills and knowledge in particular field also.
On the other hand, using quantitative data, project managers can take large sample of data if
need. As comparison, procedure of this method is more easier and faster too. But as result is
based on numerical data, therefore, it gives less detail of perception of people (Davenport, Barth
and Bean, 2012). In context with Continental Consultancy, managers of this firm use both
methods to evaluate what actually customers think.
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In addition to this, some other methods used by project making team of this firm for
gathering information are:-
Primary: In this research methodology, data is collected directly by investigators. They
use various techniques for gathering information such as interviews, field trails, questionnaires or
surveys and more. Among these methods of primary research, an investigator can opt the best
one as per budget and time. As research is conducted by project team themselves therefore, it
gives more reliable data. But if there is a large size of population then conducting research by
using this kind of method becomes more difficult.
Secondary: In place of conducting research directly, by secondary method investigator
can use gather data easily (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). This method provides them information
which is collected by others and published on different sources like on Google, in literatures,
magazines, books and newspapers etc. Thus, it will consumes less time and money as compared
to primary source. But in case of reliability, secondary method fails to give appropriate result.
In order to conduct proper investigation on evaluating the impact of cloud computing on
business of Continental Consultancy Limited, they use questionnaire format of primary research
method. In this regard, they take a sample from targeted audience of size 80 respondents.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Contact Number:
Q1) What is the main advantage of introducing cloud computing in Continental
Consultancy Limited?
a) Data Backup and storage of data
b) Cost effective and time saving
c) Increase in productivity
d) Powerful server capabilities
Q2) Which model of cloud computing is needed to be used by Continental Consultancy
Limited in business?
a) Public Cloud
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b) Private Cloud
c) Community Cloud
d) Hybrid Cloud
Q3) What is main aspect of providing security by cloud computing?
a) Access Control
b) Authentication and Authorization
c) Identify Management
Q4) Does cloud computing really affect on consistency of budget of Continental
Consultancy Limited?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q5) If cloud technology create an impact on human resource of Continental Consultancy
Limited?
a) Yes
b) No
Q6) What is the main requirement of implementing cloud computing in Continental
Consultancy Ltd.?
a) Managing service level policies
b) Operating system of organization
Q7) What is the exploitation level of cloud computing in Continental Consultancy Ltd.?
a) Low
b) Medium
c) High
Q8) If cloud computing helps Continental Consulting Group in enhancing productivity of
business?
a) Yes
b) No
Q9) Provide necessary recommendation through which Continental Consultancy Group
can increase productivity of business.
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TASK 3
P5. Examine of research information with right techniques and toolsP6. Recommendation for
draw conclusions
Theme 1: Main advantage of introducing cloud computing
Question Frequency
Q1) What is the main advantage of introducing cloud computing in
Continental Consultancy Limited?
a) Data Backup and storage of data 20
b) Cost effective and time saving 25
c) Increase in productivity 15
d) Powerful server capabilities 20
Interpretation: The term cloud computing refers to a service where data of a company is
remotely managed, maintained and backed up easily. It helps a firm in preventing from loss of
data as well as allow users to store their data online so that they can access same whenever they
need. It provides various benefits to associations which work on small sector like storing data
easily, using software as a service and more. In this manner, project team of Continental
Consultancy have made a survey on 80 respondents as shown in above graph. It has interpreted
from this graph that among 20 users have common belief in context with advantage of cloud
9
0
10
20
Column B