Digital Technology Impact on Continental Consulting Project Report

This report examines the impact of digital technology on the operations and functions of Continental Consulting Limited, a business and research consultancy firm. The research includes an introduction and background on the company's challenges and the adoption of digital technologies. The report outlines the aims, objectives, and research questions, along with a project management plan. It utilizes a Gantt chart and work breakdown structure to illustrate project activities. The research methodology section details the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods, incorporating research philosophy, approach, and strategies. Data collection methods, including primary and secondary sources, are discussed, along with sampling techniques and ethical considerations. The report provides an analysis of the research data and concludes with recommendations and reflections on the study's findings.

MANAGING
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND....................................................................................1
LO.1.................................................................................................................................................1
P.1. Aims and Objectives of Research........................................................................................1
P.2. Project Management plan....................................................................................................2
P.3. Gantt Chart and Work break down structure.......................................................................4
LO.2. ...............................................................................................................................................7
P.4. Small scale research by applying quantitative and qualitative methods..............................7
LO.3.................................................................................................................................................9
P.5. Analysis of research data.....................................................................................................9
P.6. Recommendation...............................................................................................................18
LO.4...............................................................................................................................................19
P.7. Reflection...........................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
In the era of rapid changing world, innovation in technologies are playing vital role.
Companies are giving tough competition in adopting as well as implementing digital technology
within organisational functions and operations (Impact of digital technology on small scale
companies, 2017). There is great impact of digital technology on the small scale companies. It
improves the procedure, products, services, structure, performance and technologies of business.
This also helps in creating new values and belief in the company. Digital-technologies includes
both traditional players and digital only brands that are transforming their commercial enterprise
with digitalisation. Technologies has crucial effect on the operations of small scale companies
(Ku, 2017). It has both tangible and intangible effect on companies’ operations. It also affects
efficiency, culture as well as relationship of company. It revolutionised the way the company
conduct their business. It has changes the structure and activities of small scale companies.
However, companies face many challenges with the rapid changes in technologies. In this
present research project, Continental Consulting Limited company will be taken for assessment.
It is a Business and Research consultancy firm. The CEO of company is Mario Bindas. This
company is also greatly affected by digital-technologies.
This company was set up 8 years ago and it is one of the famous company at that time but
with the passage of time and rapid increased innovations in the industry of Information
Technology made eight years old tools, techniques obsolete. After some time, they found that
they need changes in the use of their technologies. They make efforts in upgrading their
technologies and bring development and growth in processes and structure of company
(Westerman, G., Bonnet and McAfee, 2014). Digital technologies help Continental Consulting
Limited company the way they perform in effective manner. This research study will analyse the
impact of digital technology on the functions and operations of company by conducting various
types of research study.
LO.1.
P.1. Aims and Objectives of Research.
Aim - “To identify the impact of digital technology on growth and innovation within small
business – A study on Continental consulting limited”
Objectives
 To understand the concept or meaning of digitalisation.
1

 To understand the impact of digital technology on Continental Consulting Limited
company.
 To determine the impact of customer relationship management on business. To determine the effect of digitalisation on growth as well as innovation of small and
medium scale enterprises.
Research Questions
1. What is the meaning and concept of digitalisation?
2. What is the impact of digital technology on Continental Consulting Limited
company?
3. What is the impact of customer relationship management on business?
4. What is the effect of digitalisation on growth as well as innovation of small and
medium scale enterprises?
P.2. Project Management plan.
The plan for Project management consists of each and every detailed information which
is essential for explaining the entire studies and factors that help in improving external and
internal working environment at work place. A project management plan can be referred to a
strategy that is related to the activities and functions of management which is implemented in
order to achieve goals and objectives of research. It is also very essential that cost of research
should not exceed above the budget. The plan for implementing CRM in the company are as
follows-
Cost- Cost is one of the most important factor that researcher has to considered in any
manner as cost is the factor that cannot be ignored (Kenney and Zysman, 2016). In project
management plan each and every activity is performed within cost and expenses required by
company. In order to achieve aims and objectives of research, researcher should effectively
distribute the cost. The cost incurred in conducting this research is £85.
Identify the problems- Problems are the barriers that affect plans or strategy formulated
by project management team. In order to achieve the aims and objectives of research study, it is
very important that researcher should identify the issues and problems that occurs in conducting
research. Lack of skills of employee's, lack of fund and many other issues can arise. The cost
incurred while conducting the research is £155.
2

Risk- Risk is another most important factor that researcher has to considered. In project
management plan, there is high risk present in conducting investigation (Oldham and Da Silva,
2015). Thus, scholar has to identify the types of risk involved in research study. By identifying
risk in an effective way, the negative factor is avoided to the large extend. In conducting
research, there are various types of risk involved such as duplication of data, lack of response
and over utilization of resources and many other risk.
Project Schedule- This is also one of the most essential stage in project management. It
is the duty of researcher that there should be proper schedule for conducting a project. By
developing schedule all the activities meet the outcomes in expected way (Westerman, Bonnet
and McAfee, 2014). Apart from this, effective schedule help researcher in fully utilization of
resources.
Quality- Quality is the essence of the project management plan. The quality of all the
project are depended on all the factors that were discussed above. A good quality means there
should be no mistakes, errors in implementation of plans and strategy in company. Top quality
functions and plans can develop and grow performance or output which can be useful in context
of growth of a firm or business.
Communication- It is important to communicate information that are related to the
project among employees of organisation, so that they adapt new techniques or methods of
working. Effective Communication build coordination and cooperation (Kane, 2015).
3

P.3. Gantt Chart and Work break down structure.
Illustration 1: Break Down Structure
The above illustration demonstrated the break-down structure of Continental Consulting
Company's activities and function. A work break-down structure is approach to distribute all the
activities that are included in the project. It is a systematic framing of all the task so that mistakes
and errors can be eliminated. Work break-down structure describes several factors and resources
that are utilized to reach the aims and objectives of project plan. Planning, implementation and
recommendation of current project are included in structures.
Gantt Chart
4

5

6
Illustration 2: Gantt Chart
Illustration 3: Networking plan

A Gantt chart represent the activities that aids in accomplishing aims and objectives of a
project according to the current market position and situation. This research work will help in
determining activities and their presentation which may assist in executing aims and objectives
on a specific deadline.
LO.2.
P.4. Small scale research by applying quantitative and qualitative methods.
Research methodology is the specific techniques or process that is used to identify, select
and analyse information about the topic. There are several types of methods that are used to
achieve aims and objectives of the research. These methods help researcher to analyse the study
of research i.e. Qualitative and Quantitative. There are several research methodologies that are
designed for improving the results of the investigations. In order to determine specific methods
or to identify problems of research and issues with regard to the topic or subject, this is the best
tool used by researcher (Quinlan and et.al., 2019). Addition to this, it also helps in identifying
several ways that helps in collection of data. In this present study, investigator has used mix
approach for assembling, gathering of data which are qualitative and quantitative.
Research Philosophy- The theory of philosophy assist in developing most effective
design that can be applied within a research study to execute the aims and objectives of
examination as well as collection and analysis of data in most effective way. It generally deals
with nature, source and evolution of knowledge. There are different types of research
philosophies that are used by the investigator for conducting the research these are positivism,
interpretivism, realism and interpretivism (Research Methodologies, 2017). In this research
study, researcher has used Positivism research philosophy. It is an approach that helps to furnish
useful consideration for reliability of investigation. It is a view of social phenomenon.
Research Approach- Research approach is a plan and process that consist of broad
assumptions to detailed methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation. This plan
involves several decisions that are very important while conducting research. There are some
different methods that researcher can use like explorative, predictive, descriptive and
explanatory. In this present research study, investigator has used exploratory method of approach
(Takhar-Lail and Ghorbani, 2015). This type of research theory helps to ascertain the best design
of investigation, methods and techniques in collection of data as well as in selecting the subject
of research. This theory is also used when the research conducted for issues earlier is not clearly
7

understand. Thus, exploratory approach will improve the final outcomes of research in most
effective manner.
Research Strategies- The strategies of research is a step by step plan of action that gives
direction to researcher efforts and thoughts. Effective strategies help investigator to conduct
research in a systematic manner as well as it also provides a schedule to produce a quality of
outcomes. There are two types of strategies these are qualitative and quantitative methods.
Sometimes researcher used only one strategy or sometimes combination of both strategies are
used. In this present research study, researcher had analysed the attitude or behaviour of
employees of Continental Consultancy Limited company in respect to the use and impact of
digital technology within organisation operations and functions. Questionnaire had been used by
formulated by managers working in Continental Consulting Limited Company (O'Brien and
Saldanha, 2014). Thus, both quantitative and qualitative strategies are used in this investigation.
Data Collection- Data Collection is the process of collecting and measuring of
information on variable of interest in a systematic manner. There are various relevant sources for
data collection that assist in finding answers to the problem of research, test of hypothesis and
measure the results. It is very important for the researcher that the information that is to be
collected should be identified, sources of data and the methods that has used for assembling of
data. There are two methods of collecting data these are primary and secondary data. These are
both the sources. Data which is collected by the researcher own self and which is first hand as
well as it is original in nature is called as primary data. While data which is collected by other
person and passes through statistical analysis is known as secondary data. Secondary data is
second hand data and it is less expensive (McConville, 2017). Primary data is more reliable than
data collected from secondary sources. In this present research, researcher has used both
methods questionnaire and interview for collection of data from both the sources. In this present
researcher, investigator has collected data from both the sources.
Sampling- It is a process that refers to the group of respondents who participate in
interview or survey that is conducted by the researcher for collection of data related to the
subject or topic of the investigation study. In general terms, it is the procedure of selecting units.
There are two types of sampling these are probability and non-probabilistic sampling. In present
research study, researcher has used non-probabilistic methods of sampling. Scholar has prepared
8

questionnaire and conducted research by selecting 15 managers of Continental Consultancy
Limited Company (McNely, Spinuzzi and Teston, 2015).
Ethical Consideration- Consideration of ethics are very critical in research. There are the
norms and standards for conducting information that differentiate between what is right and
wrong. There is some ethical consideration during conducting research are as follows and in this
present research, scholar has considered all these norms and standards (Christ, 2017).
 Data which is collected should be informed consent.
 Participation should not be forceful; it should be voluntary.
 It should not harm anyone.
 The information gathered from the participants should be kept confidential.
 Researcher can assess only relevant factors that are related to the research.
LO.3
P.5. Analysis of research data.
Questionnaire
Company: Continental Consultancy Limited
Respondents: Managers
Name:
Age:
Gender:
1.What is your age group?
 25-35
 35-45
 45 above
2.Do you agree that your activities in your organisation is influenced by the use of digital
technology?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
3.Do you think digitalisation is best for your company?
9

 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
4.State the area where your company is benefiting large?
 Marketing Department
 Human Resource Department
 Sales Department
 Operational Department
5.Do you think the customers of your organisation is satisfied with the use of digital
technology?
 Agree
 Disagree
 May be
6.Do you think the digital technology has great impact on sales and profit of your company?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
7.What is your opinion about company's share will increase with the use of digital technology
within functions and operations of company?
 Agree
 Disagree
 May be
8.Among the following what is mostly benefited with the use of digital technologies?
 Profit will increase
 Sales will increase
 Customer relationship will be enhanced
 Company will be developing and grow more
9.Do you think your company can become one of the leading company in UK if they focus on
innovations and digitalisation?
 Agree
 Disagree
10