Determining the Impact of Digital Technologies on SMEs: Ariel Motor

This document presents a research proposal and ethics form for a project investigating the impact of digital technologies on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with a specific focus on Ariel Motor Company Ltd. The research aims to understand the influence of digital tools on SME characteristics, productivity, and socio-economic development, proposing recommendations for technology improvement. The methodology includes an inductive approach, primary data collection through questionnaires and interviews, and data analysis. The proposal outlines activities, timescales, and ethical considerations, including participant consent, data storage, and potential risks. The ethics form addresses data protection, participant recruitment, and potential ethical concerns, ensuring compliance with research ethics policies. The student seeks to determine how digital technology impacts SME operations and success, and proposes the use of questionnaires, interviews, and data analysis to gather the necessary information.

APPENDIX
Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
______________________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: To determine Impacts of digital technologies on SME's: A
study on Ariel Motor Company Ltd. .
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective
or hypothesis)
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you
want to learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
What is the importance of digital technologies on SME's? The main
learning outcome is what will be the affect of digital technology on small
companies and this work will be done by conducting primary research.
Research is trying to find how, why and what changes can happen if a small
firm use digital technology.
The main aim of the study is to investigate the impact of digital technology on Ariel Motor
Company Ltd. Objectives
 To understand the main characteristics of SMEs in order to develop the company.
 To explore some of the areas of SMEs in which the ICT can be helpful in terms of
improving the productivity of Ariel Motor Company Ltd.
 To enhance the potentiality of ICT in developing the socio-economic of Ariel Motor
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Company Ltd.
To recommend some ways for improving the digital technology in the company for
achieving the goals.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying,
personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the
topic is important):
Because of personal interest, this topic is chosen for research. It is
significant because it can tell that if small firms will use latest technology
then they may become big in upcoming time.
Research can be carried out as a procedure because with the aid of this
collect real and dependable information from the market place about an
specific topic. Therefore, existing research supported on digital technology
thus with the assistance of this can importantly determine its impacts in an
effective form. However, digital tools and method immediately affects on
enterprise firm either positive or negative in nature due to this it is
necessary to be proper analysed and measure its implications. Moreover,
Ariel Motor Company Ltd. company try to select digital tools and methods
so that they importantly provide better attribute of work and devices to
customers as per their needs and duty so that they can get fully satisfaction
towards their demand.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or
hypothesis:
Internet, government records, newspaper, journals, books etc. are some
sources which are used for supporting research.
In SMEs, there is an implementation of the new technologies by all the small and medium
enterprises (SMEs), which mainly includes the barriers as well as drivers for taking up the
actions. As per the view of Donnelly et al. (2015, p.440), there is a rapid growth of the
technologies in the small enterprises of business. In the competitive market, most of the
companies are mainly indulged in the era of digitalisation. In order to be on the top in the
competitive market, there is a requirement of being unique and it is done with the help of
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technologies.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g
research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data
collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final
outcome, evaluation, writing the report):
Formation of questionnaire
Interviews
Analysation of response
How long this
will take:
3 days
1 day
3 days
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why?
This research contain inductive approach and primary data is used for conducting research.
What your areas of research will cover:
This research will cover all the aspects which is connected to digital technology and SMEs.
While operative on research, it becomes immense obligation of researcher
to search for all those achievable ways by which he can complete his
inquiry in appropriate manner. Every research is based on a suitable
designing, without selecting investigation arrangement researcher can not
reach to final results. Basically, it is pattern which outlines all the activities
and exercise which assist in completing investigation activity.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for
another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
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I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date
Research Ethics approval form
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews ✔ Yes No
 Questionnaires ✔ Yes No
 Observations Yes No ✔
 Use of personal records Yes No ✔
 Data Analysis ✔ Yes No
 Action Research ✔ Yes No
 Focus Groups ✔ Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: 19 -70
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
By checking their qualification, experience and knowledge about digital technology and small
companies.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
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By organising a meeting with all the participants, they will be informed for research work.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made
clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Written consent will be taken by participants.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting
questions that do not wish to answer?
✔Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from
this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their
informed consent to be observed.
✔Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief
explanation of the study)?
Yes No ✔
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a
brief summary of your findings in general)
✔Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
Protection Act (1998)
✔Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
During the research: Research team
Where will the data be stored?
Data will be stored in computer.
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No ✔
If Yes, please provide further details:
A pen drive will be used for transferring of data.
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
It will be deleted.
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
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After completion of project, it will be deleted.
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
✔Yes No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical
concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise
because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical
concerns may include, but are not limited to the following :
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer,
sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics
Policy:
Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical
issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to the Cohort Leader and a copy to your
supervisor only
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