Analyzing Digital Technology's Impact on Small Business: A Report

This report examines the impact of digital technology on small businesses, focusing on Continental Consulting Limited as a case study. It covers project aims, objectives, and a project management plan, including scope, time, cost, quality, and risk assessments. The report details a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project management. It also discusses the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods, along with appropriate tools and techniques for data collection and analysis. The report provides recommendations based on the research findings, and concludes with a reflection on the overall impact of digital technology on business growth and innovation, with references for further study.

Managing Successful
Business Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Project aims and objectives....................................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan.......................................................................................................3
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart........................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods..................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P5 Research and data using appropriate tools techniques...........................................................7
P6 Appropriate recommendations.............................................................................................15
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................15
P7 Reflection ............................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
.......................................................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
As per current scenario, concept of digitalisation plays important role in supporting small
business organization to enhance their productivity level at market place. Mainly, it refers to
various electronic tools, system, devices in which company easily store data. This will aid in
improving the chances of attaining set goals and objectives in appropriate time frame. With the
help of digital technologies firm make their process smooth and effective as well. It helps in
storing huge data and information in a compact device (Assessing the Impact of Cloud
Computing on Your Business, 2018). Present report is based on Continental Consulting Limited,
which is a business consultancy and research company. The main aim of this company is to
provide business process re-engineering to small business organization. This report discussed
about project aims and objectives. Project management plan is also mentioned in this assignment
which may help in attaining desirable results. Along with this, Gantt chart, and work breakdown
structure is also briefly discussed. Appropriate tools and techniques are also mentioned which
can be used by company to collect relevant data.
TASK 1
P1 Project aims and objectives
For enhancing business activities in another area, it is important for firm to implement
and use effective strategies within their activities to make their entire process smooth and
appropriate as well. In this planning is also consider as an important tool that support firm to
prepare a valid project. As it defines ways and guidelines to manager at the time of executing
project activities in order to attain favourable results. Mainly project consist entire brief such as
effective coordination, controlling and many more. In this context, digital technologies are helps
in enhancing the process of data transmission which may aid business organization to gain
positive results. Basically, digital technologies refer to various tools and techniques which used
by the company with the purpose of attaining higher success at market place. In context of
Continental Consulting Limited, it is small firm and it work for delivering consultancy services
to small business companies. As per current scenario, every business organization use concept of
digitalisation within their activities in order to enhance their productivity level at market place.
Furthermore, technology has put their positive and negative manner on business activities
(Berman And et. al., 2012). In this, it is important duty of manager to provide direction to their
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workers towards concept of digital technologies within the business operations. This will
contribute in improving the overall permanence of the firm. As cloud technology play important
role in business in which users are allow to access applications and software for storing and
transferring huge data in most effective manner. One of the main advantage of cloud
technologies is to save both time and cost as well. This will help enterprise to improve
effectively level of company and its operations also.
Topic: The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and innovation.
Background of project:
As per modern scenario, digital technology refers to an effective way to implement
business activities in smooth manner as it helps in bringing innovation and growth level of the
firm as well (Chen, Chiang and Storey, 2012). Mainly, it defines various opportunities in which
firm can easily operate their operational activities and also enhance their profitability level. In
addition of this, concept of digitalisation support company to use cloud technology. Basically it
refers to the process as well as method to deliver huge information to one place to another
without any kind of issues and obstacles. It enables to sharing, storage and filling of data by
using of internet platforms. Along with this, small business organization provide support to local
people by providing them job opportunities in which they enhance their living standard. This will
contribute in improving economic growth of the nation. As a small company, Continental
Consulting Limited execute digital technology within their operational activities in order to
improve their performance level at market. By implementing digital technology company can
easily enhance their profitability level by expanding their business activities. This will help in
establishing positive brand and at the same time also grab customer’s attention towards its
services.
Aim: “To evaluate the impact of cloud technology supporting small business growth and
innovation. A case study on Continental Consulting Limited”.
Objectives:
 To analysis requirement of cloud computing technology in business organization.
 To determine benefits of cloud technology for Continental Consulting Limited.
 To evaluate the overall effectiveness of cloud technology in enhancing the business
productivity.
Questions:
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 What are the main requirement of cloud computing technology in business organization?
 What are the benefits of cloud technology for Continental Consulting Limited?
 How to evaluate the overall effectiveness of cloud technology in enhancing the business
productivity?
P2 Project management plan
Project management plan is an effective an formal document which used to manage all
the activities of project in order to achieve set objectives of the company. Mainly, it used by the
company before implementing any kind of task of the project. It includes time, quality, scope,
communication which help firm at the time of developing project for managing all the activities
of the company (Garrison, Wakefield and Kim, 2015). With the help of this Continental
Consulting Limited can easily execute project in an appropriate way. Thus, it is vital for manager
of the company to develop an effective plan for completing the project as per given time frame.
Along with, it includes various aspects which contribute in managing project management plan:
Scope of project: As per current market scenario, customers needs and wants are change
day by day. In this, concept of digital technology take place within the business organization.
This will provide various opportunities to company in order to improve their entire activities. In
addition of this, the project scope is wide in nature because it relate with impact of digital
technology on Continental Consulting Limited. With the help of this, workers of the firm can
make appropriate and diversified services which helps in improving the chances of attaining
positive outcomes and at the same time also enhance the productivity level of the firm at market
place. Cloud technology is wider concept for Continental Consulting Limited to share and
storing their relevant data in one place. As the scope of this project is also wider which may
contribute in enhancing the chances of attaining positive outcomes.
Time: For completing project activities, it is important to set time period of entire
activities of project management plan because it provide support to business at the time of
executing digital technologies within the activities. Along with this, workers are also responsible
for perform their activities on the basis of given time frame as it helps in improving the chances
of attaining desirable targets. In this context this plan take more than 6 months to completion.
With the assistance of this Continental Consulting Limited can easily ensure that all the activities
are done properly or not.
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Cost: It is also an important factor as it helps in determining the cost which is required
for executing concept of digital technologies within the operational activities of the firm. With
the help of this factor, administration prepare as well as develop as effective budget that cover
entire functions of different departments (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). In addition of this, it also
provide support to staff members to effectively perform all the function by considering the
developed budget. This will enhance the profitability level of the company and at the same time
also aid in reducing all the wastages.
Cost budget on cloud computing
Particulars Amount
Initial investment 100000
Expenses:
Research and developmental activities 25500
Operational expenses 15600
Cost to IT experts 21500
Maintenance 16400
Licensing fee 6000
Closing value 15000
Quality: Under this factor, administration focus on managing as well as delivering
quality services with the purpose of achieving set targets. Thus, it is vital for manager to consider
this factor at the time developing project plan. In this concept of digital technology contribute a
lot because it defines various ways to improve the services that offer by the company. It also
support finance and marketing department as it contribute in increasing the customers base
within the company.
Risk: One of the main advantage of using digital technology is that it reduce and control
risk and improve the ways ton enhance productivity of the firm. In this context, manager needs to
evaluate the risk factors and also try to find better solution to overcome (Oliveira, Thomas and
Espadanal, 2014). Along with this, Continental Consulting Limited also provide online services
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to large number of customers which may aid in saving cost and time. With the help of this
company minimize all the mistakes within the business activities. In context of this, change in
technology at the time of implementing cloud technology within the Continental Consulting
Limited will negatively affect the entire process of the company.
Communication: Digital technology is one of the important activity for each and every
business organization in which firm can communicate with their customers. It also helps in
establishing better coordination among all the workers and customers as well. With the help of
this company can attain set goals and objectives in appropriate time frame. Through which
company may enhance productivity level. For example, top level management of Continental
Consulting Limited communicate with their workers towards the implementation of cloud
technology. With the help of this they easily share and store all the necessary data in appropriate
manner.
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
For attaining success at market place, it is important for business organization to set all
the task in effective way. This will aid in increasing the chances of attaining favourable results in
given time frame. Along with this, investigator needs to carry out research by determining clear
aims and objectives. It help in improving the overall performance of the research project.
Work breakdown structure: It is one of the important structure which help in
determining various functions. Mainly, it define various ways and guidance to various
department to make entire process appropriate. In addition of this, it also organize in hierarchical
structure which aid in collecting as well as gathering data and activities in systematic manner.
With the help of this, manager can manage entire activities of the project. By using this model
company can complete all the activities through various staff members.
Gantt chart: It is also an effective way to managing as well as planning specific tasks
within the project. Mainly, it used in managing project activities in an appropriate time frame.
Along with this, it define graphical description is all the activities with its setting time frame. As
one of the main advantage of using this tool is to run all the project activities in effective manner.
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TASK 2
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
For conducting research activities, there are number of methods which used by the
researcher which help them in drawing valid conclusion. With the help of this investigator easily
gather valid data and information. In context of Continental Consulting Limited also use various
methods which relate with digital technology that impact on growth level of the company at
market place. In this context there are two type of research methods are as follows:
Quantitative method: It is an effective method which used by the researcher for
gathering data and information in the way of statistic, facts and figures as well. With the help of
this investigator can easily measure project aims and objectives by conducting surveys and
questionnaire as well.
Qualitative method: It is another method through which researcher collect non-
numerical data and information. Mainly it relate with characteristics, method, definition and
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explanation of topic and research aim as well. With the help of this, researcher make valid
conclusion and recommendation. Through this, manager attain set goals and objectives.
Apart from this, researcher use various ways and sources to collect data towards research
topic. In this context, there are two different methods of data collection which provide support to
collect appropriate information from various people.
Primary: It is one of the important method which helps researcher to collect fresh and
accurate data from various customers. Mainly it includes survey, questionnaire, observation and
so on. For gathering relevant data investigator use questionnaire through which they gather
relevant information towards the topic.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Address:
Contact number:
Q1) Is cloud technology help in managing business activities?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Does cloud technology change business activities in effective way?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What are the main benefit of using cloud technology in Continental Consulting
Limited?
a) Reduce cost
b) Improve efficiency level of firm
c) Enhance flexibility in work practices
Q4) Is cloud technology can help in enhancing growth level of the company in appropriate
time span?
a) Yes
b) No
Q5) What are the main challenges faced by the company after executing Cloud technology
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within the business organization?
a) Increase issues regarding privacy and
b) Economic value
Q6) What are the ways used by Continental Consulting Limited for overcome from
emerged issues?
a) Making IT strategy
b) Revise cloud services
Q7) What is the main effectiveness of implementing Cloud technology within business
activities?
a) Cost saving
b) Share as well as transfer information easily
c) Easy access
Q8) What are the negative impact on implementing cloud technology within the business
activities of Continental Consulting Limited?
a) Downtime
b) Security and Privacy
c) Vulnerability to Attack
Q9) Is cloud technology improve the productivity level of the company?
a) Yes
b) No
Q10) Recommendation ways to improve the implementation cloud technologies within
Continental Consulting Limited?
Secondary: It is also an effective method through which investigator collect various data
and information from different books, journals, newspaper and many more. All these are helps in
gathering relevant information about research topic.
TASK 3
P5 Research and data using appropriate tools techniques
For drawing valid conclusion, every researcher try to gather relevant data and
information which relate with research topic. In this, researcher use thematic analysis to interpret
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collected data and order to take right judgement. For this, investigator choose 30 respondents for
completing their research activities.
Theme 1: Cloud technology help in managing business activities.
Q1) Is cloud technology help in managing business
activities?
Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) No 2
Interpretation: From above given graph, it has been stated that technology is helpful in
managing the activities of business in an effective or significant manner. Under this, there are 28
respondents which said that cloud technology help in managing business activities in significant
manner. On the other hand, 2 respondents said that firm should focus on using some other
technology to manage activities of business in an efficient manner.
Theme 2: Cloud technology change business activities in effective way.
Q2) Does cloud technology change business activities in
effective way?
Frequency
a) Yes 21
9
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
28
2
Column B

b) No 9
Interpretation: Technology makes business operations as well as activities more easier. Cloud
technology is helpful in interacting people or sharing information with each other in company.
On the basis of 21 respondents, cloud technology is helpful in change the way to conduct
business. According to opinion of 9 respondents, at market place there are some other
technologies which help in change activities of business in effective way.
Theme 3: Benefit of using cloud technology in Continental Consulting Limited.
Q3) What are the main benefit of using cloud
technology in Continental Consulting Limited?
Frequency
a) Reduce cost 17
b) Improve efficiency level of firm 5
c) Enhance flexibility in work practices 8
10
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
21
9
Column B