Research Project: Digital Technology and Electronic Payments for SMEs

This research project investigates the impact of digital technology as an electronic payment system on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The introduction outlines the background, emphasizing the transformative effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on businesses, particularly SMEs, and highlights both opportunities and challenges associated with digitalization. The research aims to explore the impact of digitization on SME success and growth, examining the benefits and challenges of digital technologies. The literature review delves into existing research, exploring the impact of digital technology on SME operations, profitability, customer satisfaction, and information security. The methodology section details the research approach, including research philosophy (interpretivism), research approach (inductive), research techniques (qualitative and quantitative), data collection methods (primary and secondary), sampling, and ethical considerations. A timeline of research activities is also provided, outlining the stages of the project from proposal design to data analysis. The project seeks to determine the impact of electronic payment systems on SME activities, examine the impact of quality services on operational functions, identify the effect of digital technology on SME operations, and recommend ways to enhance customer satisfaction through electronic payment methods.

RESEARCH
PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................2
3. METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................4
4. TIMELINE OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

TOPIC: To access the implications of digital technology as electronic payment system on
small Management enterprise - A case study on SME's
1. INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
In the current era, the proliferation of new digital technologies, more importantly,
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) along with their application to the e-
business, e-commerce and e-business activities had significantly transformed the way how
business operates in the market. It has a significant impact on all the businesses regardless their
sizes and scale of operations whether domestic or international (Carrigan, 2005.). In context of
small and medium sized businesses, the rising spread and prevalence of newer technologies had
offered numerous opportunities to companies. Although, it offers large number of benefits to
companies. However, at the same time, it also brought many challenges. For instance, it involves
huge investment. Moreover, if it is not managed and executed properly as a key element of the
business strategy, consequently, it may lead to significant business loss.
In order to create a seamless and integrated strategy for digitalization, SMEs require
unearthing such challenges and attaining success. The research paper investigates that how
digitalization in various business functions enable SMEs to drive great success. The research
aims to explore the hidden pattern about the impact of digitization as to invent electronic
payment system on the SME’s success and future growth. In these regards, the study will explore
both the benefits and major challenges of digital technologies for SMEs. The digital technology
plays a great role in relation to maximize the operations of the firm in effective mode (Chan,
Ling, and Guillet, 2014). With the help of technological advancement, the business enterprise
can be able to gain a large amount of profitability and productivity. By implementing the process
of digital technology on the activities of the small management enterprise, the firm is able to
attract the customers with the services (Impact of digitalization on small and medium enterprises
in india” ,2017 ).
Aim
To examine the implications of digital technology as electronic payment system on small
Management enterprise - A case study on SME's
Objectives
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1. To determine the impact of Electronic payment system on the activities of SME's
2. To examine impact of quality services on operational function of business enterprise to
examine growth.
3. To identify the effect of digital technology as Electronic payment on operation of SME'S.
4. To recommend the ways to gain customer satisfaction with help of payment through
electronic mode.
Rationale of study
The main aim is to determine impact of digital technology on the operation of small
medium enterprise. This is need to be taken in order to conduct things in effective manner. The
digitization has a great impact on the process of functioning of firm. With help of technological
advancement, firm is able to bring the innovation procedure. These kinds of activities are helpful
to deal with current trends of the customers (Czinkota and Ronkainen, 2014). It needs a huge
investment but it is needed to be executed in order to promote growth toil the business enterprise.
These kinds of activities are helpful in relation to get desired success in market. With help of
technological advancement, business enterprise can be able to gain large amount of profitability
and productivity. With help of technological advancement, data can be secured effectively so
that firm can able to run its operations in expertise mode.
2. LITERATURE REVIEWTo determine the impact of Electronic payment system on the
activities of SME's
According to Berman and Katona, (2013) digital technology is one of impelling tool in
relation to manage operations of firm in effective manner. The technological advancement will
be helpful to enhance profitability of business enterprise. The firm is able to maintain the
information about customers. In contrary to Blumentritt, (2006) it helps to maintain
confidentiality of information. With implementing of digital technological will help small
medium enterprise to manage the employees' attention with use of bio metric system where
employees just need to punch the card instead of signing register which enables safe and secure
attendance recording for the entity. Chan, Ling and Guillet, (2011) pointed out that small
enterprise needs to perform the business activities in a manner which will be helpful to enhance
profitability of firm. With help of technological advancement, the business enterprise can be able
to gain a large amount of profitability and productivity. By implementing process of digital
technology on activities of small management enterprise, firm is able to attract customers with
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services. According to the views of Blumentritt, (2006) digital technology is helpful in relation
to manage the operations of the so that the firm is able to sustain in market for longer period.
According to the view of digital technology is one of effective tools to manage overall
operations of the business enterprise.
According to the views of Arias and Acebrón, (2005) stated that digital technology is helpful in
relation to bring the desired success in the enterprise by implementing technological
advancement. Chan, Ling and Guillet, (2011) pointed out that digital transformation will help to
improve the profitability, customer satisfaction and increment in the speed to market. This kind
of the facilities will be helpful to attract the customer in the large manner. According to the
views of Arias and Acebrón, (2005), information security is big issue in the current time, with
the help of maintaining of information firm is able to expand profitability and productivity.
Examine impact of quality services on operational function of business enterprise to
examine growth
According to the views of Arias and Acebrón, (2005) with the help of using right
technology, there can be effective tracking of sales and potential income which is helpful in
relation to put effective control over the activities of business. In contrary to Carrigan, (2005)
quality is parameter which is needed to be maintained in order to provide services. Moreover, it
can be true to said that digital technology will be helpful to maintain the quality of products and
services so that satisfaction level of customers can be enhanced. According to the views of
Blumentritt, (2006) digital technology will be helpful to provide reliable information to the
customers. The quality of products can be easily tracked. The operations ofsmall medium
enterprise can be able to run in market positively. These kinds of factors are helpful in relation to
maintain success of firm in desired manner. The new technological advancement will be helpful
to offer opportunities to work across boundaries of location and time.
To identify the effect of digital technology as Electronic payment on operation of SME'S
According to views of Berman and Katona, (2013) main role of digitalisation is to
maintain security of information so that firm can work in effective manner. As per the views of
Arias and Acebrón, (2005) one key benefit is that activities of firm can be monitored
continuously. The hackers can spoil the operation of management in wide manner. In this
manner, business enterprise needs to hire professionals so that they can conduct operations of
firm in effective manner. With the help of implementing of the digital technology the firm is able
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to promote the growth in high manner. Moreover, it can be true to said that the activities of the
firm operates more efficiently with the uses of technology in correct manner.
3. METHODOLOGY
This is the process which is helpful to conduct, collect and analyse data in corrective
mode. There are several techniques of research methodologies like research methodologies,
research techniques, data analysis, research design and sampling etc. in this the techniques are
need to be discussed in the following manner as are-
 Research Philosophy- In this process, it is needed to be defined that what kind of data is
required to be gathered and analysed. There are two kinds of philosophies i.e.
interpretivism and positivism. In these, philosophies are based on the epistemology in
which scientific doxology is very hard to believe that whether it is true or not. The
positivism approach is used to collect important information (Draganska, Hartmann and
Stanglein, 2014.). With help of this research philosophy, the researcher is able to conduct
the research in an effective and efficient manner. In this, the interpretative method will be
taken.
 Research Approach- These is also one of the major methods which assist scholar in
analysing source which is very helpful for developing knowledge about study. There are
major two kinds of research approach which are inductive and deductive. In this research
study, researcher will take the inductive research (Fotis, John, Buhalis and Rossides,
2012). If there is requirement to use hypothesis in order to determine the right solutions
then deductive approach will be taken. With help of deductive approach, detailed
knowledge about subject matter can be gathered.
 Research Technique- With the help of this, researcher will have right way to conduct
useful information. This is technique which is helpful to analyse data in proper and
effective manner. With the assist of this, the data can be interpreted in the impressive
mode. There are two kinds of research technique as are qualitative and quantitative. The
qualitative technique is very helpful in order to determine various model and theories
which will be helpful to gathered the information in the corrective manner. This is the
appropriate research study in order to obtain the effective information about the things.
The quantitative research technique will be useful in relation to find out information on
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the numeric term (Fritz, 2013). These are helpful to analyse the things in the proper and
effective manner.
 Data Collection- This is one of crucial parts in research methodology which helps
researcher to collect information about subjects. This is kind of process in which whole
data is needed to be analysed and gathered in specific manner and true value of data is
required to be collected. There are two kinds of methods of data collection i.e. primary
and secondary. Under primary method, things are need to be collected with help of
survey of 20 individuals (Gautam, 2012). The secondary method is related to conduct
information with help of books, journals, etc. These kinds of techniques are useful in
relation to analyse the data in an effective and efficient manner.
 Sampling- Sampling is another method which is helpful in relation to select some group
of people from the entire population. The researcher needs to select 20 customers in order
to determine impact of digital technology on operations of small and medium sized
enterprise (Draganska, Hartmann and Stanglein, 2014.). This is one of the effective
method which is helpful in relation to conduct the useful information.
 Ethical Considerations- It is very important to maintain security of the whole data
which will be collected by the researcher. During the process of research, no harm is to
be made to any kind of data. The confidentiality about information is need to be
maintained.
4. TIMELINE OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY/WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
 The research proposal aim
and objective
 Design the rationale
research study
 Research methodology
 Application of research
methodology
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 Design questionnaire
according to research aim,
objective and questions
 Conduct investigation with
the help of survey
 Interpretation and analysis
of the collected information
by the technique of survey
 Apply thematic analysis
technique to get useful
information
 Arrangement of gathered
information in a
chronological order.
 Conclude the result and
outcome of the
investigation
 Recommendation and
suggestion
 Design presentation of the
finding
 Submission of the
investigation
 Modification
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CONCLUSION
Based on the above report, it can be concluded that overall activities is important to
undertake as are Literature review, research methodologies etc, as this are helpful in relation to
determine the possible outcome of assignment. By summing up all the information the researcher
can able to reach to the final conclusion. The main aim of this assignment is to determine the
impact of digital technology in the operation of small medium enterprise.
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