Report: Digital Technology Impact on Small Business Growth

This report, prepared for Continental Consulting Limited, investigates the impact of digital technology on small business growth and innovation. The project focuses on the implementation of digital tools, particularly social media and mobile technology, to enhance client relationships and improve business operations. The report outlines a project management plan encompassing scope, time, cost, quality, communication, and risk management. It details the research methodologies employed, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with data collection through primary and secondary methods. The analysis includes the use of Gantt charts and Work Breakdown Structures to organize project stages and timelines. The findings aim to determine how social media tools contribute to building strong client relationships, identifying key factors and evaluating their impact on client retention. The report concludes with recommendations for leveraging digital technology to achieve business objectives and maintain a competitive edge.

Managing Successful Business
Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Project aims and objectives....................................................................................................1
P2 Prepare a project management plan.......................................................................................3
P3 Gantt chart and Work breakdown structure to provide stages and time frames....................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Small scale research by implementing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
.....................................................................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5 Analysing data and research by using techniques and tools..................................................8
P6 Recommendation for valid conclusions...............................................................................19
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................19
P7 Self reflection.......................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION
Digital technology is used by businesses for developing new value in internal
capabilities, buyers experience and business models which assist its core operations (Alvarez-
Jimenez and et. al., 2014). This will aid in transforming enterprise operations and activities in an
proper way. Digital technology is branch of scientific knowledge which help in dealing with
practical and developing of digital methods, systems and so on. It involve all types of electronic
equipments and applications which use numeric data information. Continental Consulting
Limited works on enterprise Re-engineering Process as well as potential buyers which consists
small and medium size manufacturing firm situated in London. They are upgrading their system
for building strong relations within their clients.
In this assignment it involve objectives and aim of project. It also prepare a plan of
project management which involve several aspects like as resources, quality, time and cost which
are discussed in this report. In this, conduct a small scale research by adopting quantitative and
qualitative methods of investigation for achieving aims and objectives of project.
TASK 1
P1 Project aims and objectives
In current era, execution of digital technology is very useful as well as important in
transforming enterprise. Digitalization has modified the living standard of people and way of
working by using latest technology it will help in accomplish their work within given period of
time. Organisation can grow their business by upgrading their system in order to enhance strong
relations with their clients. In this, there are various latest technologies like artificial intelligence,
social media, mobile technology and many more (Brownand Green, 2012). These assist in
enhancing efficiency as well as effectiveness of an enterprise form and its Information
Technology operations. In present competitive market, there is requirement of using latest
technology to enable manpower and engage buyers. By adopting digital technology, company
can accomplish their business activities within span of time. It improve employees effectiveness
and engage higher number of buyers towards firms within the market. Additionally, upgradations
are important in order to maintain competitiveness and achieve performance objectives within
organisation. As mobile technology and social media is very much beneficial for small and large
organisations. These tools will aid management to make connection with international as well as
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national buyers in a very easy way. But, it is important to conduct research and make report
before using any technology.
Topic: “The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and innovation”.
Background
Large as well as small companies are using social media and mobile technology in order
to provide information about their services and products to clients. In a firm, there are various
divisions which are organising enterprise activities for giving effective goods and services to
buyers. Under this, social media aid top authority to attract higher numbers of consumers
towards the organisation (Evans, 2014). Employees are informed about work that need to
accomplish by themselves in order to achieve enterprise objectives. These techniques are adopt
by management of Continental Consulting Limited to inform about their services to clients.
These tools assist in finding out needs and wants of their buyers in order to satisfy them in an
effective way. It also help in maintaining long term relations with buyers which is very helpful
for organisation.
Continental Consulting Limited is an research and business consultancy organisation.
CEO of this firm is Mario Bindas. Its main business is of process re-engineering for their
potential buyers which are medium and small manufacturing organisation. For this company is
using social media and mobile technology in order to attract large numbers of clients towards
their firm.
Aim: “To determine how social media tools help in building strong relationship with clients
across the globe”
Objectives
 To identify importance of social media tools for Continental Consulting Ltd
 To determine the factors which help in maintaining strong relationship with clients To evaluate the relationship between social media tools and retaining satisfied clients
Research question
 What are the importance of social media tools for Continental Consulting Ltd?
 How to determine factor which help in maintaining strong relationship with clients?
 How to evaluate the relationship between social media tools and retaining satisfied
clients?
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P2 Prepare a project management plan
Project management plan is an formal documents which is adopted by supervisor while
executing activities of project. Its main purpose of making project is to find out that how project
is monitored and controlled in order to accomplish all the activities of research.
It will assist in achieving set outcomes in an appropriate way. Through executing project
management plan it will eliminate the chances of arising problems at the time of performing
activities (The Project Management Plan (PMP), 2015). It include several elements like quality,
scope, time, cost, risk and communication. This will assist manager to accomplish their project
plan in an proper manner. Hence, it is necessary for project supervisor to develop an proper plan
and follow it accordingly.
Through this Continental Consulting Ltd will improve its level of productivity along with
this it also make a positive brand image within market. Some of necessary factors involve by
supervisor of Continental Consulting Limited which are given below: Scope: In this, introducing latest technology in enterprise bring fast changes which gave
impact in a negative or positive way. It will gave affect on operational activities and
working system of the business. Thus, it is important for Continental Consulting Ltd to
assess the use of mobile technology and social media within enterprise. In this, project
scope show all certain activities which help supervisor in an effective way. Time: In order to increasing project efficiencies, it is important that each activity should
be accomplished within a time period. If any type of failure will take place then it will
gave affect to other activities. It will take more time and funds as well. In this,
Continental Consulting Limited need to conduct a research in order to know which
technology will be more appropriate. This will help in accomplishing project plan in an
effective way (Farman, 2013). Hence, social media and mobile technology will be
adopted by company properly which take 3 Months for completing a project successfully. Cost: This element is very much important for every organisation for making a project
plan successful. Every firm need proper funds to execute all the activities in an
appropriate manner. In small organisation, to transform digital technology in enterprise
they need to raise funds in an effective way. In this, Continental Consulting Ltd make a
budget of 630 pounds in order to execute project activities successfully.
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 Quality: In this factor, every company mainly focus on quality of providing services
without this researcher is not able to achieve set outcome within the time period. If
researcher fails to maintain quality of services of social media and mobile technology
then it will affect the profits of Continental Consulting Ltd. Communication: In this factor, it is essential for project supervisor to adopt proper
channel of communication to interact with their employees and given them effective
information of the project. Continental Consulting Ltd manager is using social media and
mobile technology in order to interact with their clients frequently. It will help in
accomplishing all the activities in an appropriate manner.
 Risk: Every project involve certain risk which gave negative impact on entire activities of
project. Hence, it is essential responsibility of supervisor to concentrate on every activity
in order to eliminate risk in the project (Gikasand Grant, 2013). It will help in achieving
proper results. Risk of project will be very high if manager of Continental Consulting Ltd
will not adopt appropriate technology within their business.
P3 Gantt chart and Work breakdown structure to provide stages and time frames
Work breakdown structure is a tool that organisation adopt to explain the factor of
discrete work in an appropriate way which evaluate to conduct a scope of work. It is a type of
hierarchical structure which bound project as well as break them in small parts. This tool is
useful in giving requited structure in order to estimate its cost as well as control in an effective
way. It will help in providing better direction and guidance for controlling as well as preparing
schedule. If project activities will distributed in small parts then it will help workers to
accomplish their project without any problems. It will help in improving level of performance.
Main aim of Work breakdown structure is to decrease all complex activities which gave
influence on work (Verma,Stock and McCarthy, 2012). In term to this, it is important for project
supervisor to oversee work over activities properly as compare to complicated activities, it is
important that work should be measurable and independent in an appropriate way.
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(Work Breakdown Structure, 2017)
Gantt chart: This tool is very famous and useful methods of showing all activities which
are displayed against time. Each activity are presented by using bar, position and length which
reflect time duration, start date and end date. Continental Consulting Ltd is using Gantt chart tool
for tracking project schedule. This tool is very helpful which able to show extra data and
information regarding different tasks or phases of project. Gantt chart represented by using
horizontal bar graph which shows the plan of project, coordinate as well as track specific task
within project (Kaplan,2012). For accomplishing a project in an appropriate way, it is important
to assure and control activities so that they can complete their project on proper schedule.
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Illustration 1: Work Breakdown Structure

In this critical path, researcher are choosing a appropriate topic for developing aims and
objectives of research project. After that they conduct a literature review and research
methodology. Then investigator collect data and interpret them for drawing proper conclusion
and providing recommendation. At last, they submit the final project.
TASK 2
P4 Small scale research by implementing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
In this plan of research management, most important parts are its objectives and aims
which need to be set in an appropriate way. For conducting an effective research, investigator of
organisation need to use several types of research methodologies. It involve quantitative and
qualitative methods which help investigator to collect appropriate information.
In qualitative method, data and information is collected on the basis of its quality which
help in evaluating opinion as well as perceptions of person on certain topic (Larivière and et. al.,
2013). Here, data can be gathered by open communication with candidates or by organising an
interview process directly.
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On other hand, quantitative method is mainly based on statistical or mathematical value.
In this type of data, further investigation is accomplished by researchers so that set target of
project plan can be achieved. Some of quantitative research methodologies are polls, online
survey, Questionnaire and so on.
Methods to Data Collection: Primary: In this method, it is carry out by project supervisor as they perform several
activities for evaluating people opinions (MalthouseAnd et. al., 2013). Primary data
include interviews, surveys, observation and so on for collecting data on a given research
topic. This will assist in analysing different views and perception of people. So, that
better changes can be accomplished within enterprise. In this, researcher of Continental
Consulting Limited chosen 50 respondents. Secondary: In this method, investigator gathered information by using various sources
such as magazines, internet, literature part, books, newspaper and many more. Hence, this
method will help in getting large information which help in analysing data easily. But
secondary method will produce unreliable information as compared to primary method.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Contact No:
Q1) Does Continental Consulting Ltd optimise social media tools for their betterment of
business operations?
 Yes
 No
Q2) In which operations and division, social media is assisting organisation in operating
business practices?
 Communication and marketing
 Human resource management
 Sales and promotion
Q3) What is the importance of social media tools for Continental Consulting Ltd?
 Increase Profits
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 Attract clients
 Both the above
Q4) What are the factor which help in maintaining strong relationship with customer
while using social media in organisation ?
 effective personal relationship
 Service beyond expectations
 Offering services at reasonable price
Q5) Is social media useful for Continental Consulting Ltd to meet standard determined
outcomes?
 Yes
 No
Q6) What are the challenges faced by organisation while implementing social media and
mobile technology within their business?
 Not having sufficient funds
 lack of control
 Improper training to workers
Q7) What are the tools of social media that can be used to attract large numbers of buyers
towards the company?
 Facebook
 Instagram
 Twitter
 LinkedIn
Q8) Does mobile technology helpful in increasing profitability and sales of the business?
 Yes
 No
TASK 3
P5 Analysing data and research by using techniques and tools
Questions
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Q1) Does Continental Consulting Ltd optimize social media tools
for their betterment of business operations?
Frequency
 Yes 30
 No 20
Q2) In which operations and division, social media is assisting
organization in operating business practices?
Frequency
 Communication and marketing 25
 Human resource management 10
 Sales and promotion 15
Q3) What is the importance of social media tools for Continental
Consulting Ltd?
Frequency
 Increase Profits 9
 Attract clients 14
 Both the above 27
Q4) What are the factor which help in maintaining strong
relationship with customer while using social media in
organization?
Frequency
 Effective personal relationship 28
 Service beyond expectations 12
 Offering services at reasonable price 10
Q5) Is social media useful for Continental Consulting Ltd to meet
standard determined outcomes?
Frequency
 Yes 38
 No 12
Q6) What are the challenges faced by organization while
implementing social media and mobile technology within their
Frequency
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business?
 Not having sufficient funds 14
 lack of control 8
 Improper training to workers 28
Q7) What are the tools of social media that can be used to attract
large numbers of buyers towards the company?
Frequency
 Facebook 20
 Instagram 13
 Twitter 10
 LinkedIn 7
Q8) Does mobile technology helpful in increasing profitability
and sales of the business?
Frequency
 Yes 32
 No 18
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