Research Project: Impact of Digital Technology on SME's Business

This research project delves into the impact of digital technology, with a specific focus on cloud computing, on the business activities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The report begins with an introduction outlining the research's scope, background, and significance, emphasizing the transformative role of cloud technology in modern business operations, particularly for companies like Nomtek, a mobile app development agency. The aim is to analyze how cloud technology influences business performance, with objectives including examining cloud computing concepts, assessing its impact on SME growth, determining its effectiveness in developing business organizations, and identifying benefits in achieving business goals. The report then presents a detailed literature review, exploring the concept of cloud computing, its impact on small businesses (including data security, cost reduction, and managing growth), and its effectiveness in developing business organizations (scalability and collaboration). The research utilizes a Gantt chart to illustrate the project's timescale, ensuring structured completion of tasks. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the adoption and impact of cloud technology on SMEs, highlighting its potential to drive growth and efficiency.

Research Project

Table of Contents
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TITLE:
“To Identify the impact of digital technology on business activity of SME's.
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview of research
Cloud technology has been regarded as methods for delivering of an information
technology (IT) services in which resources are retrieved from an interest through web-based
tools and applications, which has been opposed to an appropriate direct connection to the server
(Chen and et. al., 2015). It is the kind of server through which person can store any kind of
information, long files, text documents and can share it to another one through sharing option. It
has been termed as server on which particular person can save their file to facilities easy access
in the future and led the way to share it to other business entity to maintain the common and full-
fledged relationship with others. Still, people are not likely much on this because of its huge
implementation cost and heavy maintenance on structuring & maintenance for future benefits.
This has played the necessary role in technological transformation and growth of business
through the technological diversion. This research report will be carried on Nomtek information
technology and services which is the mobile apps services and development agency are focused
on development of cloud technology and software to facilitates easy doing of business regulation
and sharing of an information into the convenient manner. Each and every day, people have been
seen the technology become more advanced. It provides both businesses and customers with
several advantages. With the help of technology advancements, the life of people are more easier
as well as flexible.
1.2 Background of research
Cloud computing is generally refers to the term for delivery of hosted services with the
help of internet source. It enables the companies for using as well as consuming a compute
resources like virtual machine (VM), storage, applications and many more which are similar to
electricity where no required to build any computing infrastructure in house. It has access to the
data as well as software applications or programs for running cloud technology. In cloud
technology includes moving the data storage from in- house servers to the third party provider of
service with centralized servers for several consumers. It helps in moving whole operating
system as well as software to cloud so that people can not be connect through internet connection
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to application which they want to be access. The entire informations are to be founded in the
cloud and it is not necessary for user to be a specific place as they can get such data or
informations by accessing to it at anywhere. In the research project, the Nomtek Information
Technology and Service company is to be undertaken which deals in designing mobile apps and
development (Etro, 2015). There are various services and products that offers by Nomtek such as
designing the apps, developing software applications for business values and usability etc. Apart
from these, company is also dealing in web designing and developing, software development,
maintenance and testing, publishing and project management. Cloud computing is also known as
computing that entirely depends on internet. This technology holds its significance in each area.
It makes the scaling, maintenance and provisioning of applications and also servers breeze.
1.3 Significance of research
Cloud computing is considered as the biggest changes and shift from the traditional way
where businesses can think regarding IT resources. Cloud computing is an essential in making
entire works more easy and efficient manner as it support in achieving set goals or objectives in
an adequate manner. Many of organisations focused to adopt cloud technology and keep all files
safe as well as secure so that entire works can be performed with an effective manner. Every
firms are turning to the cloud computing services because of getting various kinds of benefits
while running business operations (Soyata and et. al., 2015). Nomtek company also undertake
cloud computing services that supportive in cutting costs and utilise all available resources with
an efficient manner. They can design better mobile applications and developing websites for
other businesses with better ways because cloud technology is helpful in maintaining or
managing speeds while working.
1.4 Aim
It is a main part of research in which researcher create an aim that is concerned with topic
of investigation. It consists required aspects as well as objectives in research. It is an effective
way to giving the guidelines to investigator so that it can conduct the research in systematic
manner without arise any kind of complexities. Through this researcher will able to draw valid
conclusion. The aim of research is:
“To analyse the impact of cloud technology on developing business performance. A
case study on Nomtek Information Technology” .
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1.5 Research Objectives
Under this section of research, the purpose of study is considered in concisely and clear
manner. Under this, researcher develops objectives related to study for better understanding. It
helps in provide the specific statements so that outcomes can be measurable. Some research
objectives are mention below as above:
 To examine the concept of Cloud Computing.
 To analyse the impact of cloud technology on growth of small businesses.
 To determine effectiveness of cloud computing in developing business organisation.
 To identify the benefits of cloud technology in managing and achieving business goals.
1.6 Research Questions
1. How to examine the concept of Cloud Computing ?
2. What are the impact of cloud technology on growth of small businesses ?
3. How to determine effectiveness of cloud computing in developing business
organisation ?
4. What are the ways to identify the benefits of cloud technology in managing and
achieving business goals ?
1.7 Timescale
The timescale refers to time allowed or taken through sequence and process of events.
Under this, there are many activities related to research are mentioned with specific time period.
It is a duty of investigator to perform all given activities of research with in given period of time.
With the help of this, researcher will complete research in proper manner and get positive
outcomes.
Gantt Chart:
It is a type of bar chart that actually illustrates a project schedule and completion of its in
an effective and result based way. This charts lists out the tasks to be performed on the vertical
axis and time intervals on the horizontal axis. This detailed chart is helpful to list out the tasks
which needs to be covered in an entire business project as well as defined work to be completed
in the minimum point of time. Also, this type of chart deals with construction of the project and
guidance to complete in the possible period of time.
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
A literature review may be defined as the scholar paper and article in which consist
different types of informations, knowledges, facts and findings, theoretical and methodologies
that support to the research topic. It can be considered as the secondary sources in which
contains various views, ideas and knowledges that provided by different authors and writers
about any specific topic. Literature review has significant role in carrying out particular research
because it support in gathering various informations as well as data that relevant to the topic. It
play a crucial role in research that are to be conducted and investigator can get more relevant
information through researchers, authors or writers in an effective way.
2.1 Concept of cloud computing
As per the view of Chen and et. al., 2015, it has been stated that cloud computing is a
concept of hardware and software that assist to provide services of data storage, connectivity and
easy to access at anywhere. Or the other hand, it is known as the group of networked elements
that access several informations at a single address in order to providing proper information to its
users easily. It assist to providing several facilities to their clients to use software from any
device from different places. Through this, they can store their files and projects at a specific
cloud in order to securely use them at anywhere. It provides far more than just storage access and
storage services as drastic back-ups, handling several network access and so on. The cloud
technology is Internet-based technology by which the information is to be stored in the servers
and given as service and also on- demand to consumers. It is helpful in provide better
contribution in promote competition and development of business. Now a days, cloud
computing provides numerous benefits and advantages to different business industries so that
they can create confidentiality for their client's information easily. Cloud computing is known as
one most effective innovation by information technology industry for several business
organisations. The branch of cloud computing allows clients to manage, run and develop several
applications on a single platform. Major functioning area of this software is access through
coding system in order to secure data and connectivity from external links. The cloud computing
is helpful enhance elasticity if business and under this the firms can be scale up as the computing
requirements which enhance as well as scale down again as reduction in demand. It is helpful in
eliminating need for the massive investments in the local infrastructure.
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2.2 The impact of cloud technology on growth of small businesses
According to Scott Etro, 2015, Cloud technology is progressively adopted by small
business firms to moving from a initial focus to efficient gains. It assist to emerge new models of
working in a business organisation through a broad based saturation. On the basis of this digital
technology, a business can stay ahead on the curve of success and growth easily. There are some
other major benefits and impact of cloud technology on a small scale business are determined as
Secure data backup: Cloud technology has played major role into protecting data and
information of the different users. It provides the base of storage for huge and wide information
to be carried to get right use of data in the shorter period of time as well as facilitates an easy
sharing of it to other individuals or business units.
Lower cost – Cloud technology has been facilitates for saving of money for data storage
services, sever maintenance, software licensing and so on. This is the major reason that small
scale firms shows their maximum interest toward such software. In order to reduction of extra
money, cloud automatically allows the scale of cloud to slow down during slower period for
extra reduction of additional costs.
Managing growth – Cloud technology provide resources and facilities on the basis of
organisation's demand and requirement. Its also provides facilities to increase capacity of clouds
to support growth and handle busy periods.
Security and privacy- The cloud security is more concerned about having own control
as comparison to any other problems. In this, cloud security is better as risks get reduced because
of encryption as well as authentication of data. For small business organisation, data security is a
main issues, so in order to prevent this, company should use the cloud technology. It is helpful in
secure data at reasonable cost.
2.3 Determine effectiveness of cloud computing in developing business organisation
As per the views of Soyata and et. al., 2015, cloud computing technology are the most
effective tool of IT that create usefulness for individuals as well as businesses. It has most
effective impact on small business as they can secure and store large data through this at a secure
platform. It offers many benefits to a business as flexibility of connectivity, easy access and so
on. The effectiveness of cloud computing in developing business organisations are determine
below as -
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Scalability – Cloud technology assist to create scalability in business operations on the
basis of storage needs for a particular situation. These are the automatic features of cloud
technology that it retrieve storage on clients requirement on particular time period. On the basis
of this, a business can run their activities effectively without concerning about storage
requirement.
Collaboration efficiency – For a developing organisation, it is required to build a
effective collaboration between employees and with customers. Through this, they can maximise
abilities to communicate and share more information to outsiders easily. Cloud technology assist
to create such collaboration with direct market to enhance growth of business.
Flexibility of working practices – Cloud technology helps to allow employees to be
more flexible in their working practices. As through this, employees can complete their task at
anywhere or from home. It used to manage working approaches in short period of duration easily
as well as effectively.
2.4 Ways to identify the benefits of cloud technology in managing and achieving business goals
According to Karunarathne and et. al., 2014, businesses of all size and structure are
looking towards to turning cloud technologies. Main objective of this process is to enhance size
of data and information security for providing beneficial services to target clients. Cloud
technology has major uses for developed and developing organisation in order to maximise
structure of their business easily. There is benefits of cloud technology in managing and
achieving business goals are determine below as -
Reliability – Cloud technology often more reliable platform for data safety and security.
Through this, a business can create positive aligns with their clients in order to maximise
opportunities for growth and success. The major benefit of this process is aces to resolve
technological issues and problems for firm easily.
Resources management – Cloud technology is provide a digital platform to business
firm in order to manage their resources effectively. Resources of cloud technology are easy to
access at anywhere that helps to manage time for working in different activities easily.
Improved collaboration – For the success of a business, it is require to build positive
collaboration between stakeholders. In this procedure, cloud technology provide its effective
contribution for attaining business goals in proper manner.
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Stop software Piracy- According to opinion of Sharma, 2018, it has been stated that
cloud computing is helpful in prevent the software piracy because it is not good for economic
development. It can stopped with the help of software firms, distributors and publishers through
using as well as executing the cloud computing in business system. It will be helpful in secure
data and necessary information of customers as well as organisation.
Minimize cost of conduct business- An adoption of the cloud technology helps in
minimize cost of conduct the business. With the help of using this technology, Nomtek company
can store, back up data in a proper manner as well as launch private cloud network through using
existed infrastructure of the cloud computing in minimum cost. There will be no requirement to
purchase any kind of physical components in context to manage and store the data.
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CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This is a most important part of a research that assist to determine methods and
approaches that uses to gathering information for proper analysis. For researcher, it is required to
adopt most effective and authentic approach that helps to gathering information sources on the
basis of research requirement. Research methodology has a broad structure which includes
several elements to identify different informations easily. There are some specific methods and
approaches of a research is determine below as -
3.1 Type of research
For a researcher, it has become necessary to find the suitable research methodology to
carry out the research project in an appropriate and positive manner. There are two types of the
research: qualitative and quantitative research. On one hand, quantitative research is a method in
which major priority is to given to number of information generated out of the people responses
and advice. This method is generally, where numerical figures matters to find out valid as well as
valid conclusion of the defined research. On another hand, qualitative research is the research
method, in which major priority has to be given to quality data from various sources namely
books, magazines, journals, internet etc., which actually used to analysis the collected and also to
find out the valid and suitable conclusions.
3.2 Research Design
It refers to arrangement of situations or collections. It is set of procedures and methods
which used in gathering and analyse measures of specified variable in research issue. It is
systematic approach that investigator uses to conduct scientific study. Under this, there are
different kinds of research methods descriptive and exploratory. Descriptive research design is
helpful in doing research in an in- depth manner. It provides information in a detailed manner
related to topic of research. In explanatory research design, an investigator used its own ideas as
well as imagination. It depends on personal judgement and obtain information and data about
something. Under this, descriptive research design is used through investigator because it
provides information in detailed manner.
3.3 Research approach
It refers to process and plan that includes some steps of wider assumptions to detailed
methods of the data collection, analysis and also interpretation. It helps in address the research
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