Impact of Digital Technologies on Small Business: Nisa Ltd Case Study

This research project investigates the influence of digital technologies on the business activities of Nisa Ltd, a small-scale retail organization. The report examines the aim, objectives, and rationale of the study, including a literature review on digital technologies and their impact on business operations. It explores research methods, including primary and secondary data collection, and discusses research approaches such as inductive approaches, interpretivism theory, and descriptive structural design. The study involves a survey with ten managers from various departments within Nisa Ltd to gather their perspectives on digital technology implementation. The report critically evaluates the research methods and analysis, considering ethical considerations and potential limitations. The findings aim to provide insights into how digital technologies can improve business performance, achieve organizational growth, and enhance the effectiveness of Nisa Ltd.

RESEARCH PROJECT

ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Usefulness of digital technologies for business operations of Nisa Ltd...................9
Illustration 2: Business operations' improved at most for adopting technologies ........................10
Illustration 3: Using digital technologies for clear communication and contacting with customers
........................................................................................................................................................11
Illustration 4: Department is responsible for adopting digital technologies at most.....................12
Illustration 5: Department is responsible for adopting digital technologies at most.....................13
Illustration 6: Critical evaluation for adopting digital technologies..............................................14
Illustration 7: Future orientation on using digital technologies for Nisa Ltd................................15

TIETLE
“To identify impact of digital technologies on small business activities: A case study on
Nisa Ltd.”
INTRODUCTION
An important role is played by digital technologies in developing business strategies for
the organization. It assist in making the overall time of marketing a bit less and output generated
out of it is comparatively higher in comparison to the traditional techniques that used to be
adopted by the companies now a days. It plays a substantial role in setting up the activities in
such a manner that iot can lead to business development in a well defined manner. The present
research project discusses regarding influence of digital technologies on varied business
activities of Nisa Ltd. The small scale retail organization is involved in offering food products,
groceries and other related home products. The report makes a comprehensive discussion
regarding various research strategies with respect to digital technologies that can be adopted by
the organization. In addition to this, views of various authors of books and journals will also be
discussed so as to critically appraise their arguments that can have direct impact on business
operations. Ideas for the sake of improvement will also be discussed in the report in detail. The
significance of digital technologies and its adoption by Nisa Ltd will effectively be discussed in
the overall report.
LO 1
P1) Research proposal (Supported by research questions, hypotheses and Literature review)
This research is based on understanding impact of using digital technologies for business
activities of Nisa Ltd (Andrews and Hampel,2015). In this regard, its aim, objectives and
significance can be understood as:
This research is based on understanding impact of using digital technologies for business
activities of Nisa Ltd. In this regard, its aim, objectives and significance can be understood as:
Aim of the research:
“To identify impact of digital technologies on business activities of Nisa Ltd”.
Objectives:
On the basis of research aim, objectives are set as:
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 To understand concept of digital technologies and their recent trend.
 To identify usefulness of digital technologies for business operations of Nisa Ltd.
 To evaluate impact on business activities of the company regarding management system
and improvement in its activities.
Rationale of the study:
It is significant to understand impact of using digital technologies for business operations
which is effective and improving quality of services. In this process, research tools, methods and
significance of these digital technologies is explained for effectiveness of Nisa Ltd (Gale and
et.al., 2013). Moreover, managers' opinions on importance of these techniques for operating
business and improving quality services are recognised. Therefore, this research project is
significant to understand use of digital technologies for business operations of the company
through research process and different ideas are generated for future activities.
Literature Review:
Digital technologies:
Huang and et.al., (2013) express their view that digital technologies include computer,
data, technology, software etc used for processing and marketing activities. For example;
transferring data from one system to another as well contacting with people using social
networking platforms and so on. Therefore, digital technologies are used in business operations
for analysis, data processing and communicating effectively. It makes business activities quite
easy and convenient as well quality of services for implementation. Including this, it remains
easy to maintain records and conducting discussion on them effectively. Besides this, digital
media also play effective role for advertising products and services as well identifying customers'
choice towards goods and services. Hence, digital technologies are crucial for business and
marketing activities also effective for improving business operations.
On the contrary to this, Landt and Melville, (2013) argue that it is difficult to adopt
digital technologies for small businesses because of expensive as well high costs are required for
purchasing machinery equipment. It is because of new highly competitive market and
innovations in business operations of other competitive entities. Therefore, it is essential to use
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digital technologies rationally as well with future orientation for business activities of small
business organisation.
Impact of digital technologies on business activities:
In opinion of O'Leary, (2013) digital technologies influence business activities by which
operations get easier and convenient. However, marketing of goods and services as well
communication between business parties remain easy. Including this, it is time consuming and
effective for analysing market position as well customers' views on services. Therefore, variety
of ideas are generated for improving quality services and getting aware with recent market
trends. Moreover, digital technologies impact on business activities as well implementation at
maximum level. Apart from this, it is essential for increasing productivity and profitability of the
organisation as well strength for facing competition and making place in competitive market.
However, business operations and their management remain easy and improving for appropriate
decision making and public awareness towards goods and services.
Ricciardi and et.al., (2015) also claims that it is not needed that all gained information
regarding customers' opinion on goods and services are true. Similarly, it is costly to use digital
technologies as of marketing and business operations. However, technologies changes from time
to time, it is not easy to invest on purchasing all new machinery and equipment in respect of
improving services. Including this, customers' affordability and awareness also matters for
providing products' details and new creations in goods. Therefore, it is needed to consider all of
these factors for digital technologies as their use should be rationale and effective in terms of
marketing and business plan.
Usefulness of using digital technologies:
As per the point of view of Speight and et.al., (2016) author express his views that digital
technologies play decisive role in managing business operations and improving its quality
services. However, customers get attracted towards new and creative goods and services of entity
as well different ideas are generated for achieving their satisfaction at maximum level. In
addition to this, products' features and unique qualities can be advertised using social media and
contacting with them. Thus, increasing demand for products and services are analysed, which
impact on productivity and profitability of the enterprise. Moreover, it is linked with
marketability and competitiveness of the enterprise for surviving in competitive market as well
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sustaining for longer time period. Therefore, it is recognised that using digital technologies
influences business operations and marketing of goods effectively.
On the contrary to this, Stanek, Babkin and Zubov, (2016) argue that digital technologies
are effective enough for promoting goods only as encouraging for purchasing them is a
challenging task. It is because of changes in their interests and high level of competitive market
which impacted on production and distribution of products negatively. However, except using
digital technologies, enterprise has to advertise products using other tools as publicity,
advertisements in newspaper and magazine etc. Therefore, required fund is quite which is
considers to be taken care of. Hence, in terms of analysing business and marketing activities, it is
essential to create business plan in consideration of all these factors.
Research questions
Impact of using digital technologies on business activities of Nisa Ltd, following
questions are arisen as:
 How digital technologies are useful for improving business performance of Nisa Ltd?
 Identify impact of digital technologies for achieving organisation's growth and
effectiveness.
 Why is it needed for small scale enterprise to adopt digital technologies in its business
operations?
P2) Research methods
For analysing business performance and market position of entity, different methods are
used such as; primary and secondary data collection, qualitative and quantitative research and so
on (Yeh and et.al., 2014). In this regard, research methods can be understood as:
 Primary data collection:
It is data collection method for analysing actual market position of Nisa Ltd done through
conducting survey, face to face interview, door to door asking questions etc. Including this, it
includes two approaches for data collection as; qualitative and qualitative (Andrews and Hampel,
2015). However, under qualitative research method, respondents' attitude and views are analysed
as well for quantitative data collection method, respondents' views are collected quantitatively.
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Therefore, different ideas are generated for further implementations and improving quality
services of the enterprise at maximum level.
 Secondary data collection method:
In this method, impact of digital technologies on business activities of Nisa Ltd are
analysed through reading articles mentioned in newspaper, magazine, using social networking
platforms and so on (Gale and et.al., 2013). In this research process, different authors' views are
collected regarding use of digital technologies for business activities in small scale enterprise.
M1) Research approaches and their justifications
For collecting data, researcher is to select 10 managers of Nisa Ltd belonged to different
departments randomly (Landt and Melville, 2013). However, for data collection, he is to use
below mentioned approaches as:
 Research approach:
Different approaches are used for data collection through conducting survey as;
inductive, deductive and abductive (Huang and et.al., 2013). For this research on influence of
digital technologies on business activities of Nisa Ltd, researcher is to use inductive approach.
However, theories, structure and all the factors to be used for research process.
 Research philosophy:
For research on understanding impact of digital technologies for improving business
performance of Nisa Ltd, investor is to use interpretivism theory. Under which, collected data are
interpreted as well different ideas are generated for better performance.
 Research design:
In this research process, researcher is to use descriptive structural design in which both
positive and negative aspects are recognised (Stanek, Babkin and Zubov, 2016). However,
critical evaluation of impact of using digital technologies for business and marketing plan for
Nisa Ltd.
 Data collection:
Data collection is a process of gathering information as of respondents' views on
importance of digital technologies for improving business performance of Nisa Ltd (Speight and
et.al., 2016). Therefore, survey is conducted with 10 managers of the entity as well variety of
ideas are generated for managing business and improving its services.
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 Data analysis:
In this process, collected data are analysed critically and interpretatively (Yeh and et.al.,
2014). Therefore, actual performance of Nisa Ltd can be identified for using digital technologies
in its operations.
 Ethical considerations:
During research process, all ethical considerations are to be followed on such as;
collecting right information, mentioned data processing and analysing competitive entities'
online links only which are not restricted.
D1) Critical evaluation on research methods and analysis
It is analysed that determined research methods to be followed on for data collection and
analysing gathered data are suitable to understand impact of digital technologies for Nisa Ltd. On
critical evaluation as well, it is recognised that forecasting on the basis of collected can be
unsuccessful for business activities in the future time (Ricciardi and et.al., 2015).
LO 2
P3) Primary and secondary research for project
A survey with a total of ten managers from Nisa Ltd. has been done in order to analyse
the thoughts and their own view points regarding different aspects of involving digital
technology in Nisa Ltd. Also, various methods can be used for modifying their business
objectives which can also help in making improvements in quality services as well and that too
at a higher rate.
Data collection
There are two ways of collecting the information for the research and both of these are
discussed as following. In case of the primary data collection, it is considered as that data which
is being gathered for the first time by the research. There are various means by which it can be
gathered. Some well known examples of it are considered as focused groups, surveys, interviews
etc. whereas in case of the secondary collection of data, it is that piece of information which is
already gathered by a third party but the data collected can be further used by the researcher.
Different sources of secondary data includes online, books etc. In this research, the researcher
will use the primary data because it will help them in analysing the influence of digital
technology in Nisa Ltd.
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Ethical considerations
Ethics are referred to as basic norms that can help the researcher in analysing the
difference between good and bad. So, it can help the researcher to analyse what should be good
for the project and what not. Therefore, it will help in analysing the impact of digital technology
on different business operations of Nisa Ltd.
Research limitations
These are the factors that can act as a challenging factor for the researcher. As if the time
duration of research will be extended by researcher, then unavailability of cost may act as a
challenge. Therefore, it can be efficient enough if the researcher finishes the project in specific
deadline only so that costs etc. may not act as a barrier.
P4) Analytical tools to analyse collected data (Findings and analysis)
For conducting survey, researcher prepares questionnaire consists of a list of questions
related to impact of digital technologies on business activities of Nisa Ltd (Huang and et.al.,
2013). In this regard, prepared questionnaire can be presented as:
Name of the respondent:
Department:
Q.1 Do you think use of digital technologies is essential for business operations of Nisa Ltd?
 Yes
 No
Q.2 Which of the following business operation get improved at most for adopting technologies?
 Management of business operations
 Improving quality services
 Maximizing customers' satisfaction
 Effective market position
Q. 3 Is using digital technologies effective for clear communication and contacting with
customers?
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 Yes
 No
Q. 4 Which department is responsible for adopting digital technologies at most?
 Finance department
 Marketing
 Production and operation department
 HR department
Q.5 Are you agreed with the statement that, “digital technologies are essential for decision
making on business operations for Nisa Ltd”?
 Agree
 Highly agree
 Disagree
 Highly disagree
Q.6 In your opinion, is it time consuming to use digital technologies during business operations
of the small scale enterprise?
 Yes
 No
Q.7 Give rank on adopting digital technologies for business operations of Nisa Ltd?
 1st order
 2nd order
 3rd order
Q.8 In your opinion, can marketability of the entity increased by using digital technologies for
advertising goods and services as well contacting wit people?
 Yes
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 No
Q.9 What difficulty can be experienced by Nisa Ltd. adoption of digital technologies in its
business operations?
 Expensive
 Difficult to build up society's trust with services
 Unclear communication
Q.10 According to this, will adopt digital technologies be suitable for business implementation
in the future time?
 Yes
 No
Any suggestion for improving business performance using digital technologies...............
Data interpretation
Thematic analysis:
Collected managers' views on implementing digital technologies for Nisa Ltd can be
understood thematically as:
Theme 1: Usefulness of digital technologies for business operations of Nisa Ltd
Yes 8
No 2
Total number of respondents 10
9