Research Project: Digital Technologies in Small Business - HND Level 5

This document presents a comprehensive research proposal and project exploring the implications of digital technologies on small business enterprises (SMEs), using Qbic hotel as a case study. The project begins with an introduction, outlining the research aim to analyze the effects of digital technologies on business activities and includes objectives, research questions, and a detailed literature review. The research explores the concept and meaning of digital technologies, various digital platforms, and their significance in business. The project also includes an analysis of the research methodology, data collection methods, and findings. The document provides a detailed analysis of primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project, including considerations for costs, access, and ethical issues. The research employs analytical tools to analyze research findings and data, and communicates the research outcomes effectively. The document includes reflections on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting the objectives of the business research project, alternative research methodologies, and lessons learned. Finally, the document provides references and an ethical form.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
AND RESEARCH
PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Student name....................................................................................................................................1
P1 & P2 Research proposal....................................................................................................1
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project......................................................2
Section Three: Literature sources searched............................................................................2
Section Four: Activities and timescales.................................................................................3
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies............................................................4
P3 Primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project
that considers costs, access and ethical issues........................................................................5
P4 Appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data.....................................7
P5 Communicating the research outcomes...........................................................................11
P6 Reflection on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the
business research project......................................................................................................12
P7 Alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of the outcome’s..........12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
Appendix........................................................................................................................................15
RESEARCH ETHICAL FORM...........................................................................................15

Student name
Student Id
Centre name
Date
Tutor
Unit
PROPOSED TITLE: “Implications of digital technologies on small business enterprise”
P1 & P2 Research proposal
The study is based on the implementation of the different digital platforms on the
different factors of the organisation. For this research, Qbic hotel have been taken, which is
small scale venture. The organisation is situated in the London and serve different
accommodation services to their customers. Major objective of researcher is to analyse
implication of digital technologies on business activities of small business enterprise. In order to
key aim of the investigation, scholar have made different objectives related to the topic. Other
than that researcher has also select the different research methodologies so that effective data can
be collected and analysed in order to solve the business problem. With help of techniques of
research methodologies, scholar can attain its right solution for the determined problem of
investigation. With the help of this investigation, scholar can easily identify the impact of digital
technologies over the Qbic hotel. Primary and secondary data have been collected in order to
gather the appropriate information about the subject. Data collection helps the researcher to
create proper knowledge and understanding about the subject so that problems can be solved
(Peppard and Ward, 2016).
Research Title
“Implications of digital technologies on small business enterprise.
Research Aim
“To analyse effect of digital technologies on business activities of small business enterprises: A
case study of the Apple house, guest house”
Research Objectives
 To explore the concept and meaning of digital technologies
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 To find the different platforms of digital technologies
 To evaluate the importance of different digital technologies for small scale business. To find the impact of different digital technologies on the business activities of small
business enterprise.
Research Questions
 What is the concept and meaning of digital technologies?
 What are the different platforms of digital technologies?
 What is the significance of digital technologies in business enterprise?
 What is the impact of digital technologies on business activities of small business
enterprise?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
This is the era of digital technology, mostly people make connection and communicate
with the help of different digital platforms. This is because people who are not able to
communicate face to face, they communicate with the help of digital platforms. Other than that,
it is very important for the different organisation to use different digital technologies so that they
can attract and retain large number of customers. The key reason behind the select of this topic
is, the researcher has appropriate knowledge and understanding about the subject. This
knowledge and understanding have generated interest in the mind of researcher. Other than that
scholar has found different sources from which he or she can collect the relevant knowledge
about the subject. With that researcher want to conduct more deep analysis of the subject so that
he or she can able to solve the problem of organisation related to the digital technologies.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Concept and meaning of digital technologies
According to the view of Vaast, (2010) digital technologies are that electronic tools,
systems, devices and resources that generates, stores and process information. Digital
technologies are the best tool by which researcher can collect the proper information about the
different stakeholders. As per the context of Sako, (2012) states that Information is the biggest
reason for which digital technologies have been used. Major in these technologies includes
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social media, online games, applications, multimedia, productivity application, cloud computing,
mobile devices and interoperable systems.
In the contradicting view of Sako, (2012) digital technology plays very significant role in
the business activities. As it helps the employees to make all the operations easy and fast. With
the help of these digital technologies, organisation can easily run and continue its business
operations and functions. Other than that, it can easily make all the transaction of the business
fast.
As per the view of Ihantola and Kihn, (2011) it can be stated positive experience of guest will
also be helpful in order to influence the behaviour of other people. In addition to this, Mackey
and Gass, (2015) states that there must be improved efficiencies so that all other activities can be
undertaken in better mode. Thus digitalisation has changes the overall operation of the
enterprise, this is the enterprise that provides keyless entry. According to the view of McGrath,
and O'Toole, 2012 states that the digitalisation is the process that has developed the check out
procedures and this all impacts the working of the enterprise in the huge context.
Different platform of the digital technologies
According to the view of Andriole, (2012) There are different technologies that are being
used by the organisation so that they can reduce their effort and time in order to conduct their
operations. Other than that, it helps the venture to reduce their fund investment, organisation do
not want invest more on human resources as their work is being done by the different
technologies. There is different purpose of using the different technologies. Such as when the
organisation is producing goods then they will need machinery. Other than that, when the
organisation is collecting and analysing financial information, then they will use tally or other
financial software. Thus, it is very significant for the venture to select the appropriate technology
for the different purpose so that they can reduce their effort and money.
In the contradicting view of Obeidat and Abu-Shanab, (2010) digital technologies
includes several aspects such as manufacturing machinery, spare parts and tools. Information
technology is the most important part of the digital technology. Every organisation needs to use
different tools so that they can manage their information technology. It can be said that digital
technology has very major impact over the different aspects of the business operations such as
accounting, internet things, start-up cost and expenses, time management etc. collecting,
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managing, analysing and storing financial information. It is very important for the venture to
understand the significance of digital technology so that they can able to conduct their activities
in appropriate manner.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activity 1th Week 2nd
Week
3rd Week 4th
Week
5th Week 6th
Week
7th Week 8th
Week
9th Week 10th
Week
Find research
Topic
Literature
Review
Drafting of
methodology
Finish Proposal
Design question
and pilot
research
Carry out &
Record Research
Data Analysis
and
Making Graphs
Discussion and
Conclusion
Final Report
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Editing &
Completion
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
Research methodology is the most important of the investigation, where researcher select
the different tools of research so that appropriate data can be collected and analysed. There are
different aspects that are included in the research methodology, that are research approach,
research design, data collection, research philosophies, sampling etc. In this investigation, the
key objective is to find the impact of digital marketing over the activities of small business
enterprise, thus, researcher have selected appropriate tool in order to achieve the aim of
investigation. The different tools of research methodology are as follows:
Research philosophy: It is the tool which helps the researcher to determine the proper source
from which data can be collected. There are two types of researcher philosophy, that are
positivism and interpretivism (Grafton, Lillis and Mahama, 2011). In this report or research,
scholar will use interpretivism research philosophy so that relevant data can be collected.
Research design: This method helps the researcher to carry out the investigation in appropriate
manner. Research design is being classified into three categories that are experimental,
exploratory and descriptive. For this research, descriptive research design has been selected so
that problem can be properly solved
Research approach: researcher approach helps the researcher to select the best tool so that
information can be properly analysed. There are two types of research approach that are
deductive and inductive. For this investigation, researcher have selected the inductive researcher
approach
Data collection: It is the way by which researcher collect the information so that problem can be
solves. There are two ways of collecting the information, that are primary and secondary.
Primary data collection is the way by which researcher collect the information from those
sources at which data is collected first time such as interview, survey, observation etc. on the
other side secondary data collection is the collection of information from that sources where data
have already been collected such as Books, Journal etc. here researcher have select primary data
collection where survey will be conducted. In order to carry out the present research there will
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be use of primary method so that effective survey can be taken. In this questionnaire will be
framed to have systematic information.
Sampling: Researcher will select 20 employees of Qbic hotel, as respondents, by taking into
account simple random sampling method.
P3 Primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project
that considers costs, access and ethical issues.
Research Strategy: While researcher implement the research method in the investigation then it
is very important to select an appropriate type of research. There are major two type of research
that is qualitative and quantitative. When it is being discussed about the qualitative research
strategy, it is the way by which different theoretical aspects have been included (Grafton, Lillis
and Mahama, 2011). On the other side quantitative research strategy is the way by which
different practical aspects have been included. When data is analysed in the qualitative research
strategy, then thematic have been used whereas in the quantitative research strategy then SPSS
have been used.
Research Approach: In the chapter of research methodology, research approach is one of the
essential methods by which investigator can analyse the information about the topic. There are
two types of research approach, that are inductive and deductive. In the context of inductive
approach, it is concerned with the generation of new theory emerging from the data. This
approach associated with qualitative research and this will usually use research questions to
narrow the scope of the study. In this, the researcher will have the use of inductive approach so
that broad generalisation of the data can be successful in order to carry out the business activities
in the appropriate manner.
Research philosophy: It refers to the value, assumption, beliefs related to the particular topic. It
deals with the source, nature and development of the knowledge. It affects the scholar
assumption, value and beliefs. There are two types of research philosophy, that are interpritivism
and positivism. Positivism. In the context of interpretivism philosophy, single fact is reflected by
the several facts. On the other hand, in the positivism philosophy, scholar relies upon the certain
fact and figure regarding particular aspect. In this investigation, interpritivism have been selected
by the researcher, which helps him to analyse the data in appropriate manner. In order to carry
out the present research the researcher will have the use of interpretative techniques and this will
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be effective in term to make the better interpretation about the topic of research so that all things
can be concluded in appropriate mode.
Research Design: It refers to the process of representing the outcome which occurred in the data
collection process. This process assists in analysing the result by accessing information about the
topic. There are two types if research design that are descriptive and exploratory. Here
researcher have selected descriptive research design. The researcher will have the use of
descriptive techniques so that it can be possible to provide depth description about the research.
Data collection; There are two ways by which data can be collected, that are primary and
secondary data. Primary data collection is the way by which data is collected for the first time,
whereas secondary data collection is the way by which data is collected from those sources at
which data is already being collected such as Journal, Books etc. . In order to carry out the
implication of present research, the researcher will have the use of primary techniques so that all
things can be interpreted in better terms.
Sampling-: There are two ways s probabilistic and non probabilistic. In order to carry out the
present research the researcher will have the use of probabilistic technique and in this sample
random techniques will be used. It is the tool by which data is being analysed, there are two
ways by which data is evaluated that are SPSS and thematic. Here thematic tool has been
selected. Here data is collected with the help of survey where questionnaire is framed and
questions is being asked from the 20 employees of the organisation (Flick, 2011)
P4 Appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data
In this research project all information is to be gathered is to be properly analysed so that
questionnaire can be properly analyses. It can be done with the help of the following brief, chart
and thematic presentation.
Theme 1: Qbic hotel need to make use of updated technology.
Do the Qbic hotel should use of new of
upgraded technology?
Frequency
Yes 12
No 5
7

Not sure 3
Interpretation- As per the research which is collected from the employees with the time the
organization bring various changes. In this given table it can be seen that 12 of the workers are
using the update digital technology and 5 of the workers are not using digital technology and 3
of employees are not sure about the using of this updated technology. In this manner the hotel
needs to take many effective steps so that people can know the positive effects of the digital
technology. Moreover, it can be said that the company is facing in relation to fund so that they
are unable to cope with the use of updated techniques.
Theme 2: The Employees should provide training and development of the modified
technology.
Are employees provided training facilities in relation to development
of the modified technology. ?
Frequency
Yes 13
No 4
Not Sure 3
8
12
5
3
Yes
No
Not sure

Interpretation- In this above diagram it can be seen that there are 13 of the workers who want
to training facility for understanding the using of digital technology and 4 of them are not
thinking in this manner and 3 of them are not sure about this. It is to be dome in order to make
this process useful. The firm is facing issues in relation to implementation of technology and to
get overcome from this the firm is need to take proper training and development facilities.
Theme 3: Digital technologies is helpful in improving business activities and productivity.
Are digital technologies helpful in improving business activities and
productivity?
Frequency
Yes 14
No 4
Not Sure 2
9
13
4
3
Yes
No
Not Sure

Interpretation- With the above diagram it is identified that 14 workers who are happy with the
performance of digital technology, 4 of them are again of these techniques and 3 of them are not
sure about this. In Hotel the digital technology plays vital role in order to improve the
performance of the company. With the effective use of this the performance of the business
enterprise can be improved.
Theme 4: The impact of the Digital technology on performance of the company.
What is the impact of digital technology on performance of the
company?
Frequency
Yes 13
No 4
Not Sure 3
10
Yes No Not Sure
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
14
4
2
Column B
13
4
3
Yes
No
Not Sure