The Implication of Digital Technologies on SMEs: A Case Study on 4Com

This research project investigates the implications of digital technologies on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), focusing on a case study of 4Com. The project explores the impact of digital tools and techniques on business performance, including an examination of research questions, objectives, and methodologies. The study covers the appropriateness of digital technology in the current business landscape, the impact on operational costs, and strategies for enhancing business performance. The research examines the effectiveness of digital tools, identifies methods for performance improvement, and analyzes the implications of digital technologies on 4Com. Furthermore, the project includes a literature review, research questions, and objectives designed to provide insights into how SMEs can effectively utilize digital technologies for growth and success. The project culminates in an analysis of research outcomes and alternative research methodologies, offering valuable guidance for businesses seeking to leverage digital technologies.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Research proposal that defines a research question or hypothesis supported by a literature
review..........................................................................................................................................1
P2 Appropriate research methods and approaches to primary and secondary research..............7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P3 Primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project
.....................................................................................................................................................8
P4 Analytical tools, analyses research findings and data..........................................................10
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................20
P5 Research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience............................20
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................21
P6 Effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the business research
project........................................................................................................................................21
P7 Alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of the outcomes................21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................24
.........................................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
In the recent era, Every business firm wants to be increased their profitability and
productivity level due to this they focuses on to use smart and advance techniques within the
organization so that they can achieve their goals and objectives. Along with this, digital
technology is one of the major concept which is used by most of the business firm for promoting
and increasing awareness of company as well as its services (Säljö, 2010). However, digitization
aids to increased capabilities and abilities of employees due to this they significantly performed
their tasks and achieve their long and short term targets. In the other hand, within the market
competition between companies regularly increased thus all organizations wants to get success
and set a brand image in the market place. So that they can attract high number of customers as
well as enhance their sales and revenue (Best and Kahn, 2016).
TASK 1
P1 Research proposal that defines a research question or hypothesis supported by a literature
review.
Changes is also an important aspect which should be adopted by every business firm as
per the market trends and customer's requirements (Bennett and Maton, 2010). Hence, every
business firm wants to give fully satisfaction to its consumers therefore, it is required to be
understand and analyse their needs and expectation from the company. However, it is necessary
to be adopt smart and advance digital tools and techniques so that employees of the firm will
significantly provide better quality of services and products to customers (Neuman and Robson,
2014).
Background of research
Digital tools and techniques directly affects on business firm either positive or negative in
nature due to this it is required to be proper analyzed and evaluate its implications.4Com plc is
an SME technology based company. It sells mobile, communication devices, internet, software
and so more. Employers of this business firm focuses on to use smart digital tools and techniques
at work place so that they can provide better quality of services to its consumers as well as
increase awareness of company as well as its products in a n effective and efficient manner.
Furthermore, 4com company try to adopt digital tools and techniques so that they significantly
supply better quality of services and devices to customers as per their needs and requirement so
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that they can get fully satisfaction towards their expectations. While business firm using smart
digital tools and techniques then respectively increased their effectiveness and efficiency due to
this, employees of the company effectively performed their operations and targets in a systematic
style. In the other words, most of the companies are using digital technologies at work place for
systematically completing the works and targets thus it directly affects on environmental aspects.
With the help of this employees of the business firm maximum utilise resources and achieve
decided targets in a impelling style.
Research aim
This research report based on Digital technologies which helps to examine its
implications of SMEs. Hence, this research report helps to give appropriate guidelines and
directions to researcher so that researcher can identify its impacts on 4com company. Along with
this, one of the major aim and objective of this research report is “The implication of Digital
technologies on SMEs : A case study on 4Com”.(Carlson, 2010)
Research objectives
Every research project has their objectives and goals which they wants to be achieve in
an effective and efficient way. Thus, some targets which decided by the researcher to measure
and examine own performance. (Thompson, 2013)Therefore, it can be used for providing some
suggestions and recommendation to researcher as per the basis of finding. In the other hand, the
major purpose of this research report is objectives is to be bifurcate the aims in the small targets
so that they can be significantly achieved by research team. Apart from this, there are
representing objectives which is created on the basis of research aims such as follows:
1. To examine the effectiveness of digital tools and technologies in the current era
2. To identify the several digital techniques and methods which can be adopted by 4com
company for increasing performance(Thinyane, 2010)
3. To evaluate and analyse the implications of digital technologies on 4com
4. To find out several ways and sources so that 4com can give fully satisfaction to
customers
Research questions
This research study used for measuring and identifying the implications of digital tools
and techniques on 4com company in an effective way. Digitalisation is an important concept
which helps to increased efficiency and effectiveness of the business firm. Additionally, with the
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helps to this business firm can get success in competitive market place. (Blackwell, Lauricella
and Wartella, 2014)On the other hand, there are preparing some effective questions which is
based on objectives of the research project. It will aids to give appropriate guidelines and
directions to researcher so that it can be get success and achieve their targets and objectives.
Therefore, there are representing research questions in an effective way such as follows:
 How company can measure and identify the implication of digital tools and techniques?
 What are the major components can used by 4com company to increased working
performance?
 How can effectively examine and measure the impacts of digital changes on 4com
performance?
 Which type of methods and techniques can be adopted by 4com company for increasing
efficiency and performance so that they can get success and attain their targets?
Literature review helps in understanding actual meaning of research topic so that
researcher can make himself clear about topic. Also, it helps him in carrying out each and every
research activity in most effective and systematic manner. This part of investigation provides
right guidelines or direction to investigator so that he can successfully conduct his research. This
section provides specific as well as clear concept to researcher so that ho does not have to face
any difficulty in his in investigation. Researcher can take help of different sources for collecting
important data or information regarding his research, which can make his research work more
certify. A depth discussion has been conducted according to the different authors and researchers
which can help investigator in making his work more authenticate and attested. This section will
help readers in determining influence of digital technology on small business enterprise. Also, it
will highlight the impact on digitization on market performance of 4Com Plc.
Appropriateness of digital technology in current business situation
In modern world, digital technology has become most important part of individual's life.
In simple word, digitalisation helps people in improving their daily life activities. By taking help
of technology individuals can operate their different activities with high efficiency and
effectiveness. Also, it assist in developing living standards of humans so that they can use their
capabilities in doing other important things. It have become major need of all business managers
to take help of technical factors so that they can easily operate their organisational activities and
practices in systematic manner which will generate high financial results. Also, digitalisation
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provides various methods and equipments to company so that it can increase its profitability as
well as productivity.
According to (Topol and Hill, 2012), digitalisation is main factor which can lead any
business enterprise to high level of success and growth. Also, it helps company in developing its
business position within market place. With the help of this, individual can utilise his skills and
abilities in appropriate manner. In other words, by combining individual's efforts and technical
factors company produce most effective products and also can attract huge number of customer.
Technology and human resources are two major factors which can help help business enterprise
in boosting its current business performance. By taking help of technical factors, employees can
complete each and every business activities in appropriate manner which will assist company in
its future growth and development. So, it can be said that digital technology plays most
significant role in organisation success and increasing its current efficiency as well as
effectiveness. Apart from this, there are some points which helps in determining positive impact
of digitalisation on business performance and these are follows as under:
Increasing knowledge: By using technical equipments, employees can enhance their current
knowledge and also can perform his assigned roles and responsibilities in most effective as well
as in systematic manner. People of this ear, stays connected with digitalisation which helps them
in improving their knowledge so that they can give their 100% to accomplish their personal as
well as professional goals. Internet as become most important platform, by which organisation
can improve their current business performance.
Minimising operational expenses: Business enterprises face financial loss due to high
operational cost. But by taking help of digitalisation, company can make its producing process
effective which will reduce the wastage and also will minimise the operational expenses. Digital
technology helps organisation in completing their each and every task in as per the requirement
so that they will help in generating high financial profit. Internet aids business enterprise by
providing most effective methods and techniques by which company can operate its
organisational functions as per the requirements.
Improving current business performance: in modern world, due to globalisation and high use of
technology market competition is increasing day by day. So, it have become major task for all
business enterprises to use digitalisation so that they can operate their organisational activities in
most effective manner. As, it helps in improving production process more effective so that
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organisation can produce its products on lower cost and can generate high financial profit and
also can improve their productivity. This will increase business performance of company and
also assist it in achieving competitive advantage within market place.
Effective utilisation of available resources: For operating different organisational activities and
practices, company have to take help of human, financial and technical resources. Without these
resources, enterprise can not lead to high level of success. Digital technology help organisation
in utilising these resources in appropriate manner which results in high organisational growth
and development.
Optimum utilisation of individual's capabilities: In modern world, almost all companies are
taking help of technical factors so that they can improve employee's capabilities. Worker gets
huge knowledge form internet and then use that knowledge in performing their given roles and
responsibilities. So, it can be said that digitalisation helps individual in improving their current
skills and abilities so that they can operate business activities and practices in appropriate
manner, and also can provide huge financial and non financial profit to organisation in which
they are employed.
Hence, these are some positive impact of digital technology which helps business
enterprise in improving and developing its organisational performance within market place.
Cost accounting – It is an accounting method which aims is to capture entire costs of
products by evaluating cost of raw materials as well as fixed costs which occurs in production. In
simple words, cost accounting means to determine costs incurred to carry out an activity in an
effective manner. Cost accounting is often used in a company in order to make decisions
regarding finance. In order to gather this kind of information, small businesses are using certain
digital tools and techniques thus to arrive at better decisions.
Inventory management – An inventory of business organisations is one of the most
valuable assets because it helps managers to produce products and make them available at
marketplace. Due to shortage of inventory, small businesses cannot perform well. Thus to
manage inventory in an effective manner, small businesses can acquire new and innovative
techniques, such as – LMS, dashboards, record alerts, records and so on thus to effectively
manage these inventory system of the company.
Cash flow management – Managing or handling cash flows means to determines
incoming and outgoing cash from company. It acts like lifeblood for business associations, by
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having adequate inform of cash inflows and outflows at workplace management can easily arrive
at better conclusion. There are various techniques of cash flow management, such as – pluse,
quickbooks (cash forecast reports), Bilbus Cashflow Hub; all these can be acquired by firms in
order to manage cash inflow and outflow within businesses.
Different ways by which business enterprise can enhance its business performance
According to (Blackwell, Lauricella and Wartella, 2014), while operating business
activities and practices, mangers have to face various organisational problems and challenges.
For accomplishing organisational goals and objectives it is highly important for business
mangers to analyse business activities on continuous basis so that he can identify all those factors
which can affect organisational performance. As per (Green, Camilli and Elmore, 2012),
digitalisation helps company in achieving competitive advantage. Apart from this, there are
various activities by which organisation can improve its current performance and these are
follows as under:
Introduce new techniques and technology: For better growth and development, all business
enterprise should focus on new strategies and methods which can help company in operating its
business activities and services in most effective and systematic manner.
Provide training to employees: In modern world, all companies are attracting towards digital
technology because it helps them in running organisational functions in appropriate manner. So,
it is necessary for companies to provide various training and development programs to their
employees so that they can get enough knowledge about technical tools and their effective
utilisation.
Integration of individual skills and technology: The most important factors of all organisation
are human and technological resources. By integrating both factors organisation can improve its
business efficiency as well as effectiveness.
Influence of Digitalisation on business performance of 4Com Plc
In order to survive in competitive market place, it is highly important for all business
organisation to consider all those factors which influence positive impact on it. In present time,
digital technology is only component which helps organisation in improving their business
growth as well as development. Digitalisation helps 4Com in enhancing its organisational
efficiency and effectiveness. As, it helps company in accomplishing its desired goals and
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objectives in most systematic manner (Bharadwaj and et. al., 2013). Digital technology influence
positive impact on this organisation which can be determined by below mentioned points:
 It help in improving production process so that company can manufacture its products in
effective manner.
 Digitalisation helps organisation in product innovation and development so that it can
attract huge number of customer.
 Also, it helps in developing current skills and abilities of employees so that they can run
business activities in appropriate manner. (Pratt and et. al., 2012)
Different ways which can be used by 4Com Plc for developing its market performance so
that it can achieve competitive advantage
The most important objectives of all business enterprise is profit maximisation and
customer satisfaction. In present time, it have become difficult task for all companies to achieve
their objectives because of customer dissatisfaction and complexity. There are various possible
ways through which 4Conm Plc can improve its business performance even in complex structure
and these are follows as under:
By providing quality products and services: 4Com is a small business enterprise which is facing
various business problem and one of them is customer dissatisfaction. To provide high customer
satisfaction, it should produce and deliver quality goods or services to its clients as per their
requirements. It can make changes in its current products by taking help of digital technology.
Effective utilisation of resources: Organisation can generate high financial profit only by
utilising its available resources in most effective and systematic manner. By doing this, 4Com
can achieve competitive advantage.
Grievance handling: The biggest problem of 4Com Plc is its complex structure and conflicts
between employer and employees. So, its mangers should resolve all business problem and also
can open new stores to hear customer queries and issues.
P2 Appropriate research methods and approaches to primary and secondary research
Research methodology helps in determining different tools and techniques by which investigator
can compete their research activities in most effective and systematic manner. Also, it helps
investigator in reaching at final results. While working on research, it becomes huge
responsibility of investigator to search for all those possible ways by which he can complete his
investigation in appropriate manner (Westerman, Bonnet and McAfee, 2014).
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Qualitative: It is scientific method of observation to collect non- numerical data. Under
this, data is measured in terms of quality in an significant manner. It is a procedure of naturalistic
inquiry which seek towards an in- depth understanding of the social phenomenon with natural
setting. It is related to understanding and it permit an investigator to study about chosen issues in
a detail manner.
Quantitative: Under this, quantitative research is related with numbers and measurement
of data. It is regarded to be key instrument included with data gathered as well as analysis. In
addition to this, it is structured way of gathering and also analysis obtained data from various
sources. It consist use of mathematical, computational and statistical tools.
Data collection is a process of gathering data from different sources related to specific
topic. Different methods of data collection are mention below:
Primary: Under this, researcher collect data for first time which is not before collected.
Different sources of gather primary data are surveys, questionnaire, observation and many
others.
Secondary: It is a second method of data collection. In this, researcher use data that is
already collected from various sources for an instance books, journals, internet sources, articles
and many others.
Sampling: This research gives core attention to selection of respondent so that research can be
conducted in most effective and systematic manner. For getting accurate information researcher
have to select people out of selected population or society. There are two approaches are
available for investigator for selecting respondents and these are probability and non probability.
According to former approach people are selected randomly but according to non probability
approach researcher sets a pattern to choose people. But this research report is based on
probability approach in which 50 people will be selected for sample size to determine actual
needs and wants of general public. Under this, sample size used through researcher is 50 from
whole population.
TASK 2
P3 Primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project
Cost: It is an important factor in research. Before conduct an investigation, it is a
responsibility of researcher to arrange money on the basis of set activities in significant manner.
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Without the cost, researcher can not do any thing. So, it is a responsibility of an investigator
arrange funds so that research can be conducted in proper manner. It will be helpful in provide
the beneficial outcomes to business.
Ethical consideration: According to this concept, researcher should complete his
research without harming or hurting any other person. In simple words, its huge responsibility of
investigator to do research work with ethical manner. It is essential that researcher should
conduct investigation by following all ethical, norms, values and principles.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1) What do you think digital tools and techniques has affects on
4com company?
Frequency
 Yes 40
 No 10
Q2) What are the major technological advancement that have affect
selected business firm?
Frequency
 Communication devices 5
 Online or internet 20
 Mobile phones 15
 Laptops and tables 10
Q3) What do you think, why digital technology necessary for
company?
 Enhancing profitability and productivity 15
 Easy communication 15
 Increasing performance 20
Q4) Are you satisfied by the 4com company's products and goods? Frequency
 Yes 42
 No 8
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