Analyzing Digital Technology's Impact on Small Business: A Case Study

This project examines the impact of digital technology on small businesses, using Continental Consulting Limited as a case study. The research investigates how digitalization supports business growth and innovation, focusing on project management plans, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and work breakdown structures. The project includes a detailed project management plan with timelines, budget, and quality control measures. The study analyzes the requirements for innovation within the company's operational activities and assesses the effect of digital technology on its online services. The research questions address innovation needs and the potential effects of digitalization on research and consultancy services. The project includes Gantt charts, WBS, and communication plans, as well as risk management strategies. The project methodology includes both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, providing a comprehensive analysis of the impact of digital technology on small business performance, offering valuable insights for businesses seeking to enhance their operations and achieve their goals. The conclusion and recommendations will provide a framework for successful implementation of digital technology.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION
Digital technology is one of the effectual tool in today's era for businesses in order to
enhance their production and profitability. It assists to raise effectiveness of operational activities
to provide customer satisfaction. Digitalisation is mainly supporting small business growth and
innovation. Mario Bindas is the CEO of Continental Consulting Limited which is a research and
business consultancy firm. It is small scale company of United Kingdom. Business process Re-
engineering and potential customers including small and medium manufacturing companies is
the main business of the company.
MAIN BODY
1. Background and purpose of the research
Background of the investigation: Digital technology has a major role in increasing small
businesses' effectiveness in terms of their operational activities and profitability. The research is
based on effect of advance technology supporting growth as well as innovation in small
businesses. “Continental Consulting Limited” provide its services to companies located in and
around London and greater London. Mario works with a team of 22 expert’s researchers and
consultants. The firm was setup 8 years ago and that time the owner produced the latest
equipment, IT and computer facilities. The firm wants to upgrade use of IT in order to bring
capabilities to its maximum. Company have expertise in their field and possesses combined
experience of 150 years. The business is lost to its competitors in the market and not making any
efforts to upgrade which is the key weakness of firm.
Aim:
To identify the impact of digital technology on small business growth and innovation. A
case study on: Continental Consulting Limited UK.
Objectives:
 To evaluate requirement of innovation within operational activities of Continental
Consulting Limited UK
 To examine and determine effect of digital technology in online services including
research and consultancy of Continental Consulting Limited UK
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 To suggest ways so that organisation is able to implement digital technology in
Continental Consulting Limited successfully.
Research Question:
1. What is the requirement of innovation in the operations and function of Continental
Consulting Limited UK?
2. What are the potential effect of digitalisation within research as well as consultancy
services of Continental Consulting Limited UK?
Purpose of the research: The purpose of this research is to analyse impact of digital technology
in supporting growth and innovation of small businesses. It is important that digitalisation helps
to increase effectiveness of operations and procedures so that business can easily achieve its
desired goals and objectives. In addition to this, it also helps small businesses to enhance their
overall performance which provides competitive advantage in order to overcome weaknesses
(Taylor, 2015). The impact of digitalisation is there on all activities managed by “Continental
Consulting Limited” such as finance, HR, marketing, operation etc.
2. Project management plan
It is a ceremonial, sanctioned document that describes how a project is accomplished,
controlled as well as monitored. It is a summary of detailed document including baselines,
subsidiary, management plan and other documents of planning.
Project induction: The goals of this phase of starting project is to define research at a wide level.
It starts with a case related to business when investigation is feasible and undertaken. The stage
completed when testing of feasibleness is done (Burns, 2016). PID (project initiation document)
is created if it is given the green light in order to outline requirement and purpose of project.
Project planning: Planning phase is the key of successful management of developing a roadmap
in order to follow the process involved in this phase. It starts with setting objectives as well as
goals using SMART along with CLEAR criteria. The planning involves, determination of cost,
resources, quality and realistic timetable which are generated using schedule, scope and cost of
the project. In addition, scope statement, WBS, milestones, Gantt chart, communication and risk
management plan is developed (Hartley, 2017).
Project executing: In this stage, transportation are completed and status reports, development
updates, meetings and performance reports happens. Execution phase includes developing team,
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assigning resources, project and procurement management plan, tracking system, status
meetings, project schedule and modified project plans.
Project performance and monitoring: In this phase, project performance and progression is
measured to ensure things are aligned with project management plan. KPI, (Key Performance
indicator) is used to determine whether project is on right track or not (Dodgson, 2018). Project
objectives, quality deliverables, cost tracking and project performance are some key elements
associated with plan.
Project closure: This is a stage represent the completed project. In this phase, valuable members
of team are determined, contractors are hired to work, small work events are organised for
people participating in project etc. A meeting is organised at the end of completion of project to
identify project failures and what went well (Brunswicker and Vanhaverbeke, 2015). Finally,
project budget and report is preparing at the end of this stage to collect all documents and
deliverables to store them effectively.
Table 1: Time duration and Scope
Stage/ Scope Anticipated time-frame
Project induction 6 days
Project preparation 8 days
Project executing 10 days
project observation 1 day
Project concluding 4 days
Table 2: Cost budget and Resources
Activities Budget (£) Expenditure (£)
Budget for the Project 30000
Material buy
Pressman, paper, pen as well as other materials 6000
Service and labour costs:
Experts appointed for preparation and investigation
(6 persons)
5000
Experts for execution of project 6000
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Internet services (28days) 6000
Others 7000
Total 30000 30000
Table 3: Quality control plan
Quality issues Stage Impact Control
Wrong objectives of
project
Preparation High Review by experts and
supervisors
Delusive allotment of cost Preparation Medium Recording of expenditures
Wrong design of the
project
Preparation High Discussion with team
members before
implementing project
Lack of training to
workers
Execution Medium Trial before execution
Poor data collection Execution High Review by experts and
supervisors
Wrong respondents Execution Medium Ensuring right individual
before collecting data
Wrong method for data
analysis
Project
observation
High Discussion with supervisors
before initiating
Inadequate reportage Project closure High Sharing outcomes and
opinions with supervisors
Table 4: Communication plan
Stakeholder Description Frequency Format Week of the
timeline
Contestant First communication At first Email 7th week
Contestant Group meeting for One time In person 8th- 9th week
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aggregation of data
Project
managers
To show the project
development
Two times in
a weeks
Email and In
person
Whole period
Member of
Team
Aid for information
investigation
In a week Email and In
person
Whole period
Table 5: Risk management plan
Risk Impact Mitigation
There is unrealistic timeline Medium Amendments with detailed statement
Lack of seriousness High Centring to the Gantt chart
Ineffective control on cost Medium Managing cost between various activities
Less help from professionals Medium Want help from administration
Removal of contestants Medium Adding required respondents
Abuse of data gathered High Consider honorable issues
3. Work break down structure and Gantt chart
Work break down structure: WBS in system engineering and project management is a
deliverable adjusted breakdown of a plan into smaller element. It is also described as a key
project deliverable that helps to organise team work into administrable section effectively (Rayna
and Striukova, 2016). It is crucial for simplifying the execution of project that it helps to break
down larger tasks into manageable chunks of work effectively.
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Source: (Work Breakdown Structure, 2018)
Table 6: Project management plan
The Scope of the project- This is broad and wide. Digital technology is a broad factor as
it will amend knowledge of investigator as well for increase the performance of organisation by
accelerating the efficiency of workers. By implementing Digital technology plan in effective
way, it will be make employees highly skilled and knowledgeable. Continental Consulting
Limited is a small scale organisation as the digital technology will be very wide so Researcher
have broad areas to get knowledge.
Resources used in the project- There are many resources which are used by the
Researcher in order to complete the project which are pen, pencil, not pad, respondents, laptop,
books and journals, fund etc.
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Illustration 1: Work Break down structure

Task mode Task name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
7

Auto
scheduled
Preparation stage of the
project 8 days Thursday
10/14/18
Friday
10/22/18
Auto
scheduled Selecting a subject or theme 2 days Thursday
10/14/18
Thursday
10/14/18
Auto
scheduled
Describing scope of the
project and objectives 3 days Friday
10/15/18
Monday
10/18/18 2
Auto
scheduled
Selecting subject or
problematic in order to carry
phase of installation
3 days Tuesday
10/19/18
Wednesday
10/20/18 2,3
Auto
scheduled
Determining aim and
objectives 3 days Thursday
10/21/18
Friday
10/22/18 3,4
Auto
scheduled Planning for project 8 days Monday
10/25/18 10/26/18 5,1
Auto
scheduled
Application stage of
developments 5 days Monday
10/26/18
Wednesday
10/27/18 5
Auto
scheduled Budget plan for project 3 days Thursday
10/28/18
Friday
10/29/18 5,7
Auto
scheduled Communication plan 3 days 11/02/18 11/05/18 7,8
Auto
scheduled Execution of Project 10 days 11/05/18 Monday
11/15/18 8,6
Auto
scheduled Managing tasks 3 days Wednesday
11/15/18
Thursday
11/18/18 9
8

Auto
scheduled Literature review 3 days Friday
11/18/18
Tuesday
11/21/18 9,11
Auto
scheduled Data collection 5 days Wednesday
11/21/18
Monday
11/26/18 12
Auto
scheduled Project monitoring 2 days Tuesday
11/26/18
Wednesday
11/28/18 13
Auto
scheduled Key performance indicator 2 days Tuesday
11/28/18
Wednesday
11/30/18 13
Auto
scheduled Project closure 4 days Thursday
11/30/18 12/03/18 15
Auto
scheduled
Conclusion and
recommendations 1 day 12/03/18 12/04/18 14,15
Auto
scheduled Submission of project 1 day 12/05/18 12/05/18 15,17
Gantt chart:
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Figure 1: Gantt chart
4. Qualitative and Quantitative research methods
It is a specific process which is used to make choice, determine and analyse information
about topic. It helps to evaluate reliability and validity of research in order to solve issues. This
not only helps to understand process but also investigate goods. The procedure consider
aggregation of both present as well as historical information and data for the intent of taking
decisions. Research methodological analysis involve various operation to collect systematic
information related to the topic of research.
Research philosophy: It is a huge topic that helps to discuss topic in great details.
Interpretivism, positivism, realism and pragmatism are four types of philosophies available for
researcher to conduct investigation in proper manner (Clarke and Visser, 2018). This is a section,
where data is collected, analysed and used. Each step in research philosophy is based on
assumptions about nature and source of knowledge and also reflects expectations of author's in
order to serve a strong base for strategy. This section finding are usually quantifiable and
observable. For the present case study of analysing the effect of advance technology on growth
and innovation of small business especially tailored to Continental Consulting Limited,
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