Project Report: Analyzing the Impact of Digital Technology on Business

This report provides a comprehensive project management plan focused on analyzing the impact of digital technology on Whitbread Plc's business activities. It outlines clear aims and objectives, including enhancing business functions through digital solutions. The plan incorporates cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resource management. The report includes a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project timeframes, along with small-scale research using qualitative and quantitative methods to meet project aims. The research is analyzed using appropriate tools and techniques, leading to recommendations and conclusions. The report also reflects on the value of the research and the project management process in meeting stated objectives and supporting learning and performance. This document is available on Desklib, where students can find a variety of solved assignments and project reports.

MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
P1 Devise clear aims and objectives for chosen scenario............................................................2
P2 Produce a project management plan incorporating the cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources..............................................................................................4
M1 Produce a comprehensive project management plan............................................................7
P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes and stages
for completion..............................................................................................................................8
Task 2.............................................................................................................................................10
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives.................................................................10
M2 Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of different research methods applied......................14
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................15
P5 Analyze research and data using appropriate tools and techniques for the chosen project..15
P6 Recommendations and conclusions......................................................................................20
M3 Evaluate the selection of appropriate tools and techniques for accuracy and authenticity to
support and justify recommendations........................................................................................21
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................22
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance........................................................................................................................22
M4 Evaluate the value of the project management process and use of quality research to meet
stated objectives and support own learning and performance...................................................24
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................25
References......................................................................................................................................26

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Project costing...................................................................................................................5
Table 2: Communication plan.........................................................................................................6
Table 3: Project milestone plan.......................................................................................................7
Table 4: Work breakdown structure................................................................................................9
Table 5: Gantt chart.........................................................................................................................9
Table 6: Project logbook................................................................................................................12
Table 7: Performance Review.......................................................................................................22

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Work breakdown structure...............................................................................................8

Introduction
Business activities and operational functions of the organization are required to be managed by
each and every department of the organization so that they can gain the positive outcome and
result in the market. To manage the business activities in effective and proper manner, the
organization can use or implement the digital technology in their business. This report will
consider the case of Whitbread Plc organization as they are providing hospitality service to their
customers and it is important for them to use digital technology for enhancing their daily
operational functions. Currently this organization is facing many issues to manage their business
activities so to reduce this issue, the report will suggesting to implement the digital technology in
their business. The report will provide the project plan and will also conduct the research show
the importance and benefits of this project for the organization.
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Task 1
P1 Devise clear aims and objectives for chosen scenario
Project Overview
Entire project revolves around project planning that support conducting research so as to achieve
objectives. It includes planning, controlling, organizing and monitoring forms a major part of
project planning (Meredith et.al.2016).
Project Title
‘Impact of Digital Technology on Business Activities’ is the main title of the project. It will
focus on influence of digital technology on various operations as well as activities of business in
Hotel Whitbread Plc.
Project Statement
Statement of the project reflects the importance of project scope, time as well as cost that are
essential for implementation of the project. The current project is related to study of positive and
negative impact of digital technology. The statement will help an organization to find out
appropriate solution for the barriers as well as its negative impact on business activities.
Aims and Objectives of Project
Aim
Aim of the project is to analyse the impact of digital technology so that various business function
of Whitbread Plc can be improvised. It aims to escalate the business functions related to
administration, storage, production, etc.
Objectives
 Major objective of entire project is to analyse the impact of digital technology to enhance
the functionality of Whitbread Plc.
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 To understand the application of advancement in technology as well as its benefits to earn
competitive advantage in the market.
 To illustrate the importance of technology and its impact on organization to achieve
objectives.
 Overall objectives are also related to identify the success point of business activities after
implementation of technology to gain benefits in terms of profitability as well other
financial advantages (Westerman et.al.2014).
Problem Statement
In the environment of competition, utilisation of digital technology will support Whitbread Plc to
gain competitive position in the market. Current project aids in identifying and examining on
how technology influences business operations of an organization. For Top level management of
an organization, it is important to understand the utilisation of digital technology on business
activities. Technology plays an important role in achieving objectives along with overall success.
The report will focus on determining how to implement the digital technology throughout their
business.
The report will identify the current trends in the market that have higher influence on business
activities of an organization and therefore, it is important to identify the technological trend in
the market by identifying its impact on business and how to resolve it.
3

P2 Produce a project management plan incorporating the cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources
Step1: Product scope
Project scope cover some included and excluded scope which will define the work required to be
completed within this project. Following are the included and excluded scope of the project:
Included scope  Involve the stakeholders which are mentioned for this project.
 Project manager can handle the report and proceeding of the project
as stakeholder.
 Implement the quantitative and qualitative research methods
 Conduct the observation from the research
 Create the project management plan which will create report,
figures and charts on the basis of research methods used.
 Provide questionnaires to the staff members Whitbread Plc with the
help of email (Papke-Shields and Boyer-Wright, 2017)
 Communicate the report and findings to the Whitbread managers
 Assign the roles and responsibilities to the team members
 Conduct the meeting with the managers
 Create online website as per the results of the research
Excluded scope  Training for the project is not required
 Other than the project manager no one is liable to take the
important decisions.
 Do not conduct face-to-face interview with the respondents
 Do not send the questionnaires to all the members.
 In the meeting do not discuss any other think apart from project
Step2: Discuss the success criteria for this project
With the help of the stakeholder suggestions and recommendations they can involve them and
develop interest of them in the project. The development of the interest will help them to achieve
the aims and objectives of this project. By covering all the expectations of stakeholders they can
achieve success.
4

Step3: Discuss the project assumptions
In this project it is assumed that the project will help Whitbread Plc to enhance their business
operations and increase the efficiency of the marketing, human resource or finance department.
This will increase the brand value of the organization to implementation of the digital technology
in the business operations (Kendrick, 2015).
Step4: Identify the required time and cost for the project
The project will require 49 days (1 month, 19 days) which is around 7 weeks to complete and
achieve their main aim. Apart from this they require budget of around $10,700 which is designed
as follows:
Table 1: Project costing
1 Start with planning process $2500
2 Make the proper design $2000
3 Identify the resources and allocate them as per requirement $1900
4 Identify the scope of improvement and implement the changes $2100
5 Complete the project and windup $2200
Total costing $10,700
Step5: Project deliverables
The project will deliver the impact of the DT (Digital technology) on the Whitbread Plc business
activities or operations which enhance the marketing, human resource or other department
performance.
Step6: Analyze risk
The conducted project includes the risk of management of budget, time and use of proper
resources which may delay the project (Crawford, 2014).
Step7: Risk and quality management
The identified risk in this project can be removed by risk assessment process, critical path
analysis and risk evaluation and prioritisation time strategy. This will maintain the quality of the
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project. Identify the skills of the team members and delegate the roles and responsibilities which
help to manage the project resources (Heagney, 2016).
Step8: Communicate the plan
The project manager who is handling the whole project need to conduct the meeting and call all
the stakeholders and discuss the project with them. Following communication plan can be
followed:
Table 2: Communication plan
Take actions Involved persons Reason Duration Mode
Conduct conferences Project stakeholders Communicate the
plan
In the first week
of the project
In a meeting
Start the project Project stakeholders Communicate the
project scope
In the second
week
In a meeting
Current status Project stakeholders Review the progress
of the project
Once in a month In a meeting
Conduct meeting with
the project investors
Stakeholders, project
manager and investors
Communicate the
budget planning
In the first week
of the project
In a meeting
Auditing for the project Project stakeholders Identify the risk and
communicate it
In two weeks E-mail
Final project report Entire team Identify the final
outcomes
Last weeks of the
project
In a meeting
Step9: Implement the plan
Execute the designed plan by covering all the activities of the project. This is the final step
covered in this project that help to finish the project (Harrison and Lock, 2017).
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M1 Produce a comprehensive project management plan
Table 3: Project milestone plan
Activities as per project plan 1 week 2 week 3 week 4 week 5 week 6 week 7 week
Gather the project information
Communicate plan with
stakeholders and investors
Project risk
Project proposal and elements
Create budget with the investors
Create project communication
plan for stakeholders
Appoint researcher and team
members
Implement the plan as per design
Finish and windup the project
7

P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes and stages for
completion
The project for Whitbread Plc starts from 25th December 2017 and that will be estimated to be
end on 18th February, 2018. Following is the work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for this
project:
Figure 1: Work breakdown structure
8
Planning initiation
Hold meeting
Set aims and objectives
Assign time
Project budget
request for project
approval
Identify the team
Commerce planning
Create risk assessment
Allocate the resource
Create Gantt chart
Conduct research
methodology
Execution
Devise the questionniare
Assess the survey
Conduct research
Create questionniare
E-mail the questionniare
Conduct the interview
and analysis secondary
data
Monitor the research
progress
Assess the performance
Analysis the research
and findings
Conduct meeting
Prepare findings
Communication
Compare the cost with
the budget
Report issues and
conduct final meeting
Conduct meeting with
management team
Communicate the results
Comtrol and monitor
Assess the project
performamce
Close the project