Impact of Digital Technology on Small Businesses: A Research Report

This report examines the impact of digital technology on small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on Continental Consulting Limited. It outlines the project's aims and objectives, including an analysis of digital technology's influence on company targets and departmental impacts. The report details a project management plan, covering cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resource allocation. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart are used to illustrate project timelines and stages. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, including a questionnaire administered to employees. The analysis of collected data utilizes appropriate tools and techniques, leading to conclusions and recommendations for the effective integration of digital technology to promote business growth and development. The report emphasizes the importance of training programs and employee support in the adoption of new technologies.

Managing Successful Business
Projects

INTRODUCTION
Digital technology are use of various electronic tools which helps to generate, store or
process information. It includes various elements such as multimedia, mobile device, internet
connection, etc. which helps to ease business operations. There is use of various approaches
which is significant for reducing time and cost of organisation. Through online sources there is
requirement of various approaches which are effective for growth. Through this managers are
able to satisfy demand of customers (Assegaff and Hussin, 2012). Profits and production also
gets improved. This report is based on Continental Consulting Limited which is business
consultant firm. They have clients of small and medium manufacturing companies in London. In
this report there is discussion about projects aim, objectives and time of project. In this small
scale research is conducted through data collection and recommendation is given. At last it
describes reasons behind conducting such research. There are some findings and
recommendations which are concluded from research.
TASK 1
P1 Devise project aims and objectives
Digital technology is most essential component which helps to perform business
operations in effective and efficient manner. As there are many changes which are taking place
in business environment, so it is essential to accept them and take corrective measures.
Continental Consulting Limited has objective to provide best services through which customer
gets satisfied and image gets improved. Digital technology is aspect through which managers of
Continental Consulting Limited can perform business operations properly and possibilities of
mistakes will gets reduces. As Continental Consulting Limited deals in consultancy services, so
through digital technology it is easy to store data and provide when needed.
Managers of Continental Consulting Limited are thinking to conduct research which help
to know where there working with digital technology is beneficial or not (Chang, 2016). As there
are many business related activities, so it is essential to work according to it which is effective
for making changes in roles and responsibilities of employees. There is requirement of training
of employees which help them to work in efficient manner. There are various departments in
Continental Consulting Limited which are working to perform business operations in appropriate
1

manner. Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, etc. are some media through which marketing
of Continental Consulting Limited is possible. So these are also part of digital marketing.
Topic: Impact of small business on the growth and innovation
Background of project: As there is increment in trends of digital equipments, so research is
conducted to know worthiness in Continental Consulting Limited. There must be some positive
impact on business operations so this helps to make changes in roles and responsibilities of
workers. As Continental Consulting Limited deals in providing services, so digitalisation is
effective for performing business operations (Cuijpers, Guenter and Hussinger, 2011). With the
use of digital tools and techniques there will easy in providing solutions to clients with minimum
time. There will ease in storing data about clients. With the help of digitalisation, it is easy to
compete with external factors of business. When managers of Continental Consulting Limited
wants to expand their business, then through digitalisation it is easy to contact with clients
situated in various parts of country.
Aim: Main aim of this research is “To apply digitalisation in business operations to promote
growth and development of business”.
Objectives:
 To analyse impact of digital technology in achieving company's targets.
 To determine which departments of Continental Consulting Limited get affected with use
of digital technology. To ascertain whether there is requirement of training and learning program for workers of
Continental Consulting Limited.
Research questions
 What is the impact of digital technology in achieving company's targets.?
 Which departments gets affected with use of digital equipments?
 Is there is requirement of training and learning program for employees of Continental
Consulting Limited?
P2 Project management plan with aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and
resources
Project development plan is the tool which is prepared before starting project. There will
discussion about resources which are required to perform research. Through project development
plan, it is essential to work according to this plan, so resources are used optimally and targets are
2

achieved on time. As managers of Continental Consulting Limited are thinking to come with
digital tools and techniques which are effective for their growth and development. As there is
requirement of various elements to perform research for digitalisation, so this will help to know
which activity has to be performed at what time. Digitalisation involves positive results but there
are many aspects which has to be considered. While dealing with changes there are possibilities
that employees do not favour use of digital technology in business operations so manager has to
motivate them (Hill, 2013). Factors which are considered by managers of Continental Consulting
Limited are as under-
Cost- Cost is one of the essential component which has to be considered by managers of
Continental Consulting Limited while accepting technological changes. If cost is more then this
measures must be taken to reduce it so profits does not get affected. With use of digital
technology there is reduction in cost and reduction in manual work will be there.
Scope: Scope of digitalisation is increasing with rapid speed. As in consultancy sector
competition is increasing, so providing satisfaction to customers, it is essential to work with
digital techniques. Marketing of services are possible with the help of social media. This is cheap
as well as can be accessible 24*7. With this project it is clear that scope of digitalisation is much
more. With the help of online application of Continental Consulting Limited it is easy for client
to post there problem and gets resolution (Harrison and Lock, 2017).
Time and Quality: Digitalisation is the best mean through which time can be saved and
quality of services increased. As with the help of digital equipment world wide reach is possible
and this helps to know what can be improved in services of Continental Consulting Limited
(Espiner, 2015). When customers gets services on time with good quality then there gets
satisfied and this to improve image of Continental Consulting Limited in industry.
3

Communication: As there are various departments in business organisations which help
to achieve business objectives. There are many activities which are related with each other, so it
is essential to communicate with one another. With the help of digitalisation technology, it is
easy to communicate. When Continental Consulting Limited business gets expand, then with the
help of mailing, etc. It is easy to communicate information. With the help digital technology it is
easy to communicate with client also and analyse their problem.
Risk: There is up-gradation in digital technology, so sometimes there is risk of updating
techniques. This is time as well as cost consuming process. There are many changes which are
required to be taken according to business environment, so adopting digitalisation is a bit risky.
Resources: There is use of many resources which are significant for adopting digital
techniques. E.g. There is requirement of training so it is essential to select approach which is
significant for all workers. Financial resources must be used in proper and efficient manner
(Nicholas and Steyn, 2017).
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time frames and stages for completion
While adopting digitalisation, it is essential to plan activities and work accordingly. This
helps to perform business operations in effective and efficient way. There is requirement of some
pathway through which employees are clear about direction of business operations. Managers of
Continental Consulting Limited can use must use Gantt chart and work break down structure
which is significant for setting goals and targets with specified time.
Gantt Chart- Gantt Chart is effective approach which shows work done in specified time.
Through this comparison is done as per set targets (Doherty, Horne and Wootton, 2014). This
chart is effective as it helps to know about progress rate of work done. In research related to
digitalisation, it is essential to perform various steps such as formulating aims and objectives,
research questions, methodologies, etc.
4

Critical Path- This is the way through which path is determined with the help of know
about minimum time which required t perform business operations. As in case of Continental
Consulting Limited with the help of critical path they can complete research in minimum time.
Work break down structure- As there are many departments working in performing
business operations. Work breakdown structure help to perform make relations between them in
appropriate way. Through this there will not confusion in activities and job responsibilities of
various departments can be performed in efficient way (Straub and et. al., 2013). So work break
down structure is effective for project of Continental Consulting Limited.
5

(Source: WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE, 2012)
TASK 2
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
Research is not one night process. There is requirement of various approaches which are
effective and significant for organisational growth and development. Research can be done with
proper process. It is essential to make policies which provides appropriate knowledge about
respective topic. Continental Consulting Limited is thinking to conduct research related to
digital technology, so information must be collected from effective and relevant sources (Berger,
2015). Mainly there are two sources of collecting data, they are primary and secondary. These
are discussed as under-
Primary data: Continental Consulting Limited make research effective and efficient with
the help of Continental Consulting Limited. In this method data is collected through people
which are part of association. Questionnaire, personal interview, etc. are some ways through
which primary data is collected. Information collected through primary data is relevant and
reliable for research related to digitalisation (Jeannerot, 2013).
6

In this research, qualitative source is used for collecting information. Primary data is used
in order to information from respondents. Questionnaire is the source which provides in-depth
knowledge about respondents view. Questionnaire is filled by 50 employees to know impact of
digitalisation in business operations.
Questionnaire is created by the Continental Consulting Limited company. It is described
below:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name
Gender
Age
Q.1 What is the impact of digital technology in achieving company's targets.?
 Positive
 Negative
Q.2 Which departments gets affected with use of digital equipments?
 Marketing
 HR
 Operations
 Accounts and Finance
 IT
Q.3 Is there is requirement of training and learning program for employees of Continental
Consulting Limited?
 Yes
 No
Q.4 Does employees favour digitalisation?
 Yes
 No
Q.5 Is working with digitalisation is beneficial for company?
 Yes
 No
Q.6 Is training and learning program required regularly?
 Yes
7

 No
Q.7 How much cost is incurred in adopting digitalisation?
 $2000
 $4000
 $6000
Q.8 Whether there is improvement in qualities of services provided by Continental Consulting
Limited?
 Yes
 No
Q.9 Do use of digital equipments is beneficial for growth of association?
 Yes
 No
Q.10 Any suggestion regarding digital services used by company?
Secondary data: Secondary data is less relevant as compared to primary data. This source
is used for the purpose which is not so essential for organisation. Sometimes there is
modifications ion data collected through this source. This data may be old and irrelevant as
compared to current market (Jugend and Leoni, 2015).
TASK 3
P5 Analysis of research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Research is performs with the help of questionnaire by managers of Continental
Consulting Limited. There are various approaches which has to considered with the help of
following tools.
Research design: There is some design to perform research. It is important to make
policies which are significant for growth and development of research operations. Mainly there
are three types of research design, they are- descriptive, exploratory and experimental. Managers
of Continental Consulting Limited use exploratory research (Khayun, Ractham and Firpo,
2012).
8

Research philosophy: Research philosophy is effective which is essential to make
changes in effective and efficient manner. There are many changes which occur while
performing research. In this research positive philosophy is used.
Data collection: This is responsibility of research to collect data. It is mandatory to
collect data which is essential for getting up-to some single decision. In this method there is use
of primary method to collect data (Mena, Van Hoek and Christopher, 2018).
Data analysis: Data collection is essential component which help to results are given
related to research. Questionnaire is used in research of Continental Consulting Limited. There is
use of theme which is essential for knowing reason of conducting research.
Data Sampling: It is not to examine whole population, so researcher take some people as
sample base which helps to make conclusion on the basis of whole population. There are two
methods of data sampling- probabilistic sampling and non- probabilistic technique (Reschke and
Schelle, 2013). Managers of Continental Consulting Limited use probabilistic technique. There
are 60 respondents.
DATA ANALYSIS
Theme 1: Impact of digital technology
Q.1 What is the impact of digital technology in
achieving company's targets.?
Respondents
Positive 50
Negative 10
9

Interpretation: As per the above graph it is clear that majority of respondents are ready
say that association is able to achieve targets with accepting digital technology. Out of 60
respondents 50 says that there will positive results remaining 10 says there will negative result.
Theme 2: Departments affected by digital equipments
Q.2 Which departments gets affected with use
of digital equipments?
Respondents
Marketing 15
HR 5
Operations 10
Accounts and Finance 10
IT 20
10
Positive Negative
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
50
10
Column B

Interpretation: As per above pictography, digitalisation has impact on various
departments of Continental Consulting Limited. According to it marketing is one of the major
sector for which digitalisation is beneficial i.e. 15. Apart from this out of 5 respondents favour
for HR, 10 for Operations and accounts, remaining for IT departments i.e. 20.
Theme 3: Requirement of training and learning program
Q.3 Is there is requirement of training and
learning program for employees of Continental
Consulting Limited?
Respondents
Yes 40
No 20
11
Marketing
HR
Operations
Accounts and Finance
IT
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
15
5
10 10
20
Column B