Project Report: Digital Technology Impact on Small Business Growth

This report investigates the impact of digital technology on small business growth, focusing on Continental Consulting Limited, a UK-based consultancy. It outlines a project management plan, including cost analysis, scope definition, and risk assessment, to implement digital tools like social media for business expansion. The report includes a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to illustrate project timelines and task organization. Small-scale research, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods through questionnaires, is conducted to gather data on the impact of digital innovation. The findings are then evaluated, and recommendations are provided to enhance business operations. The report concludes with a reflection on the project's objectives and outcomes, offering valuable insights into leveraging digital technology for business success.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECTS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Project aim and objectives.................................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan with cost aspects, scope, time, quality and communication risk..2
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart....................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Evaluation research and data using appropriate tools and techniques..............................9
P6 Appropriate recommendation as a result of data and research analysis..........................15
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................16
P7 Reflection upon undertakings to attain objectives..........................................................16
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
Successful operations and management depends upon effective management of business
project. It is observed that digital technology has been one of the emerging tool to execute the
business operations at next level (Kowalkowski, Kindström and Brehmer, 2011). Proper use of
digital technological tools assist in effective incorporate of business project for better operation
and management. This report is prepared to establish aim, objective, information and time frame
based upon theme. Management plan and which covers the aspects are considered to
communicate the risk and resources. Continental Consulting Limited organisation is taken to
implement digital technology to support small business projects. A research programme is
conducted in the form of questionnaire to gather information for assisting projects.
TASK 1
P1 Project aim and objectives
Continental Consulting Limited is a medium scale organization which provides research
and business consultancy services in the UK. Its core business is business re-engineering and
potential customers contains small and medium manufacturing companies situated in London.
Essential point of this association is to designate fitting workers for their customer organizations.
This organization is situated in London and Greater London. Continental Consulting Limited
was set up eight years prior and with a specific end goal to expand their effectiveness and
efficiency, organisation need to ascent their innovation and for that they have chosen to execute
advanced innovation in their exercises. This gradation will assist the organization with
competing with new participants of the market and fulfil their customers requirements and needs.
Advanced device as Socedo, Tweepi, Crowd booster, Tag board and Oktopost can be used at
various stages that can extend and develop their business tasks. Computerized instrument will
enable this consultancy to organization to advance their business utilizing social media.
Topic: “The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and
innovation”
As per current situation, innovation is the most critical posture in sighted business
activities. Computerized innovation encourages an association to learn different components
which can impact their tasks, for example, contenders, demand, advertise powers etc. Deciding
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future request utilizing these instruments can give a structure of systems which can complete the
customers' necessities by satisfying every one of the demand.
Aim: “The impact of social media as digital technology supporting small business growth
and innovation”
The essential goal of this examination report is to decide how social media can help a
small and medium scale organization like Continental Consulting Limited to accomplish its
authoritative objectives (Jeston, 2014).
Research Objectives
 To implement social media tools in business operations of small scale organizations
 To improve administrate quality by utilizing social media instruments
 To explore diverse services related to consultancy through social media tools
Research questions
 How digital innovation impact on development of medium scale organization?
 What changes organisation will face in administration quality after implementation of
digital instruments ?
 How social media tools can explore diverse services related to consultancy ?
P2 Project management plan with cost aspects, scope, time, quality and communication risk
It is such type of formal document which contains all details regarding the activities
performed during execution of specific project (Cheung, Chan and Kajewski, 2012). Such details
may related with setting tine frame, allocation of cost, maintenance of quality, risk involved in
project activities etc. All these aspects are required to be manage by the project manager in order
to bring maximum profitable outcomes to company. Project management plan defines the roles
and responsibilities of each members engaged in execution of different business activities. It is
also known as communication channel through which its stakeholders are able to know about the
project. There are various aspects which are needed to undertake under project management plan
such are given as under:
Scope: Investment in implementation of digitalisation within business operation ensures
company in getting profitable outcome in return in form of increasing productivity and
profitability. Therefore it is wider scope due to which it is essential for management to
concentrate more in adoption of digital technologies such as modern equipment, online
technology which includes social media platform, TV advertisement and promotional
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advertisement on other company's websites etc. For instance, Using social media platforms and
paid advertisements on other company's websites so as to search targeted clients across
worldwide (Hillson, 2017). Continental Consulting Ltd It assist them in improving all aspects
related with administration, production, marketing etc. through implementation of digital
technology.
Cost: It refers to amount of money which is required in execution of every project
activities thus it is essential for the management to carefully assign cost to particular project
activity in order to minimise cost and wastage. As Continental Consulting Ltd. Is looking to
adopt social media platform in order to expand its business operations and sales due to which it
is required to appoint experience social media experts who know how to utilise such platform in
moire profitable way. For this, the manager first need to identify the capabilities of company
regarding having funds and plan accordingly. For this, the managers are required to prepare a
budget in which cost has been allocated to each activity performing during adoption of digital
technology. The sample of statement showing cost incurred are given as below:
Total forecasted budget
Particular 2017-18(£)
Implementing technology cost 17000
Promotional expense 7000
Advertisement expense 5500
Catalogues 1800
Training charges 7500
Total cost 38800
Time: It is another crucial aspect which required to consider in order to grab competitive
opportunities in market. The project manager are required to set time frame for each project
activity so that the chances of delay in action are low. Delay in performing activity maximises
the cost of company due to which Continental Consulting Ltd. Is required to follow critical path
approach which gives reliable information in order to guide employees to perform in right
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direction (Fisher, 2011). Setting deadlines encourages employees to focus more and bring
profitable and innovative way to compete task within pre-determined time period.
Quality: It is vital element which easily attract large number of customers across
worldwide. Offering quality services and products ensures the long term existence for company
in competitive market (Adzic, 2011). Continental consulting Ltd. Is engaged in providing
consulting services thus it is essential for an organisation to have skilled and knowledgeable
employees who are more capable to deal with their clients coming from different countries. For
this, training and development programs should be provided to employees which directly
improves quality of work.. For example, enhancing communication skills of employees through
training and learning programs makes easy for them to deal with different clients of different
nature and backgrounds. Communicating through social media in better manner can easily grab
an attention of clients and attract their interest of getting company's services as well.
Risk: It is another important aspect which can brings hurdles in execution of project
activities due to which it is compulsorily required by manager to forecast the situation under
which they will work in future and on the basis of which make suitable plans and actions
(Duffield and Whitty, 2015). Risk may related with lack of employees support, lack of funds,
rivals competitive strategies etc. Thus, it is the responsibility of project manager of Continental
Consulting Ltd. To identify and analyse such risk through conducting research and make plans
accordingly. For example, lack of employees support due to lack of skills and knowledge thus
the manager are required to make plans regarding adoption of training programs for them to
enhance their capabilities and contribution towards project activities.
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure suggests the disintegration of the work which is done under
the research into reasonable areas. This structure incorporates different advances which are
required to be done to direct the exploration. Here, the venture group of Continental Consulting
Limited has made with separate bifurcation of projects with a specific goal to recognize practical
aim and objectives. This structure talks about different project arrangements of the exercises
which are being done and what measures ought to be considered while playing out those task
(Doherty, Ashurst and Peppard, 2012). This procedure will enhance the basic leadership capacity
of users and will give clear vision about the projects and targets to them. The work breakdown
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structure helps an association by giving a chance to distinguish clients' inclinations and demands.
This strategy will also help the organization to accomplish their essential objective and that is
business extension and advancement. This tool mainly assist the management to take decisions
and make strategies for business expansion or assisting a project. It is prepared on the basis of
aim and objective of business. The work breakdown stricture of project report is bifurcated as
follows;
 Main aim and objective if the research
 Literature review
 Conflicts featured by the company
 Aim of research
 Selection of target respondents
 Framing a plan
 Evaluation and criticise the data
To conduct a research, it is imperative to include and incorporate all the previously
mentioned components as organisation have their own significant factors during the time spent
research work. Continental Consulting Limited is a small scale organization which is setting up
an arrangement to execute computerized innovation instruments like incorporating the
informations and data in electronic form to organization to compete in the market. So,
considering the point organisation is set to build up a compelling arrangement research is been
conducted by using primary source of research. Technology specialist of this organization has
arranged a survey which has few inquiries with respect to effect of advanced innovation on their
business.
This examination gives vital data to the organization and to the venture supervisors with
the goal that they can design effective systems (Drucker, 2012). Each task and action of research
requires a particular time duration in which they can finish their task list. With a specific end
goal to list these undertakings, organization has picked essential wellspring of research and that
is polling method.
Gantt chart is considered as a bar chart which mainly communicate and conclude the
results in graphical form (Pekuri and et. al., 2014). There is a formation of project defined in
below in the form of Gantt Chart such as Architectural design. The project is mainly contains 55
days. The plans is categories in three activities. A construction phase also considered that
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contains the time limit of 135 days. There is a construction of building project of 5 floors that is
required to construct and the activities are formed as per the activities requirements. 1st floor with
40 days, 2nd floor 50 days, 4th floor with 40 days limit and 5th floor with time limit of 105 days.
As per above information and data, a Gantt chart is prepared for Continental Consultancy
Limited below;
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Critical defines the path to execute the information and defines the sequences in which
tasks are carried out and executed further (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). Major part remain
associated with determining the path and ascertain the maximum time limit for performing the
tasks. The critical path for the above business plan is carried our as follows;
TASK 2
P4 Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research
There are two type of main sources are formed in terms of gathering the information form
market as
Primary data: Through this source managers be able to get information directly form
respondents. Interview, survey, questionnaire are the methods used for primary data (Primary
source and secondary source, 2018).
Secondary data: These are the sources used as a supporting material to execute the
research. Articles, magazines, applied research are considered as secondary sources of
information (Morris and Geraldi, 2011).
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Sampling method: It is a procedure of selecting samples for getting proper results
regarding the evaluation and analysis. Random sampling method is elected and used upon 35
respondents to analyse the feasibility of project plan. Population refers to general public,
Youngsters and students are the targeted public group to communicate the detail regarding of
digital technology in work process and to know that the whole research procedure is focused
upon gaining high growth and productivity. Teenagers, young generations, college students are
the groups selected for survey. Data is collected through questionnaire in order to come across
the benefits about the enforcement.
Questionnaire
Name
Gender
Age
Q1 Do you think that Continental Consulting Ltd is flexible to adopt social media tools?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2. Which type of social media tools contributes maximum in the growth and expansion of
Continental Consulting Ltd. ?
a) Facebook
b) Oktopost
c) Tagboard
d) Twitter
Q3) What will the positive outcome be received by Continental Consultancy Ltd. after adoption
of social media tools in business operations ?
a) Enhancing overall performance
b) Minimising defects
b) Optimise uses of resources
Q4) Is there any need of providing training and learning programs for employees of Continental
Consultancy Ltd.?
a) Yes
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b) No
Q5) What employees think about implementation of digitalisation in company's business
operation?
a) Positive
b) Negative
Q6) What are the main challenges faced by management during adoption of digital technology
within an organisation?
a) Cost
b) Time
c) Conflict
Q7). Is Digitalisation play a vital role in delivering products and services of Continental
Consultancy Ltd. to targeted customers ?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8). Whether adoption of digitalisation in business operations reduce workload of employees or
not?
a) Yes
b) No
Q9. Does Digitalisation assist Continental Consultancy Ltd. to maintain good relation with the
targeted customers?
a) Yes
b) No
Q10. Provide own recommendation to deal with challenges after implementing social media
tools?
TASK 3
P5 Evaluation research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Q1. Are Continental Consultancy Ltd. much financially capable to adopt digital technology in
its business operation?
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Yes 25
No 10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
25
10
Column C
Interpretation: it is observed that 25 respondents are in favour that company is
financially capable to implement digital technology to expand business. 10 respondents assume
that organisation is not capable to implement the tools.
Q2. Which type of social media tools contributes maximum in the growth and expansion of
Continental Consulting Ltd. ?
a) Facebook 10
b) Oktopost 10
c) Tagboard 12
d) TwitterE-commerce 3
10