Assessing Digital Technology Impact on Small Business Innovation

This report analyzes the impact of digital technology on small business innovation and growth, focusing on Continental Consulting Limited. It covers project objectives, a project management plan (including cost, scope, time, quality, and risk), work breakdown structure, and Gantt chart. The report includes qualitative and quantitative research methods, tools, and techniques for data analysis, and provides recommendations and conclusions based on the research. The assignment highlights the importance of digital technology in modern business, emphasizing the role of social media and mobile technology in connecting with customers and driving business success. The report also addresses the challenges and risks associated with implementing digital technologies and provides a comprehensive overview of the research process, from identifying objectives to drawing conclusions.

Managing Successful Business
Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Objectives and aims of project..........................................................................................3
P2 Project Management Plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication,
risk and resources...................................................................................................................5
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time-frame and stages.................7
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................10
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods...........10
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................12
P5 Examine of research information with right tools and techniques..................................12
P6 Recommendations for research and data analysis to draw conclusions..........................20
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................21
P7 Reflect value of undertaking research to meet stated objectives and own learning........21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................24

INTRODUCTION
Digital Technology helps in effective business in terms of development and success of
business in competitive era. This consists of transformation of working procedures,
organisational culture and system for reduction of wastage and production time. The use of
digital technology helps firm to gain competitive edge through production of innovative and new
goods and services in best manner (Alvarez-Jimenez and et. al., 2014). Social media is aspect of
digital technology which enable organisation to reach large number of consumers within short
period of time. The given assignment is based on Continental Consulting Limited that works as
research and consultancy firm. The important activity of this company is concern about
procedure of re-engineering of small and medium manufacturing organisations that are situated
in London. The main objective behind preparation of report is to analyse impact of digital
technology for supporting small business innovation and growth. The CEO works with 22 expert
researchers and consultants. It helps in upgrading use of IT and providing innovation to
organisation and increasing their capabilities to maximum. It highlights about objectives, aims
and project management plan including cost, time, quality, communication. In addition to thus,
work breakdown structure and Gantt chart, methods, tools, techniques and proper conclusion are
included in report.
TASK 1
P1 Objectives and aims of project
In era of modernisation, there is increase in improvement of application that is situating
in marketplace for running business effectively and efficiently. It is very necessary for
organisation to have proper execution of operations of business in innovative and creative
manner with use of digital technology. Continental Consulting Limited is small enterprise which
need to implement sufficient tools and techniques in order to provide their service related with
re-engineering and process to small and medium organisations. The use of latest and updated
technology helps them to increase their re-engineering process for organisations in order to
increase sales and profit in competitive market (Brown and Green, 2012). The digital technology
such as mobile technology and social media are used by service users. This helps in connecting
business to national and international market in effective and easy manner. In order to adopt such
technologies in organisation, it is very important to do proper research and execute accordingly.

The top manager should establish competitive advantage against rivalry for sustaining profit and
gain in market.
The present assignment focused on Continental Consulting Limited that is Business
Consultancy and research concern. The CEO of this firm is Mario Bindas who handle all works
of organisation. The main work of Continental Consulting Limited is to provide Business
Process Re-engineering to their potential clients such as small medium manufacturing companies
located in London. Mario is currently working with 22 members team who are expert in research
and consulting. There are skilled employees who assist CEO for implementing latest technology
in system. In order to cope up with impact, Continental Consulting Limited should use updated
and latest digitalisation in their firm. This help them to build effective system from their
competitors. By implementing such technology does not provide profits to firm then manager has
to upgrade their process and system. Here, mobile technology and social media helps in
providing benefits to staff and workers for interaction and maintaining relationship with their
consumers.
Topic
'The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and innovation”
Background of Research
All small as well as large corporation uses social media and mobile technology for
informing public and consumers about goods and services. There are various departments which
conduct business activities in order to provide products and services to their customers. Mobile
technology help manager to maintain connection and relationship with workers and employees
(Evans, 2014). All employees working in organisation should be aware of tasks to be performed
for timely accomplishment of goal and objectives. These both techniques are used by
management for creating awareness among consumer regarding goods and services produced by
them. This tools can help for interaction for identifying demands and requirements. Through this,
top manager can create long term relationship with consumers that is beneficial for organisation.
The respective organisation has service user clients such as small and medium organisation for
adopting digital technology in their business to get effective outcome.
Research Aim
To identify the effectiveness of social media sites in order to build direct connection with
service user. A case study on Continental Consulting Limited.

Research Objectives
 To analyse the concept of Social media.
 To identify the impact of social media on service users.
 To ascertain the effectiveness of social media in order to develop direct connection with
small and medium organisations.
Research Questions
Q1. What is the concept of social media?
Q2. What are the impact of social media on service users?
Q3. What is the effectiveness of social media for developing direct connection with customers?
P2 Project Management Plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication,
risk and resources
Project Management Plan (PMP) is approved, structured document which demonstrates
how project is controlled, monitored and executed. This is detailed or summary document that
includes subsidiary management plans, baselines and other planning work. PMP document helps
in defining approach that project team takes for delivering scope of project. This plan is used for
referencing in order to take decisions that is based on various task. While doing investigation in
particular subject or adopting fresh technologies in organisation, it is necessary for organisation
to change PMP which includes various components such as quality, time period, project scope,
cost, resources, risk and others.
In order to implement digital technologies in Continental Consulting Limited, the
manager should prepare proper project management plan. This helps in conducting various
activities that is related to implementation of technologies in organisation such as use of mobile
techniques and social media for connection with consumers in effective manner. There are
various risk involved in such process while implementing technologies where measures can be
taken to reduce it. Some of important component for project management plan are described
below:
Cost- It is the cost which is incurred for implementing project in business (Farman,
2013). For conducting various task to evaluate effect of digital technology on firm, the employer
and manager of Continental Consulting Limited should place sufficient sum of money in
systematized manner. In order to implement new technology in organisation various cost are

occurred such as installation, purchase and others. In order to know about cost estimation,
manager of respective organisation need to make rough budget for better results.
Particular Amount
Initial Investment 100000
Expenses:
Operational Activities
R&D Activities
Cost to IT Experts
Licensing Fee
Maintenance
24000
10000
18000
8000
10000
Closing Value 22000
Scope- The scope of this research project is to know about impact of digital technology
for supporting small business innovation and growth. Through this firm can know about both
positive and negative impact of technology in business. For knowing impact, qualitative and
quantitative methods has used where qualitative focus on value and quality of research work
rather than outcomes and quantitative focus on completion without maintaining quality. In order
to get effective outcome, qualitative method should be used.
Time- It is responsibility of manager of organisation to complete assign project within
give time period. For better project plan, it is very essential for researcher to ensure about each
and every activity that should be accomplished on specified period of time (Gikas and Grant,
2013). For knowing about impact of globalisation on small business organisation, project maker
requires 3 to 4 months and similarly, respective organisation requires 2 to 3 moths.
Quality- It is the most important component of project management plan. The
investigators is liable for maintaining quality of project. In order to maintain quality of project
work, project manager need to monitor each and every activities to avoid failure. This quality
can be achieved by using qualitative research method in business for effective outcome.
Therefore, it can help in providing recommendation to Continental Consulting Limited for
moving towards to digital technology.

Communication- It is important for manager and worker to have proper channel of
communication for sharing data and information within organisation. Through this team
members of Continental Consulting Limited can do proper interaction with each other in order to
help for achievement of objectives of organisation. For manager they should written as well as
verbal communication for transferring data and information from one to another. Similarly,
employee should follow written for of communication with their superiors and high level
authority.
Risk- There are various types of risk which can be face by Continental Consulting
Limited such as communication channels, demand of clients or service users, financial risk.
Before implementing such technology in business, manager should consult with employees and
staff for effective results. From researcher point of view, risk face are related with funds, limited
time period which can be minimize by doing proper research (Kaplan, 2012).
Resources- This is economic and productive factors which are required for
accomplishing activity and work. There are different resources required by Continental
Consulting Limited for implementing of social media in business successfully like funds, land,
staff, machinery, stakeholders. From researcher point of view, resource required are funds.
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time-frame and stages
The manager of business has to carry large as well as complex task for accomplishing in
given time period. For that purpose, activities should be divided into smaller sections or portion
for better flows. There are two methods such as Work breakdown structure and Gantt charts for
time frame. This tool helps in overcoming possibilities and gap that can affect on project delay.
Work Breakdown Structure
This is considered as task direction method that is applied by project manager for making
predictions for outcomes (Larivière and et. al., 2013). The chart is prepared that reflect relations
where activities is divided into various small and manageable sections. Framework is prepared
for examining cost for completion of project. It is used by manager of Continental Consulting
Limited for completion of plan within given time period. All resources should be utilised in
effective and efficient manner. The activities should be conducted as per plan that helps in
controlling of expenses in respect to budget.

(Work Breakdown Structure, 2017)
Gantt Chart
It is other time-frame formulated by Karol Adamiecki and later on altered by Henry Gantt
for project plan direction (Malthouse and et. al., 2013). It is bar chart which is represented
through horizontal and vertical axis for production control and time required. It is graphical
representation of various activities that is prepared for tracking, controlling and coordinating task
which are conducted for work completion. The manager of Continental Consulting Limited also
use such tool for representing activities into graphical form. It helps in monitoring, controlling
and tracking work properly. The members of team are given task and deadlines which they need
to follow for target achievement within given time period. The steps conducted by researcher for
identifying problems and making appropriate conclusions.

TASK 2
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
Research is regarded as procedure for identifying issues through formulation of proposal
or recommended answer. In the activity of research, different method are accessible that are used
for collection, organising and evaluating data and information in an effective manner (Mao,
2014). For collection of information, researcher can use qualitative and quantitative method. In
qualitative method, evaluation of individual views, perception and opinion on research topic is
collected for making proper and appropriate conclusions. The investigator ask direct and open
questions to respondent for communication. Similarly, quantitative research is method which
assist to gain mathematical and statistical values. It includes questionnaire, polls and surveys
techniques that provide benefits to researcher for execution and analysis of project goal
achievement.
Methods of Data Collection
There are different types of methods for data collection which are described below:
Primary Data Collection- When data and information are collected for the first time
then it is called primary research which includes surveys, interview, questionnaire. The
researcher take feedback from respondent through direct interaction. This tool is used by
Continental Consulting Limited for getting sufficient information on project topic (Proulx and
Shepatin, 2012).
Secondary Data Collection- When data and information are collected by already
published sources then it is called secondary research. It includes techniques such as internet,
books, magazine, newspaper, literature part (Schwartz and Halegoua, 2015). This can help to

generate large data through analysis of information on particular topic. But such research fail to
provide reliable data and information.
Here, researcher has used primary data collection methods where questionnaire has
prepared where 30 respondents have been taken for effective outcome. The respondents are
employees of organisation from those feedback has been taken to get desired results. The
accuracy and reliability of this method is to provide accurate data and information for given
project work. They helps to correct result for given problems.
For evaluating effectiveness of digital technology within organisation, manager should
set first aim and objectives. After that for evaluation perception of project makers, people of
Continental Consulting Limited should be used through primary research that is questionnaire.
This questionnaire is designed for analysis of statistical outcome of respondent. It includes
questions for purpose of data collection information to provide solution to problems and
qualitative and quantitative in nature. There are 30 respondents taken by researcher for
appropriate conclusions.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name
Age
Email
Q1. Are you aware about the concept of social media?
A. Yes
B. No.
Q2. Which Social media platform is useful for business communication and marketing?
A. Facebook
B. Twitter
C. Instagram
D. Google +
Q3. Does social media help in enhancing personal branding of Continental Consulting
Group?
A. Yes
B. No
Q4. Which is the most appropriate social media marketing method is used by Continental

Consulting Group ?
A. Sprout-social
B. Hoot-suite
C. Crowd-booster
Q5. which is the most effective marketing strategies used by Continental Consulting
Group for generating maximum traffic towards their business activities?
A. Traffic Generation Strategy
B. Lead Conversion Strategy
C. Measurement & Analysis Strategy
Q6. Which is the most appropriate methods that help in representing brand in target
market?
A. Select out the appropriate network
B. Avoid overlook visual branding
C. Provide accurate content on social sites
Q7. Does social media play an important role in expanding business operations of
Continental Consulting Group?
A. Yes
B. No
Q8. What can be the major challenges faced by Continental Consulting Group while
implementing digitalization in business practices?
A. Funds management
B. Effective promotional practices
C. All of the above
Q9. Further recommendation for improvement?
TASK 3
P5 Examine of research information with right tools and techniques
Theme 1: Concept of social media
Q1. Are you aware about the concept of social media? Frequency
Yes 25