Business Project Report: Digital Transformation at David Michael & Co.

This report examines the digital transformation of David Michael & Co., a food industry company. It begins with an introduction highlighting the importance of digital transformation in today's business environment. The report includes a project management plan with aspects of time, cost, quality, and communication. It also features a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart for setting time frames. The research incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including a questionnaire survey. The data collected is analyzed to identify the impact of social media and mobile technology on the company's operations and customer interactions. Challenges faced during the integration of emerging technologies are also explored, along with recommendations for maximizing profitability. The report concludes with a reflection on the research process and findings.

Managing a Successful Business
Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Objectives and aims of project.........................................................................................1
P2. Project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost, quality and communication
................................................................................................................................................2
P3. Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart in order to set time frames and offer different
stages of project......................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P4. Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies..5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P5. Examine of research information with right techniques and tools...................................7
P6. Recommendation ...........................................................................................................15
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................15
P7 Reflection on understanding research.............................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
In today's business environment, digital transformation is considered as most essential
concept which aids a firm in staying competitive. With the growing connectivity among
machines, human resource and more, demand of marketplace is changing rapidly. Therefore, to
keep up and meet demands of customers on time, it is necessary for employers to transform
business into digitalisation. In this context, a report has been prepared to analyse how digital
technology can transform into business. David Michael & Co. has been taken which deals in
food industry. The main aims and objectives of this project has been disclosed in first task on
usage of mobile technology and social media. Other than this, small scale research has been
conducted by gathering information through statistical tools and techniques (Kerzner and
Kerzner, 2017). This assignment also includes a project management plan, Gantt chart and work
break down structure to support research. Further recommendation on whether transforming
digitalisation into business is useful for this company also given.
TASK 1
P1. Objectives and aims of project
Technology has revolutionised for small companies majorly in order to make them able
to keep stay with big industries at same marketplace. Business of small companies are revolving
around technology i.e. from servers to mobile devices. It helps them in developing high
competitive advantages by creating operations using the most appropriate technology. It has
evaluated that main purpose behind integrating technology into business of small enterprises is to
reduce costs of production and operation. Therefore, every business owners use specific software
that enables them to automate functions such as accounting management, record keeping and
payroll etc. In addition to this, employers use technology for creating secure information related
to operation and customers' detail (Hutter and et. al., 2013). It also aids firms in improving
communication process by facilitating various applications like e-mails, websites, social media,
texting and so on.
In context with David Michael & Co. which deals its business in small manufacturing
sector. This firm serves a wide range food flavours i.e. near about 40,000 in worldwide countries
including UK. By implementing digital technology in business, this company can make
connection with various dealers and customers easily.
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Topic: How digital technology can be transformed into business activities.
Background of research
Social media and mobile are considered as the main aspect of information and
communication technology. These digital applications are continuously progressing as well as
creates a benchmark on today's modern business (Goodrich and De Mooij, 2014). These
digitalisation aids small business organisations in improving communications and increasing
productivity as well. In addition to this, it also assists David Michael & Co. in broadening
customer bases by outsourcing business functions.
Aim: “To evaluate the main impact of social media and mobile technology in a small business
organisation for making connection with customers. A case study based on David Michael &
Co.”
Objectives:
 To analyse usage of social media and mobile technology in operational activities
 To determine needs of social media and mobile technology for making interaction with
customers of distant place To identify challenges faced by company while integrating emerging technologies within
business organisation
Research questions:
 What are main usage of social media and mobile technology in operational activities?
 What are the main advantages of usage of mobile technologies in business?
 What are the major challenges faced by company while integrating emerging
technologies within business organisation
P2. Project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost, quality and communication
A project management plan is a formal document which used by management of a
company in managing execution process. This type of documents defines all major activities
which are needed to be done for completing a project (The Project Management Plan (PMP).
2015). It also states the way a project is going to be executed, monitored as well as controlled
and closed by research team. Therefore, before integrating emerging technologies within
business organisation, it is required by managers of SME to develop a management plan in
adequate way by looking out different components. It includes project's scope, time, quality and
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risk which create a major impact on business. In terms of David Michael & Co., a project
management plan for this firm is given below:-
Scope of projects: There is a huge scope of implementing digitalisation into business for
SMEs. It helps employers in minimising costs of operations by outsourcing functions to other
companies of national and international business (Larson and Chang, 2016). With this assistance,
technology allows David Michael & Co. to reach new market era easily.
Cost: This is the main component of any project plan which entails total amount used to
conduct research by management of a company (Ghobakhloo and et. al., 2012). Therefore, it is
necessary for managers to arrange required funds for project makers so that they can carry out
entire activities in proper manner. In this regard, for conducting present task, research team of
David Michael & Co. requires near about 550 pounds.
Quality: It is also considered as essential component which create a large impact upon
entire activities of project. Thus, researchers are needed to focus more on quality of project so
that wastage can be minimised during transformation of digitalisation into business.
Time: In order to increase efficiencies and effectiveness of a project, it seems to be
necessary for investigators to finish all planned activities in predetermined period of time. If any
single activity doesn't complete on time or fails to meet desired outcomes, then it will affect
entire activities of project also. In such conditions, managers are required to change duration of
further activities also which will consumes time and costs also (Pookulangara and Koesler,
2011). Thus, it is required by management of David Michael & Co. to monitor and control
process of each activity so that entire task can be completed on time. Thus, present project may
consumers near about 5 months.
P3. Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart in order to set time frames and offer different
stages of project
Work Breakdown structure- While conducting a project management plan, investigators
have to conduct various activities which sometime causes many problems (Eckerson, 2010).
Therefore, with the help of WBS technique helps them in dividing different activities into
smaller manageable components. It provides a time framework which entails management of
David Michael & Co. in identifying duration of entire project as well as requirement of cost to
run the same. This process helps managers of this firm in preparing budget plan in a proper
manner.
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Gantt chart- It is considered as main technique for controlling entire production of a
company. This tool is formulated by Henry L. Gantt in 1970. It generally represents entire
activities of a project management plan on a Cartesian plane where tasks are denoted on vertical
bar while horizontal line shows time duration of each. Thus, this graphical representation of
planned activities helps management of David Michael & Co. in tracking, monitoring as well as
controlling procedure of entire activities in a proper manner (What is a Gantt Chart?, 2018).
Therefore, Gantt Chart entails clear illustration of current status of project. But it fails in
indicating dependencies of tasks on each other. In this regard, for conduct a research in adequate
manner, it is required by research team of David Michael & Co. to follow format given below:-
 Identification of problem
 Literature review
 Determining main problems
 Define entire concept of project
 A sample of users whose feedback aids a firm in evaluating conclusion
 Development plan
 Data collection
 Analysis and review
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TASK 2
P4. Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
For conducting a project, an investigator can used various statistical tools ant techniques
as per scope of management plan (Bruhn, Schoenmueller and Schäfer, 2012). Basically a
research is conducted in two parts that are qualitative and quantitative form. For evaluating
opinion and perception of customers, a researcher use qualitative methods in which data is
collected on the basis of quality. Other than this, gathering data by using mathematical and
statistical tools refers to quantitative research. Thus, it has seen that qualitative data gives biased
result while quantitative obtain unbiased outcomes. Some other methods used by investigators
for gathering information for market research are:-
Methods to collect information:
Primary: This method includes questionnaires, surveys and interview methods which are
carried by investigators themselves (Berends and et. al., 2014). With the help of above
procedures, data collected by researchers are more reliable as well as obtain correct perceptions
of customers. But it will consumes much time and money as well as researcher needs to possess
special skills like critical thinking, good communication, sharp observer and more.
Secondary: This method of research gives information which is already published by
others. These data can be obtained from different sources such as magazines, Google, internet,
literature part, published books and so on (Bengtsson and Johansson, 2014). In addition to this, it
will also provide scientific data which is conducted by medical councils and professionals. But
sometime it provides false or unreliable data also. Abilities needed for conducting secondary
research in an investigator are ability high technicals skills, good statistician and more.
For making project investigation team of David Michael & Co. use questionnaire method
of primary research by choosing a sample of 50 respondents.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
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Age:
Gender:
Contact Number:
Q1) Is mobile technologies and social media helpful for connecting with customers of
distant place?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What is the main stages that David Michael & Co. have to focus on while
implementing digitalisation?
a) Isolated
b) Strategic
c) Integrated
d) Agile Business
Q3) What is the major challenges faced by David Michael & Co. during integrating
emerging technologies within business
a) Providing connectivity to all employees
b) Dealing with a wide range of IT products
c) Understanding changing technologies needs
Q4) What is the main advantage of using of social media and mobile technologies for
David Michael & Co.
a) Dealing with changing behaviour of consumers
b) Electronic Fund Transfer
Q5) Is e-commerce helpful in driving success in business of David Michael & Co.?
a) Yes
b) No
Q6) How much management of a company becomes able in engaging with stakeholders by
digital technology?
a) Less
b) More
c) Average
Q7) Are mobile technology and social media tools beneficial for David Michael & Co. in
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enhancing its business in other parts of the world?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8)
Q9) Give some recommendation through which David Michael & Co. can maximise its
profitability ratio?
TASK 3
P5. Examine of research information with right techniques and tools
Questions Frequency
Q1) If mobile technologies and social media helpful for connecting
with customers of distant place?
a) Yes 38
b) No 12
Q2) What is the main stages that David Michael & Co. have to focus
on while implementing digitalisation?
a) Isolated 10
b) Strategic 10
c) Integrated 10
d) Agile Business 20
Q3) What is the major challenges faced by David Michael & Co.
during integrating emerging technologies within business
a) Providing connectivity to all employees 16
b) Dealing with a wide range of IT products 12
c) Understanding changing technologies needs 22
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Q4) What is the main advantage of using social media and mobile
technologies for David Michael & Co.
a) Dealing with changing behaviour of consumers 24
b) Electronic Fund Transfer 26
Q5) Is e-commerce helpful in driving success in business of David
Michael & Co.?
a) Yes 38
b) No 12
Q6) How much management of a company becomes able in
engaging with stakeholders by digital technology?
a) Less 16
b) More 24
c) Average 10
Q7) Are mobile technology and social media tools beneficial for
David Michael & Co. in enhancing its business in other parts of the
world?
a) Yes 32
b) No 18
Q8) Does information and communication tools aids David Michael
& Co. in boosting overall sales and profitability of business?
a) Agree 42
b) Disagree 8
Q9) Provide recommendation by which Continental Consultancy
Group can maximise overall there profitability ratio
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Theme 1: Mobile technologies and social media is helpful in making connection
Interpretation: Mobile technologies has changed entire way of conducting business of a
company like it creating and developing a website, making interaction with targeted audience
and more. Thus, in context with David Michael & Co. which offers food flavours to customers, it
has interpreted from above graph that majority of people i.e. near about 38 out of 50 are agreed
with this concept. While rest of them that are 12 don't believe the same.
Theme 2: The main stage of implementing digitalisation
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a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Column B
a) Isolated b) Strategic c) Integrated d) Agile Business
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Column B