Digitalization's Impact on Small Business Growth and Innovation Report

This report analyzes the impact of digitalization on business growth and innovation, using Continental Consulting Limited, an IT firm specializing in business process re-engineering, as a case study. The report explores the firm's decision to adopt digitalization, focusing on the implementation of a website as part of the Internet of Things to enhance customer communication and sales. It covers project management aspects, including a project management plan (PMP), work breakdown structure (WBS), and Gantt chart, along with a discussion of project constraints such as scope, cost, quality, time, risk, and resources. The research employs both quantitative and qualitative research methods to assess the effectiveness of the website in supporting growth and innovation. The report aims to determine how a website can enhance business growth and innovation, analyzing the concept of a website in the context of Continental Consulting Limited, identifying ways a website assists in achieving growth and innovation, and evaluating its effectiveness. The report provides recommendations for the company based on the research findings.

Managing Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1............................................................................................................................................1
P2............................................................................................................................................3
P3............................................................................................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4............................................................................................................................................8
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5..........................................................................................................................................10
P6..........................................................................................................................................19
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................20
P7..........................................................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................23

INTRODUCTION
Digitalization is a process of conversion of traditional mode of operations into digital
format. Through digitalization, every firm irrespective of its size, sector or nature is getting
opportunities to innovate and renovate products, services and experience that is being delivered
to the market (Bertels, Koen, and Elsum, 2015). Thus, for a business venture to succeed in this
digital era, it has become critical and important to rethink about various aspects of business and
introduce digital technology in its various operations. The report is based in the case study of
Continental Consulting Limited that belongs to IT industry and mainly provides business process
re-engineering since 8 years. With recent development and innovation in this particular sector,
firm is thinking to adopt digitalization due to obsolete in technologies. The report will discuss
aims, objects for the project along with giving brief about project management plan, work break
down structure and Gantt chart. Further a research will be conducted with detailed conclusion
and recommendations to the company about the project.
TASK 1
P1
Digital technology in today's business scenario has not only changed the way business is
perceived and performed but also has become part and parcel of enterprises. Numerous
organisation today are implementing digitalization as a major sources for its product
differentiation, business growth and profitability. In present corporate scenario, every firm
traditional or modern belonging to varied industries that are competing in a virtual, digital space
(Boyle, 2017). This provides immense chances to a business to re-imagine and renovate several
ways to induce the behaviour of its customers and to serve them in most attractive and cost
effective manner. In context to a business process, re-engineering unit digital transformation
forms to be critically significant as it shrinks down processes that are been currently implied in
business, automates manual work and improves process structure into software. Thus, digital
technology by reducing down the process timing enables a firm to be more faster and reliable to
focus on what needs to be done to improve consumer's satisfaction, experience and
communication. For instance, digital technology is being adopted by Continental Consulting
Limited is assumed to provide company to enhance connectivity and communication with its
consumers by providing them a platform to get connected with company round the clock,
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conveniently and in cost effective way. Further, it also enables to enhance its sales by connecting
potential customers, to get knowledge about their taste, preferences, demands etc.
Project Overview: The project is based on effect of digitalization in supporting
innovation and growth of a small business firm. Continental Consulting Limited is a IT firm that
deals in business process re-engineering since 8 years. With span of time company has realized
that in comparison to latest advancement introduced in IT sector technology used by company
has become obsolete (Brady and Davies, 2014). Thus, with motive to upgrade its IT techniques,
to be remain competitive and to diversify its business to attain growth firm is to introduce
advance innovation in its business process by adopting website as a part of internet of things in
its operations. This technology is expected to assist firm to maintain direct and frequent two way
communication with its customers that will lead to developing strong bond and amicable
relations with them. Also, it will serve as authentic platform for enterprise to determine
feedback, opinions and problems that could be analysed to make necessary modifications in
their present services, product or process.
Topic: ““The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and
innovation”
Aim: “To determine ways in which website as a part of internet of things enables firm to
enhance business growth and innovation.”
Objectives
 To analyse concept of website in context to Continental Consulting Limited.
 To ascertain ways in which website assists growth and innovation aspects of Continental
Consulting Limited. To determine effectiveness of website supporting growth and innovation of Continental
Consulting Limited.
Research Questions
 What is the concept of website in context to Continental Consulting Limited?
 What are the ways in which websites assist Continental Consulting Limited to attain
growth and innovation?
 How does website support in growth and innovation of Continental Consulting Limited?
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P2
PMP is a written document that serves a blueprint for a particular project. It describes
minute details of plan, its probable impact of firm, associated costs and likeable reward to be
gain after its completion, number of issues associated with its implementation and so on. In
reference to Continental Consulting Limited where company is thinking to enhance its business
efficiency and effectiveness by launching a new interactive website preparing a project
management plan becomes critical (Cleden, 2017). It is significant as an effective detailed PMP
will assist managers to formulate aims, ascertain workforce requirements, prepare strategies and
determine manner in which project is to recorded, measured and expressed to various
stakeholders. Mentioned below are certain important constraints related to project management
plan that firm needs to determine before launching a website as a part of internet of things:
Scope: In accordance to latest 2018 statistics, 90% of UK people virtually of all adults
from age 16- 35 years uses internet. Further, around two third of UK shoppers (61%) browse or
search every time when they shop either online or offline to build up their mind about the
company and its products/services. Thus, for continental Consulting Limited launching a website
forms to be a profitable investment as it will help firm to reach out more potential consumer and
build up relationship with them by creating memorable and joyful digital experiences.
Cost: It forms another important constraint that includes the estimate expense associated
with launching a website by in-depth study of various facets related to particular project. In
recent time internet has emerged as most feasible, fast and cost effective affair to be considered
by all type of businesses. However, developing a website is subject to incur upfront cost of
around $5000 to $4000 depending upon amount of products that are to be featured, their
intricacy and so on. Also apart from website development cost, Continental Consulting Limited
is subject to other associated expenses comprising cost of hiring professionals having intense
knowledge about the field for developing the website (Crane and Matten 2016). Further, cost of
opting for Search Engine Optimization involves upfront cost between $3000- $9000 in addition
to a monthly maintenance fee if around $200-$500 per month on an average. Therefore,
execution of project is subjected to prepare a detailed budget about the distribution of funds that
are required buy various activities while launching a website. Mentioned below is sample cost
statement:
Total forecasted budget for Website
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Particular 2017-18(£)
Design 2000
Domain 100
Total Upfront Cost 4000
Content Updates 10
Hosting 100
SEO 5000
Training Charges 5000
Copyright 500
Total Charges 16710
From the above given table, it can be summarised that Continental consulting Limited require
approx. 16710 £ to implement digital technology at workplace. Enterprise require 5000 £ for
provide training to its employees so they can use digital tools at workplace. Further 2000 £
require for design and 4000 £ will be the upfront cost. Overall company require a total amount of
16710 £ to implement digital technology at workplace. Approx. 20000 £ will require to
implement this project. Quality : Just launching a website is not enough to get benefit out of it. For Continental
Consulting Limited, the main objective of launching a website is to develop customer and
business relationship. Thus, to be effective in capturing attention of its potential
customers, it is of immense significance for firm to develop a website that its interactive
as well as simple enough for customers to navigate and get access to the relevant
information they have been looking for (Du, Leten and Vanhaverbeke, 2014). In order to
provide high satisfactory digital experience to its potential clients, it is requisite for firm
to add qualitative aspect in its project that could be achieved by hiring experts for
developing the website . It will provide better insight about the concept of website and
ways in which it could be best utilized to maximize company's visibility in online market
(Jeston, 2014). At the same time, it is equally important for making firm's IT department
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team proficient by providing them necessary training to monitor and modify the website
and its contents. Time: This constraint includes approx time period that launching of website by
Continental Consulting Limited will take. On an average, developing a website takes
around 1-3 months, however, to ascertain the exact time period company could make use
critical path method (Larson,Chang, 2016). This techniques will help managers to get
authentic and relevant information about various details related to project including time
frame. Risk: It forms an essential criteria that needs to be determined before hand during pre-
execution phase of project (Hillson, 2017). This will support Continental Consulting
Limited to determine probable issues related to launching of new website such as failure
of website, over budget, drop out in consumer traffic etc.
 Resources: The most essential resources that Continental Consulting Limited requires
while launching its website are software licenses, hardware such as technical
infrastructure comprising cables, switches etc. for its equipments, capital and human
resources.
All theses aspect of project management plan is important and essential for the project
manager to complete all activities of project within given time period. Cost of the project is
major element that define requirement of accurate amount of capital for completing project.
Time is another important aspect that define opening and ending time of completing project.
Some resources such as human, fund and many other are also useful for completing each and
every activity of project in successful manner.
P3
Work breakdown structure : A work break down structure is a hierarchical
decomposition of the work to be undertaken by project team to attain objectives and to compose
the required deliverables. It is basically graphically representation of different stages, work
packages and tasks that help managers of Continental Consulting Limited to efficiently manage
the project teams and to delegate necessary roles and responsibilities to them. In here, company
has bifurcated project of launching website by establishing practical aims and objectives.
Preparation of work break down structure will make it easy to define scope, project sequence and
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different operations that are performed into smaller portions each of which depicts targets to be
achieved.
Gantt Chart: It is graph showing schedule of a project in form horizontal bar charts that
depicts timeline of a project comprising its duration, sequences of tasks, start and closing dates
and so on. Continental Consulting Limited is formulating Gantt Chart that enables managers to
program and monitor progress of project and its performance on timely basis and to
communicate milestone and project status to stakeholders. Managers uses Critical Path Method
that helps them to ascertain approx time taken by each task and thereby indicates earliest date by
which project is to be completed. Also, in case of any delay, it helps managers to either
automatically reschedule left out jobs by observing their initial duration or to decrease time
period of other tasks so that project could be finished on the pre set deadlines.
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TASK 2
P4
Quantitative Research: This research emphasize on investigation of phenomena through
matrhematical, statistical or computational techniques in order to get the desired result in
numerical form like percentage, digits and so on. Continental Cosnulting Limited can make use
of various quantitative methods comprising sampling, surveys, questionnaire, online polls etc.
This will assist firm to determine impact of launching website in attaing busiensss growth and
innovations.
Qualitative Research: This type of research concentrates on gathering data through open
ended and conversational communication. It involves techniques to observe people and require
experts to study a given event, problem or phenomenon by in- deathly exploring totality of a
given situation. This research involves applying rigorous and systematic methods of transcribing,
coding and analysing trends and themes for interpreting the descriptive data. Qualitative research
in general is subject to a lot of time and high cost however this research is known for its reliable
and authentic data collection techniques. It involves various sources for obtaining relevant
information such as observation, interviews, focus groups etc. For Continental Consulting
Limited, this research could be fruitful for determining ways in which website assists growth
and innovation aspects of business.
Data Collection: for the purpose of determining effectiveness of launching a new
website and its impact on firm's growth and innovation questionnaire method has been adopted
by researcher. For the research, purpose primary data is been collected. The sample size that has
been taken into consideration is of 40 respondents selected through random sampling method
and include both employees and consumers.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Gender:
Occupation:
Contact no.:
Email id:
Q1) Are you aware about concept of website used by Continental Consulting Ltd in its
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business?
 Yes
 No
Q2) What are the importance of digital technology on in an organisation.
 Improve performance and profitability
 Maximise customer's base
Q3) What are the support metrics for an efficient and effective company' website?
 Customer satisfaction rate
 Speed of first response
 Time resolution
Q4) Is launching a website essential for Continental Consulting Limited to develop their
relations with customers?
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
Q5) What is the most valuable feature that website of Continental Consulting Limited need to
have according to you ?
 Easy Navigation
 Great Html code
 Design
 Customer responses
Q6) Is Website is essential for the company to solve different issue which arise at workplace?
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
Q7) What are the main areas of website that Continental Consulting Limited should focus?
 Mobile Friendly
 SEO
 User Experience
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 Content, design and features
Q8) Does launching a website help Continental Consulting Limited to enhance company's
online visibility and brand image among customers?
 Yes
 No
Q9) What are the likeable problem to be encounter by Continental Consulting Limited while
launching its website?
 Funds
 Time constraints
 Need for ongoing maintenance
Q10) Any recommendation for the Continental Consulting limited in context to launch a
website.
TASK 3
P5
Research Design: It is a procedure used by researcher to gather and analyse variables
that are been specified in a particular research problem and to find out its probable outcome. In
general,l there are three types of research design namely descriptive, experimental and
exploratory. In reference to Continental Consulting Limited, for conducting the research
descriptive research design is the most appropriate one to be opted. The reason behind that it
involves deep and detailed study of subject that assist in deriving authentic and reliable
conclusions.
Research Philosophy: Interpretivism philosophy is been taken implied in reference to
research for Continental Consulting Limited. This research philosophy includes studying
qualitative research areas that assists researcher to determine most accurate and reliable results.
Data Analysis: Thematic Analysis has be used in context to this particular research is for
data analysis. This method includes designing themes for each and every question that has been
framed in questionnaire that helps researcher to minutely determine responses of the
respondents.
Theme 1: Awareness about concept of website as used by firms.
Q1) Are you aware about concept of website Frequency
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