A Detailed Report on the Impact of Cloud Technology on Business Growth

This report analyzes the impact of digital and cloud technology on small business growth and innovation, using Continental Consulting Limited as a case study. It outlines project aims, objectives, and a project management plan that includes cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. The report details a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project timelines and stages. It incorporates small-scale research using quantitative and qualitative methods to meet project objectives, followed by an analysis of the research data using appropriate tools and techniques. The report concludes with recommendations based on the research findings and a reflection on the value of the research in meeting objectives and enhancing learning and performance. The report emphasizes the benefits of cloud technology, such as improved data storage, communication, and operational efficiency, while also addressing potential risks and challenges associated with implementation.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Project aims and objectives...............................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan which includes cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk
and resources..........................................................................................................................3
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time-frames and stages for
completion..............................................................................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Small-scale research by applying quantitative and qualitative research methods appropriate
for meeting project aims and objectives.................................................................................7
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Analysing research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.............................10
P6 Appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis.......................19
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................19
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERNECES..............................................................................................................................21

INTRODUCTION
Digital technology is the fastest growing concept and it has put an impact on how a
person perform daily working. With the help of digital technology now company has build and
created a new value for business model. Customers can now know about the core operations
which is done by firms while doing any kind of activities (Alvarez-Jimenez and et. al., 2014).
Cloud technology is a process through which firm can consume compute resources and helps in
storing data and information. 'Continental Consulting Limited' whose main business is to
process 'Re-engineering' which includes clients of small and medium companies. As company
has lost amongst rival organisation therefore, this assignment will be based on what kind of
efforts company can do for upgrading its business. Present report will aims, objectives and time-
frame of a company so that process can be upgraded. Along with this, a small scale research is
conducted for gathering information so that it can support project analysis. Lastly appropriate
recommendation based on reflection is included in this report.
TASK 1
P1 Project aims and objectives
Technology is simply, use of basic tools which can make life easier, most of the
companies adopt this for gaining competitive advancement in the market area. Digital
technology is a part of technology and it is a “base two process” in which information that are
recorded are in binary code in combination of 0 and 1 also known as bits, that represents images
and words. Digital Technology, for many telecommunication form replaced analog signals
because of which, time taken which use to be high are now relative less consuming (Boyle,
2017). Therefore, it can be said that with a rapid development in the field of digital technology it
has put an effect on human communication and business operations. Digital technology is a wide
concept and it includes many factors thus, cloud computing is one of them.
Cloud computing delivers services like storage, mainlining database, networking,
software, analytics etc., over the internet (Cloud Computing, 2018). Companies who give these
services are basically known as cloud providers and they charge a specific amount of money
based on the data usage. Using cloud computing can provide many benefits like creating of new
applications, storing of backup data and information, streaming audio and video, analysing data
for making predictions so that new things can be applied in business operations. 'Continental
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Consultancy Limited' which was once, one of the leading small-scale company and had adopted
new and latest technology 8 years back, but with the change in course of time now these
equipments had obsolete and it is required that firm upgrade their system so that they can
maximise their capabilities (Brown and Green, 2012). Therefore, as 'Continental Consultancy
Limited' is now implementing cloud technology and this research is based on analysing whether
after this company will get effective results and outcomes.
Topic: “The impact of digital technology supporting small business growth and
innovation”
Background of research
In previous years, technology which were used by companies were time consuming and
storing large amount of data and information was not possible. Therefore, with the change in
course of time as new technologies have evolved firms are now implementing these for getting
benefits. Cloud technology, is now part of digital technology which is being used by many firms
for storing and keeping information for a longer period of time. In addition to this, it promises to
provide better storage capacity (Crane and Matten, 2016). Therefore, this can be considered as a
reason why 'Continental Consultancy Limited' is adopting the same. Conducting this research
will provide information and benefits which company will gain after implementing cloud
technology.
Background of Company
'Continental Consultancy Limited', is business consultancy firm that provides solutions to
enterprise so that they can Re-engineer their business activities for attaining set goals and
objectives. For example: XYZ company is unable to improve their training and development
programme thus, 'Continental Consultancy Limited' will help them out by providing appropriate
software of T&D which will assist XYZ company in delivering better training to their employees
(Evans, 2014).
Aims: It comprises of components on which the entire research is being based. “To
identify the impact of cloud technology in upgrading business operations”
Objectives:
 To determine the major concept of cloud technology.
 To identifies challenges of implementing cloud technology. To analyse how cloud technology will assist firm in upgrading their business operations.
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Research Questions:
 What is the major concept of cloud technology.
 What kind of challenges of implementing cloud technology.
 How cloud technology will assist firm in upgrading their business operations.
P2 Project management plan which includes cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk and
resources
Project management plan is determine as a document that provides a baseline, to an
organisation like what is to be attain from project and by what method it can be achieved.
Therefore, when a company wants to implement new and latest technology it is required that
managers conduct research as it will assist them in communicating information in an effective
and efficient manner to its employees (Farman, 2013). Henceforth, Project management plan can
be used as a reference just to ensure whether a particular project is being carried out consistently
in a right manner. For instance, if any kind of issues is being faced while performing any task
such as deviation from the motive of doing a job than managers can go through the baseline and
make changes as required. Some of the factors which are included in project management plan
are mentioned below:
Cost: Cost of implementing cloud technology basically depends upon three components
i.e. network: in this, before while setting price company determine the expenses that will be
required in maintaining the network and it includes network hardware costs, network
infrastructure maintenance and labour. Compute: Every company has its unique requirement
and it depends upon GB of virtual RAM which is used and it consist of hardware operations and
hardware acquisition. Storage: This is same as compute cost, and it provides calculative
information about how much money will be required by a company for hardware storage.
Therefore, after analysing all these factors cost which 'Continental Consultancy Limited' will be
needed is around £15K.
Basis Cost
Network £6K
Compute £5K
Storage £4K
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Scope: 'Continental Consultancy Limited' is a firm that provides business solutions to
organisation who are facing issues and complications in regulating their business operations
(Gikas and Grant, 2013). With the help of technologies that were implemented 8 years years
back scope of 'Continental Consultancy Limited' was limited as they were not being able to store
a wide range of information, but now after implementing cloud technology, firm can store data
and information in large number and in secured manner. Other than this, company have widen
their perspectives like now they can easily communicate with their clients is an effective manner.
Time: Cloud technology is determined as one of the most talked concept of Information
Technology now a day's. 'Continental Consultancy Limited', for implementing cloud technology
will take around 6 months in adopting this effectively.
Quality: Basically there are three kinds of cloud computing i.e. Infrastructure as a
service (IaaS): It is done by third party and host factors like hardware, software, servers etc.,
this is crucial for security and maintenance. Software as a Service (SaaS): this make cloud
technology a usable tool and with the help of this browsing becomes easier. Platform as a
Service (PaaS): this is a branch of cloud technology that without getting caught in code, allow
users in developing, distribution and decentralisation of activities of company in different
branches is easier (Kaplan, 2012). Henceforth, 'Continental Consultancy Limited' while
implementing cloud technology is considering all these factors that are mentioned above in order
to improve quality.
Risk: Although cloud technology provides more secured environment in terms of saving
data and information but there are risk as well for example: loss or theft of intellectual property,
Malware infections which can harm stored data and information etc., Therefore, 'Continental
Consultancy Limited' must considered all these factors so that a better services can be provided
by them to clients. Thus, 'Continental Consultancy Limited', is considering all these factors for
developing cloud technology of best quality which will make process of keeping data and
information in a better.
Communication: This is also one of the effective factor that helps company in interacting
with employees and other firms as well. Earlier 'Continental Consultancy Limited', was unable to
communicate strategies to its workers because of which completion of task ion time was quite
difficult (Larivière and et. al., 2013). But now with the help of cloud technology distribution and
decentralisation of activities of company in different branches is easier. Other than this, this
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technology is assisting firm in getting feedbacks and reviews of customers in quick time
therefore, reverting back has become more simple.
Resources: Cloud technology resources are mainly divided into three categories i.e.
private, public and hybrid.
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time-frames and stages for completion
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Doing a work which is complex is not an easy task,
therefore, WBS assist a team or an organisation in dividing a complex task into simpler form so
that it can be manageable (Work Breakdown Structure, 2018). Basically, this method is used by
project managers in order to simplify the process of project execution because chunks of these
activities can be supervised and well performed as well. There are some reasons why Work
Breakdown Structure is crucial and these points are given below:
 Provides accurate and effective project.
 Helps in illustrating project scope so that it can be explained to its Stakeholders for better
understanding.
Construction of Work Breakdown Structure: First step of WBS is to break down into
different levels for example: high-level task into ten sub-task or into 20 sub-task. Work
Breakdown Structure have some rules like smallest chunk of activity must be done within “two
weeks”. In addition to this, any task should not be smaller than 8 hours and also larger than 80
hours. After the completion of entire step than Work Breakdown Structure will look like diagram
which is given below:
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Source: Work Breakdown Structure, 2018
Gantt Chart: It is determine and is considered as a type of bar chart which is used by
firm for illustrating schedules of project. Gantt Chart is basically used in projects which includes
efforts, resources, milestones and deliveries. According to recent times, Gantt Chart has become
one of the important choice of projects managers (Malthouse and et. al., 2013). There is a belief
that Gantt Chart is designed for assisting Work Breakdown Structure but it is not like that and
instead Gantt Chart is used for tracking the progress of any task. It has some advantages and
disadvantages and these are explained below:
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Illustration 1: Work Breakdown Structure

Advantages of Gantt Chart: This have a tendency of showing status of overall project
and management can make decisions by looking at this tool. Therefore, it assist management in
identifying critical path through which project can be completed.
Disadvantages of Gantt Chart: It is helpful for only small projects because no other
documentation is required but in order to support Gantt Chart, it is necessary that other
documents are also available. In addition to this, information that are displayed on Gantt Chart
cannot be sufficient for taking any kind of decision (Mao, 2014).
TASK 2
P4 Small-scale research by applying quantitative and qualitative research methods appropriate
for meeting project aims and objectives
For conducting a research it is important that its methods are being chosen appropriately,
therefore, researcher can distinct this on the basis of two components qualitative and quantitative
and both of them are explained below:
Qualitative Research Method: This is considered as an type of research which assist in
collecting information that are non-numerical. Method is designed in order to analyse action and
outcomes that can be measured typically (Proulx and Shepatin, 2012). Therefore, qualitative
research assist researcher in having in-depth study of the topic on which the research is based. In
this information are basically collected with the help of structured and unstructured interviews,
Participant observation etc.,
Quantitative Research Method: This method is might be easier for gathering information
as it is generally based on large number of participants. Here, data that are collected are analysed
with the help of numerical comparisons and statistical analysis. Thus, it assist researcher in
making the research more 'scientific' in nature. Most of the investigator use this research for
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carry out the research more quickly. This mainly includes questionnaire, with the help of which
information can be collected as per the choices of respondents (Scarborough, 2016).
Methods of Data collection
Primary research: Company designed this in order to meet unique and specific needs,
therefore, information which are gathered through primary research have more viable outcomes.
In simple terms, this kind of research are used by authentic in nature because it has not been
conducted by others. Away with this, it has been analysed that there are a number of tools like
interview, questionnaire, survey and etc which helps in gaining authentic information in specific
time frame. In present context, being as a researcher have used primary method so that to collect
relevant information in specific time frame which will help in drawing favourable outcomes in
specific time frame.
Secondary research: In this, investigator collects information from different sources like
books, journals, magazines, websites, articles etc., therefore, it helps researcher in making the
research more reliable and theoretically strong. The information which is majorly being collected
do not stays authenticated because the information has been collected can be used by any
researcher. Here, investigator have used secondary investigation under some of cases which will
aid in reaching to desired goals in much effective and efficient manner.
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you familiar with Cloud Technology?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) According to you what you think Cloud Technology is providing benefits to
'Continental Consultancy Limited'?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) As per your concern, what are the major challenges which company can face while
implementing Cloud technology?
a) Data Privacy
b) Service Provider Reliability
Q4) According to you, does cloud technology have the Ability to rapidly launch new
products and services for company?
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a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q5) What kind of advantages Cloud Technology can provide to 'Continental Consultancy
Limited'?
a) Increase in productivity
b) Powerful server capabilities
c) Information technology sandboxing capabilities
Q6) Does Cloud Technology provides price flexibility to 'Continental Consultancy
Limited'?
a) Yes
b) No
Q7) According to you, does Cloud Technologies is useful in expanding business operations
for 'Continental Consultancy Limited'?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8) Does Cloud Technology is assisting 'Continental Consultancy Limited' in storing data
and Information?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q9) Whether Cloud technology is assisting 'Continental Consultancy Limited' in
interacting with clients in a better and efficient manner?
a) Yes
b) No
Q10) Any suggestion for 'Continental Consultancy Limited' regarding Cloud technology?
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