Digital Technology's Impact on SME Business: A Research Project

This research project investigates the impact of digital technologies on the business activities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), specifically focusing on Nisa retail limited. The study explores the benefits of digital technologies, such as improved customer engagement and streamlined operations, while also identifying challenges like the high costs of implementation and data security concerns. The research includes a literature review, research questions, and a detailed methodology involving questionnaires administered to managers. The findings highlight the positive impact of digital technologies on business performance, with the majority of respondents acknowledging improvements in efficiency, customer service, and overall productivity. The project also addresses factors hindering the adoption of digital technologies and suggests ways to enhance business performance through strategic implementation. The project concludes with reflections on the research methods, lessons learned, and potential alternative research methodologies.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
P1 Research Proposal.............................................................................................................1
P2 Appropriate research methods...........................................................................................5
P3 Cost, Access and ethical issues.........................................................................................6
P4. Appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data....................................8
P5.Communication of research outcomes............................................................................17
P6 Reflection on effectiveness of research methods............................................................18
P7 Lesson learnt for alternative research methodologies.....................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................22
Research ethical form...........................................................................................................22
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................25

P1 Research Proposal
Title
“Impact of digital technology on business activities of SME’s”
Background of the study
Retail business is changing with the rapid speed. Digital technologies are opening new
opportunities and challenges for entities. It gives them chance to grow their firms and gain more
profit (Mohammadyari and Singh, 2015). Use of social networking sites, mobile applications
attracts more users towards the brand. In the modern era people like to shop by using these
applications rather than physical shopping. It save their time and money as well. Small medium
enterprises have huge capabilities to satisfy needs of consumers but due to lack of resources they
are unable to use these advance techniques that can attract more consumers towards the brand.
Quick response code, digital advertised display, personal selling assistant supports these small
entities in improving their efficiency level and gaining competitive advantage (Mazzei, Flynn
and Haynie, 2016).
Aim and Objectives
Aim
“To identify impact of digital technologies on business activities of small medium enterprises: A
study on Nisa retail limited”
Objectives:
 To understand conceptual framework of digital technologies.
 To analysis relationship between using digital techniques and business performance.
 To identify factor that hinder small medium firm from using digital technologies. To suggest ways to enhance business performance of Nisa retail limited by using digital
technologies.
Research Questions
 What are the benefits of using digital technologies in organization?
 What is the relationship between using digital techniques and business performance?
 Explain factor that hinder small medium firm from using digital technologies?
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 What are the ways to enhance business performance of Nisa retail limited by using digital
technologies?
Rationale
Competition is very high, in such highly competitive environment firms have to provide
unique products and services to its consumers so that they can sustain in the market for longer
duration. Small enterprises are able to fulfill needs of consumers but due to lack of resources
they are unable to reach to end user. Digital technology provides them a path to enhance their
customer data base and satisfy needs of clients. Nisa retail limited is working well but its sales
volume and profitability is very low (Hashim, 2015). Digital technology is the way through
which it can enhance its productivity and profitability to great extent. Customer always want
time efficiency so that they do not have to wait for long time to buy any product. Using digital
technologies will be helpful for Nisa in raising its production ability and revenues as well.
Areas covered in this study
Present study will be based on Nisa retail limited which is a small size firm and operating
its business in UK (Bharadwaj and et.al, 2013). Study will cover factors that hinder small
enterprises from using digital technologies. Benefits of using digital tools will be explained in
this study. Furthermore, impact of digital technology on business performance of SME will be
described in this research project.
Literature Review
As per the view of Brabham, (2013) earned media is considered as trusted advertising
platform that is able to meet with needs of consumers. Us of social media networking is most
common digital technology which support an organization in increasing its customer data base
by communicating with mass audience. Järvinen and Karjaluoto, (2015) argued that social
networking sites or internet are not safe for a business unit because there is high chances of
leakage of data by this way trust of clients get reduced. Companies are using these sites to
promote their products and services but due to server issues they are unable to provide quality
services to consumers through these sites.
According to Alshamaila, Papagiannidis and Li, (2013) mobile devices are digital
techniques which are mostly used by big organizations. These big entities offer facility to shop to
their consumer’s thorough mobile devices. This saves time and money of end users. In the
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today’s technological era most of the customers are shopping through this mobile application.
This is beneficial tool and supports in gaining attention of mass audience. Supermarkets, retail
firms of UK are using this tool for serving best to their potential buyers.
Illustration 1: Use of digital technology
Source: (The impact of digital technologies on innovations in retail
business models, 2013)
According to Nambisan, (2017) there is strong relationship between digital technologies
and business activities. Use of point of sale, digital display advertising tool helps the firms in
improving their efficiency level. By this way companies can bring innovation in their products
and services which support organizations in increasing their sales volume to great extent. On
other hand Khalique and et.al, (2015) stated that advance technologies are useful but many
consequences are attached with it. For developing mobile application company has invest a lot
which increases its cost. It is possible for those entities which have sufficient financial resources
but it is not possible for small medium enterprise to such huge amount because it may be
difficult for them to conduct further operations.
As per the view of Ainin and et.al, (2015) digital technologies are now more in demand,
consumers like to buy products through online. Waiting and purchasing products in crowd is
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difficult for working persons. They have to spend time so they prefer to buy retail products by
using their websites. Most of the companies offer them free delivery services and they get
attractive discounts over it. These facilities of digital technologies satisfy needs of consumers.
That supports firm in raising their revenues.
As per the view of Massoud and et.al, (2017) budget is the main element that affect the
small firms in implementing digital technologies in the workplace. Due to insufficient fund they
can not apply advance technologies in organization.
Significance of research
Present study will be beneficial for Nisa retail limited in identifying opportunities for
business by using digital technologies. It will help the firm in growing well and sustaining in the
market for longer duration (The Impact of Digital Technologies on Innovations in Retail
Business Models, 2013). Furthermore, researcher will be beneficial for other small medium
enterprises in identifying growth opportunities and serving as big organization in corporate
world. Furthermore, through this study these entities will be able to implement digital
technologies in workplace which will support in generating high revenues. In addition, it will be
important for other scholars because by this way will get detail idea about impact of digital
technologies on business performance so they will be able to conduct further research on the
same subject or related subjects )Impact of Information Technology and Internet in Businesses,
2015(. This will be beneficial for big firms as well because they will get idea to improve their
efficiency by using these techniques.
Time scale
Activities Week
1
Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Wee
k 5
Week 6
Selection of
research topic
Framing aims
and
Objectives
Discussion
with
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supervisors
Data
collection by
using primary
and
secondary
data sources
Analysis of
data
Finding
results and
discussion
Drawing
conclusion
and
recommendati
ons
Editing and
final
submission
P2 Appropriate research methods
Researcher will use interpretivism philosophy and descriptive research design. It will
support in carry out this investigation in effective manner. With the help of this techniques
scholar will be able to describe elements properly (The impact of technology on business process
operations, 2016). As present study is qualitative in nature thus, use of this philosophy is
appropriate for this research. By this way scholar will be able to develop understanding about
digital technologies ad its impact on business. Furthermore, researcher will apply primary data
collection sources in which human participant will be involved. Questionnaire is the best way
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through which realistic information can be gathering about the subject. For analysis of data
scholar will use thematic analysis tool. This will help in presenting information in accurate
manner (Ainin and et.al, 2015). In order to complete this research scholar will take support of
descriptive research design. It will aid in describing element related to digital technologies and
its impact on business activities. Furthermore, individual will apply thematic analysis. This will
help in preparing themes and presenting data by taking support of graphs and charts. Individual
will conduct investigation by using inductive approach, this would be suitable for qualitative
type of projects.
Furthermore, there are two main sources of data collection: primary and secondary.
Research will use both these methods in order to collect in-depth details about topic. Secondary
research uses books, journals that have been prepared by other authors on same topic whereas in
primary researches individual will gather details by own. All this information are first hand and
highly related to present situation. Scholar will conduct primary research for this topic and will
apply questionnaire techniques in order to gather first hand information.
P3 Cost, Access and ethical issues
For completing this project researcher has to use various techniques. These tools support
the researcher in completing the project in effective manner. Research methodologies are
effective techniques that support a scholar in carrying out an investigation in proper manner and
minimizing the issues (Alshamaila, Papagiannidis and Li, 2013). By this way individual can
reach to the final results significantly.
Primary research
Primary research is the type of study in which scholar gathers information by own.
Individual takes incessant of first hand details in order to develop in-depth understanding about
situation and company. All these details that are used by scholar are never used in any kind of
thesis. There are various sources of collecting primary information such as questionnaire,
interview, observation etc. All these methods aid researcher in addressing research problems in
significant manner. In order to carry out this research scholar has taken support of questionnaire
technique. This tool has helped individual in collecting real fact about digital technologies' and
their impact on small business. Individual has asked questions with manager of entity because
they have great knowledge about overall operation of business.
Secondary research
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It is another kind of method that uses already available details. There are many studies
that have been prepared on same topic by other authors. All these details support researcher in
developing understanding about subject matter. Scholar has also used secondary sources such as
books, journals, internet articles related to digital technologies and its impact on business. These
sources have helped in addressing research problem easily.
 Research philosophy: It is considered as one of the effective tool which helps the scholar
in identifying the research area and collecting information about the subject in effective
manner (Brabham, 2013). Researcher has applied interpretivism philosophy. With the
help of this scholar has become able to obtain maximum detail about digital technologies
and its impact on business performance. By this way individual became able to get
realistic information and reaching to the final conclusion.
 Research design: It is another essential tool of research methodology which support the
scholar in describing each element in effective manner (Alshamaila, Papagiannidis and
Li, 2013). In the present study scholar has applied descriptive research design. It supports
the researcher in conducting the study in subjective manner and reaching to the final
conclusion. By this way factual information can be collected by the scholar which will
support in meeting with the objective of the study.
 Data collection: There are two main tools of data collection primary and secondary. Both
helps the researcher in collecting quality information related to topic (Massoud and et.al,
2017). In the absence of adequate detail scholar can not be able to gather information
about the subject. As present study is based on effectiveness of digital technologies and
its impact on business performance of small medium organization. For that researcher has
taken support of primary and secondary both data collection sources. In the primary data
collection sources researcher has applied questionnaire techniques which support in
gathering factual detail about the topic (The Impact of Digital Technologies on
Innovations in Retail Business Models, 2013). On other hand investigator has also applied
secondary data collection sources. Books, journals, internet articles has supported the
person in developing understanding about the topic.
 Data Analysis: it is most important part of business unit, it helps researcher in analysing
data and finding results. In order to conduct this study scholar has taken support of
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thematic analysis tool. This has supported in preparing themes and presenting data by
using graphs and charts.
 Cost: Researcher has scheduled the activities and allotted the resources in effective
manner. This has supported the person in completing the project with pre designed cost.
Costing matters a lot ifs there is improper utilization of financial resources then
individual will not be able to complete the project in stipulated budget (Impact of
Information Technology and Internet in Businesses, 2015). But proper monitoring and
effective controlling has helped the researcher in completing this project with designed
budget. Researcher has taken care of cost element and has utilized resources wll so that
entire project can get completed within set budget. Individual has considered cost and has
allocated financial resources for each activity. Furthermore scholar has monitored each
activity properly that has helped in minimizing unnecessary cost.
 Ethical consideration: It is most important part of the study, if ethics are not being
followed properly then it may create consequences for the researcher. Scholar has not
copied any material from any side (Nambisan, 2017). Individual has not copied material,
researcher has developed understanding by reading previous articles and collecting
information through primary sources. After gathering information scholar has written all
detail in his own words. Apart from this scholar has take permission from the participates
and after getting their positive response individual has conducted further study (The
impact of technology on business process operations, 2016).
 Accessibility: Researcher has considered this point and individual has created such
environment so that respondents feel comfortable. This has helped in making effective
interaction with them and gathering in-depth detail about topic. Researcher has accessed
many books and journals of other authors. All these academic paper s have improved
understanding about subject matter and has helped in conducting this research in effective
manner.
P4. Appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data
Research analysis is very important tool in the investigation, which helps the researcher
to analyse the data in an appropriate way. In this investigation, qualitative researcher techniques
have been selected, thus thematic analysis will be dome. Structured questionnaire have been
framed so that data can be collected related to the topic that is impact of digital technologies over
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the business activities. Questions have been asked from the 20 managers of the organisation.
Below given are the analysis made with the help of thematic in which tables, chart, etc. are used:
Theme 1: The Nisa make use of new or updated technology
Does The Nisa make use of new or updated technology? Frequency
Yes 11
No 6
Not Sure 3
Interpretation and discussion: It has been identified that out of 20 managers, 11 have said that
venture is using the new and updated technology. From this question, it has been analysed that
most of the employees agrees that the venture is using the update technologies. Which state that
organisation is very effective in using them, that is the reason that have adopted new technology.
Other than that 3 managers states that they are not sure for the same. They don't know that the
venture is using the new technologies or not? Thus, it has been evaluated from the report that
venture is using new technologies in order to reduce their effort, time and money.
Theme 2 : Use of technology is beneficial for the firm to improve performance level
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Do you think that use of technology is beneficial for the firm to
improve performance level?
Frequency
Yes 14
No 5
Not Sure 1
Interpretation and discussion: From this question it has been analysed that most of the
employees says that they are very happy while using the new technologies. Out of 20, 14 have
stated that they are beneficial from the new technologies. It helps them to reduce their time and
effort. Such as tally helps the financial manager to create financial statement easily as well as it
does not take huge time and reduce the effort of manager. Thus, it can be said from this analysis
that employees have acquired different benefits from new and updated technologies.
Theme 3: Current technology used within firm is not effective
Is the current technology used within your firm effective? Frequency
Yes 5
No 13
Not Sure 2
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