Digital Technology's Impact on Small Business: A Comprehensive Report

This report delves into the significant impact of digital technology on small business enterprises, using Austin Fraser, a consulting firm, as a case study. It covers the aims of small businesses, emphasizing project management and the importance of digital tools for growth. The report outlines the preparation of a management plan, addressing factors like cost, quality, time, communication, risk, and resources. It includes a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project organization and time management. Furthermore, the report discusses small-scale research methods and their application, offering recommendations for leveraging digital technology to enhance business operations. The conclusion reflects on the findings and reinforces the importance of digital integration for business success.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
(IMPACT OF DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY ON THE
SMALL BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
P1 Aims of small business..........................................................................................................4
P2 Preparing a management plan................................................................................................5
P3 Work Breakdown structure and Gantt chart .........................................................................6
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Small scale research...............................................................................................................8
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................10
P5 Using appropriate tools and technique.................................................................................10
P6 Recommendations................................................................................................................14
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................15
P7 Reflection.............................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
Online........................................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
In today's world where the competition is on the highest peek level at that point of time
digital technology is that which supporting small industry to grow up and satisfy the customers
in proper manner. Therefore digital technology itself bringing many customers towards company
so that they can make them satisfy with their products and services in better manner. The digital
technology make the small business to grow in better way and thus, such concept help in
transferring information and data which make business to earn high profit and development of
company as well (Cavusgil, et. al., 2014). Although the digital technology help firms to get
innovation and creativity in their goods and services. The report is based on Austin Fraser which
is a consulting firm, and work as consultants and recruit within the engineering, life sciences and
IT. So that right people can get the right job in perfect format . Report will discuss about
aims firm is having, plan which will help in bringing forward to Austin, analysis will be done
with tools and techniques and it will also include the recommendation part as well.
Task 1
P1 Aims of small business.
Project management: It is that which lead to have a planning, organizing and although
implementing as well which has to be expected to have effective and efficient guide out of all
and thus it has very much aspect from pioneer to end state. Although a project plan is that which
also lead from project charter.
Every company in this world is having a aim for which they are in market and serving
million of people with their products and services in proper format. The firm Austin Fraser is
that which is making people happy by providing them the right direction and providing jobs
(Dezdar and Ainin, 2011). There aim and objective is quite different from other companies as
they are busy in serving the customers with their services in proper manner. Various aim of
company is as follows:
 To provide job to as many possible candidates who are looking for job.
 Through consulting making people to move in right direction.
 To provide job in many other fields like IT, engineering and life sciences etc.
 Aim is to reduce the unemployment in UK and to give companies right candidate for the
right job.

 Want to become the first choice for people that Austin Fraser will make us employ in any
company.
 To earn maximum profits so that firm can expand their business in near future
Although, these aim are such for which the company work hard and bring many other
criteria to have a better working too and thus it makes them to have a great working too.
Therefore all small industry in world has a dream to expand their business in other countries as
well. This can be done when company is earning good amount of profit and satisfied candidates
with firm as always such thing bring the positive image of entity. The aim and objective is that
for which the industry is making themselves stable in market and to attain those (Eid and El-
Gohary, 2013). Entity tries their best level to perform better and satisfy as many candidates or
people so that they can easily attain their goal and objective in the market.
All the thing is possible when firm is using the digital technology at their maximum level
best. Although technology is helping entities to bring many customers towards their industry and
making them to apply for jobs in many companies. Technology is such which is helping many
firms to increase their level of performance and attain the aim of expanding business (Fitzgerald,
et. al., 2014). It is required for firm to think that whether technology is helping them or not.
 Is it required to reduce use of technology in companies if not being able to use in proper
manner.
 Ensure that technology is helping in innovation and creativity in perfect manner or not.
 Although the thing which has to include is to know that whether technology is helping in
earning profit in better way.
P2 Preparing a management plan
To be competitive in market it is very much needed that companies should produce the
management plan, therefore plan help in bringing the ways through which they can fight
competition in market. Management plan help in making strategies so that employees and the
whole staff can work in right direction so that goal and objective of entity can be achieved in
easy manner (Hotho and Champion, 2011). Various factors are there which affects performance
of company as such for that risky part strategies are made so that they can be faced properly.
Factors like internal and external both are having affect on business. The various aspect which
plan covers are as follows:

Cost: Therefore cost should be minimised at the time of organising various things in
company. As Austin Fraser works at lower level and thinking to take firm beyond the boundaries
of their limitation as such technology will help entity to work in a proper manner. Cost of using
technology should be reliable so that company can make more profits with minimum cost. Cost
in services can occur anytime in business so industry has to maintain their budget as well to
overcome such situation.
Example:- It is required to know that business should consider some cost of using technology in
better manner and thus it makes them to have a effective working in company as well.
Quality: The company has a responsibility of providing the quality services to candidates
as many people come to Austin Fraser that they will provide the chance of getting employed in
various companies and this expectation of customers has to be met by industry (Laudon and
Laudon, 2016). Providing quality service always brings a positive image of company. This help
in getting goal and objective of organisation in effective way.
Time: Management of time should be there with small companies as well, so that various
task can be done on time. Scheduling the task and work with time limitation bring motivation
and increase the performance level as well that they have to finish their work according to time
scheduled. Multi-tasking is sometimes not proper as stress and disappointment of not complete
work will be there in the minds of employees. So its better to work according time scheduling.
Example:- Using such technology which can help company to attain the working on time and
this is something which has to be done according to time as well.
Communication: This is something which help firms to work in proper manner.
Communication is a backbone of every industry, transferring of information can be done through
communication only (Peppard and Ward, 2016). Interaction among various employees help them
to work in coordination and collaboration which is making them to increase performance and
productivity of organisation and this directly help in attaining of goal and objective of firm.
Risk: It is something which can affect the who0le business in various ways it is required
by companies not to ignore the risk which can come in between the completion of their task.
Risk has to be identified in accordance to achieve goal and objective of companies so that they
can expand firm in better manner. Through research of market and including solution to reduce
risk in strategies make company to work hard and face risk and challenges in effective way. The

senior executive and manager in firm should teach employees in correct format so that they can
minimise the risk and can perform in better way.
Resource: It is that which is needed by every company as because without the resources
no firm can bring their expectation in accomplishment. Resources include like (raw material,
human beings and finance etc.) all such help the firm to work in effective manner. Technology
thus also helping the fir to use these resource sin effective way so that they can easily attain their
goal and objective (Porter and Kramer, 2011).
Example:- To manage the successful business it is required by business to have proper resources
which somewhere help in producing a quality products and services as well.
Scope: The firm Austin Fraser is having a great scope in expanding their business with
digital technology as this help in getting the work done in efficient way. Scope is something as
how company use the technology for their increase in performance and productivity so that firm
can move towards growth and development.
P3 Work Breakdown structure and Gantt chart
The company Austin Fraser is working according to the work breakdown structure which
is helping firm to complete their task on time. This concept is that in which the task or work
divided into various departments according to their skill and knowledge in their field. Although
dividing the task into divisions also bring coordination among everyone. Coordinating with each
other and working together help firm to achieve their goal and objective in a very short span of
period. This is like a hierarchical way or can say in a tree form, dividing task in between
individuals or group make firm to have a quality of work and redundancy in work or task can be
reduced.
The firm has responsibility to have a strategy in proper manner so that the things can be
done in right way. Research of market by Austin Fraser help them to produce a effective strategy
which help employees and other member of company to work in correct direction. Through such
strategies and research help senior executive to make a proper policy for employees and whole
organisation as one, coordinated work, effectiveness in performance and completion of task on
time make a firm to achieve their organisational goal and objective.
Gantt chart is something which help company to know that there which task is taking the
most time in completing that in effective manner. The task which take less time is working
effectively and those work taking most of time in making them complete, for such task it is

required to bring effective policy and time schedule so that such kind of work can also be
completed on time. Even with such policy and effective working the firm can lead towards in
order to achieve their aim and objective in efficient way.
This is something which can help company to know starting date of project and how
much day it will take to complete the work in better manner and thus it also make them to bring
string policy and strategy which can make them to reduce the time period taken by projects too.
Name of the activity Number of days Predecessor
Identification of problem 4 days 1
Setting of aims and targets 3 days 2
Review of key references 5 days 2
Research methodology 7 days 4,2
Data collection 10 days 5
Data analysis 12 days 6
Recommendation and
conclusion
7 days 7
Submission of report 2 days 8

Task 2
P4 Small scale research
Every company makes an research of market so that they can receive important
information and data which will help firm to make an effective decision in proper manner. The
research methods which can be used by company are as follows:
Quantitative research: This kind of research is that which is done in the form of numbers
or done in statistical form. Quantitative research is done by both companies whether it is a large
or small company. Somewhere the company Austin Fraser goes with such type of research as
they need a data in numbers form to know that numbers of candidates are unemployed in country
and how many of them needs a consultancy to choose the right direction according to their skill
and knowledge.
Qualitative research: This is opposite from quantitative in terms of collected information
as in this research information or data is collected in name and nature form or sometimes in form
of code as well. Although this kind of research is sometimes also done by Austin Fraser, as they
need full information of candidates so that they can reach them in easy manner. Therefore such
researches help the companies to produce a effective decision and strategy for firm as whole so
that they can complete their task on time and achievement of goal and objective can be done.
Primary research: This kind of research are also known with first hand collection of data
which can be used by entity in making their efficient decision. Primary research does not include
anything in between their gathering of data.
Secondary research: Therefore this research is also known with the second hand
collection of information and data is gathered from books and past records which is being used

by some other researches as well. Secondary research help in making predictions that what will
happen in the upcoming years. This is very much useful for company to make a decision.
Sampling: It is done when the firm has to receive information about the consumers needs
and wants and sometimes their thoughts and views in forma of feedback and recommendation
which help firm to improve their service so that customer and candidate can get satisfied. Austin
Fraser with such feedbacks can bring innovation and creativity in their services so that they can
make their customers and candidate happy.
A survey was done of 20 people to know that whether the technology is helping Austin
Fraser to develop and grow in perfect way, or is company able to achieve their aim with
technology.
Questionnaire
Name:
Contact no:
Address:
Email id:
1.) Austin Fraser is using the technology in proper manner ?
a.) Yes
b.) No
2.) Does technology is helping in attaining their goal and objective ?
a.) Yes
b.) No
3.) Technology is helping in bringing the innovation in their services or not ?
a.) Yes
b.) No
4.) Is company spending huge amount on technology ?
a.) Yes
b.) No

5.) Is technology is increasing the investment criteria in firm ?
a.) Yes
b.) No
c.) Don't know
6.) Austin Fraser will use digital technology for longer period ?
A.) Agree
b.) Disagree
7.) Any improvement is required in service of Austin Fraser ?
a.) Yes
b.) No
8.) Is Austin Fraser is using payment system in better manner or not?
a.) Yes
b.) No
9.) Does Austin Fraser transaction processing system of company is working in right context?
a.) Yes
b.) No
c.) May be
10.) what are the benefits of advanced computer technology at workplace?
a.) Collection of information
b.) Data can be stored
c.) Smooth working can be noticed
d.) All of the above
Task 3
P5 Using appropriate tools and technique.
Theme 1: Technology is used in proper manner
Austin Fraser is using the technology in proper
manner ?
Observation
Yes 17

No 3
Interpretation: Is technology is properly used by the company or not. To know this company
made an survey on 20 people and the review received by firm is like 17 out of 20 said that Austin
Fraser is using the technology in great way. Although with this 3 out of 20 said that Austin
Fraser is not be able to use the technology at fullest. They can use it in proper manner as they are
doing.
Theme 2: Technology help in achieving aim
Does technology is helping in attaining their
goal and objective ?
Observation
Yes 18
No 2
Interpretation: Is the technology helping firm to attain their goal and objective in effective
manner for such thing the review was shocking that 18 out of 20 people said that Austin Fraser is
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18 17
3
Column B
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20 18
2
Column B