The Impact of Digital Technology on SMEs: A Case Study Analysis

This research project investigates the impact of digital technology on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with a specific case study on Apple Guest House. The project explores the rationale for studying digital technology's effect, emphasizing its role in business success, profitability, and operational efficiency. It outlines research aims and objectives, including analyzing digital transformation stages, identifying challenges, and recommending implementation strategies. The methodology includes a research proposal, data collection, presentation, analysis, and discussion, supported by primary and secondary data. The project presents findings through data interpretation, focusing on how digital technology positively impacts the chosen business, improves operations, and enhances customer engagement. The project also includes a Gantt chart detailing activities and timelines. The research concludes with recommendations to expand the effectiveness of the company through digital technology implementation.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
Title: Impact of digital technology on SME....................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1 Research proposal ............................................................................................................1
P2 Appropriate research methods...........................................................................................9
LO 2...............................................................................................................................................12
P3 Research methodology....................................................................................................12
P4 Data collection ................................................................................................................13
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................15
P5 Data presentation, analysis and discussion.....................................................................15
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................27
P6 Effectiveness of research methods and reflection...........................................................27
P7 Alternative research methodology and recommendation................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................29
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................31

Title: Impact of digital technology on SME.
LO 1
P1 Research proposal
Research project description
Introduction
Technology plays very important role in the business success and growth. This is
because, it helps to make more profits and revenue in the enterprise with consider different
activities and tasks. In the small business enterprise, it helps to make high profitability and
maintain effectiveness in systematic manner. Therefore, programs and functions has been carried
to make productivity and high performances in the business unit (Bell, Bishop and Przybylski,
2015). It assists to reduce labour cost and create advance activities in the business. As results,
technical support will be implemented at workplace to make international business. Technology
also help to increase production and ascertain several advantages in the company. Outsource of
the functions also consider which make effective results in internal and external environment.
Furthermore, advertisement with digital technology also consider to increase business growth
and outcomes (Nesamoney, 2015). In the small business unit, digital technology assists to define
useful results with using different tools such as communication, network, etc. It assists to access,
manage, integrate, evaluate, etc. information that needed to perform several functions and
operations in the business.
Rationale of study
In order to consider study of digital technology on small business, it can be stated that
effectiveness will be develop continuously. This is because, it assists to maintain advancing
results and outcomes which help to focus on the innovations and creativity. In addition to this, it
helps to understand importance which consider emerging trends in the enterprise to face
challenge, ascertain new activities, deal with upcoming targets, etc. Hence, it creates impact on
the new programs and activities that are carried to perform several functions in the market
(Meier, 2015). Present study based on the Apple Guest House which is small sector business in
UK. Now they are looking to make new activities and tasks to increase their effectiveness and
make large enterprise. Hence, digital technology implementation increase their target market and
work with innovative activities as well. Furthermore, research help to implement new tools and
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techniques that help to attain more desired results in the company in systematic way. Therefore,
aims and objectives has been prepared accordingly.
Research aims and objectives
Aim: To identify impact of digital technology on marketing of small business to make high
growth – A Case study on Apple Guest House.
Objectives
 To analysis development stages for digital transformation.
 To identify challenges which integrated with digital technology in the small business.
 To implement digital technology in Apple Guest House.
 To engage stakeholders help to implement digital technology in small business.
 To recommend ways with digital technology implement to expand effectiveness of the
company.
Research questions
 What are development stages for digital transformation?
 What are the challenges which integrated with digital technology in the small business?
 How to implement digital technology in Apple Guest House?
 How to engage stakeholders help to implement digital technology in small business? What are recommend ways with digital technology implement to expand effectiveness of
the company?
Reasons for choosing research project
In respect to conduct research, there are several reasons exist that assists to make
effective results in the outcomes. Due to different reasons, researcher consider their
understanding and activities. It assists to focus on the desired results and outcomes which help to
generate more effective functioning at workplace (Cantallops and Salvi, 2014). With the help of
the following tools, reasons could be ascertained at workplace: Scope of study: In order to conduct study, there are several reasons exist in which scope
if the best element. This is because, with the help of scope, they can consider analysis to
develop effective functioning in the business. In order to make proper assessment, it can
be stated that digital technology create positive impact on the small business results
(Molina-Azorín, Tarí and Pertusa-Ortega, 2015).
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 Knowledge of researcher: Furthermore, another reason to conduct study is that
researcher has wide knowledge of digital technology implementation. In this way, they
can make the highest growth and development program in the Apple Guest House.
Furthermore, it will assist to perform innovative and creative functions to focus on the
relevant information in the company (Melián-González and Bulchand-Gidumal, 2016). Interest of researcher: Another reason to conduct study is that researcher has more
interest to make effectiveness. In this regard, it is important to focus on development of
understanding and effectiveness in the business. With the interest, researcher able to
increase skills and understanding towards particular aims and objectives. It will focus to
ascertain creative advantages and growth in the business environment (Lien, Wen and
Wu, 2015). Growth of business: Apple Guest House is small business so that another reason to select
the present topic is that it make the highest growth of the enterprise. It assists to focus on
the more effective functioning and effectiveness. In respect to make growth of the
company, researcher consider different tools and techniques that help to make high
growth in the results (Verma and Verma, 2017). Moreover, the chosen firm able to
increase their customers and target market as well. It will help to attain desired results in
the market.
Activities and time scale
In respect to implement tools and techniques, it can be stated that project plan consider
different elements that help to make high growth in the business. In this regard, effectiveness
will be develop continuously that assists to meet with desired results in systematic manner. In
order to focus on the relevant consideration, following activities consider which taken to attain
more creative aspects (Lockwood and Pyun, 2018).
Furthermore, there are several other activities consider in the research project that help to
find useful information in systematic manner. It assists to focus on attain desired outcomes and
profitability as well. In first and second week proposal has been considered that assists to create
blue print of whole project. In addition to this, in the third week aims and objectives has been
prepared that consider important role in the enterprise to ascertained innovative results. As per
aims and objectives, whole project will be taken to find useful results at workplace. Along with
this, background research study conducted to perform different goals and objectives in the
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business environment (Nieves, Quintana and Osorio, 2014). Therefore, present study carry
creative learning and performances at workplace. With the help of suitable research
methodologies, research carry to find useful results and outcomes in the business environment.
As results, study carry to focus on the data collection. With this regard, primary and secondary
data has been carried to undertake more relevant information in the business and develop
profitability as well. After collection of data, research examine it to find useful consideration at
workplace. It assists to focus on the desired results and attain more specific tools in the business.
After this, interpretation of data and execution of project has been considered which help to
implement finding of the present project. In addition to this, conclusion and recommendation has
been carried that assists to develop more relevant outcomes in the business to focus on more
effective results in the business. When draft has been submitted, some relevant modifications as
per tutor has been set so that effective results has been considered to focus on final submission
(Melián-González and Bulchand-Gidumal, 2016).
Gantt chart: In the project plan, it can be stated that different activities and task has been
taken to accomplish desired results. In this way, as per setting of time, all activities consider
important role in the research process. In the present research, it considers in the following
manner:
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Activity/Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Formulation of research proposal
Preparing aim and objectives
Writing background research study
Assortment of suitable research
methodologies
Data collection by using primary and
secondary sources
Examination of the collected data
Interpretation of collected
information to generate expected
results
Conclusion and recommendations
Submission of draft report
Modifications as per the feedback
comments
Final Submission
Literature review consider important role to find useful information from previous
researcher. In this way, researcher consider understanding and reading of previous published and
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unpublished resources that help to find useful results at workplace. With this regard,
effectiveness also develop to focus on the implementation of digital technology at workplace. It
is the best way to understand importance of the research that develop in systematic manner in the
enterprise.
Development stage of digital technology
According to the view of Landge, Randive and Rathod, (2016), digital technology
implementation helps to attain desired results and accomplish targets in systematic manner. With
this regard, different activities and tasks has been implemented to focus on encourage people in
the business. In this regard, process of digital transformation has been carried to develop more
effective information at workplace. There are different elements has been implemented and
covered that assists to meet with the desired results such as active, formalised, strategic, etc.
Beside this, Taylor, Fritsch and Liederbach, (2014) stated that digital technology implementation
in small business consider activities that operated in the company to focus on legacy perspective
outcomes. In this regard, different elements has been implemented that assists to perform aims
and objectives in systematic manner. In this way, it is essential to focus on digital technology
relevance which assists to perform different tasks and activities in the business environment.
Therefore, small enterprise able to gather more effective work performances through attain more
creative results. In order to focus on views of Bell, Bishop and Przybylski, (2015), they argued
that in the digital technology implementation, there are several activities and tasks considered
that implied with experiment with including creativity, disparately, etc. All these aspects helps to
focus on maintain more creative work performances in the business. It will assist to accomplish
desired aims and objectives which carried to focus on the business development and maintain
effectiveness as well. Hence, improvement in the business activities consider with advance
technology and development of business goals. On the other hand, Meier, (2015) explored their
ideas and views that digital technology implementation consider experimentation in the
enterprise to execute effective functioning in the business environment. With the help of
implement digital technology, the company able to maintain their effectiveness and attain desired
results as well. Therefore, team will able to perform in systematic manner. Dedication is also
implemented to focus on the performances of employees that carries different activities and
targets as well. Team transformation assists to make new structure and attain more relevant
outcomes at workplace.
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Challenges face by small business in respect to implement digital technology
According to the point of Taylor, Fritsch and Liederbach, (2014), there are different
challenges exist in the small business. This is because, implementation of digital technology
consider more investment in the business so that it need to make effectiveness in the business.
With the help of different elements, it can be stated that company able to perform their functions
and operations in systematic manner. As results, they are getting more effective results in the
market. First and main challenge that occur in front of business is professional development.
However, Bell, Bishop and Przybylski, (2015) consider their views that use of effective
technology requires adequate qualities among team members to increase their effective results.
As results, company need to provide them training and professional development activities so
that effective results will be gain successfully. With the help of knowledge and information, the
company able to make innovative tools and techniques at workplace. It is the best way to
ascertained target market and development of the organisation as well. As per the view of Bahri-
Ammari and Nusair, (2015), Apple Guest House need to make resistance to change. This is
because, with changing structure and activities they are able to develop more relevant results and
performances at workplace. It is the best way to perform different activities and tasks in the
business that are carried to make innovative results in the company. However, Meier, (2015)
stated that new models' implementation is also great challenge in front of the business which
create negative impact on the business. In this regard, it is important to ascertain competition
with traditional aspects of the enterprise. In respect to create more effectiveness in the company
so that they are able to attain more reliable information. Proper need of attention needed to attain
more desired results at workplace in systematic manner.
Implementation of digitalisation technologies in the Apple Guest House
According to the point of Baller, Dutta and Lanvin, (2016), digital technology help to
develop more effective results and outcomes. In this way, it is important to maintain
effectiveness of the company with undertake several activities at workplace. With this regard,
systematic work performances, the company able to develop their effectiveness and creativity at
workplace. As results, different opportunities has been carried by informal and formal method so
that systematic work performances has been developed in creative manner. Along with this,
Shifrin, Brown and Flinn, (2015) stated that informal learning need to be remove from workplace
so that adequate tool need to implement to attain more desired results at workplace. With the
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help of differentiation instructions and technologies, the company able to maintain their effective
position in the international market. Landge, Randive and Rathod, (2016) stated that, digital
technology implementation create effective results and outcomes to focus on the business
development. In this aspect, it is important for the chosen business to focus on the different
advantages that help to maintain more creative results. Communication tool is the important tool
to implement digital technology in the business environment. With the help of digital
technology, success of the enterprise develop in systematic manner which consider in the society
to attain more relevant activities.
Stakeholders that engage to develop digital technology in small businesses
According to the point of Bahri-Ammari and Nusair, (2015), stakeholders are also
important part of the business success. In this regard, there are different types of stakeholders
exist that help to perform several functions and operations in systematic manner. In this regard,
development activities consider maintain effectiveness in the company. In this way, it is
important to engage all stakeholders that are important part of the business. It is the best way to
focus on the desired results. Steps need to follow to consider effective results in the business. On
the other hand, Baller, Dutta and Lanvin, (2016) argued that social media implementation is the
main tool which integrate all stakeholders at workplace. It assists to gather effective information
and outcomes in the business environment. In this regard, researcher need to focus on maintain
effectiveness at workplace. Hence, it is one of the important consideration that help to increase
effectiveness. Furthermore, Taylor, Fritsch and Liederbach, (2014) stated that business and
stakeholders need to maintain their relationship in systematic manner because it assists to carry
several business program in the business environment. With the help of the strong relationship, it
can be stated that effectiveness ascertain in proper way in the enterprise. As results, it assists to
maintain effectiveness and undertake more creative results in the business. Relationship also
ascertained to focus on the online publications which assists to consider consumer segmentation
to conduct research in the business. With the help of customer attraction more effective results
will be gain at workplace. However, Landge, Randive and Rathod, (2016) stated that
implementation of the effective functioning carried to maintain proper investigation and
undertake new activities at workplace. It will help to focus on the development of desired results
in proper way. With the consideration of relevant results, it can be stated that all tools and
techniques must be implemented to attain more desired results at workplace.
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Recommendation to increase digital technology implementation in Apple Guest House
According to the view of Bell, Bishop and Przybylski, (2015), in respect to implement
digital technology, it can be stated that chosen business able to attain their desired results and
outcomes. In this way, it is important to focus on transformation of tools and techniques in
desired manner. With the help of research tools and techniques, it will help to focus on maintain
more creative results at workplace. However, Memarzadeh, Blum and Adams, (2015) argued that
the company need to implement social media tools which help to focus on the desired results'
implementation at workplace. This is because, recently maximum people using social media to
increase their performances. As results, it will assist to develop more attraction of customers and
attain systematic work performances at workplace. With the help of the tools and techniques, it
can be stated that researcher able to consider proper investigation program in the business.
According to the point of Bahri-Ammari and Nusair, (2015), maintain relationship with
different people in the business ascertained several advantages and disadvantages at workplace.
It is the best way to focus on create more profits and revenue in the business. In order to maintain
learning and effectiveness, it can be stated that appropriate results and outcomes need to develop
to focus on more profits and revenue at workplace easily.
P2 Appropriate research methods
In the research, following methods used to carry present study with aim and objectives:
 Research approach: Research approach is useful element that help to attain more
relevant results and outcomes in the business. In this regard, effectiveness also develop to
focus on investigation techniques. It helps to attain more creativity and maintain proper
research findings as well. Research approach consider different kinds of techniques and
tools that assists to perform several operations and functions in the business (Melián-
González and Bulchand-Gidumal, 2016). With the help of this tool, researcher able to
find useful information towards the present topic. In this regard, inductive and deductive
approaches has been considered that help to attain more effective functioning at
workplace. It is the best way to focus on the desired outcomes and maintain more
effective results. It is significant element that help to focus on the maintaining
effectiveness. Investigation also completed to accomplish desired results in the business.
With the help of aim of present study, it can be stated that aims and objectives will be
completed on time. Effective outcomes also develop significant outcomes to attain
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desired results. As per the scholar, it can be stated that deductive approach has been
selected to find useful outcomes in the business. It is the best way to focus on the aims
and objectives that need to attain desired results. In addition to this, it is also useful to
find valid reasons. It assists to create systematic research outcomes in the business.
Emerging trends are also considered in which investigator can interpret data through
collect primary information.
 Research design: It is one of the important element that assists to conduct proper
research, it can be stated that research methodology consider important role at workplace.
In this regard, data collection consider important role in respect to find information
results. It is the process to consider information in systematic manner. Data collection
consider with appropriate outcomes in the enterprise (Nieves, Quintana and Osorio,
2014). Research design consider important role with scholar which represent with obtain
appropriate outcomes. There are mainly different types of research design included such
as descriptive, exploratory, descriptive, etc. From these elements, researcher consider
descriptive tool that help to attain more effective and innovative tools that assists to find
useful information in the business. From the above research consider indepth information
that help to find more effective consideration at workplace. In this regard, they can easily
explore and explain effective results.
 Research philosophy: Research philosophy is also important element that assists to
conduct relevant results in the business. In this regard, different perspective of
assumption, belief, values, etc. need to implemented at workplace. It considered different
source, nature and development of knowledge in the business. With this regard,
investigator need to concentrate on values, belief, assumption, etc. There are two types of
research philosophies exist such as interpretivism and positivism. These philosophies
assist to consider systematic analysis that help to attain more creative work performances
in the business (Cantallops and Salvi, 2014). In this way, interpretivism philosophy
implement to get fresh information and consider to make effective functioning. Beside
this, positivism research philosophy consider which relies on fact and figures, etc. In this
aspect, effective results will be attain through focus on desired results and activities. With
the help of relevant information, it can be stated that impact of digital technology could
be analysis in systematic way.
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