Emerging Technology's Impact on Vodafone Employees' Performance

This dissertation investigates the impact of emerging technology on employee performance, using Vodafone as a case study. The research explores the background, rationale, aims, objectives, and research questions related to the topic. A comprehensive literature review examines the concept of emerging technology, its drivers, and its impact on business and employee performance, as well as the associated challenges. The methodology section details the type of investigation, research approach, philosophy, data sampling, and data collection tools. The analysis and discussion sections present the findings of the research, including thematic analysis and discussions based on secondary and primary research. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for future research and practical implications for Vodafone and other organizations seeking to leverage emerging technologies to improve employee performance. The study covers key aspects like factors behind emerging technology, positive and negative impacts, and provides an in-depth analysis.

Research
Dissertation

Contents
Title:.................................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Background of the Research...................................................................................................1
Rationale of the Research.......................................................................................................1
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................2
Research Questions................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................3
Concept of emerging technology............................................................................................3
Drivers of emerging technology.............................................................................................3
Impact of emerging technology on business and performance of employees........................5
Challenges of emerging technology.......................................................................................6
Chapter 3: Research Methodology...................................................................................................8
Type of Investigation..............................................................................................................8
Research Approach.................................................................................................................8
Research Philosophy..............................................................................................................9
Data Sampling........................................................................................................................9
Data Collection tools............................................................................................................10
Time scale.............................................................................................................................13
Ethical Consideration...........................................................................................................14
Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Interpretation..................................................................................15
Thematic Analysis................................................................................................................17
Chapter 5: Result, Analysis and Discussion..................................................................................29
Discussion on the basis of secondary research.....................................................................29
Discussion on the basis of primary research........................................................................30
Chapter 6 Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................32
Conclusion............................................................................................................................32
Recommendation..................................................................................................................33
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................35

Title:
To evaluate and investigate the impact of emerging technology on performance of
employees”. A case study on Vodafone.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Background of the Research
The key aim of this present study is to evaluating the potential impact of emerging
technology on the performance of employees, therefore, over the past few decade technology has
plays an imperative role in developing the overall performance of employees which has direct
significance for the business as well in the manner of generating higher profitability and growth
(Armstrong and Harman, 2019). With the emerging advancement within technological trend in
business the employee relations trend has also create effective procedures and mechanization of
the activity task being performed through the workers. Higher advancement of technology is
significant in improving quality and also developed the performance at workplace. Technology
has transform the way of conducting business as advance and emerging technologies has
reducing the human efforts and develop their performance at workplace. Thus, emerging
technology is recognised to be the combination of assorted tools likewise robotics, artificial
intelligence and many other. These are main technologies that are being employed by an
enterprise to automate simple as well as repetitive tasks and to make complex decision speedily
(Oláh and et. al., 2018). In this present investigation Vodafone is the chosen organisation,
therefore, it is a large British telecommunication firm which has mainly operated from its
headquarter which is stated in London UK. The company was founded in the year of 1991, by
the potential efforts of Ernest Harrison and Gerry Whent. The company is having around 98,996
employees who are contributing their significant efforts in the growth and success of the
business.
Rationale of the Research
The research into actual action is based on determining the impact of emerging technology
on the performance of employees (Roberts, 2018). Therefore, this is a wide area of academic
writing which is efficacious in developing an individual’s business as well as academic skills.
The major reason for conducting this investigation is that it is a common considered
investigation area which has its wider influence over the progression and performance of
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employees, thus businesses are mainly facing the issue of employee performance and this study
explores knowledge regarding the suitable implementation of emerging technologies in
developing employee performance at workplace. In addition to this, the another key reason for
executing this analysis is the personal interest of the researcher as the investigator wants to
enhance their idea and knowledge in relation to the specific area (Saberi and et. al., 2019).
Therefore, investigator wants to gather suitable recognition about the impact of emerging
technology over enhancing performance of the employees.
Research Aim
The key aim of this present project is “To evaluate and investigate the impact of emerging
technology on performance of employees”, a case study on Vodafone.
Research Objectives
The main targets and objectives of this research conducted on Vodafone are as follows:
 To study the factors that are the main reasons and causes behind the emerging technology
in organisations.
 To evaluate the positive impacts created by emerging technology on performance and
efficiency of employees.
 To investigate the negative impacts, led by emerging technology on overall performance
and morale of employees.
Research Questions
The key questions of this project that are in-consist over this existing investigation area are
determined as below:
 What are the main reasons and causes behind the emerging technology in organisations?
 What are the possible positive impacts created by emerging technology on performance
and efficiency of employees?
 What are the negative impacts lead by emerging technology on overall performance and
morale of employees?
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Chapter 2: Literature Review
Literature review is defined to be the imperative area of an investigation as it is effective in
assisting the overall investigation in right manner to developing in-depth understanding in
relation to the chosen study area (Chen, Yin and Mei, 2018). In addition to this, this area is
significant based on accumulating information from the different sources like books, journals,
published articles and non published articles and so on. Therefore, this section is effective in
developing theoretical framework over the area of determining the impact of emerging
technologies over the performance of employees at workplace. Thus, this area is significant in
terms of developing theoretical formwork which in turns in creating value in providing wider
knowledge base which helps in addressing an investigation issue in effective manner (Tidd and
Bessant, 2018). Furthermore, literature review is effective in developing in-depth analysis over a
specific research area that helps an investigator in moving ahead in right direction to draw valid
and reliable outcome.
Concept of emerging technology
According to Chae, Koh and Jeon (2020), emerging technology can be defined as new
technology, which is being currently developed or will be updated within upcoming years. This
will substantially help in altering the business operations and social environment, as well as aid
corporations in running business more smoothly. Such emerging technology includes wireless
data communication, information communications, advanced AI (Artificial intelligence),
advanced robotics and more. These would help organisations in digitalising their business and
run operational activities, in advanced manner (Khan and Uwemi, 2018). In this regard,
advanced companies like Vodafone believes emerging techniques as key driver of business
strategy, which aid them to add more innovative features in their products.
Drivers of emerging technology
As per the opinion analysis of Handa and et. al. (2020), technology is significant aspect
and transforming the way of executing business and its operations, therefore, in today’s modern
business environment the key motive of each small as well as large business enterprises is to
developing their operations and progression at workplace. However, the key reason of emerging
tools in business is related with maintenance of high level of quality as the product manufactured
and created with the help of technology are more concise and properly build with better features
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and reduced chances of any sort of loopholes (Geddes, 2020). Therefore, the businesses now a
days are very much focuses over developing their operations and progressions, through
developing the strength of employees at work place. Use of machines and automated tools
mainly ensures that all the products are identical and chances of errors are also minimised
(Yunis, Tarhini and Kassar, 2018). Thus, organisation is encouraged to adopt latest and emerging
technology to attain and maintain high standards of quality which has impacted criteria of job
design and product development.
According to theoretical perspectives of Ishtiaque, Siddiqui and Ahmed (2020), it has been
evaluated that the main key drivers or factors which assists organisations to introduce emerging
technology, in their business includes increasing competition; improvisation in business
operations; increasing productivity and more. Through digitalising the business and updating
operational activities as per new technologies, aid organisations to achieve desire objectives,
with cost efficiency as per economies of scale (Casey and et. al., 2018). Along with this, other
main reasons behind emergent technology is to improve and maintain the quality level of
products. When goods are manufactured and developed with usage of latest technology, then it
helps in sustaining the better features in more concise way. In addition to this, such products are
properly build with high techniques then, it further reduces the chance of any loopholes also.
Implementation of latest machines, equipment and automated technology, aid companies to
ensures that each and every product are identical and must satisfies the demand of people, which
they are actually seek to buy (Goh and Arenas, 2020). Therefore, such key trends encourage
today’s organisation to bring latest and emerging technology, such as AI, robotics, drones etc.
within their business, for attainment and maintenance of high standards of quality. Despite this,
the another main factor which forces organisations to introduce emerging technology in business,
is rising concern towards occupational safety and health of workers. So, this obligation has made
companies to adopt new technology or update existing techniques, for providing for more safe
environment to its workers (Li and et. al., 2018). In this regard, latest technology helps like
drones, artificial intelligence, fire extinguishers etc., ensure companies to get proper control on
workplace incidents, through monitoring the entire activities digitally with real-time processing.
As per views of Cano-Kollmann, Hannigan and Mudambi (2018), through adoption of
latest technology, organisations gain advantage in increasing efficiency of its operations.
Therefore, for achievement of better productivity and offer more new or innovative products to
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customers, Vodafone emphasis more on bringing new technologies (Ahmad, Bakar and Ahmad,
2019). As it is one of the multinational organisations of UK, which operates its business and
offers its products in many nations. Therefore, updating business with latest technologies helps
its managers to ensure proper interactions with customers and adequately supply to them also
(Luhmann, 2018). This would make respective firm able to bring more new innovation in
business, provide facilitate customers the easy way of shopping through online business and
more.
Impact of emerging technology on business and performance of employees
As per opinion of Dan Cotting (2018), it has been analysed that emerging technology like
virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and more, provide a number of benefits to
organisations. It includes enhancing performance of business, increasing capacity of operations
through digital interface, make functions more easier, safer, faster and more efficient (The
Impact of Emerging Technologies on Business, 2018). Therefore, in context with Vodafone,
through introducing mentioned technologies, aid this firm in staying relevant within present
competitive landscape. For growth in communication business, this firm mainly integrates new
techniques within Product Design & Prototyping; Sales, Marketing & External Communication;
Workforce Collaboration; and more. Here, utility refers to the common thread for all these
operations, which increases only via XR tech (Hosking and Anderson, 2018). But all these
positive benefits can only be gained by high contribution of workers. Therefore, it forces
organisations to integrated advanced technologies for improvement of workers’ productivity. It
includes mobile-friendly technologies, collaboration tools (Unified Communication System),
cloud-based techniques, conference sessions and more, which would make able employees to get
timely information about business. Along with this, getting timely training also helps to enhance
their skills and increase their abilities to improve customer relations (Advantages of technology
in business, 2018). This would help in improving their productivity to give better performance,
for achievement of corporate goals. In this regard, positive impact of digitalised business for
Vodafone and other organisations can be determined in following way –
Increased productivity and efficiency – Automated business operations and other functions, is
one of major benefits of introducing technology. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence,
robotics and more, allow workforces to work in more efficient manner (Dubey and et. al., 2019).
They can handle business related functions and activities in easy way, without travelling from
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one place to other. Emerging new technologies now has completely change the way of
conducting operations. Instead of doing manual work for arranging, storing and keeping
organisational or customer-related data, cloud-computing type of techniques help in doing all
such tasks automatically (Hamdoun, Jabbour and Othman, 2018).
Reduction of business costs – Improvement in productivity and increasing function
abilities, is another main benefits of technology implementation in (Turulja and Bajgoric, 2018).
It refers to the best way of reducing business costs also, when most of the tasks are conducted by
using technologies only, that reduces need of employing large number of employees at
workplace. Technological advancement playing the vital role in maintaining entire machines,
software, etc. and keeping them updated with new versions. All these things, lead to reduce costs
and expenses of business, in efficient way.
Mobility – Regarding this era of manual or handheld devices, it would make easy for
organisations to access the business software as well as database, for adding or obtaining details,
regularly business (Xue and et. al., 2018). In terms of increasing mobility of business, through
automation and latest technologies, most of the companies like Vodafone get advantages to allow
workers to do work from home or outside workplace, as per their necessity. In this regard,
without vising the workplace, employees can give more time and efforts, for completing assign
roles for increasing organisational productivity.
Challenges of emerging technology
From the perspective of Richards and et. al. (2019), it has been identified that apart from
many benefits of bringing latest technology in business, a number of challenges may also occur
in front of organisations. Through IT auditing benchmarking survey, information security, social
media, cloud computing, risk management and governance, regulatory compliance, fraud
monitoring and more, are such key factors that arise major challenges for companies (Du and et.
al., 2019). For implementing any technology, management of companies like Vodafone need to
make proper risk assessment first, due to its negative impact like threat of leaking confidential
information of business; any hazardous for workplace safety; and more. Along with this, they
have to make alternations in complete infrastructure also, for implementing any new technology,
which highly impacts on existing working activities or organisational structure (Rodriguez,
Peterson and Krishnan, 2018). So, it increases chance of employee resistivity more. In addition
to this, it also demands firms to provide training and learning programs for workers, to make
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them familiar with new techniques. This may increase cost of business, which highly impact on
profitability also. Similarly, security threat is another main concern when making business
digitalised, due to increase cases of cyber-criminal activities (Liu and et. al., 2018). For this
purpose, prior strategies need to be made for proper risk assessment before bringing any new
technology in business.
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Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Research Methodology is defined as an effective procedure which provides an appropriate
direction to the researcher to assist the overall investigation in right manner to drawn valid and
accurate outcome (Armstrong and Harman, 2019). In this present investigation analysis, the
study has been executed over evaluating the impact of emerging technologies on the
performance of employees at workplace, thus the suitable selection of methodologies is
imperative in accumulation of valuable information that are significantly based on the specific
research area. This area of research is mainly encompassing assorted applications that are
suitable in guiding a work in right manner so that outcome can be obtained in effective manner
(Roberts, 2018). The suitable selection of methodologies is assorted as under:
Type of Investigation
In the execution of an investigation work, appropriate selection of methodology is
imperative for an investigator to carry out the whole research in right manner. Therefore, it
mainly renders systematic procedure and plan which helps in assisting the whole work in right
manner (Khan and Uwemi, 2018). This section is mainly incorporating over qualitative and
quantitative research; thus the selection is mainly based on the information that are basically
accumulated for assisting a specific work. Qualitative research is mainly in-corporate over the
information that are based on qualitative research, thus the qualitative research is only providing
descriptive theoretical analysis that are significant to develop analysis. On the other hand,
quantitative research is different from qualitative method as in this major focus is based on
gathering information that are in-consist over mathematical aspects, therefore, in this information
is mainly gathered that are based on original facts and figures (Casey and et. al., 2018). In the
context of this present investigation work quantitative research has been applied by the
researcher as it is effective in providing detailed analysis over the area of evaluating the impact
of emerging technologies over the performance of employees. Thus, this tool is significant as it
is imperative in providing data that are incorporates over numerical facts and figures as data in
mathematical aspect are more reliable in generating valuable results.
Research Approach
Research Approach is mainly recognised to be the most important area of methodology
as it defined as the plan and procedure which is mainly implemented for executing in right
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manner via the suitable contribution of data, accumulation, evaluation and interpretation (Li and
et. al., 2018). Research approach is mainly off two types i.e. deductive and inductive research
approach, thus, inductive approach is mainly focuses over the search for pattern through
observation and the development of explanations theories for those patterns via series of
hypothesis, therefore, it does not include implementing past theory but is in-consist over
developing new theories that are reliable for a particular study. In addition to this, deductive
approach is mainly based on assisting a work towards particular to general. This approach
mainly involves exploring hypothesis in-consist over available theories and evaluate the
investigation via designing the test to determine the hypothesis (Luhmann, 2018). In this present
research work, deductive approach has been taken into actual consideration therefore, it is
suitable for executing quantitative research. However, this approach is significant in providing
suitable analysis over the area of determining the impact of emerging technologies over the
performance of employees, with the appropriate support of developing conspectus, theories and
hypothesis.
Research Philosophy
Research philosophy is mainly referring as the belief in relation to the way and
phenomenon in that information needs to be accumulated, evaluated and analysed in appropriate
manner (Oláh and et. al., 2018). This section is mainly relay upon, Interpretivism and positivism
research philosophy, Therefore, the selection has been made over the data that are significant for
a particular analysis. The positivism philosophy of research mainly believes that reality is
constant and can be easily determined through an objective analysis. On the other side,
Interpretivism philosophy is mainly concerned with qualitative evaluation or intervention of
reality by study of a phenomena in their natural environment (Turulja and Bajgoric, 2018).
However, in this existing investigation work based on evaluating the potential impact of
emerging technologies over the performance of employees, Interpretivism philosophy has been
applied by the researcher as it is imperative in providing detailed analysis over the chosen study
area and helps in drawing valid and reliable results.
Data Sampling
This refers to be the most important area of an investigation; therefore, this section is
mainly based on probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling (Xue and et. al., 2018). Thus, in
this present investigation work sample has been select at random basis, therefore, individual are
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