Research Project: The Implications of Digital Technologies on SMEs

This research project investigates the implications of digital technologies, particularly social media, on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The report begins with an introduction outlining the background, rationale, aims, objectives, and research questions, specifically focusing on Quantum Technology, a marketing consultancy. A comprehensive literature review explores the concept of social media and its impact on customer relationships, effective social media tools, and strategies for promoting products and services. The research methodology section details data collection methods, research design, approach, philosophy, and sampling techniques. The report then presents data analysis, followed by conclusions and recommendations for Quantum Technology. A reflection chapter concludes the report, and references are provided. The core focus is on how Quantum Technology can use digital technologies to improve customer relations and expand its customer base.

Research Project

Table of Contents
TITLE: “The implications of digital technologies on SMEs”.........................................................1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
Background of research...............................................................................................................1
Rationale of Research.................................................................................................................2
Research Aim .............................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives....................................................................................................................2
Research Question.......................................................................................................................2
Time scale...................................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................4
Concept of social media and how it can impact on building relations with customers..............5
Most effective social media tools which may help Quantum Technology in delivering right
information to consumers............................................................................................................5
Effective social media can help small business organisations at the time of promoting their
products and services..................................................................................................................6
Ways through which maximum number of customer's attention can be grabbed by Quantum
Technology..................................................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.............................................................................7
Data Collection............................................................................................................................8
Research Design..........................................................................................................................8
Research approach......................................................................................................................8
Research philosophy...................................................................................................................8
Types of Research.......................................................................................................................9
Data Sampling.............................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.....................................................22
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................22
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................23
CHAPTER 6: REFLECTION........................................................................................................23
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................24

TITLE: “The implications of digital technologies on SMEs”.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Digital technology can be defined as an effective component which consists with ample
number of electronic equipments where data or information is being transmitted in the form of
different codes (binary code) (Anwarul Islam and Ikeda, 2014). In present research investigation,
firm this is being used to identify the impact of digital technology, i.e. Quantum Technology,
which is a small business firm QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY (UK) LTD, and was found in the
year of 2010. Company is providing marketing consultancy services to customers as per
requirements. On the other hand, overall research is going to focus on proposal which will
include research questions and literature review. Apart from this, research methods and
approaches to primary and secondary investigation as well. Analytical tool like questionnaire is
also going to keep its focus on company. Lastly, it will enclose alternative research
methodologies which will bring favourable outcomes for set objectives and topic.
Background of research
Conducting an investigation over set topic can help researcher in concluding right
objective over desired objectives. Over the years, it is being analysed that business firm's
perceptions have got changed and started focusing on customer values. Here, digital technology
or digitalisation has played an effective role which helped business organisations in building
much stronger relationships with consumers (Fitzgerald and et. al., 2014). Using social media or
its tools, a company like Quantum Technology, can easily communicate with customers with an
ease. Here, direct connection can be made with consumers where Quantum Technology can get
to know about exact needs and requirements of the company.
Importance can be seen in present context, with the help of background of set aim i.e.
impact of social media in enhancing customer base at global level. In past few years, it is being
analysed that there were ample number of business organisations that were following traditional
approach related to developing relationship with their customers. It was found that, those
approaches impacted negatively on their business where they did used to suffer through different
problems like decrease in consumer base and so on. In present context, Quantum Technology
have also kept its focus on different sections but they did not focused on building relationship
with customers and this impacted upon their sales and profit margins as well. In order to do so,
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firm have decided to adopt social media tool so that they may improve their own customer base
(Gamboa and Goncalves, 2014).
Rationale of Research
An investigation is being majorly be done by business firms when it comes in today's
market is becoming more rationale in nature and they even need quality in products which can
satisfy them in perfect way too. The main aspect of going with this research is too collect variety
of data related to importance of social tools that could help in achieving much more stronger
consumer base from existing one. QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY (UK) LTD is delivering
marketing related services to other business organisations that are looking forward to expand
themselves in different areas. Since, this organisation is doing business in domestic level only,
and through this, they are generating a moderate amount of revenue which cannot help them in
expanding their own business (Holliman and Rowley, 2014). Thus, they have decided to use
different social media tools like Facebook, Instagram and so on so that they can develop their
own customer base at international level as well.
Research Aim
“To measure the impact of social media in enhancing customer base at global level”. A
case study on Quantum Technology.
Research Objectives
 To evaluate overall concept of social media and its impact on building relations with
customers.
 To identify most effective social media tools which may help Quantum Technology in
delivering right information to consumers
 To determine how effective social media can be for small business organisation at the
time of promoting their products and services.
 To evaluate ways through which maximum number of customer's attention can be
grabbed by Quantum Technology.
Research Question
This section of report mainly stays enclosed with questions that need to be understood so
that objectives can be attained right on time. In present context, some of the research questions
are as:
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 What is the concept of social media and how it can impact on building relations with
customers?
 What are the most effective social media tools which may help Quantum Technology in
delivering right information to consumers?
 How effective social media can be for small business organisation at the time of
promoting their products and services?
 What are the ways through which maximum number of customer's attention can be
grabbed by Quantum Technology?
Time scale
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
It has been analysed that this section (Literature review) can help investigator in
developing their knowledge related to set objectives for conducting the overall investigation with
an ease. In depth knowledge can be developed of goals and objectives (Hussain, Al Nasser and
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Hussain, 2015). In present context, there are many things which do enclose and conceptual for
having an effective research and these are mentioned beneath:
Concept of social media and how it can impact on building relations with customers
According to Järvinen and Karjaluoto, (2015), concept of social media can be defined as
a term which consists with ample number of internet applications that helps it’s users to connect
with other individuals for different perspectives. From last few years, it is being analysed that
people all over the world started using internet for different purposes and they also like to stay
connected with others at both international and national level. Therefore, business firms started
focusing on developing their own profile on such social tools like Facebook, Linked In,
Instagram and etc. So that they can easily grab attention of consumers. With the help of this,
Quantum Technology can also improve their relation with customers and can deliver information
to consumers as per their need and requirements. Social media is interactive computer- mediated
technologies which facilitate creation as well as sharing of ideas, information etc. The social
media is an effective way to communicating with consumers, aware them about products,
develop positive relationship and many others. It is a kind of applications and websites which
enable the people to develop as well as share the content in social networking. On the other hand,
social media develop the positive impact on building the positive relationship with the
consumers. If customer have some query regarding any product or service on social media then it
helps in respond quickly and provide them appropriate suggestions. Through this, firm can make
the personalise relationship with consumers by communicating with them in a positive manner.
Most effective social media tools which may help Quantum Technology in delivering right
information to consumers
As mentioned by Kondasani and Panda, (2015), there are many social media tools present
in all over world that can help business firms to grab attention of consumers towards their
products and services. Delivering them information related to discounts on services over their
accounts of Facebook, Instagram and so on and through this, firms like Quantum Technology
can easily develop much stronger relations with consumers from existing one. Here, Facebook
can be considered as one of the most effective tool which is having around 2.27 billion monthly
active users as the third quarter of 2018. This can easily help this organisation in grabbing
attention of much more consumers and aid them in delivering right services or information to
consumers or clients according to their own needs. The social media tools give network
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connection as well as analysis to permit the people to understand community structure and also
influence over this. With the help of using different social media tools, Quantum technology can
communicate with its consumers in an effective manner. Executing the social media tools and
also making the technical changes in online presence can have positive or negative affect on
business. There are different social media tools given below which help Quantum technology to
providing the correct information to consumers:
Facebook: It is social networking service that permit the users to develop their profiles
and the connect with the other people. Under this, site enabler users share the data by consisting
the video clips, images etc. Through this, Quantum technology can connect with its consumers
and also provide the proper information about services as well as products in an effective
manner.
Google+: It is recent entry in to social networking platform and it allows the users to
make groups and also making it more easier in sharing the chosen information.
Effective social media can help small business organisations at the time of promoting their
products and services
On the basis of viewpoint which was given by (Kumar and Reinartz, 2018) since social
media is used by most of people in all over the world for different purposes, it can help small
firms in promoting their products and services with minimal investments. It is required for firms
to choose right social media tool at correct time so that they may easily grab attention of
consumers through promoting goods over internet. Through this, companies like Quantum
Technology can raise their sales and can give good rivalry as well to competitors that are present
in both international and domestic level. The social media is helpful for the small business to
make promotion of business with the help of using the different sites. Under this, there is a need
for small company to develop its website and provides information related to its services and
products on that. It is a time saving as well as less expensive method of promotion. On the other
hand, it is easy for the company to use social media and post on its social media pages
effectively. By using the social media, firm can reach easily with its target audience and also
develop with then positive relationship.
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Ways through which maximum number of customer's attention can be grabbed by Quantum
Technology
According to Lamberton and Stephen, (2016), Social media have been one of vast subject
to study that can help business organisations to gather attention of consumers in much more
effective and efficient ways. Here, putting a pop up ad on screen of users (mobile or personal
computer’s screen) with an aim of turning a person into a consumer can be considered as an
effective way through which Quantum technology can improve profit margins of the company.
For enhance the profit level, it is necessary to an organisation to develop some of the effective
ways for gain attention of consumers. There is a need to Quantum technology to develop some
better promotional strategies so that consumers can take interest in them and also attract towards
it. On the other hand, it can provide services on the demands as well as needs of consumers or
which can satisfy their requirements. The company can use advanced technology and
communicate with the consumers in an effective manner. It will help in develop positive impact
on them and also grab the attention of large number of people.
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methods plays a crucial role for investigation and it is required for researcher to
adopt right method so that desired goal can be attained right on time. Mainly there are two ways
and these are; scientific and systematic can help an investigator in conducting the investigation
with an ease. On the other hand, investigator mainly used both qualitative and quantitative
investigating approaches for collecting the data with an ease and these are mentioned beneath:
Qualitative Research: It is being found that this method is being mostly used by
investigator with focusing end objective so that data can be gathered related to it. Mostly, data
which gets collected with the help of this method it stays based on quality, perception or the
basis of behaviour.
Quantitative Research: This is another famous method of research, where collected data
of this stays based on fact or figures and this gathered data is majorly pulls out final outcome in
specific time frame.
In present report, qualitative method is being chosen to identify the influence of social
media on customer base of Quantum Technology. Away with this, there are two methods
through which new or existing information can be accumulated.
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Data Collection
Primary Method: In this includes, new information accumulation which is collected
through different assets such as sources perform the distinctive procedure of an investigation in
proper manner. Questionnaire, Survey and others are a part of this sort of method that may aid in
collecting authentic information (Laudon and Laudon, 2016).
Secondary Method: This is being considered as a method, which helps in collecting the
data with an ease because the data which is used by the investigator have already been used by
others as well. There are many authors and others that already searched and have given a number
of blogs which can be used by investigator for the purpose of concluding results in a specific
time frame.
Research Design
Research design is being reasoned as an element which outline or helps a researcher write
some hypothesis in with final state of research in various implication. Even though, what, when,
why and also having a draw with in systematic design that somewhere also needs to have an
necessary with relevance. In present context, Experimental, descriptive and exploratory are some
of design and here, exploratory is being used to conduct investigation on set topic.
Research approach
It is one of the important consideration of research activity as it is a plan that used to
investigator with the aim of collecting as well analysing information in order to attain positive
outcomes. This section of study is includes inductive and deductive research approach. Both are
played a significant role in undertaking research activities with the aim of drawing a valid
conclusion. This research is based in the inductive approach as it is effective for providing proper
analysis of the study and at the same time also aid in determining facts and figures. With the
assistance of this research easily take right decision and also improve the chances of attaining
positive outcomes.
Research philosophy
It is consider as a content that is related with the way in which data and information
should be gathered and analysed. Mainly, it deals with various sources, nature and development
of knowledge that provide support to investigator in executing research activities. This section of
exploration has classified among the two types such as interpritivism and quality investigation
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philosophy. For current research, investigator will use interpritivism research philosophy because
it help in providing in-depth analysis towards the research aim which help in gathering relevant
data and information. In addition of, it is an effective tool for qualitative research in which
information is gathered on the basis of various authors views and prospectives. By this
investigation can easily take right decision and draw a valid conclusion.
Types of Research
This is being considered as an important section of a research, in which investigator has
to choose right type of research. It is being found that there are around four types of investigation
which consists with different condition and these are; Quantitative Vs qualitative, applied Vs
fundamental, Conceptual Vs empirical and descriptive Vs analytical. Mainly quantitative and
qualitative is used by investigator where quantitative is a term which does collect information
and data in form numerical basis and qualitative research is that which help in collecting
information on the basis of perception or thinking of respondents.
Data Sampling
Another crucial aspect which needs to be managed by investigator when it comes to draw
favourable outcomes for set objective. In this context, sampling is being considered as an
effective process that aid in selecting respondents through which information can be withdrawn
on the basis of set questions (Leeflang and et. al., 2014). Here, two sampling like probabilistic
and non probabilistic can be used, and for present investigation, researcher has used random
sampling method which is a part of probabilistic approach. With the help of this, 30 respondents
have been selected which will help investigator is collecting information with ease.
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS
This is one of the most important section of the whole research as it refers to a activities
of inspecting, transforming and modelling data with the aim of determining appropriate
information. By this research can easily take effective decision towards the identifying research
issues. With the assistance of this section, researcher easily gather reliable data and information
towards particular topic and area as well. Under this section, collected data is analysed with the
aim of attaining potential outcomes that support in enhancing the chances of attaining valid
results. Along with this, information is investigated by thematic analysis as it includes
questionnaire which consist various questions. Mainly, it cover research aims and objectives
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which may aid in gathering information from different respondents. Under this, respondents are
the employees of the company as they are more reliable for gathering information about the
concept of social media in connecting with large number of customers at market place.
Questionnaire
Name:
Age:
Contact no.:
Email address:
Q1) Do you have any idea about the concept of social media?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Is social media tools is effective in building relation with customers?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What is the importance of using social media in business organization?
a) Increase profitability level
b) Enhance customers base
c) Build positive brand image
Q4) What are the effective social media tools by which Quantum Technology easily deliver
right information to its customers?
a) Facebook
b) Instagram
c) Twitter
Q5) What are the ways by which Quantum Technology grab customers attention towards
its offerings?
a) By providing unique products
b) Focus on creating customer connections
c) Identify what the customer's needs are
Q6) Is Quantum Technology used social media as a promotional tool?
a) Yes
b) No
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