BTEC HND Business Project: Digitalisation Impact on 3COM Analysis

This report investigates the impact of digitalization on small businesses, using 3COM as a case study. The introduction defines digitalization and its importance for business growth. Task 1 focuses on aims, objectives, and research questions related to 3COM's digitalization efforts, including project management plans considering cost, scope, time, quality, communication, and risk. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart are also included. Task 2 involves small-scale research, examining qualitative and quantitative research methods. Task 3 focuses on data analysis, interpretation, and recommendations. Task 4 provides a reflection on the project. The report covers various aspects of project management, research methodologies, and data analysis to assess the effects of digitalization in a business context.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1: Aims and objectives..............................................................................................................1
P2: Project management plan......................................................................................................2
P3: Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart..........................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4: Small scale research..............................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5: Data analysis.........................................................................................................................8
P6 Recommendation................................................................................................................12
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................12
P7: Reflection............................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Digitalisation refers to a process of transmitting important and material information into
digital form which can further used by an organisation in order to make an effective decision and
plans regarding achieving desired goals and objectives. Moreover it implies the adoption of
digital technology such as electronic media and tools in order to perform various business
functions such as marketing process, production process etc. Thus, all organisations whether
small, medium or large tried to adopt advanced and updated technology within an organisation in
order to gain competitive advantage and sustain in competitive market world for longer period of
time. The present assignment report is based on the importance of digitalisation and their
contribution in achieving growth and success in competitive environment. In addition with this,
the role of an effective management plan which is formed by an organisation with a motive of
executing business activities in an effective and efficient manner. The project report also covers
the data accumulation which is done with the help of suitable tools and techniques (Awais
Ahmad Tipu and Manzoor Arain, 2011). An effective plans and strategies made by the
management to eliminate hidden barriers which affect the growth and success of an organisation
are also discussed under this report.
TASK 1
P1: Aims and objectives
Topic: “Impact of digitalisation on development on small business enterprise: A case study
on 3COM”
Aim: The main motive of “3COM” is to create and introduce new and advanced technology in
order to provide innovative products or devices to people in future and thus always focusing on
promoting digitalisation. Therefore, the company’s main aim is “to introduce and implement
updated digital technology in order to achieve growth and success of small business organisation
(Basu, 2014). Basically adoption of digital technology brings beneficial result to an organisation
as well as help in improving the standard of living of people. It will also contribute more in the
economy of the nation which make huge impact on people as well. Thus, the major objectives of
this project are described as under:
 To introduce digitalisation in 3COM as well as entire industry to develop society.
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 To consider the changes required in existing tools and techniques which were used by
3COM in order to get profitable result in near future.
 Evaluation of the effectiveness of adoption of digitalisation in business organisation.
After identifying the aims and objectives of this project and selected organisation then it is
important for management to conduct research on the effectiveness of implementing digital
technology. The relevant questions which need to be asked in research related with digitalisation
are listed as below:
 What is the main purpose of 3COM to implement modern technique?
 Are there any changes required in existing technology used by 3COM?
 How the adoption of modern and latest equipments will bring beneficial result to
company?
After collecting and analysing all answers, learner need to be aware pre-decided aims and
objectives and accordingly make an effective plans and strategies in order to achieve them within
pre-determined period of time. Thus, management also play an important and crucial role in
growth and success of an organisation (Geraldi and Lechter, 2012).
P2: Project management plan
Planning is an essential requirement for every business organisation if they want to
achieve competitive advantage and survive in competitive market environment for longer
duration. In order to execute project activities in an effective and efficient manner, a suitable
planning is essentially required to be made by management of an organisation after considering
all relevant information and figures collected from different sources. But on the other hand, it
becomes difficult to make and implement an effective plan that ensures in getting positive result
as it requires specialised skilled and knowledgeable person who are able to perform specific and
crucial roles and responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner. Along with this, there are
several factors which make pre-determined plans more successfully. Such factors are mentioned
as below:
Cost: Money is considered as backbone of every business thus it is important to have
enough financial resources so that the management are able to invest in execution of business
activities with a hope of getting profitable result in near future. Therefore, before implementing
pre-determined plan, the management should required to prepared budget in order to allocate
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cost to different departments after identifying the important areas that will ensure an organisation
to recover invested amount.
Scope: The management of “3COM” need to first identify the possibilities of making
plans and strategies more successful that will ensure an organisation to bring beneficial result in
future. And it can possible only when the company fulfils customer’s needs and requirements
with the help of using advance digital technology. Thus, it is important to create new and
innovative ideas and devices for gaining maximum benefits (Harish and Kumar, 2014).
Time: 3COM is one of the fast growing business organisation as they always focuses on
creating new and innovative products and tried to make changes in their current devices
according to the customer’s needs and requirements. Thus, time is an important factor which
forces every business to comply with it and adopt changes in exiting business activities on
regular basis. The management is required to define roles and responsibilities to their employees
and motivate them to perform their roles within given time frame so that the company can able to
grab competitive opportunities and gain strong image in market.
Quality: 3com offers quality devices to their customers with the help of management
which always tries to give extra efforts in enhancing quality and maintain their standard in order
to attract large number of customers. Therefore, it is also become an important part of project
management plan as producing quality products can easily grab an attention of customers and
influences their interest and buying behaviour towards their product which indirectly improves
sales figure of company as well and generate huge revenues.
Communication: It is also an important factor which helps in bringing unity among
employees in order to give combined efforts in achieving desired goals and objectives. Thus, the
management need to create a platform or channel through which employees of different
departments can easily communicate with their respective managers and other employees. This
will help in establishing healthy relationship between managers and employees which are
motivating them to achieve growth and success in their professional goals. Hence, planner of
management is tries to give maximum efforts in designing unique devices with different features
which facilitate each employee to easily communicate with each other (Hwang and Ng, 2013).
Risk: As business environment is complex in nature which changes rapidly thus it creates
risk as well which affects and influences the future project activities. Therefore it is important for
managers to make an effective plans and policies in order to identify risk on time so that it can be
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eliminate as quickly as possible. The plans may be related with providing training programs to
employees who makes them ready to face challenges without any fear.
Figure 1 Project Management Execution
(Source:- Project Management Execution, 2016)
P3: Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
A work breakdown human brain structure can be defined as classes’ classification of
business start in smaller units in order to achieve desired goals and objectives by allocating roles
and responsibilities to employees according to their skills and knowledge. It is very helpful for
every business organisation as it helped in distributing roles and responsibilities to the staff
members so they can perform better and achieve profitable outcome in near future. Basically
3com is required to adopt creative and innovative technique in order to execute and
accomplished their predetermined project activities in effective and efficient manner
(Verzuh,2015). It is important for managers to reduce or minimise their workload through
delegating work to their subordinates after analysing their qualification and skills. It is generally
a framework or blueprint which helps in providing direction and guidance to overall company at
the time to performing delegated roles and responsibilities in such an effective manner that will
help them in achieving organisational as well as personal goals.
However, it is design in a tree structure which clearly specifies the subdivision of efforts
which are needed to achieve desired goals such as session, report and contract. The management
are held liable to form such structure and divide roles and responsibilities to the workers after
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analysing their capabilities of doing given task. Work break down structure helps each and every
employee to know their duties and they can able to perform accordingly.
On the other hand, Gantt chart is an effective bar which defines a proper schedule of
report in which starting point as well as finishing timing is also mentioned. The main objective
of this chart is to help management to make an effective decision for the betterment of an
organisation through representing relevant data collected by researcher. Gantt chart was first
developed in 1896 by Karol Adamiecki who named it as “Harmonogram”. But thereafter the
name has been changed on the name of Henry Gantt who formulates his chart during 1910-1915.
USA was the first country who used such applications during world war first.
Hence, after thorough below relevant data and information, it has been understood that Gantt
chart may become the useful strategy which must required to use by company at the time of
formulating their management plans to achieve desired target. Moreover, it also shows the
delegated roles of employees, duration of specific project, future activities which need to be
executed in future and other relevant things which are associated with business operations.
Therefore, it is also named as blueprint of official document which contains all relevant
information regarding necessary activities which are going to execute in order to gain maximum
result on investment.
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TASK 2
P4: Small scale research
3Com is a small sized company whose main objective is to introduce new and innovative
devices in order to grab attention of maximum customers and gain their trust and loyalty which
further help them in sustaining in comeotive environment for longer period of time. Thus, the
management before executing business activities they need to conduct research on the basis of
which they are able to make an effective decision and plans regarding eliminating the chances of
facing losses in performing future activities. To conduct a research the management should
required focusing on two modes of research which provides them accurate and reliable
information. Such modes of research are described as below:
Qualitative research: With the help of this tool, an enterprise gathered data in the form of
symbol, name, and number code and so on. There are various systems which are used under this
research such as interviews, survey, questionnaire etc. Through which researcher get accurate
and reliable information in order to make an effective decision for company. This method help in
reading human brain and what are their perception and attitude towards company’s product
(Leach, 2014).
Quantitative research: According to this tool, the gathered information are represent in
numerical form or statistical which requires specialised knowledgeable person to understand.
3Com comes under telecom sector which always tries to design best network while
communicating to different countries and focuses on keeping all people living across worldwide
more closer through their network. Thus, it is important for the management to appoint finance
knowledgeable employee who simply understand data and converting them into useful outcomes
for company.
Primary research: It is also called as first hand information which is gathered by
research directly from the customers without using any mediator. Thus, it provides accurate and
reliable information thus the chances of making an effective decision will be more. The
researcher c an easily analyse the behaviours and emotions of customers while asking them
relevant questions. This will help in identifying the actual picture of company in market
(Marston and et. al., 2011).
Secondary research: It is also call as second hand information in which the researcher
collected information through literature, books, previous records of 3Com and various other
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things which are recorederlier by third person. Thus, such information should not be accurate and
reliable but it saves time and money for company.
Sampling: As per this tool, the researcher is collected few data among large pool and
acquire feedback from them in order to execute business policies according to the customer’s
needs and requirements. Such tools are mostly adopted by large companies who have no time to
conduct research in order to gain competitive opportunities in market. For example, a company
distribute questionnaire to 30 respondents but out of them all, they only consider answers of only
10 respondents due to saving time. Thus, such information may not accurate and reliable but it
helps company in identifying the current trends that exist in market. Such questionnaire should
prepare in following manner:
Questionnaire
Name:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sex:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. Digitalization brings profitable outcome to an association or not? Yes No
Q.2. Does adoption of digitalisation brings longer term benefits to 3Com? Yes No
Q.3. Does making changes in existing technology contribute more in achieving growth and
success of an enterprise? Agree Disagree
Q.4. Is digitalisation make positive impact on company performance? Yes No
Q.5 Is there any needed of alteration in products of 3Com? Yes No
Q.6. Is necessarily required for an association to invest amount on new technology in order
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to attain strong image in competitive market? Agree Disagree
Q.7. Is there any impact of digitalization on company goodwill? Yes No
Q.8. Which technique of marketing is more profitable in current scenario of 3com? Traditional Modern
Q9. What are the factors which affects implementation of advanced technology at
marketplace? Employees Managers Recent trends Legal laws
 Competitors
TASK 3
P5: Data analysis
Theme: 1 Digitalization brings profitable
outcome to an association
Frequency
 Yes 25 No 5
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Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
25
5
Interpretation: - It has been observed from above graphical representation that most of
the respondents thinks that implementation of digitalisation will definitively brings profitable
result to company. As above, out of 40 respondents there are only two respondents who think
that there is less chances of getting profitable outcomes after adoption of digitalisation (Porwal
and Hewage, 2013).
Theme:2 Adoption of digitalisation brings
longer term benefits to 3Com
Frequency
 Yes 26 No 4
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Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
26
4
Interpretation: - :- It has been observed from above graphical representation that most of
the respondents think that adoption of digital technology will bring benefits to company for
longer duration. As above, out of 40 respondents there are only four respondents who think that
there is less possibilities to get benefits for longer duration. Whereas remaining respondents
thinks opposite.
Theme:3 changes in existing technology
contribute more in achieving growth and
success of an enterprise
Frequency
 Agree 24 Disagree 6
10