Implications of Digital Technologies on SMEs: Research Proposal

This research proposal, undertaken by a student, investigates the implications of digital technologies on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), using the Apple house guest house as a case study. The proposal outlines the research objectives, questions, and the rationale for the study, highlighting the significance of understanding digital technology's impact on business activities. It explores the meaning and types of digital technologies, their significance in business enterprises, and their influence on small business operations. The proposal details the research methodology, including a deductive approach and qualitative techniques, with data collection primarily through questionnaires. It also addresses ethical considerations, resource implications, and a timeline for the research activities, including literature sources. The research aims to determine the kinds of digital technologies used, analyze their significance, and identify their implications on business activities. The study emphasizes the importance of digital technologies in information transfer, transaction speed, customer communication, and innovation, with an overview of the resources needed and activities to be carried out during the research project.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ______________________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: “Implications of digital technologies on SME’s
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or hypothesis)
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to learn
how to do? What do you want to find out?):
Research Title
“Implications of digital technologies on SME’s
Research Aim
“The impact of digital technologies on business activities of small business enterprises: A case study of

the Apple house, guest house”
Research Objective
 To determine kinds of digital technologies which has used by the Apple house guest house
 To analyse significance of the digital technologies in business enterprise
 To identify implication of digital technologies on business activities of small business
enterprise such as Apple house guest house
Research Question
 What is the meaning and concept of digital technologies?
 What are the different types of digital technologies?
 What is the significance of digital technologies in business enterprise such as Apple guest
house?
 What is the impact of the digital technologies on business activities of small business
enterprise?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest,
future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
The major objective of this study is to analyse impact of digital technologies on business
activities of small business enterprise. Major reason for selecting this topic as research topic is that
researcher has huge interest and curiosity to explore their knowledge and understanding about this
subject. Another major reason for selecting this topic is that scholar has sufficient sources of

information so researcher will select this topic as the research topic. This is very significant and
essential study in the opinion of scholar because it will provide complete understanding about the
digital technologies and its implication on the business activities. With help of this study, scholar can
also identify the impact of digital technologies on the other industries and organisations. Thus, it can be
said that scholar have major reason for selecting this topic is that with help of this study, scholar can
explore the impact of digital technologies on the other industries and organisations. There are number
of methods which are used by the researcher at this particular research which are mainly based on
qualitative one. The main reason behind choosing this type of research method is due to conducting in-
depth study on the research topic. This method is appropriate as the study is based on analysing impact
of globalisation on functions and operations of company.
Significance of the study
This study is very significance and essential for the scholar point of view because with help of
this study, scholar can easily analyse the impact of digital technologies on the business activities of the
small business enterprise. In the present time, digital technologies plays a very crucial role by which
business enterprise can get effective assistance in transferring the information from one place to
another place (Halal, 2003). With help of these technologies, speed of the transaction of information
and business operation has been also improved. Furthermore, with help of the digital technologies,
company can easily deliver the information of the product and services to the customer with help of
digital medium. This study is significant because this research can apply to another company and
industry to analyse the importance of the digital technologies on the business activities.
Resource implication
In the entire research investigation, researcher will require three main resources that is human
resource, finance and time. Researcher has very limited time period under which he/she has to

accomplish the investigation. Due to the short period of time, scholar have faced the huge issue. On the
other hand, scholar have very limited fund and in every business activities like transportation, internet
cost, stationary, printing etc, will require some amount of fund. Due to the lack of fund, scholar have
faced the issue related to investigation (Kumar, 2010). In addition to this, in the various activities of the
research, scholar have also required the human resource. In order to overcome the issue of the time,
scholar will user the method of Gantt chart. With help of this method, scholar can organise each
activities of the investigation according to the specific period of time. On the other hand, in order to
overcome the issue related to fund, scholar will use activity based costing method
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Meaning and concept of the digital technologies
According to the view of Schwalbe, (2015) digital technologies are that electronic tools,
systems, devices and resources that generates, stores and process information. With help of this
mentioned system, information can quickly transfer from one place to another place. Major in these
technologies includes social media, online games, applications, multimedia, productivity application,
cloud computing, mobile devices and interoperable systems.
According to the view of Beaudry and Pinsonneault, (2010) digital technology have huge importance in
the business enterprise by which so many business activities and process has become easy and fastest.
With help of these digital technologies, firm can easily operate and proceed its business activities and
functions and also it can easily make the fastest transaction of the business related information from
one place to another place. In addition to this, it can be said that in the communication aspect, digital
technology have huge importance. With help of social media and mobile technology, firm can connect
and communicate with other like suppliers, customer, distributors etc. Thus, it can be said that these

digital technologies can help in developing the relationship on the global scale. In the opinion of
Davenport, (2013) storage and distribution is another most significant role of digital technologies by
which business enterprise can easily distribute and store the large amount of the information in the
fastest and effective manner. With help of these technologies, large amount of the information can be
collected, stored and distributed. In the opinion of Kellermann and Jones, (2013) another major role of
the digital technology in the business in respect to driving innovation and product growth. In the
production department of the business enterprise, with help of digital technologies, company can
analyse the big data and drive innovation. With help of digital technologies, new idea and creativity can
also generate in the business enterprise and company can bring some innovation and creativity in the
business enterprise. This help in attracting the large amount of customer and improve the company
image in the market. While any business enterprise uses digital technologies in its business operation
and production then it can develop effective outcome and result. Because with help of this platform,
company can a develops its business in the fastest manner. With help of the digital technologies,
company can easily enhance its growth and market share because with help of these platform, company
can attract the new customer and deliver effective information of the product and services. According
to the view of Laudon and Laudon, (2011) another major role of the digital technology in the business
enterprises is related to the security and storage of the business-related information. Company can
easily secure and store its information with help of digital technologies. For instance, cloud technology
enables effective filing, storage and sharing of the business-related information from one place to
another.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g research,
development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical How long this will

analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation, writing
the report):
ACTIVITY/WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Research proposal
design
Design the
research aim and
objective
Design the
literature review
Design research
methodologies
Collect primary
and secondary data
Conduct the
survey
Interpret the
information
take:
8 week

Recommendation
and conclusion
Milestone one: Design the research aim and objective
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: Design the literature review
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why?
Research Approach- deductive approach
Research techniques- qualitative research techniques
Data collection- questionnaire
Data collection is most important part in research methodology by which scholar can collect the
information about the topic. With the help of this method, data can be collected in easy way about the
subject. Major two kinds of data collection such as primary and secondary. While primary data can be
collected from the respondents in interview, survey etc. On the other hand, while scholar take the data
from the secondary sources such as books, journal, books, articles etc then it is known as the secondary
data collection (Whittaker, 2009). In the present study, scholar will use the primary data collection
under which researcher will collect the information from the respondents with the help of survey.
Researcher will organise survey for collecting information about the digital technology implication on

the business activities.
What your areas of research will cover:
Ethical issue- Ethical consideration is one of the significant aspect in the entire research study by
which researcher can effectively carry out investigation and accomplish research objective
successfully. As per the research, it has been found that there are various kinds of professional bodies
that have developed these codes and standards that help in addressing objectivity, reliability, validity
and confidentiality in the research study. Another major ethic is to use relevant information about the
subject. In addition to this, researcher do not force to any respondents in the survey for data collection.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another
qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):

I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date