Investigate Technology Adoption by Small Business Growth

This report investigates the impact of technology adoption on the growth of small businesses, using Austin Fraser Ltd as a case study. It explores the rationale for the research, provides a literature review on technology adoption, and formulates research questions, aims, and objectives. The report examines various technologies such as email, mobile applications, networking, and computers and their benefits for small businesses. It also addresses the challenges faced by small businesses during technology adoption, including employee accessibility, platform selection, compatibility, and advisory needs. The study uses a quantitative methodology with a deductive approach and a positivism research philosophy. The findings highlight both the positive impacts of technology, such as flexible work environments and instant customer connections, and the negative impacts, such as employee training and safety concerns. The report concludes by summarizing the methodology and research questions.

Research
Methods

Table of Contents
TITLE .............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
RESEARCH RATIONALE ............................................................................................................1
RESEARCH BACKGROUND/ LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................2
RESEARCH QUESTIONS/AIM/ OBJECTIVES ..........................................................................5
METHODOLOGY .........................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................8
.........................................................................................................................................................9

TITLE
“Investigate technology adoption by Small business and its impact on business growth”.
INTRODUCTION
Technology within an organisation introduces as the sum total of man-made contrivances
and formulated processes that refine or develop new services and goods delivered by business. It
includes software, electronics, new techniques, documents or any combination. This will helps
an enterprise in delivering of best services and products to the customers. Technology also
support an organisation in maintaining of data flow, managing contracts, tracking processes,
maintaining employee record (Anzoategui and et. al., 2019). These are major significance of
technology that helps small business organisation by improving its growth and success.
Technology makes it manageable for businesses to operate effectively and efficiently within
minimal manpower and also support to decrease the cost of operating business. For this project,
Austin Fraser Ltd is a chosen small business that mainly specialise in hiring technology teams in
all sectors. Therefore, adoption of technology at workplace is more beneficial and essential for
the growth of an enterprise.
RESEARCH RATIONALE
Main reason behind selecting this topic is to analysis the significance of adopting
technology for growth of small organisation. This is an interesting topic that support an
individual by improving knowledge and skills of researcher. As it support investigator in
improvement of it knowledge criteria about the importance of technology on growth of small
business (Wang and Wang, 2019).
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RESEARCH BACKGROUND/ LITERATURE REVIEW
Background:
Adoption of technology within an organisation is essential for the growth and success of
small business. Business technology supports automate back office activity or functions
including record keeping, payroll and accounting. Owner of an organisation can also follow
technology to develop secure and safe environments for keeping sensitive business and consumer
information (Morkunas, Paschen and Boon, 2019). It can also support small business to enhance
their communication process and accomplish better outcomes easily. Therefore technology is an
important and essential part of business growth and success at marketplace. Austin Fraser Ltd is
a chosen SMEs that was founded in 2006. Company decide to adopt different types of
technology that turn to help them in improvement of its growth at marketplace.
Literature Review:
This is a systematic process that helps investigator in gathering of detailed and in-depth
information regarding the particular topic. There are several sources of collecting secondary
information including magazines, articles, books etc. These sources help researcher to collect
secondary information and attain better advantages easily. With the help of this section,
researcher can easily address each objectives of study.
Types of technologies that should use by Small business i.e. Austin Fraser Ltd.
According to the Starr 2018, there are number of technology that should adopt by small
business within an organisation. These are data security, customer relationship management, HR
software, website implementation and enhancement tools, mobile applications, cloud computing,
innovative payment methods, chatbots, email, drones etc. These are consider main and effective
types of technology that should be use by Austin Fraser Ltd. As it will support them in
enhancement of its growth and success. It will also support enterprise to gain competitive edge
and accomplish their set of goals and objectives in lesser time duration. Some important and
useful technology in context of Austin Fraser Ltd will be described as below:
Email: This is an effective type of technology that support small business to provide
accurate information about business products and services to the customers. This technology will
also help Austin Fraser Ltd to hire talented employees by providing information about vacant
post through Email.
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Mobile application. This is another effective and useful type of technology that should
use by small organisation. There are different benefits of mobile application technology for small
business organisation including enhanced recognition builds customer loyalty, boosts brand
recognition, improved visibility, increased awareness etc. These are consider main advantages of
using mobile technology in an organisation.
Networking: It is an useful and valuable technology that will be beneficial for small
business in improvement of its growth and success (Leoncini and et. al., 2019). This technology
is used to connect large number of people and share them with important documents and
information, to store data and to communicate effectively by using email. It is more essential for
small business as it gives a way to make strong relationships with any others in their related area
to analyse new customers and to grow. As it turn to support an enterprise in development of its
growth and success easily.
Computers: It is a common technology that is used by almost every organisation. This
technology in the organisation assist an enterprise in its operations and activities. As it save time
and cost of an organisation and also support them by providing better outcomes easily.
Therefore, above mentioned all these are consider main types of technology that should
apply by some organisation at workplace. There are various advantages of using above
mentioned technology at workplace including, improved brand awareness, increased customer
base, reduced employee turnover rate and so on. Therefore adoption of technology are more
beneficial for small business enterprise in improvement of its growth and success.
Challenges faced by Small business while adoption of technology within an organisation.
According to the Valasseri 2019, in recent time, it has been noticed that 95% of small
companies faces number of problems while implementing new technologies to succeed in
business. More often, organisation also faces number challenges in managing the change in
business activities which are brought through technology solution in regards to reach higher
results in the respective time period. Some of the common technologies challenges which all
SMEs faces are discussed underneath:
Employee accessibility: Many small companies strive for customer-focused solutions
that disregard the discomfort or tension that workers face when adopting such solutions. Such an
enterprise also lacks the privilege of dedicated curriculum or L&D teams of any major company.
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Picking the right platform for success: Small companies also lack a designated forum
to determine the importance and alignment of technological technologies for their everyday
operating needs. Because their main industry is not technology, it would not be easy for small
businesses and decision-makers to draw a consensus on choosing a technology approach.
Manager of SMEs are not familiar with the latest practices of growth, technological structures,
systems, and current principles and will basing their decisions more on the costs involved.
Compatibility with vendors and partners: Chances of the device not becoming fully
compatible with the application environment before embarking on a modern development
framework. This will lead to add a new proper system within a small company so that there can
be proper communication with external parties which can even increase the overall operating
cost for the period (Haseeb and et. al., 2019).
Getting the right advisory: Owing to cost constraints, most small companies may not
have an specialist IT committee or consulting group inside their staff. In small businesses,
having the best IT service team or consulting firm is still not deemed an choice owing to concern
of expenditure escalation. However what they tend to consider is the adverse effect their
company will suffer as a consequence of a wrong technology being placed into action. In reality,
solving this challenge will transform into a solution to any of the other obstacles listed above.
The correct IT partnership will help to turn any expenditure in innovation into profitable
contributions to the bottom line development and profitability for your company.
Impact of technology over growth of Austin Fraser Ltd.
As per the opinion of Brookins 2020, small organisations depend on technology to assist
them operate on a regular basis. There are certain impact of technology on growth of Austin
Fraser Ltd, these are explain as below:
Positive impact
Flexible work environment: Technology provides best options to the business owner and
their workers to work in the office, on the road, from home and even from across the nation.
Technology provide direct opportunities to small business organisation to hire top talent from the
globe. As it can support Austin Fraser Ltd to gain a competitive benefit in the global
environment.
Instant connection with customers: It is another impact on technology on business
growth and success of small organisation. Technology provides small organisation the capability
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to connect with their potential and new customers through e-mail, social networks, blogs and
forums. Better connection with customers has direct and positive impact over success and growth
of Austin Fraser Ltd at marketplace (Haseeb and et. al., 2019).
Negative impact
Employee training: As small organisation i.e. Austin Fraser Ltd develop new
technologies in their process or activities, they are tasked with giving training to veteran and new
workers. While new workforce are likely to adopt technology easily, veteran workers may resist
the unique technologies and experience an effective learning curve, that may temporarily
decrease productivity.
Safety: As per the view point of Chrisos 2019, Employee, customer and company data
utilized to be housed in ample, locked, on-site filing cabinets. Adoption of technology has made
the access, backup, storage and distribution of this information in easy manner, but it has also
come with the higher cost of hacking as well as data breaches. As this have negative impact over
growth of small organisation and also reduce their performance and productivity level.
Therefore, technology within an organisation has positive and negative impact on small
business growth and development.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS/AIM/ OBJECTIVES
Research aim:
To investigate the technology and its impact on business growth of an organisation. A
study on Austin Fraser Ltd.
Research Objectives:
 To explore types of technologies that should use by Small business i.e. Austin Fraser Ltd.
 To identify the challenges faced by Small business while adoption of technology within
an organisation. To determine the impact of technology over growth of Austin Fraser Ltd.
Research Questions:
 What types of technologies that should use by Small business i.e. Austin Fraser Ltd?
 What are the several challenges faced by Small business while adoption of technology
within an organisation?
 How technology impact on growth of Austin Fraser Ltd?
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METHODOLOGY
Methodology is significant part of the report as it support researcher in collection as well
as analysation of information from the respondents. Under this part of report, some useful and
valuable research methods will be included (Flick, 2015). These methods are explain as below:
Types of study: Quantitative and qualitative methods are observed as two essential types
of study by which researcher analyse each activities of investigation. For doing this study
effectively, investigator will apply quantitative type of researcher by interpreting entire data in
statistical manner. Main reason for using this method as it save time and support researcher in
obtaining accurate research outcomes systematically (Gioia, Corley and Hamilton, 2013).
Research approach: Deductive and inductive are acknowledged as two essential types of
research approach. Theses approaches are needed by investigator for doing research in lucrative
way. For performing this research in effective manner, investigator will use deductive approach
by performing current study in quantitative form. Inductive approach of research is also useful in
doing investigation in in-depth way but for current topic it is not appropriate as it consumer more
time of researcher. Therefore, it wont be manageable for researcher to conduct study in the given
time duration (Green, Camilli and Elmore, 2012).
Research philosophy: It is described as the assumptions or belief that are created by
researcher while doing this study systematically. Research philosophy are mainly divided into
two forms that is positivism and interpretivisim. Within a research, positivism research approach
will be applied as it extremely supportive and suitable in finding valid result from the overall
collected data on projected research topic (Kumar, 2019).
Research strategy: Every researcher makes better use of various strategies for doing
research in effective manner. Research strategies are concluding on the basis of type and topic of
study. There are mainly sort of research strategies including survey, observation, case study and
so on. In this investigation, researcher has mainly applied survey technique in which
questionnaire will be apply as the main type of strategy. Main purpose for using this strategy as it
will support researcher in collecting detailed data from participants in lesser time (Mackenzie
and et. al., 2012).
Time horizon: There are mainly two approaches of time horizon which are longitudinal
and cross-sectional. In this research, investigator has been used cross-sectional. Main reason for
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using this method as its based on actual situation and help investigator in completion of study in
lesser time period (Mackey and Gass, 2015).
Data collection: Researcher use various methods for collecting needed data on the
research topic. Investigator mainly gathers information from two effective type of data collection
source that is secondary as well as primary form. In case of primary method, information is
directly collected by researcher by using questionnaire. Whereas, secondary method data is
collected from past data and different sources i.e. books, articles, magazines etc. For the current
study, both secondary and primary source of data collection will be applied (McCusker and
Gunaydin, 2015).
Sampling: This part of methodology acknowledged as an effective process through
which researcher select sample from the entire populations. Towards this investigation, primary
data collected by researcher from these selected participants. Sampling is primarily completed
via non-probability and probability method. Within a research, probability method of sampling
will be used by researcher. For this investigation, 20 employees of Austin Fraser Ltd has been
selected on random basis. Main purpose for using this type of sampling as it not consumer
maximum time and cost of researcher (Miller and et. al., 2012).
Instrument of data collection: Collection of data can be performed in effective manner
by making better use of interview, questionnaire, observation etc. These are main instruments of
data collection but for collecting information regarding the technology and its impact on growth
of small business, questionnaire will be use. As it helps researcher in gathering of valid and
quantitative information in lesser time frame (Quinlan and et. al., 2019).
Reliability and validity of research: In order to maintain reliability as well as validity of
study, researcher has used questionnaire as its useful and main instrument of data collection. This
instrument or technique states that entire data is highly reliable and authenticate as it is collected
information from respondents in direct manner (Riedl, Davis and Hevner, 2014).
Research ethics: This is consider as an important part of research methodology as it
assist investigator in completion of full study ethically. It can be said that researcher is needed to
follow each ethical values or principles while doing this investigation in effective form.
Investigator is also needed to maintain confidentiality of information provided by chosen
respondents. In addition, investigator is needed to do their work in such a way that not put any
type of harm on everyone's sentiments (Scotland, 2012).
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anzoategui, D. and et. al., 2019. Endogenous technology adoption and R&D as sources of
business cycle persistence. American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 11(3),
pp.67-110.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Gioia, D. A., Corley, K. G. and Hamilton, A. L., 2013. Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive
research: Notes on the Gioia methodology. Organizational research methods. 16(1).
pp.15-31.
Green, J. L., Camilli, G. and Elmore, P. B. eds., 2012. Handbook of complementary methods in
education research. Routledge.
Haseeb, M. and et. al., 2019. Industry 4.0: A solution towards technology challenges of
sustainable business performance. Social Sciences, 8(5), p.154.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Leoncini, R. and et. al., 2019. ‘Better late than never’: the interplay between green technology
and age for firm growth. Small Business Economics, 52(4), pp.891-904.
Mackenzie, J., Tan, P. L., Hoverman, S. and Baldwin, C., 2012. The value and limitations of
participatory action research methodology. Journal of hydrology. 474. pp.11-21.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S. M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
McCusker, K. and Gunaydin, S., 2015. Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed
methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion. 30(7). pp.537-542.
Miller, T.,and et. al ., 2012. Ethics in qualitative research. Sage.
Morkunas, V.J., Paschen, J. and Boon, E., 2019. How blockchain technologies impact your
business model. Business Horizons, 62(3), pp.295-306.
Quinlan, C. and et.al ., 2019. Business research methods. South Western Cengage.
Riedl, R., Davis, F .D. and Hevner, A. R., 2014. Towards a NeuroIS research methodology:
intensifying the discussion on methods, tools, and measurement. Journal of the
Association for Information Systems. 15(10). p.4.
Scotland, J., 2012. Exploring the philosophical underpinnings of research: Relating ontology and
epistemology to the methodology and methods of the scientific, interpretive, and critical
research paradigms. English language teaching. 5(9). pp.9-16.
Wang, S. and Wang, H., 2019. Design and Delivery of a New Course of Information Technology
for Small Busines. Journal of Information Systems Education, 26(1), p.4.
Online
Starr., R. 2018. Technologies Small Business Owners SHOULD Consider Using Today..
[Online]. Available through:<https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/07/small-business-
technologies.html>.
Valasseri., I. 2019. Top Technology Challenges Faced By Small Businesses. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.infince.com/blog/top-technology-challenges-faced-by-small-
businesses/>.
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Brookins., M. 2020. Impacts of Technology on Small Business. [Online]. Available
through:<https://smallbusiness.chron.com/impacts-technology-small-business-
2190.html>.
Chrisos, M., 2019. What Is the Negative Impact of Technology?. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.techfunnel.com/information-technology/what-is-the-negative-
impact-of-mobile-tech-on-business-communications/>.
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