A Study: Impact of Digital Technology on Xiaomi's Business Activities

This report examines the impact of digital technology on Xiaomi, a major player in the consumer electronics market. The project begins with an introduction to digitalization and its benefits for businesses, followed by an overview of the company's background and aims. The first section outlines the aims and objectives of the project, including a project management plan with considerations for cost, scope, and risk. The report then details research methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and presents a questionnaire used to gather data. The subsequent section analyzes the research data, providing interpretations of key themes such as digitalization's impact on efficiency, cost reduction, and competitor analysis. The report concludes with recommendations based on the research findings and a self-reflection on the project's process and outcomes.

Managing Successful
business project
(Project 1)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
Aims and objectives of project....................................................................................................1
Produce an appropriate project management plan that includes relevant actions to meet
objectives and time frames..........................................................................................................2
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research.....................5
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................6
Analyse research and data...........................................................................................................6
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................11
Recommendations as a result of research and data analysis ....................................................11
Self Reflection...........................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
In this modern era, every firm is looking to boost up their productivity and the goal can be
achieved by applying digital technologies and innovations which makes easier the process of
operating business. Digitalisation has increased the ease by which managers can stay in touch with
their target audiences. Business associations acquire technology in order to obtain high competitive
advantage and reduce operating costs (Ahmed Dine Rabeh, Jimenez-Jimenez and Martínez-Costa,
2013). Digitalisation allows companies to attain large group of customers in new economic markets
and it also leads to enhancement of sales and productivity in a certain time period. Xiaomi is chosen
organisation in this current project. The firm produces smartphones, mobile apps, laptops and other
consumer related products. The firm was founded in 2010 and rapidly gained high market share in
world's digital market. Apart from this, the report is going to describe resource required for
managing the project of a company. There will be a discussion on research methodologies which
help researcher to reach at better outcomes.
LO 1
Aims and objectives of project
Digitalisation consists of use of technologies in order to develop everything from new
business models to customers’ interaction and delivering services. Acquisition of digital tools and
techniques support any business to facilitate their working processes and enhance their efficiency.
Along with this, heads of organisations are constantly looking out for development and updates in
technological environment; it assists them to be aware with transformation phase and come up with
innovation strategies thus driving up market growth. Introduction of new and innovative
technologies entirely changed the way of firm's functioning (Chesbrough, 2010). Due to internet
advancement, firms are using effective digital marketing strategies for selling their products and
services all over the world. Although, use of cloud technology supports departments, i.e. operation,
accounting and marketing as they store vast amount of information and use whenever it is needed.
Even the research and development department of companies utilise new technologies to get in
touch with customers in less time period. Using technology in designing processes helps in
reducing costs and make attractive advertisements.
Digitalisation technology makes easier to get artificial intelligence and big data analytics
which supports in driving innovation and product growth. Apart from this, transformation in way
of collecting, recording, retrieved and utilised data or information helps firms to make adequate
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business strategies thus attain future market growth and success. It also improved decision making
process of businesses as they can grab better future opportunities. Henceforth, it can be said that
digital transformation has disrupted business models and changed the fundamental principles.
The research is based upon Xiaomi which is a consumer electronics and computer hardware
industry. The firm has become world's largest smartphone manufacturer by expanding itself into
consumer electronics. There are over 1500 employees who are presently working in this
organisation and its overall revenue is US$18 billion. It is having a large product line of
smartphones, including Mi Series, Mi Note Series, Mi Max Series, Mi Mix Series and the Redmi
Series.
Aim – “To ascertain the impact of digital technology on business activities, e.g. operations,
marketing, accounting and HR. A Case study on Xiaomi”.
Research objectives -
 To determine the importance of using digital tools and techniques at corporate association.
 To study about the ways through which managers can raise efficiency of their activities and
operations. To identify the impact of digitalisation on business activities and processes.
Research questions -
 Q1. What is the significance of digital tools and techniques in business organisations?
 Q2. What are the ways of enhancing effectiveness of business activities and operations?
 Q3. What is the influence of digitalisation of business activities, i.e. production, marketing
and HR?
Produce an appropriate project management plan that includes relevant actions to meet objectives
and time frames
A project management plan is formal and approved documents which is utilised to manage
and execute a project. It is essential for managers to define, create, integrate and coordinate all
activities of project which disclose that how a project will executed, monitor and controlled (Crane
and Matten, 2016). In context of Xiaomi, the firm is introducing digitalisation in this working style
so as to perform effectively and reach wide range of customers' as well. Although, there is needed
certain factors which are required in systematic completion of any project, these aspects are stated
as under -
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 Cost – While launching a project, heads of company need to determine what will be its
actual costs and whether or not firm is able to bear it. There is required to measure various
kinds of cost, i.e. operation, production, marketing, research etc. It also involves training
costs and adoption of new technologies costs. After assessing the entire cost, managers have
to start formulating their budgets as per the financial capabilities of the company. In present
scenario, the overall project cost is $5.00 billion. Project scope – It is another key consideration which helps to demonstrate project growth in
future. Each and every person involved in project must be related with firm's success;. It
means project scope should be wide. Many digital techniques get failed due to improper
knowledge and management thus, project should able to seize great market opportunities
and ensure Xiaomi's competitiveness in future.
 Risk – It is another important factor that has to be considered in project development plan.
Project controllers should emphasis on assessing different risks which can affect project
growth and its activities (Den Hertog, Van der Aa and De Jong, 2010). In external
environment, several risks factor are available in project of digitalisation, i.e. cyberattacks,
threat of hacking and so on. To get control over such risks, Xiaomi can implement cloud
technology thus to protect any kind of information.
After assessing all key considerations of a project, there is needed to identify project time
frame; it implies to demonstrate how much time is required for completion of any project. In this
relation, project manager of Xiaomi can acquire various tools, i.e. work breakdown structure and
Gantt chart to accomplish all project activities in systematic manner. Work breakdown structure – This tool is applied to collapse all tasks of project into
different segments with their time limits. WBS makes easier the process of recognising
required skills and knowledge to do project tasks and activities. It explores accountability
and transparency thus to reduce complexities occur in a project and make it successful.
 Gantt chart – This system supports to complete all project activities in given time period.
Basically, Gantt chart is a graphical presentation which distinguish all actions or tasks
involved in project. It has an overview of each and every day report of project which
supports project manager to measure success of project and systematically completion of all
activities.
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LO 2
Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research
Research is a process of systematic inquiry through data collection; its a documentation of
critical information and interpret the same by applying suitable methodologies. In addition to this,
research is conducted in order to evaluate validity of an interpretive framework and then arrive at
better conclusion. There are two main types of research, i.e. qualitative and quantitative, brief
description of both these methods is stated as under -
Quantitative research – It’s a structured way of gathering and assessing data which has
been obtained from various sources. Quantitative research encompasses use of statistical and
mathematical tools in order to derive results; its purpose is conclusive as the research method focus
on quantify the problem and demonstrate how prevalent it is to attain better outcomes (Eckerson,
2010). Along with this, generally quantitative research is exploitative in nature as it is based upon
collection of verbal and behavioural data.
Qualitative research – It’s a kind of social science research which focus to collect non-
numerical data and tend to interpret meaning from that information. Qualitative research is a long
appeal for researcher as it allows them to investigate the actual meaning of people behaviour,
actions and interactions. Basically, it is used to find out relationship between two variables,;
qualitative research is designed to reveal conclusion on the basis of actions.
Questionnaire
Name
Gender
Email
Q1. Do you think that all business activities get affected by digitalisation?
A. Yes
B. No
Q2. Which can be considered as the major influence of digital tools and techniques in business
operations?
A. Digitalisation reduce operational costs
B. digitalisation increases firm's efficiency
C. Helps in reaching target audiences
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Q3. Who are the main competitors of Xiaomi?
A. Oppo
B. Vivo
C. Honor
Q4. Is Xiaomi is more digitalised in comparison with its competitors?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don't know
Q5. What are the main benefits of digitalisation for business organisations ?
A. Obtain high competitive edge
B. Improve product quality
C. Generate artificial intelligence among people
Q6. Does employees of Xiaomi have enough digital knowledge?
A. Yes
B. No
Q7. Give recommendations, if any.
LO 3
Analyse research and data
Data analysis
Theme 1: Digitalisation improves efficiency of business activities.
Q1. Do you think that all business activities get
affected by digitalisation?
Frequency
A. Yes 45
B. No 5
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Interpretation – As per the above graphical presentation, it gets overviewed that
digitalisation plays a vital role in growth and success of every business organisation as it supports
companies to improvise credibility or viability of their working operations. In addition to this,
digitalisation also helps Xiaomi to effectively response towards customers’ needs and wants in the
best possible manner in accordance with viewpoints of 45 customers. Apart from this, 5
respondents refers that there are some others aspects also, i.e. research and development, systematic
management etc. also put a huge impact on business activities and operations.
Theme 2: Digital Tools cut-down operational cost.
Q2. Which can be considered as the major
influence of digital tools and techniques in
business operations?
Frequency
A. Digitalisation reduce operational costs 30
B. digitalisation increases firm's efficiency 12
C. Helps in reaching target audiences 8
7

Interpretation – According to this diagram, it gets assumed that digitalisation provides
numerous benefits to a corporate association. It improves accessibility and facilitate better
information exchange worldwide. With the viewpoint of 30 respondents, digital technologies
support in reduction of operational and production costs whereas 12 says that it driven up
company’s efficiency thus it can perform in well-being manner and attain its goals and objectives
over market. However, remaining 8 states that acquisition of digital technology helps company to
arrive target and potential customers in a certain time period.
Theme 3: Oppo is major competitor of Xiaomi.
Q3. Who are the main competitors of
Xiaomi?
Frequency
A. Oppo 30
B. Vivo 15
C. Honor 5
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Interpretation – In present scenario, there is numerous companies are being established
which also deals in consumer electronics; it increases tough competition for existing company. As
Xiaomi has become one of the largest smartphone company in less time period but the firm has
various customers’ available at marketplace. The above market survey represents that 30
respondents are saying Oppo is one of the biggest competitor of Xiaomi as its products are luxury
and high qualitative in nature. On the other hand, second major competitor of the company is Vivo
in accordance with remarks of 15 customers; people says that Samsung also uses effective and
innovative techniques to produce its mobile; whereas remaining 5 states that Honor is also another
rival of the Xiaomi as it also provides products in similar range to customers.
Theme 4: Implementation of digital processes within organisation.
Q4. Is Xiaomi is more digitalised in
comparison with its competitors?
Frequency
A. Yes 25
B. No 10
C. Don't know 15
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Interpretation – According to this pie chart, it is overviewed that all business entities are
tend towards applying digital tools and techniques in their processes thus to seize market
opportunities and obtain maximum competitive edge. Xiaomi is a leading consumer electronics
distributor and focus on becoming successful over the world. With the viewpoint of 25 respondents,
firm is using effective digital processes in comparison with its competitors as the brand firstly with
launch new technology among all of them. Whereas 10 participants does not support this statement,
they says that Oppo and Vivo are the first one who introduce new technology. Apart from this,
remaining 15 are those who don’t want to make any suggestion this topic.
Theme 5: Digitalisation helps in improving product quality
Q5. What is the main benefit of digitalisation
for business organisations ?
Frequency
A. Obtain high competitive edge 10
B. Improve product quality 25
C. Generate artificial intelligence among
people
15
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