Business environment, Digital transformation covers out to be an important concept which makes the competitive. In the growing connectivity with all the changing scenario and machines, human resource with the demand of marketplace. Appropriate research methodologies which can integrate knowledge in research process.
- Analysis of research which is relevant to research project.
- Communication of outcome of the research project to stakeholders.
- Reflection on the application of the research methodologies and concepts.
In today's business environment, digital transformation is considered as most essential concept which aids a firm in staying competitive. With the growing connectivity among machines, human resource and more, demand of marketplace is changing rapidly. Therefore, to keep up and meet demands of customers on time, it is necessary for employers to transform business into digitalisation. In this context, a report has been prepared to analyse how digital technology can transform into business. David Michael & Co. has been taken which deals in food industry. The main aims and objectives of this project has been disclosed in first task on usage of mobile technology and social media. Other than this, small scale research has been conducted by gathering information through statistical tools and techniques (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). This assignment also includes a project management plan, Gantt chart and work break down structure to support research. Further recommendation on whether transforming digitalisation into business is useful for this company also given.
TASK 1
P1. Objectives and aims of project
Technology has revolutionised for small companies majorly in order to make them able to keep stay with big industries at same marketplace. Business of small companies are revolving around technology i.e. from servers to mobile devices. It helps them in developing high competitive advantages by creating operations using the most appropriate technology. It has evaluated that main purpose behind integrating technology into business of small enterprises is to reduce costs of production and operation. Therefore, every business owners use specific software that enables them to automate functions such as accounting management, record keeping and payroll etc. In addition to this, employers use technology for creating secure information related to operation and customers' detail (Hutter and et. al., 2013). It also aids firms in improving communication process by facilitating various applications like e-mails, websites, social media, texting and so on.
In context with David Michael & Co. which deals its business in small manufacturing sector. This firm serves a wide range food flavours i.e. near about 40,000 in worldwide countries including UK. By implementing digital technology in business, this company can make connection with various dealers and customers easily.
Topic: How digital technology can be transformed into business activities.
Background of research
Social media and mobile are considered as the main aspect of information and communication technology. These digital applications are continuously progressing as well as creates a benchmark on today's modern business (Goodrich and De Mooij, 2014). These digitalisation aids small business organisations in improving communications and increasing productivity as well. In addition to this, it also assists David Michael & Co. in broadening customer bases by outsourcing business functions.
Aim: “To evaluate the main impact of social media and mobile technology in a small business organisation for making connection with customers. A case study based on David Michael & Co.”
Objectives:
- To analyse usage of social media and mobile technology in operational activities
- To determine needs of social media and mobile technology for making interaction with customers of distant place
- To identify challenges faced by company while integrating emerging technologies within business organisation
Research questions:
- What are main usage of social media and mobile technology in operational activities?
- What are the main advantages of usage of mobile technologies in business?
- What are the major challenges faced by company while integrating emerging technologies within business organisation
P2. Project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost, quality and communication
A project management plan is a formal document which used by management of a company in managing execution process. This type of documents defines all major activities which are needed to be done for completing a project (The Project Management Plan (PMP). 2015). It also states the way a project is going to be executed, monitored as well as controlled and closed by research team. Therefore, before integrating emerging technologies within business organisation, it is required by managers of SME to develop a management plan in adequate way by looking out different components. It includes project's scope, time, quality and risk which create a major impact on business. In terms of David Michael & Co., a project management plan for this firm is given below:-
Scope of projects: There is a huge scope of implementing digitalisation into business for SMEs. It helps employers in minimising costs of operations by outsourcing functions to other companies of national and international business (Larson and Chang, 2016). With this assistance, technology allows David Michael & Co. to reach new market era easily.
Cost: This is the main component of any project plan which entails total amount used to conduct research by management of a company (Ghobakhloo and et. al., 2012). Therefore, it is necessary for managers to arrange required funds for project makers so that they can carry out entire activities in proper manner. In this regard, for conducting present task, research team of David Michael & Co. requires near about 550 pounds.
Quality: It is also considered as essential component which create a large impact upon entire activities of project. Thus, researchers are needed to focus more on quality of project so that wastage can be minimised during transformation of digitalisation into business.
Time: In order to increase efficiencies and effectiveness of a project, it seems to be necessary for investigators to finish all planned activities in predetermined period of time. If any single activity doesn't complete on time or fails to meet desired outcomes, then it will affect entire activities of project also. In such conditions, managers are required to change duration of further activities also which will consumes time and costs also (Pookulangara and Koesler, 2011). Thus, it is required by management of David Michael & Co. to monitor and control process of each activity so that entire task can be completed on time. Thus, present project may consumers near about 5 months.
We provide homework writing service
P3. Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart in order to set time frames and offer different stages of project
Work Breakdown structure- While conducting a project management plan, investigators have to conduct various activities which sometime causes many problems (Eckerson, 2010). Therefore, with the help of WBS technique helps them in dividing different activities into smaller manageable components. It provides a time framework which entails management of David Michael & Co. in identifying duration of entire project as well as requirement of cost to run the same. This process helps managers of this firm in preparing budget plan in a proper manner.
Gantt chart- It is considered as main technique for controlling entire production of a company. This tool is formulated by Henry L. Gantt in 1970. It generally represents entire activities of a project management plan on a Cartesian plane where tasks are denoted on vertical bar while horizontal line shows time duration of each. Thus, this graphical representation of planned activities helps management of David Michael & Co. in tracking, monitoring as well as controlling procedure of entire activities in a proper manner (What is a Gantt Chart?, 2018). Therefore, Gantt Chart entails clear illustration of current status of project. But it fails in indicating dependencies of tasks on each other. In this regard, for conduct a research in adequate manner, it is required by research team of David Michael & Co. to follow format given below:-
- Identification of problem
- Literature review
- Determining main problems
- Define entire concept of project
- A sample of users whose feedback aids a firm in evaluating conclusion
- Development plan
- Data collection
- Analysis and review
TASK 2
P4. Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
For conducting a project, an investigator can used various statistical tools ant techniques as per scope of management plan (Bruhn, Schoenmueller and Schäfer, 2012). Basically a research is conducted in two parts that are qualitative and quantitative form. For evaluating opinion and perception of customers, a researcher use qualitative methods in which data is collected on the basis of quality. Other than this, gathering data by using mathematical and statistical tools refers to quantitative research. Thus, it has seen that qualitative data gives biased result while quantitative obtain unbiased outcomes. Some other methods used by investigators for gathering information for market research are:-
Methods to collect information:
Primary: This method includes questionnaires, surveys and interview methods which are carried by investigators themselves (Berends and et. al., 2014). With the help of above procedures, data collected by researchers are more reliable as well as obtain correct perceptions of customers. But it will consumes much time and money as well as researcher needs to possess special skills like critical thinking, good communication, sharp observer and more.
Secondary: This method of research gives information which is already published by others. These data can be obtained from different sources such as magazines, Google, internet, literature part, published books and so on (Bengtsson and Johansson, 2014). In addition to this, it will also provide scientific data which is conducted by medical councils and professionals. But sometime it provides false or unreliable data also. Abilities needed for conducting secondary research in an investigator are ability high technicals skills, good statistician and more.
You may like: Concept of Management and Financial Accounting
For making project investigation team of David Michael & Co. use questionnaire method of primary research by choosing a sample of 50 respondents.
| QUESTIONNAIRE |
| Name: |
| Age: |
| Gender: |
| Contact Number: |
| Q1) Is mobile technologies and social media helpful for connecting with customers of distant place? |
| a) Yes |
| b) No |
| Age: |
| Q2) What is the main stages that David Michael & Co. have to focus on while implementing digitalisation? |
| a) Isolated |
| b) Strategic |
| c) Integrated |
| d) Agile Business |
| Q3) What is the major challenges faced by David Michael & Co. during integrating emerging technologies within business |
| a) Providing connectivity to all employees |
| b) Dealing with a wide range of IT products |
| c) Understanding changing technologies needs |
| Q4) What is the main advantage of using of social media and mobile technologies for David Michael & Co. |
| a) Dealing with changing behaviour of consumers |
| b) Electronic Fund Transfer |
| Q5) Is e-commerce helpful in driving success in business of David Michael & Co.? |
| a) Yes |
| b) No |
| Q6) How much management of a company becomes able in engaging with stakeholders by digital technology? |
| a) Less |
| b) More |
| c) Average |
| Q7) Are mobile technology and social media tools beneficial for David Michael & Co. in enhancing its business in other parts of the world? |
| a) Yes |
| b) No |
| Q8) Does information and communication tools aids David Michael & Co. in boosting overall sales and profitability of business? |
| a) Agree |
| b) Disagree |
TASK 3
P5. Examine of research information with right techniques and tools
| Questions | Frequency |
| Q1) If mobile technologies and social media helpful for connecting with customers of distant place? | |
| a) Yes | 38 |
| b) No | 12 |
| Q2)What is the main stages that David Michael & Co. have to focus on while implementing digitalisation? | |
| a) Isolated | 10 |
| b) Strategic | 10 |
| c) Integrated | 10 |
| d) Agile Business | 20 |
| Q3) What is the major challenges faced by David Michael & Co. during integrating emerging technologies within business | |
| a) Providing connectivity to all employees | 16 |
| b) Dealing with a wide range of IT products | 12 |
| c) Understanding changing technologies needs | 22 |
| Q4) What is the main advantage of using social media and mobile technologies for David Michael & Co. | |
| a) Dealing with changing behaviour of consumers | 24 |
| b) Electronic Fund Transfer | 26 |
| Q5)Is e-commerce helpful in driving success in business of David Michael & Co.? | |
| a) Yes | 38 |
| b) No | 12 |
| Q6) How much management of a company becomes able in engaging with stakeholders by digital technology? | |
| a) Less | 16 |
| b) More | 24 |
| c) Average | 10 |
| Q7)Are mobile technology and social media tools beneficial for David Michael & Co. in enhancing its business in other parts of the world? | |
| a) Yes | 32 |
| b) No | 18 |
| Q8) Does information and communication tools aids David Michael & Co. in boosting overall sales and profitability of business? | |
| a) Agree | 42 |
| b) Disagree |
Theme 1: Mobile technologies and social media is helpful in making connection
Interpretation: Mobile technologies has changed entire way of conducting business of a company like it creating and developing a website, making interaction with targeted audience and more. Thus, in context with David Michael & Co. which offers food flavours to customers, it has interpreted from above graph that majority of people i.e. near about 38 out of 50 are agreed with this concept. While rest of them that are 12 don't believe the same.
Theme 2: The main stage of implementing digitalisation
Interpretation: While implementing digitalisation into business, a company has to gone with many stages like isolation, synchronisation, strategies, integration and agile business. Among all these stages, it has interpreted from this graph that people believed that agile business will be main which entails management what is regular in organisation system. Out of 50 users, 20 have same opinion while rest of them equally gives votes to strategies, isolated and synchronised stages.
Theme 3: The major challenges faced by David Michael & Co. in implementing digitalisation
Interpretation: While implementing digitalisation, company's run on small scale have to show various challenges like which application of technology provides them better result and cost effectiveness too. In this manner, from this graph it has interpreted that understanding requirement of changes in technologies as well as which application need to be adopted in business is a major challenge for David Michael & Co. as per perception of 22 users out of 50. Other than this, 16 from rest respondents are believed that providing connectivity to all employees will be major task in the same. Lastly, remaining ones that are 12 users think that dealing with a wide range of IT products is considered as most complex issue for management.
Theme 4: The main advantage of social media and mobile technologies
Interpretation: Social media and mobile technologies give various advantages to small business organisations like in making connection with customers, dealing with their problems, understand needs of them and more. Thus, in this regard by conducting survey on 50 respondents, it has evaluated from this mention graph that out 26 out of them are believed that mobile technologies helps in giving payments by electronic fund transfer. While remaining ones which are 24 didn't go with same statement, they though that it will be beneficial in dealing with changing behaviour of customers more.
Theme 5: E-commerce is helpful in driving business success in David Michael & Co.
Interpretation: Doing business through e-commerce is always beneficial for a company as through this it can make deal with other organisations or customers easily. From this graph it has seen that major proportion of 50 respondents which are 38 believe the same. On other hand, remaining ones i.e. 12 didn't go through this statement.
Theme 6: Management of David Michael & Co. is able in engaging with stakeholders
Interpretation: As digitalisation convert every single element of business into digitalised therefore, it makes management of a company more capable in engaging stakeholders with project. As per this graph, it has interpreted that 24 out of 50 respondents believes management of David Michael & Co. become more capable. Other than this, belief of 16 users are just opposite from them, they think that effectiveness of management cannot increase by digitalisation. While rest of them that are near about 10 have opinion that impact of digitalisation on management seems not be much fruitful.
Theme 7: Mobile technology and social media tools are beneficial for David Michael & Co.
Interpretation: Introducing mobile technologies and social media aid David Michael & Co. to conduct business operations in more easy manner. Through this technology, marketing department can promote its business in much economic manner. From this graph, 32 out of each 50 respondents believes that introducing business on social media will always help enterprise. While 18 users don't go with same statement.
Theme 8: Information and communication tools aids David Michael & Co. in boosting overall sales and profitability
Interpretation: From this graph, it has interpreted that major portion of customers i.e. 42 out of 50 believe that information and communication tools given by social media and mobile application helps a firm in enhancing its sales performance. Other than this, 18 users didn't believe that it is much beneficial for boosting performance of sales.
P6. Recommendation
From this report, it has recommended that for conducting a proper research, an investigator of small business companies needs to manage time and cost in proper manner. It will help such firms in implementing changes in system more effective manner through which efficiencies of business can be increased. By conducting survey, it has evaluated that major portion of customers are agreed that by implementing social media and mobile technologies in business, enhance profitability of business. In addition of this, company needs to implement the concept of digitalization in order to make their image competitive and productive as well. As it directly contribute in enhancing market share of the company as compare to its rivals.
TASK 4
P7 Reflection on understanding research
While conducting this investigation report, as a project manager I have faced different problems like planning necessary activities, allocate resources for the same as well as complete them on time. Thus, to cope up from such issues, it is essential for me to prepare an action plan in systematic manner as well as formulate all activities in written form and sequential order. Major problem which I have faced during conducting this research is lack of financial resource. Due to this, I feel unable to use such special techniques through which major activities of this task can be completed in more easy manner. But along with these problems, I have achieved success in preparing this project in set period of time.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from this research, that digitalisation is always beneficial for small and large organisations in making business operations more easy. It aids them in attaining targeted goals and objectives in set period of time. Along with this, it makes small organisations able to move business on next level. Digital technologies aid them in making interaction with customers living at far distance in more systematic manner.
UPTO50%
Avail The Benefit Today!
To View this & another 50000+ free
