MLM56 Research Methods
Introduction and context
Background and Rationale
Adoption of technology and implementation of changes whenever required allows business organisations to offer better products and services to their customers and boost revenue. More specifically, as the use of technology can enhance the efficiency of employees and improve productivity, it can help companies to provide value to customers and enhance their income. Adopting technologies also helps organisational managers to innovate, mitigate potential risks, and manage employees. On the other hand, proper utilisation of updated technology can influence the innovation process of an organisation positively, which can open doors to grab the international marketplace and invest more. Technological usage also helps companies to reduce operation costs, requiring sensitive data or information, improving employee productivity and communication process (Vitez, 2019).
Management plays the most significant role in an organisation, as it has to take responsibility for business activities. In this era of globalisation, the use of technology has been playing a crucial role in the operations of global businesses in every sector. Managers are in charge of controlling all departments and making a better environment for business. Hence, from the use of technology to implementing change, they take all responsibilities. According to Abualoush et al. (2018), intellectual capacity can be seen as a source of innovation and creativity, which is the most significant factor for organisational success. It is evident that knowledge management technologies initiate a vital role in organisational development. Most importantly, organisational managers use to focus on the utilisation of information technology in order to manage knowledge. In the current era, most companies use AI in the process of knowledge acquisition. Moreover, managers of global businesses are using technology for computer-based simulation, resource planning systems, decision support systems, and several others. The business environment is dynamic and to be stable in the marketplace organisations need up-to-date knowledge (Paschek et al. 2018).
According to a CIO survey, in 2020 major technological initiatives have been taken by several companies to adopt the cloud service (Sava, 2022). In the list of moderate technology adoption Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other cloud technologies are leading. It has been found that in 2020, worldwide spending on IT was $3.9 trillion in aggregate, which is an increase of approximately 3.4% from the previous year (Gartner, 2020).
Figure 1: IT Spending Forecast in all over the world (Billions of U.S. Dollars)
(Source: Gartner, 2020)
The above image reflects that the adoption of software has become a major market. The software market has increased with a double-digital growth at an estimated rate of 10.5% in 2020 (Gartner, 2020). Hence, the adoption of software as a service (SaaS) has been increasing among companies in this current era. It is evident that organisational managers play a vital role in the adoption of SaaS. More specifically, organisational managers are responsible for managing and measuring the execution of adopted technologies. According to a survey, 25% of surveyed companies worldwide reported a large-scale adoption of distributed cloud technology (Sava, 2022). On the other hand, the survey reflects that approximately 29% of global companies are utilising distributed cloud solutions on small scales (Sava, 2022).
Aim and objectives
The aim of the current study is to evaluate the role of managers in implementing technological changes in an organisation.
Objectives
- To investigate about the importance of managers in achieving technological advancement
- To identify the significance of technological advancement in organisational growth
- To understand factors that support technological advancement
- To know about challenges in adopting technological advancement
Research question
- What is the role of managers in implementing technological changes in an organisation?
- What are the factors influencing organisations to make technological changes?
- How technological changes can influence the overall growth of an organisation?
- What are the challenges in adopting technological advancement?
Problem statement
The problem statement of the current study is to investigate the role of managers in implementing technological changes in an organisation. Another problem of the study is to evaluate the importance of technological advancement or organisational growth.
Literature review
Role of managers in implementing technological changes in an organisation and challenges in technological advancement
The role of managers is to implement changes, which can influence the team that they are leading. Moreover, management plays the most vital role in an organisation, as they have responsibilities to supervise overall business activities. As per the opinion of El-Kassar and Singh (2019), commitments of management play a crucial role to overcome technological challenges, enhance economic performance and environmental performance and achieve competitive advantages. More specifically, the management of an organisation uses strategies to supervise all operational activities and improve them for achieving organisational goals.
Apart from that, managers have the responsibility to provide a proper working environment to their employees and technology takes a vital part in that, as it makes the concept of working easier. It can be said that management has to face internal and external pressure to improve operational activities. In order to do that management implements technological changes in an organisation.
In accordance with the study of Haseeb et al. (2019), industry 4.0 has a significant impact on organisational activities, as it is a technical procedure of knowledge management practices and value addition. In order to improve operational activities, a higher level of technology and automation is required.
Innovation managers play a vital role in achieving organisational goals, mostly which are related to innovation practices. More specifically, innovation managers have to take responsibility to create a culture and strategy that is required for organisational staff to experiment and innovate. Therefore, innovation managers use to implement changes in order to provide all required resources and support for innovation. As per the opinion of Sergeeva and Zanello (2018), formal innovation managers take initiative and ensure that the innovation process delivers new assets.
It is evident that, in the process of innovation, technology plays the most vital role. Another responsibility of managers is to maximise the efficiency of employees by utilising appropriate technologies. Hence, changes in technological equipment are required for enhancing employee efficiency.
With the use of advanced technologies, companies have been facing issues, which are related to data security, open-source software, online transactions, and some others. For the use of technology, a huge amount of data used to be transmitted and stored electronically, which influences problems like data breaches. It is evident that cloud computing is one of the most beneficial technologies for businesses. However, the risk regarding data security and data privacy has been increasing (Lim and Taeihagh, 2018). Similarly, the rapid use of mobile payment creates issues like liability and unauthorised practices.
Factors influencing organisations to make technological changes
Technology provides a convenient, faster, and more efficient way for operating a business. Business organisations need technology in every step of their activity. Hence, there are wide ranges of factors that are influencing businesses to make technological changes. More specifically, in this modern era, technology is becoming more advanced and more convenient, which influences companies to make changes in technologies or adopt updated technologies.
Use of technology for securing information
One of the most important things for businesses is to secure data or valuable information, in which the adoption of technology has been playing a crucial role (Marsaid et al. 2019). More specifically, for preventing data loss companies have been using technologies like encryption.
The use of technology can protect information at different levels, which is beneficial for companies in many ways. For instance, securing valuable information by utilising updated technologies can help companies to prevent cyber-attacks. On the other hand, in order to improve the security of accounting practices the use of advanced technology takes a vital part. As per the opinion of Demirkan et al. (2020), companies nowadays are focusing on blockchain-based accounting practices to improve their cyber security and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.
Figure 2: Data Security Threats
(Source: Marsaid et al. 2019)
Use of technology in operational cost management
In accordance with the study of Schallmo et al. (2020), companies from the automobile industry use to take initiative for using potential digitalisation for offering customers faster and better service. For instance, companies like Rosenbauer have been using digitalisation for providing better service to their targeted customers (Schallmo et al. (2020). On the other note, the author also stated that the use of digital technology could affect all sectors of society.
Use of technology in communication
Technology has a great contribution in the communication process of organisations. On the other hand, by utilising updated technologies companies have been improving their communication with customers. In accordance with the study of Amusan et al. (2018), information communication has been fostering the growth of organisations in the construction industry. For instance, communication technologies like emails, websites, and texting are being utilised by companies to make proper communication with customers and be connected with them.
Technological changes can influence the overall growth of an organisation
According to AlBar and Hoque (2019), the use of information and communication technology has been influencing the business organisations of developing countries. On the other hand, communication by using technologies cannot reflect emotion, which can bring miscommunication issues. Companies from different industries use to make changes in technologies, as it can influence overall business activities.
More specifically, for the use of technological advancement, the communication process of organisations has become more fluent and efficient. On the other hand, technological advancement has also brought fluency in operational activity. Technological fluency has been helping companies from different sectors to solve problems in operational activities easily.
For instance, the use of advanced technology can help to identify potential risks and search for solutions. This can influence the overall growth of an organisation positively, as risk; mitigation is one of the crucial parts of organisational development. Apart from that, technological advancement has been helping companies to maintain transparency in their operational activities, which is also an influencing factor for organisational growth.
In accordance with the study of Centobelli et al. (2021), companies nowadays are adopting blockchain technology in supply chain management, as it can help to avoid the occurrence of issues that are related to health and safety. More specifically, in order to impact the world in a positive manner companies are taking the help of technological advancement. In accordance with the study of Ikram et al. (2021), green technology can be seen as a parameter in attending to international goals for sustainable development. Hence, companies from different industries are taking initiatives to utilise green technologies for contributing to the improvement of the environment.
Apart from that, with the adoption of advanced technology companies from different industries have been able to provide services fast and satisfy their customers. Hence, customer service in different industries became more fluent and fast. On the contrary, the use of technology can be a reason for cybercrime. According to the study of Fahlevi et al. (2019), the development of digital technology has caused the increasing use of the internet; approximately 9 out of 10 people are using social media. This has been influencing the promotional activities of an organisation and helping them to grow more.
Theoretical underpinning
Disruptive innovation theory
In order to describe the importance of technology in the overall growth of an organisation the “disruption innovation theory” can be evaluated. According to the theory, the process of disruptive innovation can help small companies to be able to challenge established businesses by entering the bottom of the market. According to Christensen et al. (2018), the innovation theory reflects that new technology can shake up an industry.
New-market disruption can help companies to be competitive and stable in the marketplace. More specifically, innovation can influence the overall growth of an organisation. On the other hand, the use of technology can influence the process of innovation. Innovation can help companies to accelerate their growth of productivity, which also helps companies to provide better service to customers. Hence, it is evident that the process of innovation can accelerate sales by satisfying customers, which can accelerate the revenue growth.
Literature gap
The literature does not include any specific details about any company or sector in describing the use of technology, which has added a limitation to the overall outcome of the study. Moreover, for the subscription issue, some valuable resources have not been used for collecting data for the current study, which influences the result negatively.
Methodology and methods
Research philosophy
Research philosophy is one of the most important components of the research as it provides the idea of the system of the researcher’s thought. There are four types of philosophy that researchers use, such as post-positivism, pragmatism, interpretivism, and realism. Among all these, in order to complete the current study, the post-positivism research philosophy would be utilised, as its characteristics suit the requirements of the current research. This research philosophy has been selected for the study, as it can help to create a fresh perspective regarding the research context (Djeffal, 2019).
Research approach
The deductive research approach would be utilised for conducting the research on evaluating the role of managers in implementing technological change. This research approach has been selected by the researcher for the completion of the current research as it can help to explain the relationship between variables and the concept of the research (Pearse, 2019). On the other hand, this research approach gives the ability to collect data from an abundance of sources. Apart from that, the approach has been selected, as it would help the researcher to save time and complete the research within a certain time. On the other hand, the deductive research approach has abilities to mitigate potential risks for the completion of the research.
Research design
The descriptive research design has been selected by the researcher for the completion of the current study. This research design has been selected by the researcher to integrate different components of the study in a logical and coherent way. Moreover, this design has been selected by the researcher as it allows to analyse facts and attend to research problems closely. Apart from that, the descriptive design would help the researcher to develop an in-depth understanding of the problems of the study (Doyle et al. 2020).
Data collection method
In order to collect the required data for the current study, the secondary data collection method has been chosen. This data collection method has been selected by the researcher, as it can help to collect data from a variety of secondary resources (Olabode et al. 2019). More specifically, secondary sources like journal articles from Google Scholar, authentic websites, news articles, and governmental resources have been utilised for collecting data regarding the use of technological advancement in organisational and the role of managers to change technology. This data collection method has been selected, as it is time-saving. More specifically, as the data collection method allows researchers to collect data from the previously published works of others, this would be beneficial for the study.
Proposed analysis and presentation of results
As the research involves a secondary data collection method; hence, it would be appropriate to conduct thematic analysis by acquiring qualitative data from different online sources. More specifically the themes of the research will be developed based on the research topic and question that will certainly relate to the variable of the research. Other than this, through the help of a secondary data analysis format the researcher would be able to manage time and limit the overall cost of the project that can further benefit in submitting the research paper on time. In order to work on this particular method of data analysis the researcher will take help from different academic as well as commercial sources like journal articles, news articles and company reports in order to compare and construct data. As per the ideas of Chen et al. (2021), the qualitative analysis can help to investigate challenges and benefits of the research context. This type of data analysis format is found quite effective in different researches where it helps the researcher to compare and contrast information, which is already proven and acknowledged.
Ethical issues
The research would be conducted by following research ethics, values and principles. More specifically, authentic sources would be utilised to collect data regarding the role of managers in changing technologies for organisational growth. The researcher would take initiative to avoid any kind of data-related misconduct like data theft or data breach. reliable sources would be utilised to collect data for enhancing the accountability of the research. Apart from that, the research would follow all guidelines of the “Data Protection Act 2018” in order to maintain authenticity (GOV, 2022). Moreover, the researcher would follow all principles of the “General Data Protection Regulation” in order to maintain authenticity (GDPR, 2022). Collected data for the current research would be protected under a password in the university drive, after the completion of the research that would be deleted. Moreover, collected data for the current study would not be utilised for any commercial purpose in the future.
References
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