Unit 8 Digital Business in Practice (R/618/5054) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 8 Digital Business in Practice Assignment Brief

Introduction

As businesses across industries digitise their operations and processes, digital skills are highly valued by employers. Developing digital skills – ranging from data analysis to digital design, digital marketing and customer relationship management – is vital for progression in higher education but, crucially, also aids employability in a vast array of roles in the business environment.

In today’s world, new technologies play an increasingly important role in the economy and in society. To remain competitive, businesses need to continually update and upskill their workers’ competence. There is also a responsibility and onus on individuals to keep up to date with the changing digital landscape.

In this unit students will explore the impact of a range of digital technologies on the workplace. They will examine how these technologies can support businesses aims and services and allow interaction with customers, for example, to promote their business, to encourage people to visit their e-commerce site, to buy goods or services, to drive and increase sales, and to provide high levels of customer service. The skills generated through an understanding of the practical and necessary use and application of relevant technologies will enable students to present themselves as being digitally literate to employers and give them the confidence to succeed in applying modern, digital methods.

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this unit students will be able to:

LO1   Examine the digital business environment, emerging trends and contemporary approaches

LO2   Investigate the effectiveness of the use of digital technologies to achieve business objectives

LO3   Develop a transformational digital strategy plan to support the implementation of digital technologies within an organisation

LO4   Present the design of a selected mobile application to support a digital strategy within an organisation.

Essential Content 

LO1 Examine the digital business environment, emerging trends and contemporary approaches 

Defining digital business:

Definitions of digital business, digitisation and digitalisation of business

Digital business models

Integrating business models, the business environment and the internet.

Use of digital technologies:

Cloud computing for access and storage, cloud file sharing and collaboration, record management

Digital technologies for effective internal communication e.g. use of Slack,  Gmail and Skype for instant messaging and video conferencing

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) software, e.g. ChatBot, AI agents, generative AI for content creation, predictive analytics

Customer service relationship management using social media e.g. Meta, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Integrated management systems software e.g. enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Data analytics for audience profiles e.g. age, gender, income, geographical location

Data-gathering tools and analysis, including Facebook Insights, X Analytics and Google Analytics or any other suitable social media analytical tool.

Emerging trends:

The social networks of individuals and developments in internet technology

Distributed ledger technology (DLT), the impact of blockchain and cryptocurrency on business transactions  Artificial intelligence (AI).

LO2 Investigate the effectiveness of the use of digital technologies to achieve business objectives 

The main functions of digital technologies:

Different ways in which digital technology has transformed how people communicate, learn and work:

• practical application of marketing and brand promotion on products and services
• sharing information and data-based decision-making and performance measurement
• building relationships with customers/clients
• knowledge and information management
• performance measurement and planning
• business networking and interaction with customers
• effective internal communication and collaboration
• storage and archiving of data and information
• project management, budgeting, forecasting and target setting

The use of statistical methods for business

An introduction to financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements and cash flows, to consider the impact of digital business in an organisation.

Business-to-consumer (B2C) digital interaction:

The benefits of social media e.g. increased brand awareness, increased web traffic, targeted sales, increased revenue

The implementation and assessment of social media strategies to create effective social media marketing campaigns across multiple platforms The benefits of good user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.

Business-to-business (B2B) digital interaction:

Managing brand and transparency using account-based digital advertising in  the B2B context

Different types of e-commerce platforms to provide information to B2B customers on stock levels, products regularly ordered, past purchases and  add-ons for products previously bought

Account portfolio management, measuring and identifying target accounts, engagement and considerations for tactical advertising and multichannel penetration.

Risks and issues of the use of digital technologies to support business aims and services:

Managing negative comments on social media and damage to reputation

Increased use of business and personal resources to manage and control social media campaigns

Customer complaints and feedback visible and open for scrutiny by the public

Negative impact on health and mental wellbeing

Meeting regulatory requirements for data protection e.g. UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant

The impact of increased vulnerability to cybercriminals and measures to be taken for cybersecurity.

LO3 Develop a transformational digital strategy plan to support the implementation of digital technologies within an organisation 

Managing digital transformation:

Leading and managing teams in the digital era, the role of the virtual leader

An analysis of organisations closely associated with the digitalisation of business (e.g. Google, Apple) and digital leadership in other sectors e.g. retail, finance

Skills required for managing uncertain and complex environments  Ethical considerations in information systems and data analytics.

Digital implementation and strategy:

Implementation to improve efficiency, value or innovation

The use of a digital transformation strategy plan to identify and shape new opportunities

Assessing and developing new business ideas through the business model canvas

Defining a digital vision, clear objectives and digital opportunities

Types of digital innovation and examples of digital disruptors

Considerations for strategic, long-term planning, focusing on integrated digital media channels, implementation of new technologies and smart, digital ways  of working

Setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely) targets in terms of integrating digital devices, platforms, media, data and technologies into organisation capabilities, processes and systems

Testing ideas, creating prototypes, piloting and assessing customer feedback.

Developing a competitive edge:

Leading transformation and change to deliver added value and innovation

Identifying and prioritising opportunities

Strategies for embedding new technologies

The interrelationship between the internet and strategy

Information technology (IT) and change management

Risk management, contingency planning to mitigate risk, mitigating implementation and monitoring.

LO4 Present the design of a selected mobile application to support a digital strategy within an organisation

Mobile applications:

App marketing and app store optimisation

Different mobile platforms, e.g. Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Hybrid

Different app design for web app, mobile and tablet

Design factors for the UI and UX

Design aspects, including storyboarding, user stories, colours and fonts

Phototyping and phototyping tools e.g. Apache Hadoop and IBM Cloud

Identifying new business opportunities, generating feedback and putting  real-world learning and theory into practice

Obtaining start-up finance and initial digital marketing.

Presentation and pitching skills:

Audience awareness, research and sensitivity

Competitor research

Business and product narratives

Structure and time

Verbal and non-verbal communication to meet audience requirements

Presentation, behaviour and conduct of presenter e.g. attire, attitude,  suitability for audience, preparation and organisation.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria 

Answer

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