Research proposal

RESEARCH PROPOSAL: IMPLEMENTATION OF CLOUD BASED ERP IN RETAIL BUSINESS SECTOR OF UK-95574

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Abstract

This research study is about the cloud ERP implementation in the retail industry of the current UK market. In order to complete the research study, aim and objectives are selected at the beginning level of the research study. The research questions and the aims of the research study are set at the beginning level of the research, in the first chapter of the dissertation. The second chapter of this study stating the literature review for understanding the different factors of the area of the research study. Literature review is followed by the research methodology that shows the different methods and approaches selected in order to carry out the research. It also highlighted the sample size of the economy in order to analyze the data collected for the current research. Furthermore, the research focused upon the findings and data analysis that is derived from the data extracted. After rectifying the issues and drawbacks of ERP implementation in the economy, certain recommendations are provided for the development of cloud based ERP system.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction. 7

1.0 Introduction. 7

1.1 Background of the Research. 7

1.2 Background of the organizations operating in United Kingdom.. 7

1.3 Rationale of the research: 8

1.4 Research Aim: 8

1.5 Research Objectives: 8

1.7 Outline (Problem Statement): 9

1.8 Dissertation structure: 9

1.8 Summary: 10

Chapter 2: Literature overview.. 11

2.0 Introduction: 11

2.1 Conceptual framework: 11

2.2 Concept of Cloud Computing: 12

2.3 Concept of ERP: 12

2.4 Theories and models of the cloud computing system: 13

2.5 Concept of cloud based ERP: 19

2.6 Effectiveness of cloud based ERP in retail sector 20

2.7 Challenges in developing the Cloud Based ERP: 21

2.8 Gaps in Literature: 22

2.9 Summary: 23

Chapter 3: Research Methodology. 24

3.0 Introduction: 24

3.1 Research Philosophy: 24

3.1.1 Justification of Choosing Interpretivism Research paradigm.. 24

3.2 Research Approach. 24

3.2.1 Justification for selection of the chosen Approach. 25

3.3 Research Design. 25

3.3.1 Justification for selection of the chosen Design. 25

3.4 Data Sources: Secondary. 26

3.5 Research Methods for data collection: 26

3.5.1 Laboratory measurement: 26

3.5.2 Field Observation: 26

3.5.3 Collection of the Qualitative Information. 27

3.5.4 Archival Data: 27

3.5.6 Interviews: 27

3.6 Population and Sampling techniques: 27

3.9 Gann chart: 28

4.0 Introduction: 30

4.1 different segmentation analysis. 30

4.2.1 Data Analysis: 33

4.3 Summary: 35

5.0 Conclusion: 36

5.1 Linking with the objectives: 36

5.2 Recommendations: 37

List of Figures

Figure 1.1: Dissertation Structure. 10

Figure 2.1: Conceptual Framework. 11

Figure 2.2: ERP structure of an UK based retailer 13

Figure 2.3: IaaS methodology. 14

Figure 2.4: PaaS methodology. 15

Figure 2.5: SaaS implementation on SOA.. 18

Figure 2.6: Cloud based ERP system.. 19

Figure 2.7: Benefits of web, SaaS and Cloud technology. 20

Figure 3.1: Kinds of Research Design. 25

List of Tables

Table 1: Gantt chart 29

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.0 Introduction

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is software which manages and allows an association to utilize a scheme of incorporated application to supervise the industry. Most of the corporations are proverbial in the midst of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software. They depend on this to facilitate amassed and organize facts that is stretch across each one of its sovereign departments (Allison and Pineda, 2013). Conventional ERP elucidations are regularly housed in a corporation’s own attendant infrastructure and need modernizing and servicing for staying current. Cloud ERP, the same as the forename suggests, it is founded within the cloud a lot like SaaS (Software as a Service.). Not like old ERP software, the Cloud ERP depends on cloud somewhat than aptness server transportation to assist companies divide information crosswise in sections. Cloud ERP tool incorporates some or every one of the necessary occupation to carrying on an industry, e.g. secretarial, accounting and arrange organization, CRM, human resources, etc. into one inclusive system (Awad, 2014).

1.1 Background of the Research

Cloud ERP is kind of a shift on the way to ERP system which utilizes cloud computing programs to afford an association with further bendy production process modification. It assists medium and small corporations to discharge their dealing potential. Authorization of employee, who have control over industries and handling potentials are the major purposes of the cloud based ERP. The ERP software is getting more popularity due to the advantages of the system over the traditional process management system. New strategies are developing for the implementations of the ERPs (Dinesh and Vetrivel, 2012). Research work is needed to be done in this area for understanding the different factors and the strategies of the system and the effectiveness behind the huge popularity of the system.

1.2 Background of the organizations operating in United Kingdom

There are several companies who are expanding enormously in United Kingdom. Most of the leading companies is operating in retail sector is also situated in the United Kingdom like Sainsbury’s, ASDA, etc. Handling the huge information and business data, the traditional process management system is not efficient. Therefore, the ERP system is very much needed for handling the huge data needed for conducting the business and analysing the performance and management of the organizations operating in retail business sector.

1.3 Rationale of the research:

At present, the traditional management system is not sufficient to handle the pressure of the big organisations operating in retail sector. The technology of the present world is changing the environment of the business management area. The organisations operating in huge market and lot of information for handling business affairs, wants to change from traditional to technology based management system. The solution for this problem is the ERP development in United Kingdom (Al-Johani, and Youssef, 2013).

Retail industries of the present world used to handle a lot of data and need a proper system for this purpose. Depending on the recent trend in the area of ERP system the topic is selected for conducting the research study. Therefore, implementation of cloud based ERP will be effective to handle the total information.

The research study will help to understand the various facts of the ERP system and the need of the system. Detailed information and all the benefits of the ERP system will be understood by the research study. After understanding the various factors and benefits some suitable suggestions will be given for the development of the ERP system.

1.4 Research Aim:

This particular research study has the aim of mitigate the problem in implementing of Enterprise Resource planning or ERP in UK. Apart from that the researcher also explains the effectiveness of cloud based ERP system to effectively run the organizations situated in the nation.

1.5 Research Objectives:

  • To understand the different factors of the cloud based ERP system
  • To understand the benefits of the cloud based ERP system in the retail sector
  • To critically analyze the effectiveness of ERP system in UK to increase efficiency of every department within the organization
  • To give some suitable suggestions for developing the ERP system for UK organizations

1.6 Research Question

The research questions highlighting the significance of the current research are:

  • What is the requirement of ERP system in retailing sector of United Kingdom?
  • What are the benefits of the ERP system and how it can be developed in retail sector?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of using ERP system by the organization operating in UK?
  • What are the issues faced by the organization while adopting the ERP system for carrying out the operation of the business?
  • What are the suggestive recommendations concerning the issues faced by the organization while adopting the ERP system?

1.7 Outline (Problem Statement):

The difficulty of learning the accomplishment of the cloud based ERP come into view when the organization operating in retail sector possess their own cloud supported ERP system, with untrained employees in the organization. An additional problem occurs within this system are:-

  • Incapability to get the right person who has the idea of operating the business operation in ERP system
  • The lower and medium scale companies cannot afford to adopt these types of system in their operation due to high cost occurrence

1.8 Dissertation structure:

 

Figure 1.1: Dissertation Structure

(Source: Created by Author)

1.8 Summary:

This fastidious proposal is founded on the Cloud supported ERP system within retail sectors in United Kingdom. The researcher finished about the compensation and also disadvantages of this cloud computing. Here the researcher mostly spotlighted upon the various types of challenges and again barriers concerning the completion of Cloud supported ERP system in retail sectors of United Kingdom. In order to hold up the scrutinized work in a successful method the researcher used different types of research methodology to support the research.

Chapter 2: Literature overview

2.0 Introduction:

Literature review may be defined as a text of an academic paper, which consists of the existing facts, which includes theoretical and practical aids, substantive findings to an exacting subject. Literature reviews are used in derived sources, and does not describe new experimental job. The purpose of the literature review are – it justifies the research, it ensures that the research was not being done before, it provides a background to the research, it highlights the drawbacks in the previous researches, it provides the outline gaps in the previous researches, helps researches to study from the theory which was previously done.

This chapter highlights on the establishing an organization of academic awareness which are related to the behaviour of the client. There is a chance of the researcher and the readers to elaborate the research topics in more specified way and is able to recognize the crucial perspectives. Implementation of different models and theories includes literature to the research topic in order to, improved the analysis of the results in later chapters.

2.1 Conceptual framework:

conceptual_framework

Figure 2.1: Conceptual Framework

(Source: Created by Author)

2.2 Concept of Cloud Computing:

Cloud computing is the concept of using the software resources available in the World Wide Web. Here the user need to make payment for the using of the services of cloud computing. There are basically, three technologies of the cloud computing system. They are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a service (SaaS). All the theories and models related to the technologies will be discussed in this chapter later (Alam, 2012).

2.3 Concept of ERP:

As per Amoroso (2014), Enterprise Resource planning (ERP) is business management software, which is a collection of integrated applications that helps an organization to collect, keep, manipulate and use data from many business activities like Costs, service deliveries, sales, as well as shipping and payment methods. It mainly provides an integrated and real time business process, which finds better solutions for the organizations. It tracks business related things like money, raw materials, production capability etc and the status of different business related things: purchase orders, payroll etc (Woestenburg, 2010). Even it not only facilitates information of one section or department, handles several departments like manufacturing, sales, accounting etc (Vimalkumar, 2012).

 

Figure 2.2: ERP structure of an UK based retailer

(Source: Garverick, 2014, p.98)

Even the structure of ERP modules reveals its structure in depth to the different business related issues related of an organization. In the outer structure, different business aspects integrated in EPR solutions like customer service and sales, human resource management (HRM activities), corporate performance as well as data Governance, accounting etc. The inner structure defines the compact solutions of different aspects related to an organization like Business intelligence, E-commerce, enterprise asset management, supply chain management, product launch managing and several other things related to the business process. The main concept of ERP refers to integration which co relates a set of activities (Maas, van and Soeters, 2014).

2.4 Theories and models of the cloud computing system:

Cloud delivery models or service models mainly divided into 3 three parts in a hierarchy manner. The three types of models have different characteristics, issues as well as solutions to its consumers or the organizations. Even the security level as well as the methodology varies in case of each model (Morris, 2011).

IaaS: It mainly defines infrastructure as a service, which provides access to fundamental resources such as physical machines, virtual machines, virtual storage etc (Zunnurhain Vrbsky and Hasan, 2014). Even apart from these, this model also offers:

  • VM disk storage
  • Virtual LAN (VLANs)
  • Load balancing using load balancers
  • IP addresses
  • Software packages or bundles

 

Figure 2.3: IaaS methodology

(Source: Riordan, 2013, p.118)

In the methodology part, the IaaS vendor has the storage of data or information. The software owner uploads the VM to the storage for virtualization. Automation technique is use with the help of VM to deploy the VM in the power computers. Then the service starts. The consumer or the end user accesses the services through a firewall with the load of load balancer for load balancing (Panigrahy, 2010).

Issues and solutions of IaaS: In this service model, infrastructure like storage support, security, cloud services, network storages are provided to the consumer. This model can suffer from the services like hardware related problems, network related problems etc. Sometime, a network dependency becomes a headache to the consumers. Even the isolation of VM’s can create major issues with the un-patched application support. These issues could be resolved with the help of efficient cloud consultants or experts (Sosinsky, 2011).

PaaS: Platform as a service provides the environment support to the consumer with the help of proper platform and its supported tools. This offers development tools, required to offer developments tools to provide application support. Even this service model has point and click tool that enables to create applications without having programming knowledge or computing background (Zhu et al. 2010). Google’s app engine and force.com are the examples of PaaS offering vendors. The vendor support of this model makes it an effective one. PaaS has lower administrative overhead because the business organization provides the dedicated platform lowering the total cost of ownership (Bailey, 2009). Scalable solutions are given to the clients with more current updated solutions. In PaaS it becomes easy to scale resources form low to high as per requirements. PaaS provides browser based development, which means it gives developer the opportunity to create databases, edit the application code either via some framework (API) or via point and click tools (Furht and Escalante, 2010).

Even the types of PaaS are application delivery only environment, standalone development environment open platform environment and add-on development facilities (Verma, 2011).

The following figure describes how PaaS offers an API and development tools to the programmers and how it provide support to its consumer to access business application:

 

Figure 2.4: PaaS methodology

(Source: Hurwitz, 2010, p.119)

 

In this diagram, developer used an IDE or Integrated Development Environment to develop business apps which will be used by the business users or consumers. The platform provides the data security, backup as well as recovery, application hosting, flexible and scalable infrastructure to the IDE (Turban, McLean, and Wetherbe, 2009).

Issues and its Solutions:

  • However, the lock-in concept in this model becomes a drawback of this model. Even the developer on this platform becomes platform dependent. As a example an application written in python using Google’s API is less likely to work on other platforms. Therefore, the vendor lock-in feature is the biggest problem in this PaaS (Schwalbe, 2010).
  • PaaS also place significant burden to maintain secure and reliable connections with the proper updated patches to the provider systems. Therefore, PaaS shares many issues of SaaS associated with it (Lee, 2012).
  • In short, lack of portability, secure engineering, event based scheduling between to its consumer and its providers should be maintained to maintain a efficient support.

SaaS: Software as a service model allows to provide software as a support to its consumers that can deployed on hosted service and that can be easily accessible through internet (Top10erp.org, 2015). The example of SaaS applications are:

  • Billing systems
  • CRM apps
  • HR solutions
  • However, some SaaS applications cannot be customized such as Office.

SaaS makes the software available on the internet, which facilitates its characteristics. Even, the software is maintained by the vendor itself rather than the consumer. So they are cost effective and provided on demand. On the other hand, they can be scaled up or down and automatically updated. There is another characteristic, which is its sharing nature. It means instances can be shared with multiple users (LaBarge, 2012). The centralized data support and efficient software license with the modest tools provide added benefits to its consumer.

 


Issues and its solutions:

Despite having many advantages associated with SaaS, it also has some other drawbacks:

  • Browser based risks: The foremost security issue is the users browser based risks. It means if the user visits some malicious and infected websites and his browser got infected and subsequent access to those SaaS applications leads to compromising data security. To avoid this type of threats, the consumer should use protective measure form infecting his browser by installing traditional antivirus or online protections based antivirus support.  Another way to prevent form potential threats is to use a particular browser for the SaaS applications (Martin-Flatin, 2014).
  • Network dependency: The SaaS software can be delivered only when the network is continuously available to the consumer. It means using SaaS based application; user should have internet connectivity to gain the benefits of SaaS. Even the network should be reliable and scalable one for better performances (Sotiriadis and Bessis, 2015).
  • Lack of Portability: Portability is the technique that a software can run and work in any environment whether it can be any vendor like Windows, Linux, Mac eperating system. In case of SaaS, transferring applications form one platform to another one becomes an issue sometime to the provider. So, portability between different SaaS clouds troubles the provider under specific condition (Rountree and Castrillo, 2014).
  • SOA and open SaaS: Open SaaS uses SaaS software that are developed using some open source programming language (Soto, 2013). These can be used as well as operated in any platform and database. Open SaaS has some additional benefits:
    • No license
    • Low installation cost
    • Less vendor lock-in
    • More portable applications ( platform independent)
    • Effective robust solution

The following diagram shows the SaaS implementation based on SOA which is called as service based or oriented architecture

 

Figure 2.5: SaaS implementation on SOA

(Source: Willian, 2011, p.154)

This architecture shows the overall methodology and its implementation of SaaS on SOA.

 

2.5 Concept of cloud based ERP:

Cloud based ERP is an advanced solution with the facilities of cloud computing like flexibility, large storage space, and different supportive models, easy to access from anywhere having internet connectivity. In an easy way, it is a method to organize various resource planning (ERP) that use cloud computing platforms and services to a business organization with more robustness and efficiency (Arbel and Donchin, 2009).

Cloud_based_ERP_System

Figure 2.6: Cloud based ERP system

(Source: Deshmukh, 2012, p.89)

 In this technology FMCG use cloud accounting software for their account related purposes. This not only helps the business process but also make ease of data accountability that unlocks the business potential (Wilson, 2014). Even when any particular retail companies inretail sector in United Kingdom choose to approve Google android or any other platform like Windows, Mac, Linux, a cloud ERP solution Acumatica can go with any one of all these giving a great advantage to the people of United Kingdom. Cloud based ERTP provide application scalability; reduce hardware cost rather than a traditional one. Even organization can chose their Cloud ERP delivery form any of these: SaaS, PaaS and LaaS (Slideshare.net, 2015). These reduced cost solution become effective for the mid size organizations. Even web based technology gives cloud based ERP a solution to access the applications from their browsers. However, the vulnerabilities of those browsers should be patched to maintain security goals to remain large amount of data confidential. Large amount of data stored in a daily manner in the FMCGs’ will help in the future for review purpose (Elragal and El Kommos, 2013).  Even client always look for the web-based cloud ERP software due to the reasons mentioned below:

 

Figure 2.7: Benefits of web, SaaS and Cloud technology

(Sources: Collins, 2014, p.89)

2.6 Effectiveness of cloud based ERP in retail sector

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is business management software, generally presented as a bunch of applications, that purpose to helps an organization to generate automatic data collection, storage, management, and analysis from different business sources like accounting, marketing, service delivery etc (Weng, 2014).  Using this method, owners and managers can get an incorporated real-time data of business processes, resources, and commitments. ERP simplify the flow of information between departments whereas integrating systems used in general platforms. In cloud-based ERP, the integrated data that collected from various resources can be analyzed for the future use in case of review needed. Even those data can be accessed from anywhere having internet connectivity (Chauhan and Jaiswal, 2015).

Even the storage capacity is much more rather than traditional one. On the other hand, the security features increased when a private cloud model is used. Different cloud services gives customers, an opportunity to choose from different cloud based models like SaaS, PaaS and IaaS based on the requirements. Web base cloud ERP solutions follow the SaaS model, which reduce the installation cost as well as the maintenance cost (Chhabra and Kumar, 2012).

The cloud-base ERP solutions allow increasing data securities comparing to traditional data base systems. Data security is ensured that the data are safe. The Cloud-base ERP solutions always supports 24*7 than traditional one. If create any issues, it can be solve rapidly (Sudarsanan, 2012).

2.7 Challenges in developing the Cloud Based ERP:

The retail sector of U.K. was dependent on traditional based ERP system before the implementation of cloud based ERP. The traditional systems were effective in the earlier nineties but during the late nineties the large amount data makes it impossible to the firms to track down all the activity as well transactions details. This issue become a major one in case of retail sectors of UK due to their expansions in different sector (Garg and Garg, 2014). This replacing methodology faces several challenges in different aspects:

Security and privacy: Security and privacy of information from these firms become the biggest challenges to cloud computing as well as the implementation methodology. Security policy, if compromised once loses faith of its user form its provider. These can be mitigated by applying proper security mechanisms like encryption, effective hardware and security applications (Albarakati, 2015).

Portability: The large amount of data sets collected every hour from the online analytics on the ERP may need extra storage in some cases, and then platform dependency can become a major issue to the retail companies of UK. Cloud based ERP may face some lock-in drawback of SaaS related to ERP systems. However, this problem yet not been solved due to the different providers different language using methodology (Olichney, 2012). Here the researcher tried to mitigate the problem as much as possible.

Interoperability: Cloud based ERP applications should be able to integrate with services or application forms another platform. The researcher made it possible via web-based services, but writing web based scripts become a complex matter to the programmer (Rana, 2014).

Computing performance: Data that reside in cloud can be reviewed to check some previous transaction details. So a better and efficient computing performance is needed to set up an cloud based ERP solution for a retailer or an FMCG (Wagner and Yezril, 2013).

Reliability and Network availability: It is necessary for the cloud based ERP solution to be reliable and robust for better performance. So network availability becomes an issue. Even most of the business like this dependent on the services provided by vendor or third party (Rivard and Aubert, 2012).

Installation and Maintenance cost: The researcher faced many problems related to the installation and maintenance of cloud based ERP during this implementation. Even the hardware cost is much more including the cloud provider charges (Roman, 2010).

Inefficient experts: Less no of cloud experts become an issue to the installation of Cloud based ERP in retail sector of U.K. even auditing and maintenance of systems or applications became hectic (Pal, 2008).

2.8 Gaps in Literature:

In this literature overview, the researcher critically analysed the gaps or disadvantages regarding the Cloud based ERP installing in UK based Retail market according to statistics, 46% CFO (chief forensic officers) suffer from ERP software data inaccessibility. Complex structure and its methodology as well as its operational cost become a headache to the small size organizations. Even the maintenance cost increases with the time being. The adoption of new method of processing the business process in ERP requires time by the companies to adopt the changes made. While carrying out the research it is found that corporate governance and international business regulations need to be done properly in a yearly basis to else it could lead to data lost or data inefficiency. This gap can be burden in tracking down the details of consumer. Migration form a totally different platform to a new one was never easy to any organization. Therefore, it results of inadequate problems remained in this implementation made in United Kingdom retail business sector. Its complex supply chain process and financial operations need to be rigorously under observation. Robustness can become an issue if the setup not done properly. According to the researcher, vendor support plays a key role in the whole process. Pay per use charge on a monthly basis is not cost effective. Even integration between CRM or customer relationship management and the integration still create a gap in the whole architecture. Automation needed in the whole process. Even the researcher suggested not rushing integrating of CRM and ERP cloud data. Reliable Consumer size risks still became depends on the employees using cloud based ERP system in the organization (like browser based threats).According to the researcher based on the statistic, a messy gap still became remained managing the big data dilemma between CRM and ERP. Even customer reviews can be used to analyse the matter in depth.

2.9 Summary:

Based on the fact discussed above, big data in the cloud bridges the gap between the CRM and ERP. Though this cloud based ERP installation and its procedure is complex, but the data storing and extracting on these applications are in a well and most efficient manner. This technology benefitted from both cloud and ERP. It means its association resolves several issue regarding to legacy based systems as well as with the commercial ERP application running previously in small or mid-size organizations. Mainly large organizations or the large giant corporate switched from traditional ERP to cloud based ERP for more reliability and efficiency regarding data.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

3.0 Introduction:

For getting complete results of that process Research methodology helps as a reference in defining the best prominent approach that requires adoption. Research methodology’s application helps to understand the process which adopted in analysing the research decision. The researcher tried to implement each process with detail of the research methodology. The application of the relevant methodology would be helpful enough in establishing the ERP process of UK retail sectors like Sainsbury, ASDA, Morrison, etc.

3.1 Research Philosophy:

Research philosophy’s application helps for determining the proper manner for taking details about research topic. At the time when a research topic is conducting, the researcher undertakes research philosophy which helps to explain assumption process. To evaluate a specific topic the process of thinking can vary and also the selection of the research philosophy. The bigger and common forms of knowledge which is part of research philosophy are Realism, Positivism and Interpretivism (Preser, 2014).

3.1.1 Justification of Choosing Interpretivism Research paradigm

For this particular research study, the researcher has conducted the research among the different retail sectors in UK. The study is all about the establishment of the perception of cloud computing and the effectiveness of it in creating ERP System. The use of the Interpretivism philosophy is much relevant because; the research needs to contain the evaluation of the human psychology as well as the information gathered in relation with the subject matter. The obtained information is needed to be associated with the general knowledge and accordingly has to be presented with the addition of the proper relevance. The Interpretivism philosophy helps in presenting the information with the amalgamation of the perceived knowledge (Onwuegbuzie and Leech, 2009). Hence, the use of the Interpretivism paradigm is aptly justified here.

3.2 Research Approach

Approach for study of topic is required that the format needed to conduct study is come up. A particular topic can undertake for study in two big ways, either deductive or else inductive. Inductive way helps in study a research subject when enough information on the selected lone is not existing (Saunders et al. 2009). The first phase of inductive way is inspection that helps in taking related information as well as builds the path of the research consequently. Equally, deductive way is used like a procedure that describes the practical appliance of the theories premeditated to get access to content of the research document. Deductive way aims to construct a theory with extra specifications and concepts of information analysis (Salkind, 2010). Though, depending upon the environment of the study and research theme, the choice for research approach is made that can assist in better analysis of the theme.

3.2.1 Justification for selection of the chosen Approach

The research study is based on the effectiveness of cloud computing in enhancing the customer ERP in UK retail sectors. The study requires the elaboration of the subject matter by collecting the relevant information. The research requires the support of the different information about the subject from different source. Therefore, the use of the Inductive approach would be justified for this secondary analysis.

3.3 Research Design

 Research design helps in elucidation the structure of the research theme that will assist in selection of the collection and checking pattern. Kinds of research plan used in educational research pattern are probing, instructive and descriptive.

Kinds_of_Research_Design

Figure 3.1: Kinds of Research Design

(source: Ketchen and Bergh, 2011, p.145 )

3.3.1 Justification for selection of the chosen Design

Application of instructive was avoided because it supports the idea of longitudinal learn that was not probable with the exacting topic. Apart from that, reminiscent design was able to explain the detail process taken in the appliance of cloud computing in retail sector for enhancing the ERP system. The evaluation of the ERP system is also being justified accordingly. The extent of persuade imparted by retailing over the customer’s decision-making procedure is appropriately scrutinised with the help of evocative plan as being the selected research design (Harrison and Reilly, 2011).

3.4 Data Sources: Secondary

The secondary data collection is associated with the different information gathered from the different books, journals, websites, articles, and other secondary sources (Cameron, 2009). The subject is based on the impact of the cloud computing in UK retail sectors on the enhancements of the ERP System. The research requires the evaluation of the enriched data sources and the data authentication. The previous researchers have left the piece of work based on the similar research. Data derived from such sources would be effective enough in discussing the issues more specifically. Therefore, the polished and enriched data collection in this secondary research process would be relevant enough for this particular research.

3.5 Research Methods for data collection:

Research process is the helpful to gain the better data collection. Data is the known as collection of information, which is helpful in studying any research with good details and delivering the accurate result to this process and perfect format to the research work (Denk, 2010).

3.5.1 Laboratory measurement:

A laboratory measurement is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. In addition, this type of measurement is effective in analysing the logics behind conducting the research (Gobo, 2011). As the context of the research is revolving around technical research analysis, the adoption of laboratory measurement is very much effective for carrying out the current research.

3.5.2 Field Observation:

It is the observation that is analysed after applying the method of the research upon the research topic to peek over its effect. Therefore, the researcher observes about the applied techniques and research designs in the current research.

3.5.3 Collection of the Qualitative Information

The collection of the qualitative information helps in acquiring the quality information about the subject matter. In this process, different managers from different retail sectors will be answering the questions, which are helpful for analysing the key areas for the current research. The amalgamation of such information with the research topic would be establishing the relevancy in adding the prominent features to the study.

3.5.4 Archival Data:

These are the data that is derived and applied to carry out the current research from the books and journals. Furthermore, the data that is derived is also linked with the research analysed in this study.

3.5.6 Interviews:

The interview is conducted with the managers of different retail companies in UK, in order to derive the internal information of the organization that is not available or found in any of the resources. Therefore, these are the information that is also included in the research completing the requirement.

3.6 Population and Sampling techniques:

The collected information from the qualitative data analysis will be effective enough in justifying the key analysis of the subject matter. The population has been described in considering the number of the managers from different retail companies UK. Use of the non-probability sampling techniques will be effective enough in gathering information from the knowledgeable people who have been dealing with such scenario.

The information derived from the managers and the books or journals would contain of the enriched knowledge, which is helpful for the research study. The researcher would be able to gain the information about the strategic implementation in concerning the subject.

3.7 Ethical Consideration:

In research methodology process, a researcher necessary to follow a code of conduct that we helped in identifying the right and the wrong set of behaviours required to be adopted during the process. The researcher for analysing the effectiveness of the cloud computing for the enhancement of the ERP System tried to follow few ethical considerations that can be hel