Evaluating the Impact of Maritime Infrastructure on SIDS' Wellbeing

The study examines the resilience of maritime infrastructure in SIDS, focusing on how these critical systems can be fortified to withstand various challenges. Drawing from a comprehensive literature review and data analysis, it highlights current vulnerabilities and suggests policy-driven solutions. By integrating insights from marine engineering and environmental science, this research aims to contribute to sustainable development goals by ensuring robust infrastructures that support economic stability and community wellbeing in SIDS.

Running head: RESEARCH METHOD AND BUSINESS STUDIES
Research Method for Business Studies
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction:................................................................................................................................2
2. Research objectives:....................................................................................................................2
3. Research question:.......................................................................................................................3
4. Literature review:.........................................................................................................................3
5. Research design:..........................................................................................................................7
5.1 Research philosophy..................................................................................................................7
5.2 Research approach.....................................................................................................................8
5.3 Research design.........................................................................................................................9
5.4 Sampling technique:..................................................................................................................9
6. Data collection and analysis:.....................................................................................................10
7. Time scale:.................................................................................................................................11
8. Conclusion:................................................................................................................................12
Reference List:...............................................................................................................................13
Appendix:......................................................................................................................................17

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Topic: Impact of Inter atoll ferry system in Laamu Atoll for business expansion in
Maldives
1. Introduction:
Laamu Atoll is the administrative division of Maldives that handles the entire Inter atoll
ferry system for maintaining Maldives’ logistics division. Maldives is gradually becoming one
of the fastest tropical nations composed by 26 atolls. With the gradual progress of civilization,
countries are expanding their economical strength and flexibility by making business
enhancements. Maldives is not exceptional to that. This particular nation has expanded their
entire process of business by maintaining an effective import system. The inter ferry system of
Maldives has made the business experts flexible for maintaining logistics and shipping problems.
Laamu Atoll is the primary administration that handles the entire inter ferry system. This
particular administration is successful enough in handling the entire inter water transportation
system. On one hand, the business experts after maintaining their logistics through ferry system
do not invest large amount of money for the dealing with the situation. On the other, the business
experts can maintain import and export system within stipulated time. Inter ferry transportation is
very fast and systematic with the help of which the organizations can save their time as well.
This specific study has focused to make an in-depth evaluation about the impact of Inter atoll
ferry system in Laamu Atoll for business expansion in Maldives. Various factors that affect in
maintaining ferry system of Laamu Atoll have also been highlighted in this very specific study.
2. Research objectives:
Different researchers and scholars have provided their own opinion regarding the impact
of inter ferry system in Laamu Atoll. After the initiation of water transportation large number of

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business organizations get high benefits and facilities in maintaining their supply chain process
due to low cost water transportation system. Therefore, the primary objectives of this research
proposal are as follows:
 To critically evaluate the impact of Inter atoll ferry system in Laamu Atoll for business
expansion in Maldives
 To critically understand the major factors that highly affect in maintaining import and export
business though ferry system
 To provide some of the major recommendations on how to overcome the barriers of
maintaining import through inter ferry system
3. Research question:
 What is the impact of Inter atoll ferry system in Laamu Atoll for business expansion in
Maldives
 What is the major factors that highly affect in maintaining import and export business though
ferry system
 What should be the major recommendations on how to overcome the barriers of maintaining
import through inter ferry system
4. Literature review:
Moosa (2016) opine that the economic structure of Maldives is contributed mostly by the
import services. It is notable that Maldives has been the most preferable destination for the
sophisticated and most efficient logistic services. The logistic department recognizes the
necessity of maintaining the integrated logistic process in Maldives that has made the country

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capturing the leading position in this industry. Over the years, the considerable growth in the
industry is catering the dynamic customers. The literature study would discuss the impact of the
ferry system for fulfilling the expectations from the inventory and logistic procurement. The
fruitfulness of the business expansion in Maldives would also be critically evaluated in this
literature study.
Atoll ferry Systems
Jain (2013) stated that Maldives is a country that grouped into 21 administrative atolls in
almost 1190 islands. These atolls are stretched along almost 860 kilometer of length and 80 to
120 kilometer in width. It is noticed that the spatial configuration of the islands is varied from
one atoll to another, population numbers, sizes, and distances between the islands. Due to the
extensive width in the country, the sea transportation is dominant mode of transportation system
in the country. Apart from the sea transportation, other methods of transferring goods or people
are the toad and air transports. The private boats of Maldives are designed to maintain such sea
transportation services and it is mostly dedicated for moving fishing vessels and cargos. It is
noticeable that there are four major operational airports exist in Maldives in which two of them
are international and remaining are the domestic airports.
Some of the airports are under the current development plan due to which the ferry
systems or the sea transportations are the main mean of transferring the goods and services. The
sea transportation process is developed under a transportation network, which is designed as a
type of a loop. As stated by Shreepathi, Naik and Vattipalli (2012), this loop is quite efficient
than the hub-and-spoke types in the medium traffic areas. Inter-atoll is one of these forms of
ferry services that connect the major islands to each of the atolls within a particular region. It is

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one of the most effective and helpful ferry transport network that is build up on adequate
capacity of labors, terminals, and jetties. The terminal areas are generally developed in the
activities that are fruitful enough in gathering revenues and sustain the operational process of the
ferries.
Impact of Ferry System in transporting goods in Maldives
In Maldives, it has been observed that the islands are remotely located from one another.
Such transport systems creates the clear connection between the islands. Maldives is a place
where sea separates the islands. Therefore, it is essential to establish the sea transport systems to
create the link between the islands. Zhang (2012) opined that the ferry services are highly
demanding in almost every atoll in Maldives. However, currently, it is reported that the number
of the regular transports for linking the remote atolls to the islands are very less. The regular
ferry services are provided between the close and male by the islands. It is notable that the ferry
system has the significant impacts on the sea transportation process. The frequency of these
services is making the import process much efficient with time. However, it is noticed that the
frequent ferry services are available to create the connection between the capital Male and the
airport.
Challenges faced due to the ferry services in Maldives
Even though the ferry services have been creating the enormous impact on the economic
structure of Maldives, it has several limitations as well. Li et al., (2014) opined that the major
issue found in the ferry system of Maldives is the environmental pollution. It has been observed
that the environment in Maldives comprise the complex and delicate series of the ecosystems,
which are quite unique to the tropical world. In current scenario, it is noticed that the

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development of the ferry systems has been affecting the biodiversity to some extent. One of the
major environmental issues is the beach erosion. The islands are much transient in Maldives.
These beaches are rapidly building and eroding, which is considered as a widespread problem.
Due to the continuous usage of the ferry system, the beach erosion increases much significantly
(Yang et al, 2014). Another most considerable issue is land reclamation. Reclamation refers to
the means of creating new lands, which represent a capital-intensive solution. This solution helps
in increasing the physical carrying capacity of any particular island in Maldives. These specific
issues are quite considerable in terms of managing the ferry services in Maldives. On the other
hand, the government legislations and the legal acts are quite the important factor for developing
the ferry services at the atolls.
Summary
The chapter discloses the impacts of the ferry services in Maldives. The chapter discloses
the effectiveness of the sea transportation in Maldives. Shi et al., (2013) opined that the logistic
department recognizes the necessity of maintaining the integrated logistic process in Maldives
that has made the country capturing the leading position in this industry. Over the years, the
considerable growth in the industry is catering the dynamic customers. The exploration of the
literature study provides the knowledge about the efficient ferry system has the most contribution
in developing the logistic process. The sea transportation process is developed under a
transportation network, which is designed as a type of a loop. This loop is quite efficient than the
hub-and-spoke types in the medium traffic areas. Inter-atoll is one of these forms of ferry
services that connect the major islands to each of the atolls within a particular region. In addition
to this, it is also notable that the effects created on the environment are the major limitations in
establishing the atoll services in Maldives islands. However, it can be implied that in terms of

7RESEARCH METHOD AND BUSINESS STUDIES
importing the goods or establishing the effective logistic system, the dependence on the ferry
services would be feasible in Maldives. The obtained ideas from the secondary information
would help in conducting the further research study and making the considerable implications
accordingly.
5. Research design:
Research design is one of the most effective processes of accomplishing the entire
process of research paper systematically. People belonging to different geographical boundaries
and psychological backgrounds are involved for collecting their response regarding the research
issue (Morrissey & O’Donoghue, 2013). Research design primarily helps a researcher to acquire
knowledge and information about appropriate data and information with the help of different
methodological tools. This very specific study focuses to use appropriate research philosophy,
approach and design for organizing the entire research issue in a systematic manner. The
justification of using appropriate methodological tools has also been provided in this very
specific study.
5.1 Research philosophy
Research philosophy is the systematic process of evaluating the data and information
based on conceptual facts and theoretical framework. By making an in-depth keen observation
with the help of psychological approaches, the researcher is successful in evaluating data and
information from various resources. Research philosophy is primarily constituted with three
different ways including positivism, interpretivism and realism. Positivism research philosophy
primarily aims to evaluate appropriate data and information by conducting a keen observation on
the research issue (Jiang, Zhou & Sharma, 2013). This very specific study prefers to choose

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positivism research philosophy as this specific method enables the researcher for making a keen
observation on the study. In order to accomplish the entire research work a repeated observation
is highly important. In addition, positivism philosophy is not very cost effective. The researcher
can complete the evaluation process within stipulated time. On the other hand, interpretivism
research philosophy is dependent on the interpretation done by the researcher after collecting
appropriate data (Geffard et al, 2012). In order to evaluate the impact of inter ferry system in
Laamu Atoll the researcher do not focus on interpretivism philosophy. At the same, realism
philosophy is highly cost effective based on which the researcher would have to wait for long
time in collecting proper evidence of research issue.
5.2 Research approach
Research approach primarily aims to analyze the entire database of research issue based
on different theoretical frameworks (Panasiuk, Lebedevas & Čerka, 2016). Research approach is
of two major types including deductive research approach and inductive research approach.
Deductive research approach is highly based on existing theories where the researcher has to
analyze data based on existing case studies (Elliott, 2012). On the other hand, inductive approach
is highly experimental. In this very specific research method, the entire data is evaluated based
on innovative theories that represent the research issue. This very specific study has focused to
make detailed evaluation on how deductive approach is significant for dealing with the research
issue like the impact of inter ferry system in Laamu Atoll. Based on the different case studies of
transport services of Maldives the study has focused to make in-depth evaluation on how ferry
transportation system leaves a major positive impact on the overall business expansion. The
deductive approach is not very much time consuming as this particular method enables an
individual for collecting data based on the existing theoretical approaches (Baldauf et al., 2014).

9RESEARCH METHOD AND BUSINESS STUDIES
At the same time, inductive approach is very much cost effective as this very specific study is
highly based on the new theatrical approaches.
5.3 Research design
Research design is the method of organizing the process of study by maintaining
systematic flow (Lowe, 2016). Descriptive research design, explanatory and exploratory design
are the three major types of this specific method. In order to evaluate the impact of inter ferry
system in Laamu Atoll the researcher would like to select descriptive research design (Noreikis,
Butkus & Nurminen, 2014). This very specific method is highly dependent on the description
received from the data resources. In this method, the researcher does not get the scope of
interpreting research issue in own point of view. On the other hand, explanatory research method
and exploratory research method both are interpretative. Here, the researcher gets the scope to
make a self-evaluation by analyzing the case study.
5.4 Sampling technique:
Sampling technique allows a specific individual to collect data and information from
large number of population. This method primarily is constituted with two major types including
probability sampling method and non-probability sampling method. Probability sampling
method is highly effective that involves the respondents randomly (Hydes et al., 2012). On the
other hand, non-probability sampling technique involves very specific number of respondents for
collecting appropriate data and information. This very specific study has focused to choose non-
probability sampling technique as this particular method involves the employees from inter ferry
transportation industry (John & Nwaoha, 2016). Those particular respondents would be able to

10RESEARCH METHOD AND BUSINESS STUDIES
give appropriate response to the researcher on how they have to face challenges in maintaining
water transportation in the supply chain process.
6. Data collection and analysis:
Data collection is the systematic process of gathering appropriate data and information
from different reliable sources. Data collection technique is of two primary types including
primary sense of data method and secondary source of data method (Gebreiter & Ferry, 2016).
Primary source of data method enables the researcher to collect data by making direct
interaction. On the other hand, secondary source of data collection method is based on books,
magazines, online websites and newspapers (Hydes et al., 2014). This very specific study has
focused to make primary source of data collection technique in order to get an immediate
response from the participants. With the help of quantitative form of research technique, the
study focuses to conduct an effective survey method by involving 50 employees associated with
the ferry transportation industry. As a result, the researcher has directly involved the participants
for collecting their necessary responses.
Data analysis:
Data analysis is the most significant procedure of analyzing collected data with the help
of different form of analytical tools. As this specific study would like to conduct the research
based on quantitative form of data analysis technique the research would like to follow several
tools (Haller et al., 2016). Primarily, regression analysis, ANNOVA, Hypothesis testing, SPSS
and centric are the necessary ways of analysis appropriate data and information. However, this
very specific study has focused to use centric technique in order to conduct the entire research
work systematically.

11RESEARCH METHOD AND BUSINESS STUDIES
7. Time scale:
An effective time scale is prepared on how to conduct the research proposal. In this very
specific part, the study has provided detailed overview of proposed timeframe based on which
entire research paper would be made:
Serial No. Activities Start Date End Date Duration
1. Selection of topic 06/10/2017 08/08/2017 3
2. Formulation of aim and objectives 09/10/2017 10/08/2017 2
3. Literature review 11108/2017 20/08/2017 10
4. Research methodology 21/10/2017 24/08/2017 4
5. Data collection 25/10/2017 1/08/2017 8
6. Data analysis 02/11/2017 07/09/2017 7
7. Conclusion 08/11/2017 10/09/2017 3
8. Final submission 11/11/2017 ------- 1
Table 1: Gnatt Chart
(As created by the Author)
Selection of topic
Formulation of aim and objectives
Literature review
Research methodology
Data collection
Data analysis
Conclusion
Final submission
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3
2
10
4
8
7
3
1
Duration