Research Proposal: Digitization Impact on Retail Sector Sales

This research proposal examines the impact of digitization on sales and business performance within the retail sector, using Marks and Spencer as a case study. The proposal outlines research objectives, including defining digitization terminology, identifying platforms to enhance business performance, and analyzing the relationship between digital technology and sales. It details the research approach, including primary and secondary data collection methods, and specifies the use of an inductive approach. The proposal also includes a research ethics approval form, addressing participant recruitment, consent, data storage, and potential ethical concerns such as informed consent, confidentiality, and data security. The student aims to assess the significance of digitization in enhancing product and service sales within the retail industry.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
______________________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: ______________________________________________
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question,
objective or hypothesis)
To assess the significance of the digitization in order to improve sales of product and services in the retail sector: A case
study of Marks and Spencer
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What
do you want to learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
Research objective
To acknowledge the terminology of digitization within business enterprise
To identify several platforms that can use by retail sector in order to improve business performance
To analyze the relationship between the digital technology and sales of product and services in the retail sector
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are
studying, personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to
improve, why the topic is important):
The reason for choosing this topic is that there is lack of implementation of new
technology within the small enterprise. Along with this it also develops deep
understanding of researcher related to the technology.

Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective
or hypothesis:
As per the perspective of Aaker, (2011) innovation assumes an exceptionally urgent part in the business
setting by which each business movement can impact. In each practical office required successful
wellspring of innovations. Computerized innovation incorporates all sort of electronic hardware and
applications that utilization data in the firm of numeric code. In the computerized innovation, all
electronic gear utilize the data in type of numerical code. This data is for the most part in paired code.
Code that can be spoken to by string of just two numeric character..
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project
(e.g research, development and analysis of ideas,
writing, data collection, numerical analysis, tutor
meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation,
writing the report):
How long this
will take:

Milestone one: ___Design research proposal______________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: ____Preparing background of research___________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
For collecting the information both primary and secondary method will be used.
In primary researcher will ask question from 20 managers of the firm. On the
other side for secondary research investigator will collecting information from
book, journals and articles

What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use
and why?
Inductive approach will be used for the present research in which the
scholar will collect first general information then focus on specific one.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted
for another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the
use of data collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval
before commencing their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note
that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research
fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your
research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:

Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No✓
 Questionnaires Yes No✓
 Observations Yes No✓
 Use of personal records Yes ✓ No
 Data Analysis Yes ✓ No
 Action Research Yes No✓
 Focus Groups Yes No✓
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: ✓
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Participants be recruited through survey
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are
doing:
The processes you will use to inform participants is direct communication
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it
be made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at
any time?
In written form
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting
questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes ✓
No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues
arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for
their informed consent to be observed.
Yes ✓
No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a

brief explanation of the study)?
Yes ✓
No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study? (This
could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No✓
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with
the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes ✓
No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Only senior authority
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Management information system
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No✓
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Management information system
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Till its use
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
Yes No✓
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical
concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may
arise because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may
apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited to the following :
 Informed consent. ✓
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics

 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality ✓
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including
transfer, sharing, encryption, protection). ✓
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings. ✓
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and
Ethics Policy:
Yes ✓ No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit
Tutor:
Yes ✓ No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge: yes
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the
ethical issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to the Cohort Leader and a copy to
your supervisor only