Research Methods: E-commerce Impact on TESCO's Business Growth

This report investigates the impact of e-commerce on TESCO's business operations, focusing on its growth and integration strategies. It addresses the problem of formulating effective e-commerce strategies and declining sales in physical stores. The research employs a positivism philosophy and a deductive approach, utilizing systematic literature reviews and surveys for data collection. A descriptive research design and quantitative research choice are adopted, with frequency distribution analysis used for data evaluation. The study contributes new knowledge on e-commerce potential for small-scale grocery stores, especially post-COVID-19, and highlights the positive impact of e-commerce strategies on business growth and market reach. Data access is facilitated through TESCO employee respondents and secondary sources like books and publications. Desklib provides access to similar reports and study tools for students.

The impact of E-commerce on Business, in case of TESCO
Module Name: Research method for Dissertation Proposal
Word Count:

Table of Contents
Summary................................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background and Context..................................................................................................................4
1.2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................................4
1.3 Research Question...........................................................................................................................4
1.4 Literature Review.............................................................................................................................4
1.5 Research Aim...................................................................................................................................5
1.6 Research Objectives.........................................................................................................................6
1.7 Research Methodology....................................................................................................................6
1.8 Original Contribution.......................................................................................................................8
1.9 Impact Statement............................................................................................................................8
1.10 Access to Data Sources..................................................................................................................9
1.11 References...................................................................................................................................10

Summary
The current study has focused over collecting information about the impact of e-
commerce on the business operations of the grocery stores or supermarkets. This report has
included research methods to collect data so that aim and objectives can be achieved in a
systematic way.

1.1 Background and Context
E-commerce is the procedure of purchasing and selling goods and services with the
assistance of Internet. It is mainly conducted through tablets, computers, smart devices and
smart phones. In the current modern world, anything can be bought through e-commerce
today (Qing and Cheng, 2019). It is generally a substitute of brick-and-mortar stores, though
some organisations select to maintain both. The current study focuses over showing how
companies have grown with the emergence of e-commerce. This also covers how company
has integrated e-commerce in its business operations. This report has covered quantitative
research methods for the collection and analysis of systematic manner.
1.2 Problem Statement
The major problem identified in the current investigation is that company faces issue
in forming strategies of e-commerce to sell their products (Beckers and et. al., 2021). It is
also identified that company has faced issue in selling their products through physical stores
because people are more dependent over utilising online methods to purchase their needed
commodity and item. Thus, this becomes issue in the path of increasing sales.
1.3 Research Question
1.3.1 How TESCO grew in the past years under the impact of E-commerce?
1.3.2. How TESCO has integrated E-commerce in its business operations?
1.4 Literature Review
TESCO grew in the past years under the impact of E-commerce
According to Joy (2018), TESCO is one of the multinational corporations which is
based in the United Kingdom and it is specialised in general and grocery merchandise retail
sectors. E-commerce is one of the strategies adopted by TESCO to sell products and increase

the productivity level. In simpler words, company uses internet to sell products of TESCO
through internet. The rapid growth of internet has improved capacity of global consumers to
access company different commodities and products. TESCO has taken benefit of this
particular technology for advertising and supplying its different products through e-business
strategy. Several internal factors like strategic function and brand marketing have played
major role in successfully influencing e-business activities of TESCO. E-business strategies
of company have several strengths and weaknesses which it requires to deal with for
optimising its productivity and performance.
TESCO has integrated E-commerce in its business operations
According to Utama and et. al., (2022), TESCO has considerably strong competitors
in the general and grocery merchandise sector as denoted by its large market share. There is
31.6% share of the grocery market in the United Kingdom and it holds third position among
the available retailers. There is online platform of TESCO, Tesco.com which plays major role
in enhancing e-business activities of company. It allows large number of global customers for
buying and purchasing different products. E-Commerce stores of TESCO is helping company
to identify the needs and requirements of customers so that large number of audience could
be attempted. TESCO has also offered competitive prices for its variety of products. TESCO
has implemented an Internet-facilitated platform which has allowed existing as well as
potential customers to purchase products and services. Thus, with the help of e-commerce has
included talented and skilled employees in the organisation and improve the efficiency of
whole business operations.
1.5 Research Aim
To identify the impact of e-commerce over business operations within retail industry.
A study on TESCO

1.6 Research Objectives
1.6.1 To determine how TESCO grew in the past years under the impact of E-commerce?
1.6.2 To examine how TESCO has integrated E-commerce in its business operations
1.7 Research Methodology
It is the method which provides information of research methods for the proper
accumulation and analysis of information. Saunders research onion framework will be
followed by investigator so that defined aim and objectives could be achieved.
Research Philosophy: It is the method that provides certain rules and principles for
the systematic evaluation and examination of assembled piece of information. It has two main
forms which are: positivism and interpretivism philosophy. Investigator will select positivism
philosophy so that numerical data can be evaluated and examined in a precise way. The major
benefit of positivism philosophy is that it only evaluates data that has numerical terms, facts
and figures (Snyder, 2019).
Research Approach: The approach is of two important types which are: inductive and
deductive approach. Investigator will choose deductive approach as it is directly linked with
the analysis and evaluation of data which is in numerable form. Deductive approach
considers established theory and concept for the systematic evaluation and examination
statistical figures and facts (Mohajan, 2018). The main benefit of deductive approach is that it
saves limited time of the research and carries out apt results by using established theory.
Thus, with deductive approach, researcher aims at attaining pre-defined objectives in timely
and systematic way.
Research Strategy: The strategy is of several major kinds which help in the
accumulation of appropriate and relevant data. The different forms include: case study, action

research, survey, interview, systematic literature review, focus group, observation etc.
Investigator will select systematic literature review and survey as prominent research
strategies (Cr, K., 2020). With the help of systematic literature review, investigator will
attempt to accumulate secondary data through sources like books, articles, journals,
newspapers, publications etc. On the other hand, with the assistance of survey investigator
will assemble numerical and raw information. The main benefit of survey strategy is that it
facilitates in collecting information by directly approaching each participant.
Research Design: The design is the research method that assists in collecting,
analysing and interpreting information in a systematic way. The design is of several kinds
however the current investigation will be based upon descriptive research design. Descriptive
research design mainly focuses over collecting, interpreting and analysing numerical piece of
information (Zangirolami-Raimundo, Echeimberg and Leone, 2018). The major benefit of
descriptive research design is that it focuses over obtaining data to systematically explain
selected situation as well as population. In the current investigation, the situation is impact of
E-commerce over the business of TESCO. Thus, descriptive research design will be used by
researcher so relevancy and accuracy of the study could be maintained.
Research Choice: The choice is the research method that determines the type of
information required to be assembled for achieving pre-defined objectives and questions of
the proposed study (Nayak and Singh, 2021). It has two kinds which are: qualitative and
quantitative research choice. Investigator will be choosing quantitative choice because it
attempts to collect numerical figures and facts. The main benefit of quantitative choice is that
it it more relevant, reliable and accurate.
Data Collection: It is the method of data collection that provides two kinds which are:
primary and secondary data collection. Researcher will choose primary method to accumulate

raw data and for this questionnaire will be developed (Bairagi and Munot, 2019). On the
other hand, secondary method will be chosen to collect second-hand data directly from the
different platforms. Some of the secondary sources are: books, newspapers, magazines,
publications, conducted interview, questionnaire etc.
Sampling: It is the method which has two forms which are: probability and non-
probability sampling. Researcher will choose probability sampling so that large number of
representatives can be selected and data can be gathered. 30 employees will be selected from
TESCO.
Data Analysis: It is the research method used for analysing and evaluating
information. Frequency distribution analysis will be used by researcher to analyse and
evaluate information in a systematic way.
1.8 Original Contribution
The current investigation will support carried out literature review through conducting
primary investigation. This will give current study a broader light about the proposed
research topic. It is also determined in the current study that companies are forming strategies
of E-commerce after determining and identifying needs and requirements of their existing as
well as potential customers. The new knowledge taken out with the present study is that e-
commerce has great potential for small scale grocery stores also because due to outbreak of
global pandemic COVID-19 people have mindset that they get their needed products at their
door step.
1.9 Impact Statement
The present study will have great impact over economy because this study shows that
how an organisation increases its profit and revenue level. With the assistance of e-commerce
strategies, company increases its purchasing and selling of products to national as well as

international market (Trevlopoulou, 2018). The present investigation will have positive
impact on companies as they can easily understand how e-commerce strategies develop their
business.
1.10 Access to Data Sources
Researcher will get access from the selected organisation i.e. TESCO because employees
from this organisation are selected as human respondents. These employees are chosen
because they are the right people to provide right information for attaining pre-defined aim
and objectives of the study. The present study also relies upon secondary sources for the
accumulation of information in a systematic way. In these secondary sources are selected
such as books, newspapers, articles, publication and many more for the collection of apt
second-hand information.

1.11 References
Bairagi, V. and Munot, M.V. eds., 2019. Research methodology: A practical and scientific
approach. CRC Press.
Beckers and et. al., 2021. Incorporating E‐commerce into Retail Location
Models. Geographical Analysis.
Cr, K., 2020. Research methodology methods and techniques.
Joy, J., Implication of the cyber threats and its issues in the business process organization; A
case study of Tesco.
Mohajan, H.K., 2018. Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related
subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1), pp.23-48.
Nayak, J.K. and Singh, P., 2021. Fundamentals of research methodology problems and
prospects. SSDN Publishers & Distributors.
Qing, C. and Cheng, Z., 2019. The Development Modes and Strategic Advice of Cross-
Boarder E-Commerce in China.
Snyder, H., 2019. Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and
guidelines. Journal of business research, 104, pp.333-339.
Trevlopoulou, E., 2018. Internet of Things and how could affect E-commerce and Retail
businesses.
Utama and et. al., 2022. A Research on Tesco's Consumer Purchasing Behavior towards E-
Commerce during the Pandemic Period. International Journal of Accounting &
Finance in Asia Pasific (IJAFAP), 5(1), pp.53-63.
Zangirolami-Raimundo, J., Echeimberg, J.D.O. and Leone, C., 2018. Research methodology
topics: Cross-sectional studies. Journal of Human Growth and Development, 28(3),
pp.356-360.