Design And Development Of An Online Shopping System For Newport Supermarket1.0 AbstractMany products have come to actually cost cheaper online. For instance, if you call any company’s toll free centre agent, recorded human voice will redirect you to the specific company’s website online system, where one may accomplish his entire shopping task. Online shopping systems have enabled their users to gain competitive prices through offering comparisons among the many systems availed on the internet.

To provide Newport consumers with the competitive advantages associated with online systems, the researcher developed an online shopping system for this upcoming retail Chinese supermarket, which has expanded its market by opening a UK branch.

The system was customized to suit personal needs (the needs of UK consumers and the management of the supermarket). It should be noted that the researcher developed the system with the intention of achieving his M-Commerce requirements as well as offering it (at a fee) to the Newport management.

Table of Contents

TOC o “1-6” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437412” 1.0 Abstract PAGEREF _Toc376437412 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437413” 3.0 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc376437413 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437414” 3.1 Project Background PAGEREF _Toc376437414 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437415” 3.2 Motivation and Overview PAGEREF _Toc376437415 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437416” 3.3 Overview PAGEREF _Toc376437416 h 5

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437417” 3.4 Target markets PAGEREF _Toc376437417 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437418” 3.5 Purpose or aim of the project PAGEREF _Toc376437418 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437419” 3.6 Objectives of the online shopping system PAGEREF _Toc376437419 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437420” 3.7 Project hypothesis PAGEREF _Toc376437420 h 7

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437421” 3.8 Project deliveries PAGEREF _Toc376437421 h 8

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437422” 4.0 Achieving objectives/ Research Procedure PAGEREF _Toc376437422 h 8

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437423” 4.1 The study population PAGEREF _Toc376437423 h 9

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437424” 4.2 Sampling Technique: Random Sampling Technique PAGEREF _Toc376437424 h 9

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437425” 4.3 Main Sources of Research Data PAGEREF _Toc376437425 h 10

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437426” 4.4 Primary Data Collection Methods PAGEREF _Toc376437426 h 10

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437427” 4.4.1 Questionnaires PAGEREF _Toc376437427 h 11

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437428” 4.4.1.1 Advantages of using questionnaires PAGEREF _Toc376437428 h 11

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437429” 4.4.1.2 Disadvantages of Questionnaires PAGEREF _Toc376437429 h 12

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437430” 4.4.2 Interviews PAGEREF _Toc376437430 h 13

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437431” 4.4.2.1 Face to Face Interview PAGEREF _Toc376437431 h 14

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437432” 4.4.2.2 Telephone Interviews PAGEREF _Toc376437432 h 14

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437433” 4.5 Secondary sources PAGEREF _Toc376437433 h 14

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437434” 4.5.1 Advantages of the Secondary Sources PAGEREF _Toc376437434 h 15

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437435” 3.5.2 Setbacks from the use of secondary sources PAGEREF _Toc376437435 h 15

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437436” 5.0 Review of Project Data PAGEREF _Toc376437436 h 16

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437437” 5.1 Use of online systems in Electronic and mobile commerce PAGEREF _Toc376437437 h 16

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437438” 5.2 User characteristics PAGEREF _Toc376437438 h 16

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437439” 5.3 Demographic characteristics PAGEREF _Toc376437439 h 17

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437440” 5.4 Psychographics PAGEREF _Toc376437440 h 18

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437441” 5.5 User Perceptions PAGEREF _Toc376437441 h 19

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437442” 5.6 Online systems and user characteristics PAGEREF _Toc376437442 h 19

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437443” 6.0 Project findings PAGEREF _Toc376437443 h 20

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437444” Table 3 showing the levels of quality PAGEREF _Toc376437444 h 22

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437445” 7.0 Data Presentation and analysis PAGEREF _Toc376437445 h 22

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437446” 8.0 Key components in the system design phase PAGEREF _Toc376437446 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437447” 8.1 Homepage PAGEREF _Toc376437447 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437448” 8.2 Suggestion Page PAGEREF _Toc376437448 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437449” 8.3 All Classification PAGEREF _Toc376437449 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437450” 8.4 Support/Help PAGEREF _Toc376437450 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437451” 8.5 Contact Us Page PAGEREF _Toc376437451 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437452” 8.6 Advanced search page PAGEREF _Toc376437452 h 24

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437453” 8.7 Payment section PAGEREF _Toc376437453 h 25

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437454” 9.0 A SWOT Analysis of Newport Supermarket based on the developed online system PAGEREF _Toc376437454 h 25

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437455” 9.1 Strengths PAGEREF _Toc376437455 h 25

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437456” 9.1.1 Many potential customers PAGEREF _Toc376437456 h 25

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437457” 9.1.2 Diversification or generalization PAGEREF _Toc376437457 h 26

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437458” 9.1.3 Enhanced customer communication PAGEREF _Toc376437458 h 26

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437459” 9.1.4 The automatic billing system PAGEREF _Toc376437459 h 27

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437460” 9.1.5 Provision of search services PAGEREF _Toc376437460 h 28

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437461” 9.1.6 Good support system PAGEREF _Toc376437461 h 28

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437462” 9.1.7 Best offers PAGEREF _Toc376437462 h 29

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437463” Newport supermarket has come up some unique offers to win on its customers. For instance, the company offers free delivery services to any consumer whose purchase budget exceeds 10 UK pounds. PAGEREF _Toc376437463 h 29

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437464” 9.1.8 Attractive display PAGEREF _Toc376437464 h 29

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437465” 9.2 Weaknesses PAGEREF _Toc376437465 h 30

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437466” 9.2.1 Wishes of “illiterate” consumers ignored PAGEREF _Toc376437466 h 30

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437467” 9.2.2 Language barrier PAGEREF _Toc376437467 h 30

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437468” Screenshot 7 showing the original language in which the system was developed from PAGEREF _Toc376437468 h 30

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437469” 9.3 Opportunities PAGEREF _Toc376437469 h 30

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437470” 9.3.1 Global exposure PAGEREF _Toc376437470 h 30

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437471” 9.3.2 High Availability PAGEREF _Toc376437471 h 31

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437472” 9.3.3 Retail industry growth PAGEREF _Toc376437472 h 31

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437473” 9.3.4 The growing brand recognition for Chinese foods PAGEREF _Toc376437473 h 31

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437474” 9.3.5 The increasing market share PAGEREF _Toc376437474 h 31

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437475” 9.4 Threats PAGEREF _Toc376437475 h 31

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437476” 9.4.1 Unpredictability of online systems PAGEREF _Toc376437476 h 31

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437477” 9.4.2 Stiff competition PAGEREF _Toc376437477 h 32

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437478” 9.4.3 Fraud PAGEREF _Toc376437478 h 32

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437479” 9.4.4 Dynamic technological changes PAGEREF _Toc376437479 h 32

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437480” 9.4.5 Fear of future legislations PAGEREF _Toc376437480 h 32

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437481” 10.0 Newport Supermarket marketing plan/ strategy PAGEREF _Toc376437481 h 33

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437482” Newport supermarket has adopted various marketing strategies to ensure that its goal of winning on UK consumers is achieved. The strategies implemented by the developed online can be well discussed under marketing mix as demonstrated below. PAGEREF _Toc376437482 h 33

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437483” 10.1 Product strategies PAGEREF _Toc376437483 h 33

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437484” 10.2 Pricing Strategies PAGEREF _Toc376437484 h 33

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437485” 10.3 Promotional Strategies PAGEREF _Toc376437485 h 34

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437486” 10.4 Distribution strategies PAGEREF _Toc376437486 h 34

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437487” 11.0 Developing the system PAGEREF _Toc376437487 h 35

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437488” 12.0 Project timeframe PAGEREF _Toc376437488 h 35

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437489” Table4 showing the projected timeframe for the project PAGEREF _Toc376437489 h 36

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437490” 13.0 Project challenges PAGEREF _Toc376437490 h 36

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437491” 14.0 Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc376437491 h 36

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437492” 15.0 References PAGEREF _Toc376437492 h 37

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376437493” 16.0 Appendix PAGEREF _Toc376437493 h 38

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Project BackgroundThe use of electronic commerce through information and communication sharing technologies has been rampant in the globally competitive business market (Hemlata & Jain, 2001, p.17). The scales of online-shopping have continued to accelerate at doubling growth rates. For instance, as Lee (2010) noted, “in 2005, the scale of online shopping market in America reached up to 165 billion dollars, grew to 200 billion dollars in the following year and was estimated to hit 316 billion by the year 2010 (p.84).

In applying the principles and practices manifest in the electronic commerce; mobile-commerce major, the researcher chose to analyze, design and develop a working online system for an emerging multinational Chinese food retailer-Newport Supermarket. Though established in China, Newport supermarket has expressed its intention to go global in selling Chinese foods. This has been as a result of the shifting demand towards Chinese foods across the World. As Gale (2002) noted, Purchases of Chinese dairy products, fish, poultry, aquatic drinks, wine, soft drinks, aquatic products, soybeans, corn and other processed products had continued to increase at a rapid pace (p.1).

As the name suggests, this Chinese supermarket is going to establish its first retail store in Newport city, UK. The choice of a local name was made with the main intention of wooing customers to the multi-national chain store.

3.2 Motivation and OverviewThe internet and mobile technology have shifted the concentration of business to technology related platform where by businesses are designed and operated via these technologies. Most businesses have therefore gone electronic. However, electronic businesses on mobile forms have therefore come to be commonly called mobile commerce. Mobile commerce according to Weinhardt, Stefan and Jochen (2008) can be considered to be “any direct or indirect transaction performed using a mobile device such as a cell phone or a personal digital helpant (PDA)” (p.52). Mobile commerce have therefore emerged as a new channel of electronic commerce and as such, it has received widespread attentions of both academia and business fraternity. Mobile commerce is therefore viewed as a new giant wave of technology evolution. Several studies have therefore been advanced to help generate new or explore the already existing body of knowledge.

In addition, note that integration of mobile commerce with electronic commerce is likely to increase competitive advantage of any business including small entities like retail ventures. This is so since mobile commerce provides instant response to customer queries. However, it is also relevant to remember that security is a crucial issue that needs to be considered when developing any system that needs to run on mobile platform due to their extranet applications. These systems need to be robust so that they can withstand any security breaches that come with mobile commerce.

In respect to these, the developments taking place in the electronic commerce field motivated the researcher. As a student majoring in mobile commerce, the researcher wanted to make an online shopping system for Newport Supermarket which at present has not transformed its services to an online operation.

3.3 OverviewMobile commerce use mobile related technologies such as short message services (SMS) which is provided by Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GPRS) or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) (Sebola & Penzhorn, 2010). Increased interests in mobile commerce have been inspired by the growth in internet technology, electronic commerce and advance of wireless technology where people are able to gain access to online services at any place, using any compatible technological device at any time. Wireless technology have therefore boosted growth in technology where by people are now able to gain access to online services even from the remote parts of the world.

Business ventures are therefore established to serve a given clientele in the market. However, it is the desire and wish of any business owner to be able to reach and access many customers. Both potential and real customers need to be reached to have customer continuity in business operations. It is therefore a common trend for business entities to go online with their businesses to have a bigger niche to broaden their operation landscape. Newport Supermarket which has not embraced online technology should therefore go with the trends on the market to remain relevant and to maintain its competitive advantage in their operations.

3.4 Target marketsThe online system to be created is to be used by the all English-speaking customer in Newport, London and the neighboring cities of UK. Besides the market segment described above, the proposed online system aim to sell the Chinese food to any willing client; that is clients any part of the world willing to purchase its food items and pay the necessary shipment costs.

3.5 Purpose or aim of the project

The aim of this project was to analyze, design and develop an online purchasing system cum website for the expanding Newport supermarket chain store; to help both the customers and the chain store to maximize fully on the many advantages manifest in the modern day communication and information sharing technologies.

3.6 Objectives of the online shopping systemTo analyze the current shifting market trends towards Chinese foodstuffs

To sample part of the UK customers and study their demographic trends and behaviors towards Chinese foodstuffs

To sketch or design a sitemap of the online system to be developed based on the identified needs of the customers

To develop a prototype of the online system to be developed by use of one application language (Java in my case)

To connect the prototype online and perform tests on it using a few selected users to determine to determine its suitability.

To identify the weaknesses in the prototype as displayed through the difficulties as expressed by the users.

To improve on the prototype by developing the final system

Present the final system to the school and (if possible) bid to sell it to Newport supermarket

3.7 Project hypothesisThe hypothesis used in this project emanated from the need to create an online working system to help in the many business transactions that exist in the current competitive markets. During his course study, the researcher identified many challenges that affected today’s small scale businesses especially in their expansion efforts. As search, the research identified Newport supermarket as to act as his case study. The researcher went on to on a mission collect data from consumers of Chinese food in the UK as well as Newport top management on their preferences and their experience with using online systems. From the findings established, the researcher hypothesizes that developing an error-free online system will go a long way in helping the small-scale multinational retailer (in this case Newport) to win on more customers as well as perform online sales transactions with distantly-located clients.

3.8 Project deliveriesThe following services are to be delivered at the successful completion of this project:

A diagrammatic representation of the diagram (a sitemap)

A prototype of the system

System test report

A general project report

A fully developed functional online system; endowed with the following features

5 unique templates

12-20 appropriate pages

A database section that captures and stores all staff and client details.

A gateway to e-commerce. This will automatically link the system database and the various international payment systems for instance, MasterCard, American Express and Visas.

A design system nicknamed Just-Do-It will e incorporated to ease routine checks and maintenances.

(Temporary) internet connection and hosting (for the purposes of demonstrations)

4.0 Achieving objectives/ Research ProcedureIn collecting and analyzing the raw data from the users of Chinese food in the UK, the researcher chose to email research questionnaires to selected respondents in the UK. The respondents came from Newport senior staffs (4 senior member chosen; the head of marketing, head of sales, operations manager and the distribution manager). The researcher then requested the management to be provided with names of 46 Newport customers. They were to constitute the remaining sample to be emailed the questions.

Since the collection of information from the parties highlighted above resembled survey studies, the researcher was motivated to adopt and implement the conclusive descriptive research approach. As Housden (2008) highlighted the study approach was considered best for this kind of study because of its strength in answering the 5Ws and the 1H questions of what, where, who, when, why, how and which are also manifest in the aim and objectives of our study as highlighted above (p.62).4.1 The study populationAs revealed above, the researcher intends to use all Newport staffs and customers of Chinese food in the UK as his study population. The total number of the research population will therefore be made up of the 12 Newport staff members and an estimated 100,000 customers of the Chinese food in the UK.

Besides using the following as his study population, the researcher will also consult an estimated 20 secondary sources appropriate to this project.

4.2 Sampling Technique: Random Sampling TechniqueThe researcher proposes to use the random sampling approach to narrow down on a relatively manageable portion of the respondents. As such the sample will narrow down to only 4 senior managers at Newport Supermarket from the total of 12 and only 46 customers of Chinese food in the UK to act as respondents.This means that a total of 50 respondents will make up the total sample. It should be noted that though large samples are likely to present objective results, the research will chose to use a relatively small sample to meet the little duration availed for this M-Commerce coursework. In addition, the researcher being a mere student could not successfully source for enough funding for this project. Thus in trying to attain objectivity with the little resources at his disposal, the researcher chose to adopt and implement the use of this approach to give the many users in the study population an equal chance of responding to the proposed survey questionnaires; thus ensuring objectivity and reducing on the error margin (StatPac, 2011).

4.3 Main Sources of Research DataThere exist two major methods of gathering information in any research work. In some research works, information required might be readily available. However, at times, these informations may not be available and therefore a need to have a proper way of collecting it. In respect to this, methods of gathering information are categorized under primary and secondary data collection methods. This study therefore employed both methods in collecting data that helped the researcher to develop an online shopping system for Newport Supermarket.

4.4 Primary Data Collection MethodsThere are several methods that collects primary data. However, the choice of an appropriate method depends on the study being conduct. In respect to this research, the researcher employed several primary sources that were used to gather feedback of customers who come to Newport supermarket for shopping. This was very helpful as data collected helped the researcher to design a much better system that is intended to meet user needs. In addition, some of these methods were used to collect feedback of potential customers who are not regular customers to the supermarket. Furthermore, primary sources were applied to gather data from other supermarkets and retailers who were already using online shopping system in their business operations. This helped to understand their experiences with the technology.

There were several advantages that were attributed to collection of data using these primary sources. One befit accrued from these methods is that the researcher had the power to tailor the collection method to specific needs (Gerrish& Anne, 2006). Relative to this study, the researcher was in control of what he wanted to collect. The researcher was also at liberty to choose the best tools that fit the circumstance of the research.

However, note that primary sources were not ideal as such; they were time consuming since they involved severalsteps. In addition, the quality of data collected also depended on a variety of steps (Bernard, 2006). In consideration of all these factors, the researcher decided to use questionnaires for gathering customer responses for the system for system development. Besides questionnaires, the research also employed personal interviews to the management staff of the supermarket. Lastly, under primary data collection methods, the researcher also used telephone call interviews to some consistent customers who were not available for personal interviewers.

4.4.1 Questionnaires Questionnaires are one of the most common data collection tools employed in research works. These are structured surveys that are self administered to the subjects (Shi, 2003). Usually, they are distributed through several ways that include mails or through internet to ease wider geographical access. In respect to this research, the questionnaires were distributed through mails to already identified subjects in the study sample.

In addition, these questionnaires were open ended questions. This approach was used since the researcher was not definite on all possible alternative researches that were likely to be provided by the respondents. Furthermore, open ended questions gave the respondents the liberty to include more information that was helpful in designing online shopping system since attitudes and feelings of the respondents were also considered hence enabling the researcher to address all issues in resolving of the problem at hand. Closed ended questions will have locked out real feelings and attitudes of the respondent who were real users of the system. Open ended questions was therefore applied in coming up with questionnaires for the study.

4.4.1.1 Advantages of using questionnairesQuestionnaires are most familiar way of collecting information in any research study due to several advantages attributed to them. Some of these advantages include their cost effectiveness. In respect to this, distribution of questionnaires via mail saved researcher’s travel expenses. Mailing of these questionnaires enabled their wide distribution to respondents who were dispersed in different geographical region at a relatively low cost hence saving on expenses.

Moreover, since questionnaires were mailed to respondents, the possibilities of the researcher influencing the respondents either willingly or unwillingly was considerably lowered (Shi, 2003). This therefore inferred that data that collected was free of researcher influences. In addition, the respondents were at liberty and free from pressure in responding to the questionnaires as forpersonal interviews.

Furthermore, the respondents had a greater feeling of anonymity when responding to the questionnaires and therefore they were comfortable in expressing their actual feelings and attitudes about the proposed online shopping system at Newport Supermarket (Sebola & Penzhorn, 2010). These feelings and attitudes were crucial in designing a system that addressed real needs of customers.

4.4.1.2 Disadvantages of QuestionnairesDespites strengths notes from the use of questionnaires for this study, the researcher also recognized several disadvantages of this method when conducting the research. These disadvantages included the uncertainty of returning questionnaires by the respondents. Since questionnaires were sent by mail, there was a high risk of some respondents not returning them. This therefore posed a risk of having a high non return rate. However, the researcher tried to minimize this uncertainty by using stamped addressed envelopes and also making some follow ups using telephone calls to ensure that respondents returned the questionnaires. This was designed to increase the return rate of the questionnaires.

In addition, there was also a high risk that some respondents ignored the questionnairesand some of the questions were interpreted differently by the respondents (Weinhardt, Stean & Jochen, 2008). This posed a risk of obtaining irrelevant answers for the questions were not relevant in designing the proposed online shopping system for Newport Supermarket.

4.4.2 InterviewsApart from questionnaires, the research also employed use of interviews in the study. Interview method was adopted by the researcher as one method of data collection since it was an interaction process that was likely to elicit more relevant information that was needed for the proposed online shopping system for Newport Supermarket. The kind of the interview that was applied in this study was open ended since the researcher sought to obtain relatively large amount of information from the respondents to aid in developing a system that sufficiently addressed needs of its users. However, semi structured form of the interview was also used where by the researcher had already pre-determined questions and he accommodated other questions that resulted from the interview process.

In addition, face to face and telephone interview was both used. The respondents who were readily available were interviewed using face to face method while those who were not readily available were interviewed using telephone interview. However, both methods have unique strengths and weaknesses attached to them.

Interview methods provided a situation where by respondents were observed while answering questions hence their oral and non oral cues were noted since these attributes provide approval and disapproval of a certain issue without necessary saying them. This was relevant to the researcher since he was able to incorporate feelings and attitudes of the respondents that was important for the development of the system.

Furthermore, interviewing is a flexible method that allowed the researcher to explore greater depth of the problem at hand through use of good interpersonal skills. This eased elicitation of more information from the respondents (Weinhardt, Stean & Jochen, 2008). In respect to this, the response rate was extremely higher than other methods such as questionnaires.

4.4.2.1 Face to Face InterviewThis is one on one interview method that was used by the researcher to elicit information from the respondents who were readily available. The technique was eased by the respondents’ diaries that were in conformity with the data collection time frame of the researcher. Some of the advantages that were accrued from this technique were that opinions and views that were expressed throughout the interview came from a known source. This made it possible for the researcher to link specific ideas with specific people while developing the system which made it to be tailor made to user needs (Hicks, 2005).

In addition, face to face interview was relatively easy to control since the researcher had one person at a time to interview and therefore it was easy to interrogate and grasp ideas while in the process, being in control of the entire interview process.

4.4.2.2 Telephone InterviewsApart from face to face interviews, the researcher also employed telephone interviews to cater for respondents who could not be found due to their tied diaries. Some of the advantages that were noted by the researcher in using this method include having impersonal quality and therefore respondents did not feel intimidated as for face to face interviews.

However, the main disadvantage that the researcher encountered while using this method is that some respondents literally hanged up the call while the interview was still in process. This was a big blow to data collection process since such responses were incomplete. Some of the respondents by this method were literally not cooperative.

4.5 Secondary sourcesThe researcher also collected data from secondary sources. These sources were useful in understanding programming languages used in the design and development of the online shopping system. The internet and books formed the main secondary sources that gave the researcher much insight of the relevant programming languages, database development and web development techniques

4.5.1 Advantages of the Secondary SourcesAs postulated by Housden (2008), secondary methods of data collection is a much quick and inexpensive and therefore the researcher was able to benefit from this advantage. In addition, in using this method, the researcher was particularly interested in getting to understand language syntax, system design and development techniques that were important in his design and development of the intended online shopping system for Newport Supermarket.

Furthermore, in using this method, the researcher wanted to only narrow down on specific issues that were crucial in developing the intended online shopping system. This was achieved through proper formulation of questions that were searched on the internet using suitable search engines. In addition, books on system design and development, database construction and web design was reviewed. These provided enough insight knowledge that was necessary to enable the researcher to develop an online shopping system for Newport Supermarket.

3.5.2 Setbacks from the use of secondary sourcesDespite the researcher achieving considerable benefits through these secondary sources, some shortcomings were acknowledged from the employment of these methods.

The researcher had a lot of difficulties in getting relevant information from the internet. For example, most of the hits gotten from the searches were at times too general or even at times irrelevant from the desired information. Secondly, some of the concepts from these sources were too complex for the researcher to conceptualize and unde