E-Procurement is Beneficial to a Small Business and its Brand Image

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

No words can express my appreciation and gratitude to my research advisor _______ through the course of this research, Professor _____has taught me numerous values that extend well beyond the realm of _________ (Your Subject Name). His emphasis on dedication to work and his valuable and practical insights of life are some of the major highlights of my education at The University _________. To Professor _____, I say with great respect, thank you very much.

It is a great honour for me to have Professor _______ on my dissertation committee. His insightful suggestions and comments are a major asset to this research. I learned so much from Professor ______, and I will always remember him as a truly superb teacher. To Professor _____, I am greatly indebted.

I would like to thank Professor ______ for his contribution to this research. Professor _____ has provided me with essential input and guidance as an outside member of my committee. His remarks and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I would like to thank _____________ for the support they had provided me throughout the research project.

I would like to thank _____________ for their support and help in this research.





DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for the academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________







Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION3

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM3

AIM & OBJECTIVES4

RESEARCH QUESTION4

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY4

FURTHER RESEARCH5

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK5

ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS6

BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH7

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW8

INTRODUCTION8

E-PROCUREMENT8

BRAND IMAGE8

BRAND IMAGE AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY14

SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR ISSUES17

MONOPOLY AND MAXIMIZING PROFIT20

E-PROCUREMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS27

E- PROCUREMENT IS INNOVATION30

E- PROCUREMENT AS A BUSINESS STRATEGY32

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY48

RESEARCH DESIGN48

LITERATURE SEARCH48

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF DATA48

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND FINDINGS50

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS53

REFERENCES54

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Statement of Problem

Small businesses can benefit from E-procurement, as that can help in improving their brand image. It also cuts the costs involved in purchasing goods from suppliers; however, small business hesitate in using technological means of operating. The owner of a small business handles main resource functions alone (Hornsby & Curator, 2003). As a result, small businesses face a myriad of problems (Grayson, 2004). Poutziouris (2003) argues that it is not surprising that small business owners either overlook growth objectives or even jeopardize their growth potential simply because they fail to strategically address evolving growth barriers in the financial, managerial, technological, and marketing arenas. Without a defined strategy, it is easy to focus on immediate concerns, without an idea of how current action will contribute to the success of the organization. From Grayson's point of view (2004), the results have shown lack of clarity regarding what is to be done, no priority for actions to be taken, wasting funds that do not contribute to essential areas critical to the success of a small business, and all ...