RESEARCH PROPOSAL

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

AIMS OF THE RSEARCH

LITERATURE REVIEW
The author will use several texts in carrying out his research including T Lucey
Costing, Drury Cost and Management and other related texts, Internet websites,
journals and other related newspapers which will have any contents related to the
subject matter of the research.
METHODOLOGY
The researcher will look at the following accounting issues ;

Purchasing procedure

Storekeeping

Storage issues and returns

Stocktaking and treatment of variances

Material requirements planning

Stock recording

Material pricing

Obsolete and slow moving stock

It is worth noting that this study an in depth analysis of the inventory management
systems of Athienitis Spar. Data and information that will be collected concentrates on

the variables that eventually have on effect on the topic. The topic will clearly spell
out the methods and procedures that will be used to carry out the study. The
researcher will look at the research design used, major sources of data and
information, sampling plan and research instruments and data collection procedures.
RESEARCH DESIGN
The study will use a survey research methodology .survey researcher is non
experimental and is also characterised by accurate and detailed, which enhances
replication .A survey commonly refer to the collection of standardised information
from a specific population, or some sample. There is normally no attempt to
manipulate variables or control conditions. According to Best and Khan (1981)
surveys can provide accurate study of a field or phenomenon of a given time .It is
further argued that a great deal of in formation can be gathered from representatives
of large population ,and the information could be accurate within sampling error
ranges . In addition,it can be seen that successive survey of the same population or
phenomenon can determine trends over a period of time and further assist in
identifying areas where often types of research are needed by suggesting lines of
inquiry .Survey research design can be classified into three types and these are
descriptive research design ,explanatory research design and casual research design
.However ,the researcher will use the descriptive and explanatory research designs
only.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
The study will mainly use this research design because the research is descriptive in
nature and will lead to measurable numeric data, as the researcher will be trying to
establish the actual challenges faced by the management in implementing the best
inventory management system in the field of their work and tools used by the
management to fight challenges experienced. Also descriptive research design
embraces a large portion of the research problem, the main purpose being to provide a
snapshot of some aspect of the problem. The researcher will use this technique for the
following reasons:

It provides guidance to the researcher by introducing more detail to the

research question.

Give a detailed ,highly accurate picture of the problem on hand

Reports on the background or context of the problem

EXPLANATORY RESEARCH
It explores trends in the industry with the aim of discovering general ideas and
insights to generate explanation as to certain behaviors in the market .The researcher
will use this design in conjunction with the descriptive research design in order to go
deep and discover the challenges faced in the firm and tools used by the accountant to
fight the problem faced by them. The benefits of using explanatory research are
outlined as follows;

Highly flexible

Research methods are unstructured thus permit a thorough pursuit of

interesting ideas and clues to the research problem.

Research is qualitative that is the researcher begins without prior

misconceptions as to the research findings.

It is also useful in establishing priorities among research questions.

The choice of the above research design was done so as to enhance the whole research
process as descriptive and explanatory research complement each other and enhance
the research process.
TARGET POPULATION
This outlines the aggregate of all elements from where information is to be derived
.The sample of respondents for this study is going to be drawn from the population of
major purchasing and the storage department employees in his research in order to
complement the data and come up with the best there can be.
SAMPLE SIZE
The researcher will use a small sample of thirty people selected from the purchasing
and stores department
Stores department employees

10

Purchasing department

15

Production

Thirty questionnaires will be send to respondents. The researcher is restricted to the

small sample because of cost factors. The researcher also felt a large sample will be
unrealistic given the unlimited time to conduct the research.
SELECTING OF SAMPLING UNIT
The research will use the non-probability techniques, as this will enable him to
calculate the nature and extend of any biases in the sample thus giving more reliable,
unbiased results. The following techniques to be used;
CONVENIENCE SAMPLING-respondents will be chosen on the bases of
convenience. The researcher will use convenience sampling and this will assist the
researcher in that most people in the purchasing and production are always busy and
research will be done with these available. The aim is to select ten respondents in the
purchasing department.
QUOTA SAMPLING-Respondents will be selected by virtue of satisfying a condition
that they have been with the firm at least for the past 2-4 years , which means it shall
be for the stores department as they may know challenges faced by the accountant in
implementing correct inventory control systems .This method is easy and demand
less researcher time and resources.
DATA SOURCES
In trying to assess the challenges faced, resulting in inappropriate opinion expressed
on financial statement, both primary and secondary data will be used.
SECONDARY DATA
Secondary sources will be used mainly newspaper publications that the researcher
came across with regards to the world of inventory management. The newsletters,
articles and annual reports will present very important information showing the
general trends pertaining to challenges faced in the business environment. This
method is going to be used because it offers time and cost advantages since the
research is going to be done under limited financial resources and time. The main
demerit of this method is that some is irrelevant and outdated.

PRIMARY DATA
This will be collected through questionnaires and in depth interviews. The main
source of this data will be sample frame .Primary data is more reliable , accurate and
upto date and can be used to validate secondary data in the form of theories ,views
and principles .It was chosen because of its proximity to reality .However data will be
difficult to get from respondents because the information required is sensitive
.Personal interviews will be time consuming to arrange. The data obtained will be
analysed quantitatively with some qualitative comments