Plan: January - June 2010

The following is a plan of what I hope to accomplish in the period January 2010 thru' June 2010, to kick off the project:

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Literature Review

Since blogshops represent a type of online retail model, the literature review should cover grounds pertaining to online commerce.

Hence, the objective of the literature review is to obtain a summary and sound understanding of the development in eCommerce, to accomplish the following purposes:

1. To establish context and perspective by summarizing what has has been done in this area, what gaps exist and how my project can build on existing knowledge and ideas

2. To provide background knowledge and theoretical underpinnings for understanding of eCommerce and Web-based enterprises, especially in relation to eCommerce models

3. To identify ideas, information and research methods relevant to my project.

I would also expect the literature review to focus on the following areas:

1.   General and recent developments in eCommerce


2.  eCommerce models

• existing online commerce models, including classifications/types of online retail (known as e-tailers)
  
• success factors for eCommerce ventures 
• issues pertaining to online commerce like trust (with special attention to regional contexts)
  

3.  Blogs

• the development and versatility of blogs
• the impact of blogs on society
  

4. Young entrepreneurs and consumers in Malaysia and Singapore  

• participation  in eCommerce
• issues and factors affecting their involvement in the digital economy 

Research Methodology



1. Grounded Theory


As this project will entail the use of Grounded Theory, I will have to get myself acquainted with it and make sure I understand how to apply it in this project.


I will have to look up books and other materials.






Data Gathering

Data gathering will be done through:


1. Interviews with blogshop owners and customers.

I will have to compile a list of people to inteview. 


The list shall be drawn from blogshop directories and other resources like Facebook where blogshops have a presence.  


The list shall include blogshops that are Malaysian, Singaporean and 'Others'.



2. Observations/analysis of blogshops

To describe blogshops, I will have to catalogue their unique features and behaviors.

Thus, I will need to list specific eCommerce website features to be examined later.

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I think this should occupy me for the next six months.

I will blog as much as I can as I go along.

You are more than welcome to make comments and provide feedback.

THANKS!

Why this blog?

I am starting out my PhD studies on Blogshops.

There's a ton of stuff to do as I am trying to get organized- research articles, information and links I have to compile, read and analyze, thoughts and ideas to formulate and jot down as I go along, research methodologies and instruments to develop, and lots of other things I have to get to eventually.

So I am thinking the best way to do all this is probably to put everything into one place so that I can access it and work on it anytime I need to.

This blog will be my workspace. Drafts, works in progress and anything that I am working on will be all here.

I think this is a good way to let my supervisors keep track of what I am doing, to come in and comment anytime they feel is necessary.

I am not sure if I want to make this open to the public... maybe not at this time, but I can see how this can be of value if I open up for others to come in and feedback, especially the blogshoppers and blogshop owners.