Caribbean Examination Council (CXC)

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS
BUSINESS COGNATE
School Based Assessment

Name of Students: Phelisa Blake

Subjects: Principles of Business & Principles of Accounts

School: Vere Technical High School

Centre Number: 100125

Candidate Numbers:

Name of Teacher: Mrs. A. Angus and Mrs. N. Biggs

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Topic ………………………………………………………………………. 3

Objective …………………………………………………………………… 4

Overview …………………………………………………………………… 5

Methodology ………………………………………………………………. 6

Limitations …………………………………………………………………. 7

Presentation and Analysis of Data ………………………………………. 8 - 11

Recommendations ………………………………………………………… 12

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………... 13

Appendix ………………………………………………………………… 14 - 18

TOPIC
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An analysis of how e-commerce impacts the performance of small businesses in May Pen,

Central Clarendon.

OBJECTIVES

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Objectives

1) To identify the benefits of e-commerce.

2) To analyze the profitability of e-commerce.

3) To evaluate how e-commerce affects the business relationship with its customers.

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 OVERVIEW

We choose this topic because we wanted to be aware of the impact that e-commerce has on small

businesses in May Pen, Central Clarendon. E-commerce has both a positive and negative impact

on small businesses and the society. A positive impact of e-commerce on business is that it is

much cheaper and easier to manage a business online. The negative impact of e-commerce on

business is the continuous expansion of e-commerce which could lead to downward pressure on

inflation through increased competition. E-commerce is important to us students doing the topic

because it allows us to understand the opportunities from the marketing aspect. It also allows us

to understand how to increase the product range to generate more sales and with an optimized

well-developed website.

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 Methodology

This research was intended to analyze how e-commerce impacts the performance of small

businesses in May Pen, Central Clarendon.

To accomplish this research, it was advised that we use primary and secondary data

collection methods. Questionnaires were used to collect information from the owners of each

business. We choose this primary method because it allowed us to obtain information from the

businesses quicker. Online sources were used as a means of secondary data collection, to gather

information on e-commerce in businesses. We choose this secondary method because it also

allowed you to get additional information on the businesses.

The instruments used were questionnaires to collect firsthand information on how the

business owners feel about e-commerce in the business area and is e-commerce more profitable.

A total of fifteen (15) questionnaire was issued to the owner of the businesses. The

questionnaires consist of seventeen (17) questions, fourteen (14) of the questions were general

questions, and yes or no. The other three (3) questions gave the respondents to give their

responses.

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 Limitations

While trying to complete this school-based assessment (SBA) we encountered several

limitations. Social distancing was necessary as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore

discussing information with our group members and the business owners was difficult. To

resolve the above, we had to send out the questionnaire to the business owners via social media

(Instagram, and WhatsApp) and as a group, we conducted most of our discussion via social

media (WhatsApp). Another issue we noticed was that the respondents did not answer as

effectively or on time as expected. This we believe was because we were not able to adequately

explain some of the questions or communicate with them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the lack of available internet service resulted in not being able to complete the

school-based assessment promptly.

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 Presentation and Analysis of Data

A number of fifteen (15) questionnaires were distributed via online source to small businesses

in May Pen, Central Clarendon out of which all were returned. It showed that one hundred

percent (100%) offer service online.

Figure one (1): Select the benefits of doing online rather than face to face

Select thhe benefits doing online rather

Flexibility for customers

13%
13%

The pie chart above shows an illustration of the benefits of doing online rather than face to face.

The superiority of respondents with an average representation of forty percent 40% of the

respondents, select flexibility for customers. Thirteen percent 13% of the respondents choose the

faster buying process, thirteen percent 13% of the respondents choose cost reduction. Thirty -

four percent (34%) of the respondents choose affordable advertising and marketing.

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Figure two (2): How much more profitable would you say it's regarding to online and face-to-

face services?

How profitable is it regarding to online and

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%
13% 13%
10%
0% 0%
0%
Not Profitable Not Profitable Neutral Profitable Profitable

Profitable

Figure two above shows a column chart demonstrating how much more profitable online

business is compared to face-to-face. Based on the retrieved questionnaire from the small

businesses seventy – three (73%) percent of the responders are neutral which suggest online

services does not surpass face-to-face or vice versa. Thirteen percent (13%) of the responders

were profitable from the online service.

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Figure three (3): Are you able sever your customer effectively online than face to face

Are you able to serve your customer ef-

0.2; 20%
No
Yes

0.8; 80%

Figure three is a representation of a pie chart demonstrating if the small business owners can

serve their customers effectively online than face to face. Therefore, eighty percent (80%) of the

small business owners select yes, they can serve their customers effectively online. Twenty

percent (20%) of the small business owners select no they are not able to serve their customers

effectively online.

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Figure four (4): Have there been a change in scales since you commence online?

Sales Changes
Maximum Changes Minimum Changes Avearage Changes

20%

47%

33%

Figure four shows a pie chart of the sales changes since the business commences online. Forty –

seven percent (47%) of the responders choose maximum changes since the business commences

online, which means the business sales made a change since initiating online. Thirty–three

percent (33%) of the responders choose minimum changes since the business went online, which

indicates the business sales did not make any change online. Twenty percent (20%) of the

responders choose average changes since the business initiates online, which implies the

business made a standard sales change online.

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 Recommendation and Implementation

As a group, we would find contentment in offering a few recommendations to the small

businesses located in May Pen Central, Clarendon on how to overcome the challenges that they

face with online services. Seventy- Three percent (73%) of the responders selected that payment

issues are a challenges they face with online service. We would advise the business to do "cash

on delivery" so that the payment can be received before a customer obtains a product to avoid

stealing and scamming. Six percent (6%) of the responders selected stealing are a challenge they

face with online service; we would suggest the business owners to research the area they are

planning to purchase or use and be vigilant of who you trust in delivering the products. For

business owners who are not online, we suggest you get a camera installed in the area and build

cabinet, cellars or warehouses to protect the products. Twenty percent (20%) of the responders

selected a reduction in the number of staff required. We would advise the business owners to

ensure that they only employ who are needed for a particular position or job to avoid

overpayment.

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 Conclusion

E-Commerce has opened up so many opportunities for online business. It requires a lot of

consistency and dedication to create something globalizing and successful. It has undeniably

become an important part of society, especially for small business owners who are just branching

off or have not branched off yet to accommodate the needs of their customers. There is a lot of

risks, when advancing into e-commerce one should know that it does not benefit every business

equally and the revenues a business gets highly depends on the type of service or product it

offers. Sometimes the revenues, efficiency of service, and flexibility that a company gets using

e-commerce are proportionate to a regular face-to-face business, and other times it can be very

beneficial and worth it. You’re advertising and marketing skills must be well contrived; it has to

be balanced or the whole purpose of going online is defeated. Making an online presence is only

going to work if one organized strategic and analytical techniques to achieve realistic goals.

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 Appendices

The letter
Vere Technical High School

Hayes

Clarendon

December 01, 2020

Dear; Owner’s

Our names are Mickayla Huie, Shevonne McKenzie, Keria Thompson, Andrew Myers and

Phelisa Blake. We are presently in fifth form at the Vere Technical High School. We are sitting

the Principle of Business and Accounts CXC examination and as part of the requirements, it is

mandatory that we conduct a questionnaire as a means of contributing marks to our final grades.

The information that is shared on questionnaires will be kept strictly confidential; you are not

required to write your name. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Yours Truly

…………..

Students

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 Questionnaire
An analysis of how e-commerce impacts the performance of a small business in May Pen

Central, Clarendon.

1. When did you start the business?

Month, Day, Year

2. Where is the business located?

3. Do you offer service online (website or social media)?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

4. What kind of customers are you attracting to your online service (website, social media)

age range?

[ ] 13-18 years

[ ] 19-20 years

[ ] 21-30 years

[ ] Over 40 years

[ ] All of the above

5. When did you start using the online service (website, social media)

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 [ ] 1 – 3 weeks

[ ] 1 - 6 months

[ ] 1-5 years

[ ] Over 5 years

6. Does your business attract a large audience (customers)?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

7. If your answer to the above is yes please state the possible reasons

8. How much more profitable would you say it's regarding online and face-to-face service?

9. Has there been a change in sales since you commence online?

[ ] Maximum Changes

[ ] Minimum Changes

[ ] Average Changes

[ ] No Changes

10. Are sales from online greater than face to face

[ ] 0-30% greater

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 [ ] 31-49% greater

[ ] 50-79% greater

[ ] 80-100% greater

11. how do you rather the business operate?

[ ] Online

[ ] Face to Face

[ ] Both

12. Select the benefits of doing online rather than face to face

[ ] Faster buying process

[ ] Cost Reduction

[ ] Flexibility for customers

[ ] Several payment modes

[ ] Affordable advertising and marketing

13. What are possible challenges you have overcome with online service?

[ ] Space issues

[ ] Payment issues

[ ] Stealing

[ ] Reduction in number of staff required

14. Do you believe the relationship between your customer online affect the business than

face to face?

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 [ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Maybe

15. Are you able to serve your customer effectively online than face to face?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

16. How often do your customers use your online service?

[ ] Several days per week

[ ] Several weeks per months

[ ] Several months per year

[ ] Never

17. Do you believe your business can survive without online service (website, social media)?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Maybe

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