Research Process Outline

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1. A definition of your selection using quantifiable measures.

I have taken an issue of reduction in profit and the company chosen is Amazon Inc.
Amazon.com is online super mart selling numerous items including book for which it is famous for. Now it is one of the world's leading online retailers with over 17 million customer accounts in over 150 countries. The company sells books, music, DVDs, videos, toys, electronics software, video games, home improvement products amongst others. Through its marketplace services- amazon.com auctions, shops etc. the company has created web-based marketplaces where buyers and sellers enter into transactions involving a wide range of products. (Amazon annual report)

Issue of reduction in profits
As per the latest financials its profits has reduced from $588mn in 2004 to $190 mn in 2006.

All number in thousands
2006 2005 2004
Net Income 190,000 359,000 588,451

Thus this is a concern for the organization and we will research on the factors that have caused the decline in profits.

2. Why would anyone care about your research? Who are the stakeholders and why?

The profit is one of the most important objectives of the organization. This objective has following benefits:
? Resources are efficiently utilized
? Appropriate measure of firm performance
? Serves interest of society also

? Thus Profit affects the interest of many stakeholders such as investors, management, employee, lenders, community and government. Community service will be better if the organization is profitable. Shareholders/Investors look at their return on investment, which will be higher on high profits.

3. The type of data you will need to collect and the level of measurement for those data points we will need both primary and secondary data. We will use financial analysis tools for measurement.

4. The methodology to conduct your research. This should make up the majority of your write up. This methodology needs to be stated clearly enough so someone with some level of research knowledge can take that and duplicate your research. Discuss items including the following:

a. How you would collect the data

We will use both the quantitative and qualitative techniques. Research covers the search for and retrieval of information for a specific purpose. Both exploratory and conclusive research exemplifies primary research. We ...