research method

This form must be approved for a candidate to register for the dissertation. It is the student’s responsibility to find a

Faculty Promoter with whom to complete this form. It is also incumbent upon the student to make sure that all

academic and administrative criteria have been met. The form must be completed, signed by the respective parties,

and submitted to the Dissertation Coordinator for approval. Please type on this form. Handwritten forms will not be

accepted.

Dissertation Proposal Form

Section A: Student details

Name:

Email:

Program (DBA; MBA, BBA):

Specialization:

Section B: Proposal Type below each topic

I. Proposed Dissertation Title: The title (tentative) should be precise to allow the reader to

comprehend the subject matter of the work.

Impact of mobile banking on the financial performance of Small and Medium size enterprises

(SMEs)

I. The main aim of this research is to determine the way in which the use of

mobile banking by the SMEs affects their financial performance. The

research aims at looking at both the negative and the positive effects of

mobile banking on SMEs/

II. Research Question or Hypothesis: State clearly what your research interest is. Define your research

question/hypothesis and the main objectives of your research (100 words).

The alternative hypothesis for the study is that SMEs that use mobile banking have a better

financial performance when compared to the SMEs that do not use mobile banking. Mobile

banking services give the SMEs an opportunity to access financial services without the need of

them going physically to the bank. With mobile banking SMEs are able to access low interest

loans which they can use to grow and expand their businesses. The hypothesis is that use of

mobile banking by the SMEs gives them a higher chance to grow and expand as opposed to

the businesses which are still using the traditional banking methods.

II. Review of Literature/Background: Make a synthesis of the contributions made in your research field

by accredited scholars. Describe how your intended research will complement and expand on the

current literature, and what contributions you intend to make to the existing knowledge (500 words).

PLACE HERE: Research Methods 2 Midterm Assignment

• Summary:

▪ Concepts

One of the concepts which is related to the research topic is the concept of mobile banking

which is defined as the access of banking services using a mobile device such as a smartphone

instead of going to the bank physically. Mobile banking allows the customers and users to access

services such as withdrawals, money transfer, account statements from their phones and from the

comfort of their homes without the need to go to the bank physically. The second concept is

financial performance which is the measure of how a business is doing based on revenues such as

sales and profit margins. High revenues are associated with better financial performance. The third

concept related to the topic is SMEs and these refer to businesses which are small or mediu m in

size.

▪ Theories / Models (1 or 2 theories or models)

One of the theories applicable to the topic is the innovation diffusion theory and this is

because mobile banking is as a result of innovation and advancements in technology. The theory

explains how new ideas and patterns spread. Initially most people were using the traditional

banking where they needed to avail themselves physically at the bank so that they would be able to

access financial services. However, with time mobile banking was introduced and more people

embraced mobile banking. The idea started with a few people but spread so fast.

Technology acceptance model is also useful in the selected research topic and this is

because through this model people accepted to move away from other forms of banking and

embrace the new technology. Based on the theory there are various factors which users consider

when they want to decide whether they should accept a new technology or not. One of the factors

is the ease of use; mobile banking is very simple to access and use on smartphones even with the

least technology know how. Also, the perceived usefulness is high and this is because the users

get to benefit from convenience of banking of their homes.

• Trends (current trends or practices related to your research topic)

Mobile banking is now being used to help pay bills and suppliers in business. With mobile

banking apps and access business people are able to pay their vendors through cashless

transactions. This method is highly preferred among the business people and this is because it is

highly convenient when compared to using cash. Also, another trend related to the topic is digital

credit and this is where the individuals are able to access different loans from financial institutions

using their mobile devices.

• Context presentation

The mobile banking apps and platforms are easily accessible in smartphones where the

businesses can download and install the apps. Most of the businesses need to bank the money

which they make from sales and hence need banking services. Mobile banking exists as an

alternative to these businesses to help them transact with suppliers and even save money to

achieve their financial goals.

III. Research Methodology: Clearly indicate the methods and techniques which you are planning to use

to gather information and investigate the identified problem.

IV. Selected Bibliography: Please indicate a representative list of the main bibliographical sources you

intend to utilize for your dissertation (no more than 20). Please provide full citations.

For this research, the preferred method is the use of questionnaires to help collect data

about the impact of the mobile banking on SMEs. The research methodology is a quantitative

research methodology which means that the study will analyze numerical data to arrive at the

relationship between the different variables.

• Bibliography list (a minimum of 10 sources must be included).

Choudrie, J., Junior, C. O., McKenna, B., & Richter, S. (2018). Understanding and conceptualising the

adoption, use and diffusion of mobile banking in older adults: A research agenda and

conceptual framework. Journal of Business Research, 88, 449-465.

Farah, M. F., Hasni, M. J. S., & Abbas, A. K. (2018). Mobile-banking adoption: empirical evidence from the

banking sector in Pakistan. International Journal of Bank Marketing.

Jebarajakirthy, C., & Shankar, A. (2021). Impact of online convenience on mobile banking adoption

intention: A moderated mediation approach. Journal of Retailing and Consumer

Services, 58, 102323.

Kumar, A., Dhingra, S., Batra, V., & Purohit, H. (2020). A framework of mobile banking adoption in

India. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 6(2), 40.

Marrara, S., Pejic-Bach, M., Seljan, S., & Topalovic, A. (2021). FinTech and SMEs: the Italian case.

In Research Anthology on Small Business Strategies for Success and Survival (pp. 667-

688). IGI Global.

Mujahed, H. M. H., Ahmed, E. M., & Samikon, S. A. (2021). Factors influencing Palestinian small

and medium enterprises intention to adopt mobile banking. Journal of Science and

Technology Policy Management.

Pankomera, R., & Van Greunen, D. (2018). Challenges, benefits, and adoption dynamics of mobile

banking at the base of the pyramid (BOP) in Africa: A systematic review. The African

Journal of Information and Communication, 21, 21-49.

Shankar, A., & Rishi, B. (2020). Convenience matter in mobile banking adoption

intention?. Australasian Marketing Journal (AMJ), 28(4), 273-285.

Souiden, N., Ladhari, R., & Chaouali, W. (2020). Mobile banking adoption: a systematic

review. International Journal of Bank Marketing.

Zhang, T., Lu, C., & Kizildag, M. (2018). Banking “on-the-go”: examining consumers’ adoption of

mobile banking services. International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences.

V. Research and Writing Timeline: Indicate your expected research timetable: starting date, research

time, data analysis time, writing time, editing time, date of first draft submission, expected defense time.

You may use a Gantt chart.

VI. Ethics: How does your research relate to the ethical aspects of your subject matter

Section C: Submission Registration

Promoter:

Proposed Dissertation Defense Cohort (Choose One)

☐ January 2022 ☐ May 2022 ☐ June 2022 ☐ September 2022

☐ January 2023 ☐ May 2023 ☐ June 2023 ☐ September 2023

Note: Dissertation Defense must be completed within the three main cohorts, following coursework completion, for which

registration is open. (May and June count as a single Cohort for this purpose). Example: students completing in June or July 2021

may register to defend in January 2022 and must defend by September 2022.

Student Signature Date

The grade for the entire dissertation project is a composite grade allocated by the defense panel and takes three

areas into consideration:

• Form (20%): the structural organization of the Dissertation document (grammar and vocabulary; writing and reporting; technology; style)

• Content (60%): the academic accuracy and value of the project (executive summary; research question & objectives; background; main body; conclusions)

• Defense (20%): the manner and methods used (visuals; content; questions & answers)

Section D: Approval

Role Name Signature Date

Promoter

Dissertation

Coordinator

Academic

Department