ONLINE JEWELLERY SHOPPING

(CASE STUDY OF GOLDIAM JEWELLERY IN NAIROBI)

MUINDI PHILIP MUTONYE

A System Project Proposal Submitted to The Department of Mathematics and Informatics in

The School of Science in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award of Bachelor
Degree in Information Technology at Taita Taveta University College (A Constituent College
of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology)

I.

DECLARATION

This research project is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other
university.
Muindi Philip Mutonye
TU01-IC211-0087/2012
Signature Date

This research project has been submitted for examination with my approval as the university
supervisor.
Signature

Date

Mr. Stephen Katoto.

II.

DEDICATION

I dedicate this proposal to my family members for encouragement and support throughout
this project, also to my friends and colleagues, I appreciate them for their support and to God
almighty, thank you.

III.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My special thanks goes to the Almighty God for granting me good health, both mental and
spiritual strength, perseverance, great patience all aimed at ensuring the accomplishment of
this project proposal. I wish to acknowledge my supervisor Mr. Stephen Katoto for his
guidance and mentorship during the project proposal writing period. Many thanks also goes
to my course lecturers who instilled in me the necessary knowledge and skills which I found
them valuable in conducting my research.

IV.

ABSTRACT

The purpose for this case study is to underline the challenges faced by Jewellery sellers in
their operation and management, to determine the features of web application that will enable
jewellery sellers manage efficiently their products and transactions and develop a system to
be used in carrying out the study. The objectives were to review the current system with the
view of specifying requirements for an online jewellery store, to develop an online jewellery
store that will offer platform for buying and selling jewels and to enhance the system to be
able to track the sales by keeping customers interventions and orders. The study focuses on
the development of e-commerce that will enable clients to make purchases with ease, secure
and most economical way instead of availing themselves physically to the shops.
The case study reviews the available literature review related to the title which covers
efficiency of using a web application and benefits associated with it. The relevant literature
review talks about how jewellery sellers can improve the sales by use of online marketing.
The study shows how sellers do not maximise their selling potential by use of manual
channels to sell their products. Also, users have a need to filter out the products they are in
need of. The study aims to fill the gap by identifying relevant structures and ways in which
such efficient keeping tracks of sales should be managed.
Through this study, different research method is employed which try to describe the
challenges faced by small, medium and large firms in the jewellery market. To undertake the
primary collection of data, an online questionnaire is designed as an instrument to guide on
gathering data which will be delivered through Email-subscription
It concludes by highlighting challenges that hinder efficiency online marketing, which
include lack of attractive interfaces and not accommodating the emerging use of e-commerce
for selling jewellery products.

V.

Table of Contents

I.

DECLARATION........................................................................................... II

II.

DEDICATION............................................................................................. III

III.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................IV

IV.

ABSTRACT............................................................................................. V

V.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................VI

VI.

LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................VIII

VII.

LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................IX

VIII.

LIST OF ACRONYMS.................................................................................X

CHAPTER 1..................................................................................................... 1
1.1
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 1
1.2
BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................... 1
1.3
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.....................................................................................2
1.4
PROPOSED SOLUTION................................................................................................. 3
1.5
OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................ 3
1.5.1 General Objective.................................................................................................. 3
1.5.2 Specific Objectives................................................................................................. 3
1.6
PROPOSED RESEARCH AND SYSTEM METHODOLOGIES......................................................3
1.7
JUSTIFICATION......................................................................................................... 3
1.8 SCOPE.......................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER 2..................................................................................................... 4
LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................................... 4
2.1
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 4
2.2
THEORETICAL REVIEW.............................................................................................. 4
2.3
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK........................................................................................6
2.3.1 Reviewing the current system...................................................................................6
2.3.2 Developing an online jewellery store..........................................................................7
2.3.3 Enhancing the system to keep track of sales.................................................................7
2.4
SYSTEM REVIEW....................................................................................................... 8
2.4.1 Kenya jewellers..................................................................................................... 8
2.4.2 Goldiam jewellers.................................................................................................. 9
2.4.3 Ten Thousand Villages......................................................................................... 10
2.5
CRITIQUE OF THE EXISTING LITERATURE RELEVANT TO THE STUDY...................................10
2.6
SUMMARY............................................................................................................. 11
2.7
RESEARCH GAPS..................................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER 3.................................................................................................... 13
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 13
3.1
RESEARCH DESIGN.................................................................................................13
3.2
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY....................................................................13
3.2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 13
3.2.2 Methodology...................................................................................................... 14
.................................................................................................................. 14
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5

Rapid Application Development..............................................................................15

Requirements Planning........................................................................................15
User design........................................................................................................ 16

3.2.6 Construction Phase............................................................................................. 17

3.3
LOGICAL DESIGN.................................................................................................... 18
3.3.1 Use Case Diagram............................................................................................... 18
3.3.1 Activity Diagram................................................................................................. 19
3.3.2 Class Diagram.................................................................................................... 20
3.4
TESTING............................................................................................................... 20
3.4.1 System Testing.................................................................................................... 20
3.4.2 Acceptance Testing.............................................................................................. 21
3.5
JUSTIFICATION OF RAD........................................................................................... 21
3.6
SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES(INSTRUMENTS).....................................................21
3.7. INSTRUMENTS............................................................................................................. 22
3.7.1 Questionnaire..................................................................................................... 22
3.7.2 Document Analysis................................................................................................. 22
3.8 TARGET POPULATION OF THE STUDY................................................................................22
3.9 DATA COLLECTION.................................................................................................... 22
3.10
DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS..............................................................................23
3.11 SYSTEM SPECIFICATION............................................................................................... 23
3.11.1 Hardware Specification.......................................................................................... 23
3.11.2 Software Specification............................................................................................ 23
3.12 REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................................... 23
3.12.1 Functional Requirements........................................................................................ 23
3.12.2
Non-functional Requirements.............................................................................23
3.13
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................... 24
3.14
REFERENCE........................................................................................................... 24
3.15
APPENDICES:......................................................................................................... 26
3.15.1 Appendix I: Budget............................................................................................... 26
3.15.2
Appendix II: Gantt Chart...................................................................................27
3.15.3 Appendix III: Questionnaires...................................................................................28

VI.

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1....................................................................................................................................26
TABLE 2....................................................................................................................................27

VII.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1...................................................................................................................................16
FIGURE 2...................................................................................................................................18
FIGURE 3...................................................................................................................................19
FIGURE 4...................................................................................................................................20
FIGURE 5...................................................................................................................................24
FIGURE 6...................................................................................................................................26
FIGURE 7...................................................................................................................................27
FIGURE 8...................................................................................................................................29
FIGURE 9...................................................................................................................................29
FIGURE 10.................................................................................................................................31

VIII.

LIST OF ACRONYMS

U.S.D

----------United States of America

CBD

-----------Central Business District

UK

------------United Kingdom

U.S

-------------United States

CCK

-------------Communication Commission of Kenya

KCB

--------------Kenya Commercial Bank

RAD

--------------Rapid Application Development

SDLC

--------------System Development Life Cycle

JAD

--------------Joint Application Development

CASE --------------Computer Aided Software Engineering

SQL

--------------Standard Query Language

RAM

-------------Random Access Memory

GHZ

-------------Gigahertz

GB

-------------Gigabyte

10

CHAPTER 1
1.1 Introduction
Online shopping has been an effective way of communication since it covers the global
market. Many business owners are choosing to avail their products and services online for
reaching large customer margin internationally. Ling, said that customers can enjoy online
shopping for 24 hours per day. Consumers can purchase any goods and services anytime,
wherever they want. Online shopping is user friendly compared to in store shopping because
consumers can just complete their requirements just with a click of mouse without leaving
their home.
1.2 Background
Jewellery is a universal form of adornment. The history of jewellery has closely paralleled
the history of mankind. Jewels signalled wealth, ceremonials, power, position as well as
protection from the dangers of life or mark of status /rank. Nowadays jewellery is worn as a
fashion, Class, show of wealth, Love from friends. Example of the jewelleries are: necklaces,
rings, Wedding rings, earrings as well as bracelets. Artificial Jewellery can be made of Gold,
Bronze, Diamond, silver, Copper. Diamonds as a category are a powerful product with all the
emotional values inherent in the best luxury brands. Diamonds were arguably one of the
worlds first luxury products, and certainly today are one of the largest a true mass-market
luxury. Sanguanpiyapan and Jasper (2010) applied research to test motives for luxury goods
purchases at retail jewellery shopping outlets. To put this into perspective, in 2005 consumers
around the world bought 89 million pieces of diamond jewellery, making diamonds a $68
billion industry. Indeed 10 million people around the world owe their livelihood to diamonds.
Due to availability of internet worldwide, the way people shop and think about shopping is
changing. For example, flagship stores, out of town shopping malls, factory outlets, TV
shopping channels, on-line shopping, lifestyle changes; people travelling widely and seeing
more, the allure of luxury brands and other trends are altering buying behaviour. As quality
and choice increase so does the need to attract consumers with exciting information and
powerful advertising. In fact, never before has the consumer been so well informed. You
cannot use strategies of the past and hope to stay ahead, gone are the days when the consumer
had little choice and nowhere else to shop.

Online jewellery has been a business that many e- commerce websites are looking upon,
hence being able to reach the global market. The World Gold Council (2012) estimated that
the world jewellery market was
$98.633 billion United States Dollars (U.S.D.) in 2011, and the Saudi jewellery market was
$2.783 billion U.S.D. Since 2011, the world jewellery market has been regaining its value,
which had declined since 2008, though its growth was still negative. The world jewellery
market's growth rate in gold demand in tons was -3% in 2011, compared to its growth
rate of -6% in 2008 (World Gold Council, 2012). This has facilitated online business growth
whereby products are advertised online and purchased online using the following channels
i.e. VISA cards, American express, PayPal, skill as well as M-PESA especially in Kenya.
Countries like United States, United Kingdom, Japan, India and China have increased their
product market through online. According to Danziger (2005),
researchers explored how the largest retailers around the world focused on factors that
supported the success of sustainable globalization strategy and confirmed other findings
that stressed the increasing powers of globalization and the need for retailers to globalize
their brands. Retailers of jewellery needs to adapt global marketing for their product ease of
movement according to the study by Simoni, Rabino, and Zanni, (2010). Through this global
outreach, Retailers for jewellery become experts. According the Sarasvathys study
(Sarasvathy 2008) when entrepreneurs turn into experts they are able to look for the new
business opportunities using the effectual logic and then change back to the causal logic when
the new business finds its form and should be developed further with the analytical and goal
orientated logic.
1.3 Statement of The Problem
The Goldiam Jewellery store located at Nairobi town has been using the manual information
management method to run their company. Http://www.nation.co.ke/business/jewellerybusiness-Kenya/-/996/2979654/-/srjwh2/-/index.html.According to James Kariuki On Daily
Nation Kenya, the business hardly relied on window shoppers but past clients referred new
clients to them. The use of manual method of operation makes Goldiam Jewellery to obtain
benefits at a low rate since the sales operations are done on paper. This leads to slow
2

processing speed of the information while serving their customer, poor storage of data and
waste of time in retrieval of data. Besides, in case of damage of the file there is no backup for
recover
1.4 Proposed solution
This research seeks to show that, the company should adapt a technology based platform that
will help it to be top class in delivering its products and services globally. Using an ecommerce will be effective and especially if buyers are able to purchase jewelleries online.
1.5 Objectives
1.5.1
General Objective
To develop an online Goldiam jewellery store that will offer jewelries information in
an orderly
1.5.2
Specific Objectives
1. To review the current system with the view of specifying requirements for an online
jewellery store.
2. To develop an online jewellery store that will offer platform for buying and

selling

jewels
3 To enhance the system to be able to track the sales by keeping customers
interventions and orders.
1.6 Proposed Research and System Methodologies
1.What are the specific requirements on the current system?
2.How can an online jewellery store be developed to offer platform for buying and selling
jewelries?
3.Can we track the sales by keeping customers interventions and orders by enhancing the
system?
1.7 Justification
The online jewellery store will bring great change to the information management within
the companys operation. Besides, Nairobi resident who use the e-commerce services will
benefit from ease access of products and delivery services.
1.8 Scope
Goldiam Jewellery will be able to manage delivering its services to Nairobi
residents found within a geographical area of two kilometer radius from the CBD.
CHAPTER 2

Literature review
2.1 Introduction
3

The purpose of this chapter is to review the available literature related to the title. It reviews
the following areas: Efficiency of using such an application and hence the benefits associated
with use of such an application. It further discusses factors that affect the efficient
management of Jewellery store under the theoretical literature relevant to the title.

2.2 Theoretical Review

According to Mintel estimates (Jewellery Retailing UK Report, September 2015) Jewellery
market grew by 1.2%, made up of precious metal and costume jewellery in 2015.According
to (Bhubaneswar) Companies who are doing their business through online try to understand
the consumer behaviour pattern and the drastic changes in the shopping pattern. In this study,
I explored the significant differences among the grouping of countries according to the
historical order of-entry preference selection to each country by a U.S. company with the
grouping of countries according to each country's attractiveness to global brands (The World
Bank,2012; Uniworld Publications, 2012). Countries like south Africa got high tendency for
jewellery brands due to Gold minning.
The Internet World Stats (2012) estimated the global internet users to be about 2.4 billion,
with developed nations having significantly higher internet penetration rates. Internet use in
Kenya started in the early 1990s and until 2009 internet connection was low and an expensive
affair as the country relied on expensive satellite connections (Souter & Kerretts-Makau,
2012). However, since the landing of submarine cables internet access has dramatically
improved, the Communications Commission of Kenya [CCK], 2012 estimated that they are
14 million internet users in the country. It is important to highlight that 99% of internet
subscriptions in Kenya are mobile subscriptions which can be attributed proliferation of smart
phones and advanced feature phones (Souter & Kerretts-Makau, 2012). This is a sure show
that E-commerce has many clients since people have the devices to access the internet
wherever they are and can make purchases online in relation to their needs. Web application
interfaces need to be attractive for customers. For example, creating a convenient and
well-designed online store and offering secure transactions are the keystones of
satisfying e-consumers (Szymanski and Hise, 2000). Poor marketing can cause decrease to
jewellery buyers. Example is Saudi jewellery retailers should consider the
globalization strategy option for their jewellery brands to contest their challenges of small
4

Saudi market size, lack of horizontal expansion, vertical integration, and aggressive entry
of large global retail brands (Alanezi, 2012; Alharbi, 2014; Assad, 2008).
Most jewellery deals with attraction. Thats why the web applications need to be enticing. In
reference to this, Few researchers
have examined the facilitating factors for the success of the globalization process of
jewellery brands in terms of the features that are associated with suitable target countries
(Singh, 2011). Therefore, the focus of the study was to present the suitable attraction
African countries at large do lack marketing their jewellery strategically since they normally
use traditional channels to market it. Hence African jewellery losing market. The issues were
the scarcity of globalized jewellery brands in developing countries and the lack of existing
quantitative research about the efforts of jewellery brands in developing countries to
globalize (Eren-Erdogmus et al.,2010; Pham, 2009). Aklamanu concluded by the suggesting
future researchers should test the factors with empirical studies. I concluded from Aklamanu's
study the complexities of the need for researchers to study globalization strategy factors in
detail is important to bring change on Online jewellery shopping.

2.3 Conceptual Framework

Review The Current

System

Developing an Online
Jewellery Store

Efficient Jewellery
Management Store

Enhancing The System to

keep Track of Sales

Figure 1

2.3.1

Reviewing the current system

Basically, Goldiam jewellery has been using manual method of operation making it to obtain
benefits at a low rate since the sales operations are done on paper. This leads to slow
processing speed of the information while serving their customer, poor storage of data and
waste of time in retrieval of data. Besides, in case of damage of the file there is no backup for
recovery.
2.3.2

Developing an online jewellery store

Through the manual operation problem in Goldiam jewellery, my research has come up with
a solution for this by developing an online jewellery store that will enable customers make
6

purchase online. This will cover a large region marketing in comparison to the manual way
since internet is accessible anywhere in the world. Purchases will be made through PayPal,
American Express, M-PESA, VISA. According to Kinuthia & Akinnusi (2014) E-commerce
has been described as conducting commercial activities via electronic media, and most
commonly, the internet hence transaction via M-PESA systems in Kenya

2.3.3

Enhancing the system to keep track of sales

Previously the manual way is a bit time consuming and costly to keep track of sales. Hiring
of specialised personnel with auditing skills is needed so as to avoid theft cases. A lot of time
is spent searching the manual paper files records. Developing an online system will enhance
the system in keeping track of sales. Its with ease to monitor movement of products since the
database updates itself automatically when an item is purchased. The database admin is able
to see the track of transactions

2.4 System review

2.4.1
Kenya jewellers

Figure 2
Kenya jewellers
Source: http://www.kenyajewellers.com/

Functionality
in this system, only the registered users are allowed to access the system. Once an account is
created, the users can make purchases. The system mostly uses international payment
channels only which not all customers may be having since they need long procedure when
applying the as well as some customers term them to be insecure since we have got many
cases off online clients being conned a lot of cash.

Features
Some of the feature of the system include user registration, login form, blog, Store
information and the products

2.4.2

Goldiam jewellers
8

Figure 3

Goldiam jewellery
Source: http://www.goldiam.com/
Functionality
In this system, one can view the latest jewellery news as well as the activities within it. The
latest collection as well as arrival from the globe.

Features
It has a portal for viewing jewellery industrial products as its main purpose is to display news
to the public about those new arrivals

2.4.3

Ten Thousand Villages

9

Figure 4
Ten Thousand Villages
Source: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/jewelry
Functionality
This system enables the user to search for jewelleries as well as one can search for his/her
interested jewellery brand using colour code, country from as well as price. Also can be
sorted by newest brands in the market.
Features
Some of the feature of the system include sales, newest, country search and the makers

2.5 Critique of the existing literature relevant to the study.

The existing literature mostly touches about setting up online systems to help in efficient
management of online selling ignoring the essence of offering bonuses and letting them pay
using the Mobi-banking (KCB) as well as (Equity)Equitel Platform e.g. (Safaricom)M-PESA
systems where one can pay purchases transactions direct from their phones and especially in
Kenya. Also getting in touch with their customers and especially via WhatsApp, Facebook,
10

twitter as well as leave message pop ups that are much faster to customer feedback has been
on ignorance on the side of the firms, this can help to improve customer services in future.
Also letting clients have a specific e-commerce where it only deals with jewelleries only. This
is because e-commerce like AMAZON and JUMIA can have a tendency of buyers getting
bored since the first interface of the websites are crowded with other products like
books(Amazon) and electronic accessories (phones and iPad) on Jumia.
Most of the jewellery systems have been developed using html 3 and Php 4 while the one to
be developed will use programming language technology such as Php 5, Css, Html,
JavaScript as well as back-end programming MY SQL all latest version and on addition there
will be a leave message pop on the bottom left corner for customers to leave their feedback
about services as well as any information they may be in need of passing on to the Company.
The basic problems with the existing systems are the non-interactive environment they
provide to the users as well as search engine that would display the results without allowing
the users to further filter the results based on various Parameters. The New system will enable
people who is not much aware of the system be able to easily make purchase by ease
registering interface.
Also it will provide a search engine that provides an easy and convenient way to
search for products specific to user needs. The search engine would list a set of products
based on the search term and the user can further filter the list based on various parameters.
2.6 Summary
The study conducted on the relevant existing literature has led to the conclusion that given
the structure of jewellery marketing, the best way with which to manage jewellery marketing
is through the use of online systems that can be cheap, reaching a large customer coverage
globally since internet is accessible to billions as well as readily available to its users.
Generally, in this section, the positive and negative impact of the existing systems are
highlighted therefore making an open room to make the improvement to the system for the
better management of the company information and services to the customers. This is
achieved by considering factors such as better Information Management Strategy in Goldiam
jewellery to ensure the company meets its objectives.

11

2.7 Research gaps

The reliable literature reviewed talks about how Goldiam marketing can improve on their
online jewellery management but fails to provide relevant structures or ways in which such
efficient management can be achieved. The literature also generalises jewellery store, not
differentiating between the needs of the large, medium and small sized jewellery shops both
on Operation and financial assets and thus fails to come up with structure relevant to the
needs of a specific jewellery shop.

CHAPTER 3

12

INTRODUCTION
In this section or chapter shows the approach that the study takes. It deals with the method,
population and sample of the study as well as provides the tools and techniques employed in
the research. The procedure of the study i.e. data collection, organisation and presentation is
also being given in this section.
3.1 Research Design
In this section, it explains the research design that is employed in this study and looks upon
the methodology and procedures employed to conduct the study. This study employs an
experimental research design which is used with the main aim of conducting a more precise
investigation and in this case its explore the use of an e-commerce to determine how the
variables efficient jewellery marketing management while maintaining control over all
factors that may affect the result of the experiment.
3.2 Systems Development Methodology
3.2.1
Introduction
A system development methodology is a framework used to structure, plan and control the
process of developing a system. This chapter entails explaining the system development
methods that was used to develop a prototype of the Goldiam jewellery e-commerce.
It also explains the use of analysis and design as a tool used to design, analyse and represent
the tasks involved in completing the system development. In this chapter we focus on how
the application was to be analysed and designed, technologies to be used and the
methodology used in order to meet the required specifications and functions it was intended
to have.

3.2.2

Methodology

13

Requirement
planning

User Design

Construction

Cutover

FIGURE 1...................................................................................................................................16
Figure 5

3.2.3

Rapid Application Development

14

The development of the application will be made by use of Rapid Application

Development(RAD) lifecycle. According to Whitten (2004), RAD is a merger of various
structured techniques especially data-driven information engineering with prototyping
techniques to accelerate software system development. This methodology is designed to give
much faster development and higher-quality results than those achieved with traditional
lifecycle. It is designed to take maximum advantage of powerful software that has evolved
recently. (James Martin) Compared with traditional methods, the entire process is
compressed. As, a result, the system is built, delivered, and placed in operation much sooner.
In RAD, structured techniques and prototyping are used to define user requirements and
define the final system. RAD has clear outlined stages or phases of system development. The
phases are discussed below.
3.2.4

Requirements Planning

When developing a system, the developer must first have identified the requirements
that were needed to develop the system. This phase combines the elements of the system
planning and analysis of the System Development Life Cycle(SDLC). The developer in this
phase ends when they agree on key issues and obtain authorization to continue to the next
phase.

Figure 6

3.2.5

User design

15

On this phase, Users interact with systems analysts and develop models and
prototypes that represent all systems processes, input, outputs. The RAD groups or subgroups
typically use a combination of Joint Application Development(JAD) techniques and CASE
tools to translate user needs into working models.
JAD is a process in which the customer is involved in the development by a series of
workshops. The JAD technique enables rapid development and enhanced user satisfaction
since they are actively involved in the development. The primary aim of JAD is to decrease
the time needed for the completion of deliverables.
CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) Tools are a set of tools and methods to a used
in software development with the desired end-result of high-quality, defect-free, and
maintainable soft wares products and are sometimes automated.
User Design is a continuous interactive process that allows users to understand, modify, and
eventually approve a working model of the system that meets their needs.

Figure 7

16

3.2.6

Construction Phase

Also known as the development phase, this stage focuses on program and application
development task while users continue to participate and can still suggest changes or
improvement as actual screens are developed. Its tasks are programming and application
development, coding, unit-integration and system testing. Here the data model developed in
the user design phase is converted into a functional database. Management at this level is
important in ensuring that everything is progressing according to plan.

17

3.3 Logical Design

3.3.1
Use Case Diagram

Figure 8

18

3.3.1

Activity Diagram

Figure 9

19

3.3.2

Class Diagram

Figure 10

3.4 Testing
Once the prototype was ready, testing was done ensuring it met the requirements. There are
various types of testing.
3.4.1

System Testing

This type of testing involves testing the system holistically to determine whether it satisfies
its requirements

3.4.2

Acceptance Testing
20

This test is conducted in order to check for errors in the whole system and also to test whether
the system meets user needs or performance is acceptable. It makes use of real data for
testing. After testing, any errors found were corrected while modules having no errors
proceeded to the next level.
3.5 Justification of RAD.
Time Factor
In comparison to other known methodologies, RAD methodology favours my system
development with respect to time and quality. This is because RAD employs an increased
development speed and decreased delivery time. The goal of delivering applications quickly
is addressed through its quick conversion of requirements of code. Taking into account the
limited time available to complete a full prototype of the web application, RAD will be the
best methodology to use.
Increased quality
According to (Sommerville,2007), quality is defined as both the degree to which a delivery
application meets the needs of the users as well as the degree to which a delivery system has
low maintenance costs. RAD attempts to deliver on quality through the involvement of the
users in the design stages. Most research conclusions state that user involvement in system
development increases the systems quality and design.
3.6 Sample and sampling techniques(Instruments)
The main instrument used in this study was questionnaires. A questionnaire is a reformulated
written set of questions to which respondents record their answers, usually within rather
closely defined alternatives(Sekaran,2006). The research designed relevant questions that
assisted in the collection of necessary data for the research. Document analysis was also used
to obtain the information needed for research.
people who want the latest arrivals, best collections, the highest quality, willing to pay for
convenience and are price insensitive. This group of people consists mostly of youth between
18 to 40 years old and also targets business or corporate customers. These customers are
mainly the middle and high class people.

21

3.7. Instruments

3.7.1

Questionnaire

The method of sampling used was Online questionnaire. This is because it covers a large
population within limited time. Its also a quicker method of data collection. Time
consumption is minimized. Online Questionnaires were used as the principal tools for data
collection. Data was, through the provided questions, presented in the questionnaires form.
The questionnaires included both open and closed ended questions.
3.7.2 Document Analysis
This involved the analysis of documents and research articles relevant to the study which
captured what has been documented by others researchers.
3.8 Target Population of the study
The term target population will be used to refer to group of entities (Jewellery shops), to
which the findings of the sample are to be generalized. The population encompasses small
and medium sized investment groups that face challenges pertaining to inefficient
management, time wastage during manual recordkeeping, no formal or specific channel of
communication to clients.

3.9

Data Collection

This study made use of both primary and secondary data relevant to the study. The primary
data was collected through structured and unstructured questionnaire. A letter introducing the
research and seeking permission to the authorities was attached to the questionnaires.
Interviews were used to collect data from respondents willing to spare their time while for
other respondents: Questionnaires were hand distributed and collected later by the researcher.
Secondary data was collected from journals, relevant research projects and the internet.

22

3.10

Data Processing and Analysis

Data was collected through online questionnaires for quantitative data and through key
informant interviews for qualitative data. Data collected was be sorted, classified and
tabulated for ease of analysis. This data was then processed automatic through the internet in
the questionnaires.
3.11 System Specification
3.11.1 Hardware Specification
The following are hardware to be used in the development of the application program;
Use of Compaq laptop of installed memory RAM 3.00GB
System type 64-bit Operating System x64 based processor
Processor AMD-350 2.3 GHZ
3.11.2 Software Specification
The software Specification used to develop the application program are windows 8.0
Operating System, Dreamweaver as well as NetBeans, Microsoft office, Standard Query
Language (SQL), Xampp for creating the database management.

3.12 Requirements
3.12.1 Functional Requirements
The system should be able to capture full information for registration of the customer by
providing user name, password, email address and mobile number.
The administrator should be able to view the entire history of the checked-out items.
The administrator shall be able to view entire history for the users who successfully complete
the check-out process. The system should provide an icon for login of the users for them to
make orders.
3.12.2 Non-functional Requirements
Reliability-this is making the new system to perform its required functions under stated
conditions for a specific period of time.
23

Scalability-the capability of a system to increase total throughput under an increased load

from the users.
Performance-requirements concern the speed of operation of a system in processing of the
customers orders.
3.13 Conclusion
The chapter entails the examination of the existing system with the view of improving it for
better functionality. This is achieved by use of different methodology of software
development approach. In case of Goldiam jewellery, Rapid Application Development
approach will be used for software development. This is because the information required to
build the new system are obtaining from the users of the existing system hence makes the
designers work easy.

3.14 Reference
1. Huang, M. International Journal of Information Management, Volume 20, Number 5, 1
October 2000, pp. 337-347(11)
2. Zorzini, Catalin. "Top Ecommerce Platforms" Ecommerce Platform. Retrieved 29
September 2014.
3. MF Treutner, H Ostermann. Evolution of Standard Web Shop Software Systems: A
4.

Review and Analysis of Literature and Market Surveys. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
Nico Fremann, Dennis Wilmsmann, Digital Jewelry The
technical part unpublished

5.

B. Guruprasath, Digital Jewellery made possible using wireless communication

6.

unpublished
How digital jewelry will work on How stuff works. [Online]Available:

7.

http://www.howstuffworks.com\How digital jewelry will work.html

Digital-jewelry-paper-presentation on Slide share. [Online]Available:

http://www.slideshare.net\digital-jewelry-paperpresentation
8. Digital jewelry on seminar projects [Online] Available:
http://www.seminarprojects.com\generaldiscussion\digital jewelry
9 Hynes, B. (2010). International small business growth: A process perspective. Irish
Journal of Management, 29(2), 87-106. Retrieved from http://iamireland.ie/journal.html
10.Website TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES
URL:http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/jewelry
Retrieved on 18th April 2016
24

11.Website KENYA JEWELLERS URL: http://www.kenyajewellers.com/

Retrieved on 16th April 2016
12.Website GOLDIAM JEWELERY URL: http://www.goldiam.com/
Retrieved on 16th April 2016

3.15 Appendices:
25

3.15.1 Appendix I: Budget

ITEM

AMOUNT(KSH)

Transport Expenses

3,500.00

Printing

2000.00

Computer

35,000.00

Communication

1000.00

Flash Disk

1500.00

Stationery

1000.00

Photocopy

1200.00

Total

45200.00

Table 1

3.15.2 Appendix II: Gantt Chart

26

Task Name

Duration in weeks
1

7 8 9 10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Research & project

planning
Proposal writing
and submission
Data collection

Data analysis
Project design

Coding
Implementation
and debugging

Documentation
Project
presentation
Table 2

3.15.3 Appendix III: Questionnaires

You are requested to tick in the appropriate check box or fill out the requested information in
the spaces provided. Please tick only one response.

27

17

18

19

1: What is your gender?

Male
Female
2.How long have you used Online shopping?
0-2 years
2-4 years
Over 6 years
Never
3 How strongly do you feel Goldiam needs an E-commerce website to manage its operations?
Very Strongly
Strongly
Not that strongly
I dont feel this is needed
4.To what extent do you think the system will improve?
a) Reviewing the current system
To a great extent
To a moderate extent
To a little extent
To no extent

b) Enhancement of keeping track of sales

To a great extent
To a moderate extent
To a little extent

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To no extent

c)Developing an online jewellery store

To a great extent
To a moderate extent
To a little extent
To no extent
5. What Orientation of application to manage the operations do you feel best suits jewellery
selling?
E-commerce
Desktop software
Mobile application
Any
Please explain your
choice

.
Remarks
.
CHAPTER FOUR:

29