Acceptability of Phone Cards

Acceptability of Phone Cards - BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS (BRM) REPORT

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

LETTER OF REQUEST

The Director,

Pak.Telecommunication,

Karachi.

Contact No: XXXXX

Email: XXXXX

The researcher,

Institute Of Management Sciences,

Multan.

Email: XXXXX

Subject: To Check The Acceptability Of Phone Cards In Multan Region

In this era of fast communication, every sun rises with a new technique of contact. In the last decade a new trend emerged in this field and that is a prepaid phone card. In last twelve years approximately 60 companies entered this market in Pakistan. My company is interested in launching a new card; we need to conduct a research to check the acceptability of phone card in Multan region.

We also need to find out the attractive features of prepaid phone card so that we can tailor our product according to the public demand. In the first phase we need comprehensive and informative research proposal from your side .The final authorization for this research will be granted you after receiving your proposal.

Sincerely.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

The Researcher,

Institute of Management Sciences,

0Multan.

Phone: XXXXX

Email: XXXXX

The director,

Pak. Telecommunication,

Karachi.

Fax: XXXXX

Email: XXXXX

SUBJECT: TO CHECK THE ACCEPTABILITY OF PHONE CARDS

In response to your request, we have collected initial information on acceptability

of Phone Cards, we have also prepare research proposal which will provide you

necessary information on initial stage so that you can assess the worth of this

activity.

In this fast era, everybody wants a fast and easy contact with others, prepaid

calling card is the best option for them .there are so many cards available in the

market .As the prospective investor in this market, the response of the market is

very important for you . This research will provide you the detailed information in

this regard. It will provide you the base on which you would have to build your

Product. After sending you the proposal, we will be glad to provide you any

Additional information that may help you to take a right decision.

Sincerely,

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

TITLE:

ACCEPTABILITY OF PHONE CARD

BACKGROUND:

Due to improvement in communication, the world has become a global village. We can contact at any time with any person in this global world. Telephone is one of the most common mean of contact. In Pakistan, basically Pakistan Telecommunication (PTCL) which is still under the supervision of govt. Is providing this service. But there are 65 more companies, which are also offering phone facilities. These companies are using the infrastructure of PTCL as a mean of communication. PTCL is providing license to every company by receiving registration fee of Rs.300, 000.

These companies are launching their phone cards in the market. Phone cards mainly can be divided into two categories i-e Digital Dialing Cards and Insert Cards. Mostly Digital Dialing Cards are used in homes. Specific number is allotted to the customers. The customer on the dial that number and can call everywhere. But in case of insert card, card is entered in phone set and then any one can call. But insert card can be used only in the set of same company.

According to the latest available official figures, there are 65,000 pay phones across the country, as compared to 35,000 pay phones in June 30, 2000. Infact card pay phones growth has quadrupled over last two years. As at June 2001, Pakistan had 57476 pay phones operated by 42 licensed operators. This equates to coverage of 0.04% of population, which is lower than some comparable countries and suggests that there is room for significant expansion in this area.

All the companies intended to improve and increase their services and revenues i-e to and the good features in their card facility. The identification of these factors has a primary importance. Once these factors are identified, companies will be able to focus on these critical factors. The customers play an important role in this regard. Because the factors, which leads the satisfaction of customers, increases the company revenues. The research is also on that basis to find out these factors. So that the new company can develop a good marketing plane, that will lead customers satisfaction as will as higher profit for the company.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Are prepaid phone cards are being more popular in public?

OBJECTIVES:

To check the acceptability of phone cards.

To find the key factors behind the acceptability of phone cards.

To find the main features of phone card those are popular in the public.

To estimate the potential market for the phone cards

To present recommendations to introduce a new card in the market.

ARENA OF RESEARCH:

We shall provide our respondent into your categories.

BUSINESSMEN

PCO

STUDENTS

COMMON PERSON

This classification is necessary because each class may have different preferences.

The response of the respondent will be helpful for us to find out the key factors

behind the acceptability of phone cards accordingly.

LIMITATIONS

Our research has some limitations described below:

1) We have limited funds that may affect the activity. Availability of sufficient

Funds may be helpful in producing better and more perfect results.

2) Time is an other limitation. A comprehensive and perfect research may take

more time we have a limited short period of time to accomplish this activity.

3) The research will be conducted in Multan and its surroundings. It is quite

Possible that results may differ if other areas of Pakistan are also covered.

because the behavior of the market varies from period to period.

4) We are not provided with necessary data from the management side. This

data could be helpful to move the activity in the right directional these hindrances listed above must be considered while evaluating this activity.

AREAS OF INVESTIGATION

In the proposed research there are several major components in addition to

Check Acceptability Of Phone Cards, the several sub components will also be

Investigated. These are listed below:

KEY FACTORS:

The key factors that is important in acceptability of phone cards

will be found .

MAIN FEATURES:

We shall also determine the main features due to which a customer

likes a phone card.

POTENTIAL MARKET:

We shall use primary and secondary data to estimate potential market

of Phone Cards .

COST:

Direct cost(material and supplies) Rs.5000

Direct cost(Other Person)

Total 7 [email protected]/month

For last 4.5-months 5000*7.45 157500

Consultancy fees 2500

Rs.210000

RECOMMENDATIONS:

On the basis of research outcomes, recommendations to introduce a

new Phone Card will also be made. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH ACCEPTABILITY OF PHONE CARD VARIABLES:

Ø Control On Phone Budget

Ø Easy Access

Ø Direct International Dialing

Ø Tax Concealment

Ø Time Saving

Ø Affordability

Ø Innovative Technology

Ø Market Share

Ø Balance Can Be Checked At Any Time

Ø Specific Numbers Are Assigned To Individual

Ø Restriction On Misuse

Ø Discount Facility

Ø Gift Schemes

Ø No Phone Bill

Ø Without CED And LINE RENT

Ø Changing Attitude

Ø Highly Advertisement Changing The Attitude Of People

Ø Awareness

Ø Time Saving

Ø Fashion

Ø Govt. Restriction On PCO

QUESTIONNAIRE

We are the students of MBA (BZU). We are conducting the research on “Acceptability of Phone

Cards”. We require your recommendations so that we could proceed our research. Please advice

us valuable information given below.

Respondent Name ___________________ Date _______________

Sex ___________________ Location _______________

Marital Status ___________________ Designation _______________

Q.1 Do you use phone card? If yes (why), if no (why)

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Q.2 What kind of card do you use?

a) Digital Dialing Card

b) Inserted Card

Q.3 Name of the card?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.4 Why do you select phone card?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

Q.5 Do you think this card has any impact on your household budget?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.6 Have you ever enjoyed discount facility offered by the company?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.7 Have you ever enjoyed gift scheme offered by the company?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.8 Is it useful for international dialing?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.9 Is it economical?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.10 what’s about the security facility?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.11 Do you think it is beneficial? (Reasons)

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Q.12 Are your satisfied with this innovation in communication system?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Q.13 Do you think it helps you?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Q.14 Is it really time saving?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.15 What do you think about the performance of phone cards?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.16 Is it complicated for illiterate person?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.17 What is your opinion about balance check facility?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.18 Do you think same prices per minute are charged as compared to the PTCL?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

Q.19 Do you feel any disturbance while dialing card?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Q.20 Is it always available or unavailability also occurred?

Ans. ____________________________________________________________

SURVEY RESULTS

Variables Businessmen Pco Student Commonperson

Budget control 50.00% 10% 66.67% 88.89%

Easy Access 88.89% 80% 75% 11.90%

International 55.55% 80% 66.67% 33.33%

Tax conceal. 88.89% 20% 0% 66.67%

Time Saving 55.55% 60% 75% 33.33%

Economical 22.22% 0% 25% 33.33%

Innovative Tech. 77.78% 0.00% 87.50% 0%

Balance check 62.50% 90% 88% 66.67%

Misuse 77.78% 80% 87.50% 83.00%

Discount 65.56% 10% 0% 0%

Schemes 44.44% 0% 0% 0%

Phone bill 12.50% 40% 87.50% 0%

Line rent 0% 100% 100% 0%

Fashion 11.11% 0% 12.50% 33.33%

Advertisement 33.33% 10% 25.00% 51.57%

Govt.Restrict. 0% 90% 0% 0%

Number 100% 0% 0% 100.00%

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

RESEARCH DESIGN

In our research of measurement of “Acceptability of Phone Cards “.we will follow an

experimental design. In this design,we will conduct a” FIELD EXPERIMENT

“.Because we conduct a survey through questionnaire in actual environments from

Businessmen, Common person, and students.

Experimental design with experiments in field is necessary, because it is impossible

to conduct a Laboratory Experiment in an artificial environment. But it will be

inappropriate to follow EXPOST FACTO design because after exploratory research,

now situation is clear and can be manipulated.

LEVEL OF MEASUREMENT

In our research of acceptability of Phone Cards” we will use four

1) Nominal

2) Ordinal

a)Ranking

b)Rating

3) Interval

4) Ratio

SAMPLING DESIGN

In sampling design basic thing is an Element .In our research, in case of student each

student is an element and in the same way ,in case of businessmen and common

person every businessmen and common person is an element.

POPULATION

There are four areas in population

ELEMENT

1)Student

2)Businessmen

3)Common Person

SAMPLING UNIT

Users of telephone cards .

EXTENT

Multan

TIME

On December 26,2002

SAMPLING DESIGN

Non-Probability design through judgement.

SAMPLE SIZE (n)

N = population(unknown)

Z = level of confidence

p = probability of success

q = 1-p

β = Allowable Error

2

n = (Z) pq

2

(β)

2

n = (1.96) (0.8)(0.2)

2

(0.05)

n = 246

Questionnaire

(STUDENT)

We are the student of MBA (Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan). We are conducting a research on “acceptability of phonecards”. Your response is very important for us to accomplish this task.

Name: …….……… Sex: male/female

Education: ……………

Q.1 Do you have telephone facility at your home?

a) YES b) NO

Q.2 If yes from how long you are using the telephone facility?

a) 1 year - 5 years

b) 5 year - 10years

c) More than 10 years

Q.3 What is your opinion about this facility?

a) It is basic necessity.

b) It is luxurious.

c) Any other

Q.4 Are you availing any special services offered by PTCL like CLI?

a) YES b) NO

Q.5 Do you have any information about the telephone card available in market?

a) YES b) NO

Q.6 Have you ever purchased any telephone card?

a) YES b) NO

Q.7 If yes, are you regular buyer of telephone card?

a) YES b) NO

Q.8 Which package do you prefer normally?

s a) Rs.250 b)Rs.500 c) Rs.1000

d) other

Q.9 Which company do you prefer normally?

a) WORLD CALL b)TELECARD

c) DANCOMM d)PTCL

Q.10 Either your preferred card is easily available in the market?

a)YES b) NO

Q.11 From where you get the information related to the phone card?

a. From media

b. From friends

c. From family

d. Any other

Q.12 From how long you are using telephone card?

a. Since last 6 months

b. More than 6 months but less than 1 year

c. From more than 1 year

Q.13 Are you satisfied with this facility provided in the form of card?

a) YES b) NO

Q.14 Do you agree that telephone cards normally help to control the household budget?

A) STRONGLY AGREE B) AGREE C) NEUTRAL

D) DISAGREE E) STRONGLY DISAGREE

Q.15 Telephone card provides

TIME SAVING



ECONOMICAL



BALANCING FACILITY



MISUSE PROTECTION



SAVE LINE RENT



PRIVACY



Q.16 Any special feature that force you to purchase telephone card?

a) International dialing

b) Time saving

c) Safety

Q.17 Have you ever face any problem while using phone card?

a) YES b) NO

Q.18 Would you like to mention particular problem?

…………………………….…………………………

………………………………………………………

Q.19 Do you prefer to use more than one telephone card?

a) YES b) NO

Q.20 Have you ever switched from one to another company?

a) YES b) NO

Q.21 If yes, because of

a) Expensive

b) Dialing problem

c) Non-availability of card

d) Any other

Q.22 If no, the existing card provide

a) Ease to dial

b) International dialing

c) Time saving

d) Safety

Q.23 Would you like to suggest any specific thing related to phone card?

…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………

Questionnaire

(Businessmen)

We are the student of MBA (Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan). We are conducting a research on “acceptability of phonecards”.Your response is very important for us to accomplish this task.


Education: …………… DESIGNATION: …………


a) YES b) NO


a) 1 year - 5 years

b) 5 year - 10years




b) It is luxurious.

c) Any other


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


a) Rs.250 b)Rs.500 c) Rs.1000

d) other



c) DANCOMM d)PTCL


a)YES b) NO


e. From media

f. From friends

g. From family

h. Any other






a) YES b) NO

Q.14 Do you agree that telephone cards normally help to control the household budget?




TIME SAVING



ECONOMICAL



BALANCING FACILITY



MISUSE PROTECTION



SAVE LINE RENT



.

PRIVACY



Q.16 Any special feature that force you to purchase telephone card

d) International dialing

e) Time saving

f) Safety

g) TAX CONCEALMENT


a) YES b) NO


…………………………….…………………………

………………………………………………………


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


e) Expensive

f) Dialing problem

g) Non-availability of card

h) Any other


e) Ease to dial

f) International dialing

g) Time saving

h) Safety


…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………

Questionnaire

(Common Person)

We are the student of MBA (Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan). We are conducting a research on “acceptability of phonecards”.Your response is very important for us to accomplish this task.


Education: …………… Profession: …………


a) YES b) NO


a) 1 year - 5 years

b) 5 year - 10years




b) It is luxurious.

c) Any other


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


a) Rs.250 b)Rs.500 c) Rs.1000

d) other



c) DANCOMM d)PTCL


a)YES b) NO


i. FROM MEDIA

j. FROM FRIENDS

k. FROM FAMILY

l. ANY OTHER






a) YES b) NO

Q.14 Do you agree that telephone cards normally help to control the household

budget?

a) strongly agree b) agree c) neutral

d) disagree e) strongly disagree


TIME SAVING



ECONOMICAL



BALANCING FACILITY



Misuse Protection



Save Line Rent



Privacy



Q.16 Any special feature that force you to purchase telephone card

h) International dialing

i) Time saving

j) Safety


a) YES b) NO


…………………………….…………………………

………………………………………………………


a) YES b) NO


a) YES b) NO


i) Expensive

j) Dialing problem

k) Non-availability of card

l) Any other


i) Ease to dial

j) International dialing

k) Time saving

l) Safety


…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………

RESULTS

(COMMON PERSON)

Q1.

Q2.

Q4..

Q7.

Q8.

Q9.

Q12.

Q13.

Q14.

Q15.

b

Q16.

Q20.

RESULTS

(STUDENT)

Q1.

Q2.

Q4.

Q7.

Q8.

Q9.

Q10.

Q11.

Q12.

Q13.

Q14.

Q15.

Q16.

Q17.

Q18.

RESULTS

(BUSINESSMEN)

Q2.

Q8.

Q9.

Q11.

Q12

Q13.

Q14.

Q15.

Q16.

Q16.

Q20.

Q21.

Q22.

Interpretation

(Common Person)

We can interpret the results of survey conducted for common person as follows

· Mostly people have telephone facility at their home. Their ratio increased last few years after realizing the importance of telephone and different schemes offered by PTCL to give new connections, majority of people have welcome the free CLI facility .

· Our unit of analysis is the users of telephone cards so our respondents are aware of telephone cards and buyers of Telephone cards but not all the regular users. Majority of users have been using cards for last one year that shows the increasing trend of telephone card.

· Common person get information from media and satisfied with this facility, little bit control on household budget but some people opinion against it.

· Digital dialing card provide not more than time saving facility but in case of international dialing it is time saving ,same prices are charged , it provide balance check facility ,it is also use protection against misuse , common person while using digital dialing card

No line rent save, privacy is also not much as direct dialing.

Most important problem that common person face is busy line problem, if customer is satisfied not switched due to ease to dial or switch due to dialing problem.

BUSINESSMEN

Businessmen mostly having telephone facility from more than 10-years it is basic element for businessmen environment this category of people always enjoy like discount, easy availability ,easy access and problem can be overcome when arises. These are the people who mostly use telephone cards because of their business relations basic elements which is hidden ,most important crucial is tax concealment. Mostly people during survey explains

In their communication but not mention on the questionnaire due to secracy. These are professional who are mostly concentrated on time, saving, and benefits but on their investment normally Rs.250, Rs.500,

Rs.1000, discount also offered to the businessmen. They normally concentrate on PTCL & CALLMATE cards but

Other companies also involved but taking a little share from the market .cards normally available or company agent provide to the businessmen at the spot.

Mostly people are satisfied with this facility specifically businessmen with this facility household budget also controlled.

It is also time saving but not economical balancing facility also very important it may be misuse but not as much.dont save any line rent privacy also not it is same as dialing phone .most important facility is tax concealment

That is offered to the businessmen .common person and businessmen face dialing problem.

Documents

Acceptability of Phone Cards