Feasibility of Working from Home - Research Proposal Example

Feasibility of working from home The concept of feasibility of working from home is nothing new. It is as old as the human civilization when almost all the business transactions were carried from home. Man prepared all the articles of their use in small villages or townships at his home. The concept however, got lop-sided after the industrial revolution. With the inventions of machines, small and big, business organisations were set up on stupendously vast scale with ever increasing products in private as well as public sectors. All the companies vied with each other to gain greater control over the market, better if they could succeed in having monopoly over a particular form of product or others allied with it. The workers at home stood nowhere in competition; it was neither feasible nor within the power of human beings to do so. However, with the manifold increase in the areas of business and new scientific inventions in the field of technology, particularly in electronics and Information and Technology and the diverse requirements of human beings, there was a growing demand for using their expertise to make small things and impart beauty to them as far as they could. The more the articles were eye-catching the more they held sway over the market. This venture provided them greater affluence and instead of one or two members of the family working at home, the number increased everyday and they tasted the boons of richness as never before. True, the type of business was such as could not be possible in big organisations. The picture would be amply clear if we take the example of the manufacture of toys, electronic goods in Japan and China. One may call Japan the pioneer in embracing this concept of carrying out business from home. Every household in Japan turned into a small industry with the result that it captured the world market. China followed suit and she also did not lag behind the forerunner in affluence or reputation. The industrialised countries of the world could not match the cost of production. With these two nations ultimately accepted their supremacy without a grin. However, there are scores of other business, which can be carried out at home just as others are exclusively meant for big organisations. Surprisingly, the works carried from home are equally economically viable and could be done with greater ease and less strain of various kind, which big business organisations are confronted with such as management of huge finance of one’s own or borrowed from banks or other sources. There is the time factor, which has to be spent on the building of infrastructure, etc. The small but profitable business carried out in the household does not have to wait that long, nay it takes a fraction of that time in getting established and production started with good earning. However, there are some inevitable requirements to ensure success in one’s enterprise -- these are legal requirements, which are equally important for one being practical and successful. The legal requirements cover all types of business whether carried out from home or office (legal requirements for small home businesses 2008). Neglect, circumvention or ignorance of law invariably lands the worker into trouble and jeopardize his activities with involvement in litigation as well, which proves fatal for any business (John 2009). One must remember that business of any nature is run within the frontiers of a village, city or a country and each country has its own laws for governance and control over business too. There are even special laws for particular zones or localities demanding special treatment for the business coming under its jurisdiction. It is therefore, mandatory for the entrepreneur to investigate the law, which governs his particular form of business and fulfill all the legal obligations demanded under it, for example, to seek permission to run his business from the authorities concerned, securing license for the business, if required, payment of tax under different heads like income tax, sales tax, etc. The easiest and the safest way to fulfill the legal requirements to avoid complications later is to consult a lawyer and proceed as per his instructions. Besides, he must obtain copies of all concerning laws and try to know the legal sanctions himself for smooth running of his business. Moreover, if the business carried out from home is to be done in a populated zone, care should be taken not to cause any inconvenience to the neighbours for which regular interactions with them is fruitful. In brief, the entrepreneur has to take all necessary precautions against disputes, legal or social for the safeguard of his business; he must have a legal cover for all his business activities. It is disheartening that proper and systematic research has not been conducted on the feasibility of working from home despite its vast potentiality and as a potent weapon in the hands of the poor to fight poverty. It is therefore, proposed to undertake a research work on the feasibility of working from home. The purpose of this work will be to find out greater viability of such enterprises in comparison with the various businesses of big organisations, its efficacy and limitations in the present economic scenario in the world, for example, the globalization of economy in particular. The purpose of this research will also be to trace out the probability of its replacing the business culture of big organisations in time to come particularly in field where the big organisations, private or public do not have the monopoly i.e., which cannot be carried out from home like big industries involving the efforts of thousands of people to accomplish the task. The aim of this proposed research will also be to investigate how can works carried out from home can help eradicate poverty of the teeming millions all the world over who live under poverty line for lack of opportunities, guidance and education in the backdrop of the success of the concept of micro finance as pronounced and practiced by Prof Yunus in Bangladesh followed by India and African countries to be precise (Nobel Winner Yunus: Microcredit Missionary 2005). This work will also be devoted to explore new avenues, which would prove more beneficial to the poor in rising economically in lesser time and lesser strain. One if the important aims of this research work will be to spread consciousness among the poor and suggest new ways to get finance for the business to be executed by them. The enterprises may in course of time need tools for greater usefulness to the workers and this work, therefore, will get to find out places from where the required tools and apparatus can be procured. Last but not the least, the work will also be devoted to determine the role of NGOs, besides the concerned governmental agencies to impart maximum benefit to the poor in the least possible time. The research work will be divided into the following chapters: 1. Introduction: This chapter will be in the form of exposition, which will throw light on the nature, meaning and suggestions attached with it. That is to say, it will explain the topic in the historical perspective also to make thing crystal clear. It will also include, in brief, the developments, which have taken place in suggesting its significance and implications. 2. Background (To be done by the customer) 3. This chapter will be devoted to bring to light the popularity of the concept of feasibility of working from home in different countries of the world. The reasons of its growing popularity will be investigated in the light of time constraint, system support, the nurturing task leader, authoritarian leadership, which is only possible for a short time and deterioration creeps in the long run (James 2009). How household business is more congenial and supportive to the business in the background of homely and filial atmosphere. Concept of Boss where it has to be asserted that the trait for creative world would be only possible in permissive atmosphere like one found in the family as against the one prevailing in the organisation, between group design will be adopted in this investigation. 4. A comparative study of the two concepts to be measured and efforts will be made to find out the success of the two concepts on scale by means of statistical techniques to be employed to analyse the data obtained and the results will be discussed in the light of theoretical assumptions and the socio cultural realities. 5. This chapter will investigate the avenues and other means, which would go to add to the popularity of the concept by spread of consciousness, education, demonstration, etc. More importantly, it will find out the helping agencies, which could provide the required finance, governmental and others to ameliorate the plight of the poor. The role of NGOs will also be determined to bring awareness among the poor to change their destiny. 6. Conclusion: This will form another important part of the research and enumerate in detail the findings of the investigations. It will also suggest the measure to be adopted in the light of the findings. Hypothesis: 1. The concept of feasibility of work from home is not new and it was successful in the olden days though overshadowed by the establishment of big scale, it has again proved its efficacy in a few countries. It is supposed to be successful in the present day also. 2. Affluence is not supposed to be restricted to the big business organisations, the concept if worked on properly, is supposed to help a lot in the eradication of poverty among the masses presently moving with begging bowls. 3. The government is supposed to lend ears to the measures it should adopt in the light of the examples set by different organisations as well as suggestions embodied in various research works like the one conducted by me. In order to justify the hypothesis, examples of the economically affluent countries like China and Japan have been cited. It may commonly be seen the sound economic development of these countries, which are largely dependent on household business. Methodology: Two sets of samples will be selected from the studies of the two concepts investigated for the present scale. Suitable scales and measures will be employed in order to elicit information regarding the different dimension in question. Most of the scales will be developed by taking into account the aims and objectives of the investigation. Suitable statistical techniques will be employed to analyse the data obtained and the result will be discussed in the light of theoretical assumptions and the socio cultural realities. Reference John, C. (2009). Running a Home Based Business – Working From Home 2. Available: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/running-a-home-based-business-working-from-home-2-715685.html. Last accessed 17 October 2009. Nobel Winner Yunus: Microcredit Missionary 2005 Retrieved October 18, 2009 from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_52/b3965024.htm James, O. (2009). Home Based Business - How to Eliminate the Time Constraints. Available: http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Based-Business---How-to-Eliminate-the-Time-Constraints&id=2780782. Last accessed 17 October 2009. Legal requirements for small home businesses 2008 Retrieved October 19, 2009 from http://www.improvingyourworld.com/business/legal_requirements_for_small_home_businesses_002693.html Read More