CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the methodology, research locale, instrumentations, and the

data gathering procedures used by the proponents to conduct the study.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The proponents decided that the design needed to gather the relevant information

for the study is a descriptive research. A descriptive research design means that the

information is collected without changing or manipulating the environment of the subject

of the study. This design was used to ensure that there would not be any form of

modification with the nature of business of Air Ocean Express itself and will only deal

with the specific business operations involved within the statement of the problem of the

study. Also, this design is used so that the data collected to achieve the objectives of the

study is accurate and detailed because there are no modifications done.

RESEARCH LOCALE

The locale of the study is Air Ocean Express which is a cargo and freight

forwarding company. Air Ocean Express would be the middle man between two different

clients with one being the seller from a country of origin that made transactions with the

buyer from a foreign country that will be the country of destination and they will arrange

the safe importation of the goods from the country of origin by getting the permits,

documents, and the tariff consultations required of the outbound shipments and the

computations of duties and taxes of the goods with the customs of the country of
destination. They can also arrange the trucking services as well as the warehousing of the

commodities that is to be exported or those that were imported.

INSTRUMENTATION

The proponents used these instruments to obtain the relevant information needed

to achieve the objectives of the study.

Interview. An interview is meeting at which information is obtained by an interviewer

from a person which would be the interviewee. The researchers used an interview to

gather the information needed about the nature of business, identification of the statement

of the problems, and the system requirements of Air Ocean Express.

Research. Research is an investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and

interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or

practical application of such new or revised theories or laws. The proponents used this

instrument to have the capability and knowledge to formulate the solutions for the

problems stated for the development of the proposed system by looking at system

documentations of other projects that has similar objectives with the study. Research also

enabled the proponents to identify the scope and limitations of the study as well as its

significance to both the clients and employees of Air Ocean Express.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURES

A systematic approach for gathering necessary data was conducted by the

proponents to ensure that the objectives of the study and all system requirements are met.
System Planning Stage. The proponents have gathered the system requirements of the

client, Air Ocean Express, and have also identified the problems that they have with the

current system that they use for their business operations.

System Analysis Stage. The proponents carefully analysed all the problems identified and

proceeded to conduct research of system documentation of studies that has similar

problem statement, objectives, and system environment that enabled the researchers to

formulate solutions for each problem that will make the business processes of Air Ocean

Express become more efficient.

System Design Stage. The researchers determine the system’s design based on the system

requirements and the objectives of the study. The hardware and software requirements of

the system are also identified as well as the programming language and database software

needed to effectively develop the system which is PHP and MySQL respectively.

Different tools are also used to describe the flow of the system’s functions such as the

data dictionary, the data flow diagram, the entity relationship diagram, and the flowchart.

System Development Stage. Upon knowing the system design, the proponents proceeded

to turn the system requirements, objectives of the study, and the user interface design into

machine readable format as well as the connecting of the website to the database software

used to create the source code of the system.

System Testing Stage. The researchers test the system that is being developed numerous

times to ensure that the website has no mistakes, errors, and bugs with its functions and

the information that is stored into the system’s database software and has complied with

all the system requirements. The user interface is also tested to assure that it is user
friendly so that the productivity of the end user will not be hindered instead by the

proposed system.

System Implementation Stage. After the proponents determined that the system is

complete after testing, it is then installed by Air Ocean Express for testing to ensure that

the system is both functional and safe to use. If the client still finds errors, bugs, missing

and/or imprecise functions and information, and difficulty in the use of the system, the

researchers would proceed to fix and improve the system and repeat the process until the

system is acceptable for the clients. Also, any further requirements by the client are

gathered as well.

System Maintenance Stage. After the system is approved by the client, it will be

constantly monitored to ensure that any bugs and errors that were not found by the

proponents during the previous stages that will surface will be fixed. Any further

suggestions for the improvement of the system by the client are also acquired and

implemented.