An investigation of the impacts and the risk assessment of technology enabled information on teismes in the UK

The main purpose of this research is to identify ways of minimising the risk liability on the new form of SME business operations which depend only on TEI (internet-eC). The rapid evolution and spread of information technology (IT) during the last few years is challenging both SMEs, and
insurance companies to rethink the very nature of risk exposure due to some SMEs reliance on TEI.
Parallel to this notion is the task of identifying key elements or threads that might be common to
TEISMEs business operations.

The success of the internet-eC will also depend on a variety of factors independent of the Predictive Model of internet-eC suitability, such as security and risk assessment of TEISME business operations. The research work has identified the key impacts and risk assessment within the context of technology-enabled information (TEI), which engaged in the process of discovering the opportunities and challenges presented by electronic data or information transfer to small medium enterprises (SMEs) business operations. Weaknesses in the existing security risk assessment approaches have been established from our findings.

The research has revealed that there is an urgent need for a risk assessment model that can be applied to Technology-Enabled Information Small-Medium Enterprises (TEISME) business operational risks. It has also been found that it is necessary for all TEISME to identify the products' (e.g.
goods or services) suitability for internet-eC. The suitability of any products that may be sold on the
internet-eC is just one factor that needs to be taken into account by TEISME. Many TEISMEs launch internet-eC websites without thinking through what it will take and how the website will impact their business operations. Without a solid business plan, regardless of whether the business has
an V in front of it or not, the TEISME have already prescribed their own downfall. Nevertheless, a trend is apparently beginning to emerge regarding which commodities sell well electronically and which do not. It appears that the sectors of travel, technology, literature and music are reaping the benefits of online retailing, whilst other sectors are missing out.

This thesis is divided into parts, Part One consists of Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Chapter 1 sets the scene for the research rationale, hypotheses, and the clarification of what constitutes TEI and TEISME. Chapter 2 presents the impacts of TEI on SMEs in the UK. Chapter 3 is an in-depth review of risk and risk assessment of TEI on TEISME and explains the underlying principles. This chapter also presents the weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative risk assessment model to TEISMEs. Part Two consists of Chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 4 presents the methods and methodology with clear justification of their adaptation. Chapter 5 presents the results of the findings. Part Three has Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 6 is based on the critical evaluation relating to the research. Chapter 7 presents the conclusions and recommendations, and the contribution to knowledge with further development plans for future work. Part Four is the final and referential section.

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