Electronic Commerce and Information Technology

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Introduction Page index

Overview of the subject
Aims of the subject
Structure of the unit
Textbook and recommended reading
Assessment

Overview of the subject

No particular background is required for this subject, and all study will assume the person, while holding a minimum understanding of computers use and the Internet is not an expert in web design or computer programming. Learning is divided into three stages:

Background and trends (4 Units on ‘What is it?’)
The background, current situation and trends surrounding e-commerce, e-business and telecommunications in the both the global and the transport industry specific context will be covered. The fundamentals of e-commerce tools and technologies and architecture will also be introduced.

Models, approaches and practices (4 units on ‘Why would I use it?’)
Examination of the fundamentals for any manager or leader seeking to implement e-commerce. Topics will include business to business, seeking to implement e-commerce. Topics will include practical competence related to business to business, business to customer, mobile commerce, and specific e-business or e-commerce applications in the transport industry (i.e. supply chain management, freight, distribution, and payment for goods and services).

Implementing e-commerce (5 units on ‘How do I do it?’)
The final part of this unit of study will cover what is required for a manager or leader to plan the effective and efficient implementation of an e-commerce strategy. On completion the participant will be able to select an e-commerce strategy for a given business scenario and then plan, shape a brief for building a web presence, establish a marketing plan and evaluate the strategy.

Access to and competency sufficient to utilise the World Wide Web will be essential for participants in this unit.

This will allow access to the course notes and resources. These pages contain links to the material on the World Wide Web from which you are expected to learn. However, you are expected also to search the Web for relevant material yourself.

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Aims for the subject

This unit of study introduces the current situation and various technologies and models associated with e-commerce within the transport industry. It will provide an understanding on how organisations, particularly in the transport or related sectors, can utilise e-commerce for fulfilment of strategic objectives that enhance competitive advantage. While covering the theory underpinning e-commerce and e-business models and associated information and communication technologies (ICTs), this unit is aimed at improving applied practice. Examination of models and technologies involved will therefore be conducted to enable participants to remove the noise and hype surrounding the field to better plan an effective and efficient e-commerce implementation strategy.

Upon completion of this subject, the student should have developed an understanding and appreciation of:

The technology behind electronic commerce, and the past, present and future trends influencing adoption of electronic commerce;
The basic skills required to engage in e-commerce;
The many commercial, technical, and social issues constraining and guiding the evolution of electronic commerce models, markets and approaches; and
The planning of an electronic commerce implementation strategy in a real or simulated operation context.

In addition, the student should have acquired or improved skills in analysing web presences, e-business models, the effective deployment of e-commerce ICTs, and the future of the Internet in business.

Students should ensure they give due consideration to how assignments are submitted with sufficient evidence of their:

Applied use of terminology and frameworks used in class to analyse e-commerce approaches and technologies;
Use of URLs in their reports to reference relevant sites of interest; and
Search the World Wide Web for appropriate material to cite in their reports

Students should use the early weeks of the semester to acquire these abilities, otherwise the standard of their submission work is likely to suffer.

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Structure of the unit

This unit of study is divided into 13 Modules. They will be:

Module 1: An Introduction to E-Commerce

Outline the foundations of e-commerce.
Confirm the principles underlying e-commerce.
Determine the origins of the Internet.
Outline the role of the internet in business and commerce.

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Module 2: The Impact of E-Commerce

Detail global and Australian trends the adoption and use of online shopping.
Confirm the use and application of e-commerce and related technologies across the whole transport and logistics supply chain.
Identify the how deployment of e-commerce may influence business competitiveness and their value-chain.
Explain how e-commerce may be deployed to affect standard transport and maritime businesses activities and processes

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Module 3: E-commerce Tools and Technologies

Understand the alphabet soup of terms and their meaning (i.e. XML, HTML, EDI, AI, P2P, etc.)
Explain the Internet as a communication medium.
Identify how e-commerce uses different information and communication technologies (ICTs) to achieve a range of applications and ends.
Determine the key definitions of terms, concepts and technologies in the e-commerce and related information and communication technology domain.
Develop and use the correct terminology relating to a range of technologies, issues and concepts related to e-commerce.

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Module 4: E-commerce Architecture and Networks

Explain the infrastructure and architecture necessary to run the Internet as a communication medium.
Identify how Internet speed and connectivity affects types of services and user.
Determine the information and communication technology developments in e-commerce and related domains.
Develop and use the correct terminology relating to a range of e-commerce technologies.
List and discuss how a range of emerging technologies may affect e-commerce in the transport and logistics industry.
Identify different types of mobile commerce (m-commerce) network options.
Describe different wireless technologies related to e-commerce/m-commerce.

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Module 5: E-Business Models

Define what constitutes a business model;
Identify different types of e-business models;
Confirm the relationship between business models for e-markets and e-businesses;
Apply e-business models to transport businesses or operations;
Analyse and make a balanced judgement on the e-business models being used by select companies;
Determine the alternative business models that may support different e-commerce strategies.

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Module 6: Business to Consumer E-Commerce

Explore how customer behaviours have changed because of the Internet.
Confirm current trends in Internet use and online activities.
Detail what is a value relationship.
Choose the appropriate B2C e-commerce strategy for a given business.
Review and isolate the features of different B2C approaches
Compare and contrast B2B and B2C approaches.

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Module 7: Business to Business E-Commerce

Differentiate B2B to B2C strategies.
Analyse different B2B models.
Establish objectives and barriers to B2B integration models.
Determine requirements for successful deployment of B2B strategies.
Define and be able to identify a features of a successful B2B electronic market (eMarket).

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Module 8: M-Commerce

Define the parameters, dimensions and approaches to mobile commerce.
Confirm the impact of mobile applications and approaches on transport and logistics operations.
Explain the impact mobile applications and approaches can have on customers.
Analyse the relevance of mobile commerce applications to current transport and logistics operations.
Explain the role of specific information and communication technologies on m-commerce.
Review the emerging trends and likely affect m-commerce will have on e-business models.

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Module 9: E-Commerce and Supply Chain Management

Confirm the impact e-commerce has on supply chain management.
Detail the imperatives driving eSCM.
Explain the fundamental distinctions between e-logistics, e-fulfilment and e-procurement.
Confirm the role of 3PL and 4PL providers.
Analyse why data is so important to e-businesses involved in B2B transactions within a supply chain.
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the major trends and developments in technologies and applications that will affect eSCM

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Module 10: Planning an E-Commerce Strategy

Confirm the stages in an e-commerce planing process
Define an e-commerce strategy
Analyse how value plays a role in an e-commerce strategic intervention
Identify the determinants of a businesses’ e-commerce responsiveness and readiness
Distinguish between a business new to e-commerce and one with mature e-commerce systems and plans
Establish the components of an effective e-commerce implementation and on going maintenance plan

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Module 11: Establishing a Web Design Brief

Build an integrated web design brief for an e-commerce web site.
Identify the importance of planing a web presence.
Analyse the importance of web site design and navigation.
Compare and contrast search engines.

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Module 12: Establishing a E-Marketing Plan

Define the components of an online marketing (e-marketing) plan.
Analyse what makes customers loyal to an e-business.
Examine how direct marketing may assist an e-business.
Determine the relationship between e-marketing and brand.
Determine the relationship between e-marketing and channel management.
Review how an e-marketing plan may influence site design and customer service processes.
Analyse how an effective e-marketing plan can avoid channel conflicts.

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Module 13: Evaluating the Future of E-Commerce

Critically evaluate how the Internet and related ICTs have driven changes to business systems and processes.
Evaluate transformation in relationships between organisations, and between organisations and their customers enabled by e-commerce.
Review and assess complex documents on future trends in e-commerce.
Identify emerging opportunities for e-commerce in the transport and logistics industry.
Reflect on the fundamental developments in e-commerce with regards its implementation at an enterprise, supply chain and global industry level.

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Textbook and recommended reading

Students are not required to purchase any prescribed textbook.

Recommended readings are provided at the beginning of each of the 13 components of this unit of study and all required readings or case studies will be provided (either in downloadable form or through hyperlinks).

To do this subject students must therefore have unfettered use of a Web browser, and be able to use electronic mail to communicate with the lecturer and with fellow students and to submit the prescribed coursework.

Extensive use will be made of case studies that illustrate key concepts or practices.

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Assessment

Assessment will include:

Maintain a personal study diary: This requires the student to record basic information. Completing the diary is a reflective exercise intended to promote a record of important learning; issues for follow-up; progress; and information, web sites and sources of research important to the student’s own study. A number of activities in the course will require records be entered into the diary. The diary will be sighted by the class facilitator from time-to-time.

One minor assignment - Analyse an e-business Web presence: This will require the use of basic Internet skills (Web/search engine use, hyperlinks, email, virus scans and spyware, etc.) in order to analyse and report on a specific case study. This will be conducted against criteria provided by the facilitator prior to Module 6. Approximate length will be 2,500 words.

One minor assignment – Evaluate the affect e-commerce has had on supply chain management or a specific aspect of eSCM: This will require a 2,500 word research and analysis paper. It will be based on and series of questions, readings and activities completed throughout the course up to Module 10.

One major assignment – Plan an e-commerce business strategy: This will require the development of an e-commerce strategy for a real or simulated organisation or operational context. This paper will be approximately 3,000 words in length.

A knowledge test: The completion of an online/in class question and answer quiz on general knowledge acquired during the first four Modules of this unit of study.

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