Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
14. What is technology-enabled relationship management?
15. Identify the key elements of the technology infrastructure
required to successfully implement e-commerce within an
organization.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
Describe the process of electronic bill presentment. Out-
line some potential problems in using this form of billing
customers.
6. Identify and briefly describe three m-commerce applica-
tions you or a friend have used.
7. Discuss the use of e-commerce to improve spending on
manufacturing, repair, and operations (MRO) of goods
and services.
8. Discuss the pros and cons of e-commerce companies cap-
turing data about you as you visit their Web sites.
9. Outline the key steps in developing a corporate global
e-commerce strategy.
10. Identify three kinds of business organizations that would
have difficulty in becoming a successful e-commerce
organization.
11. Discuss how you might gather Web traffic data for analysis
of your firm's Web site. For what decisions might this data
be useful?
2.
Why are many manufacturers and retailers outsourcing the
physical logistics of delivering merchandise to shoppers?
What advantages does such a strategy offer? Are there any
potential issues or disadvantages?
3.
What does it mean to define the functions of a Web site?
What are some of the possible functions?
4.
What do you think are the biggest barriers to wide-scale
adoption of m-commerce by consumers? Who do you
think is working on solutions to these problems and what
might the solutions entail?
5.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retail chain, has turned down
several invitations to join exchanges in the retail and con-
sumer goods industries. Is this good or bad for the overall
U.S. economy? Why?
PROBLEM-SOLVING EXERCISES
1.
Develop a set of criteria you would use to evaluate various
business-to-consumer Web sites based on factors such as
ease of use, protection of consumer data, and security of
payment process. Develop a simple spreadsheet containing
these criteria. Evaluate five popular Web sites using the cri-
teria you developed. What changes would you recommend
to the Web developer of the site that scored lowest?
capability of your spreadsheet software to plot the growth
of all three. Using current growth rates, predict the year that
B2C e-commerce will exceed 10 percent of retail sales.
3.
Do research to learn more about the use of WAP and other
specifications being developed to support m-commerce.
Briefly describe the specifications you uncover. Who is
behind the development of these standards? Which stan-
dards seem to be gaining the broadest acceptance? Prepare
a one- to two-page report for your instructor.
2.
Research the growth of B2B and B2C e-commerce and
retail sales for the period 2000 to present. Use the graphics
TEAM ACTIVITIES
1.
Imagine that your team has been hired as consultants to
provide recommendations to boost the traffic to a Web site
that sells environmentally friendly household cleaning
products. Identify as many ideas as possible for how you
can increase traffic to this Web site. Next, rank your ideas
from best to worst.
2.
As a team, develop a set of criteria that you would use in
selecting a firm to design and implement your organiza-
tion's Web site. Identify and evaluate three different
providers of Web services to support business processes
associated with the Accounting and Finance business func-
tion. Prepare a table outlining the pros and cons of each
service provider.
