exercises

September 13,2011

QUESTION #1
List technologies and applications that could be covered by this list and decide, in discussion, if they are usefully / appropriately classified as e-Commerce.
ANSWER:
The following are the applications covered in this chapter;
The four applications covered in this chapter
1.Electronic Markets - typically for trade transactions in a
commodity market.
2.EDI - used for regular, repeat, business to business transactions
such a components for assembly of stock for retailers.
3.Internet e-Commerce used for retail transactions of goods or
services.
4.Internet e-Commerce used for business transactions.
The Three technologies covered in this chapter
1.Interactive teletext - the French Minitel being the only significant
example.
2. Interactive television used for e-Commerce.
3. The use of (web enabled) portable telephones for e-Commerce.
Other technologies and applications that appear (Or could appear) to fall
within the EU definition are:
Tele-sales.
Electronic Point of Sales Terminals (EPOS).
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) (Bank Cash Machines).
The use of e-Mail for commercial purposes.

As with many terms in IS and IT, e-Commerce is ill-defined, the study of
e-Commerce needs to be cognisant of related technologies but too broad
a definition of e-Commerce is probably not helpful.
It is noted that some writers, in practice at least, reserve the term e-Commerce
for the business use of the internet and exclude (or ignore) technologies such
as EDI.





QUESTION #2
Suggest where and in what form Higgies' Potted Beef could implement
e-Commerce.
ANSWER:
The most obvious opportunities for Higginbottoms of Heckmondwike to
use e-Commerce are:
An EDI system for trade with the supermarkets. Getting the
supermarkets to stock the product is not necessarily going to
be easy (there are more products available than the supermarkets
have room for). If the supermarkets do accept the product, EDI
could be a condition of trade. EDI will not be cheap for Higging-
bottoms to install (although there are short cuts that small firms
can use).
A web site for business to consumer sales of the firms products
Expatriate Yorkshire folks who have possibly accumulated 'a bit
of brass' would very possibly be prepared to pay a premium price
for a taste of their home county. A web site could be set up reasonably
cheaply and could do very well. Hampers including Yorkshire
specialities such as curt tarts and Hendersons Relish could be a
new line (Eh lad, you can't beat a splash of Hendersons on your
bangers and mash).
EDI could also be appropriate for use with suppliers, particularly
for regular supplies such as the firm that makes the jars.
e-Commerce could have further applications, possibilities include other supplies
(although items such as beef might require the buyer to inspect the product to
ensure quality) and, for instance, office stationary (although this is arguably
unnecessary for a small firm which might want to use a small local office supplier).