Assessment Task – Tutorial Questions
Unit Code: HC3152-T2-2020
Unit Name: e-Business Applications
Assignment: Tutorial Questions Assignment [1 Attempt Only]
Due: 11:59pm 12th October 2020
Weighting: 50%
Purpose:
This assignment is designed to assess your level of knowledge of the key topics covered in this unit
Unit Learning Outcomes Assessed:
On completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Evaluate theoretical and practical knowledge of Information Technology models and strategies for e-business.
2. Critically analyse information technology issues for e-business and provide solutions to these issues using their knowledge of information technology and practical techniques in e-business applications.
3. Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of Information Technology in the leverage and adoption of e-business applications to provide competitive advantage and strategic solutions for businesses.
4. Demonstrate research skills using academic literature and integrating ideas from the literature to the information technology issues in e-business and in preparation for life-long learning.
5. Understand the ICT profession in e-business
6. Communicate using effective oral and written communication tools, act in a professional manner, be an effective team member or team leader
7. Review and describe the major privacy, legal, ethical and societal issues with respect to managing digital information and e-business
Description: Each week students were provided with interactive and self-study tutorial questions of varying degrees of difficulty. The tutorial questions are available in the Tutorial Folder, for each week, on Blackboard. The Interactive Tutorials are designed to assist students with the process, skills and knowledge to answer the provided tutorial questions. Your task is to answer a selection of final tutorial questions developed from weekly lecture videos and tutorials, from weeks 1 to 11 inclusive, and submit these answers in a single document.
You must write in your own words and include in-text citation, with a reference list at the end of your total submission document. Typically, you will write about 250-300 words per whole question, unless given other instructions, in the question. You should include at least 1-2 peer-reviewed and other references per question. You may use tables and other forms of graphics, to form your solution.
Tutorial Question Assignment HC3152-T2-2020
Question 1: (7 Marks)
While there are many e-business models that have been identified, and are still successful, many entrepreneurs, are looking to enter the online e-commerce market, with updated ebusiness models. Briefly describe the following newer 2020 e-commerce business models, and identify any advantages or disadvantages.
1. Private Label
2. White Label
3. DropShipping
4. Print-on-Demand
5. Wholesaling
Question 2: (7 Marks)
Authors such as Michael Porter, identified five main competitive forces that may impact a company’s’ ability to grow and survive. While this framework is based around traditional brick-and-mortar stores, they can be related to the 21th century, e-business world. Answer the following 2-part question:
Part A: With the above background, identify 3 competitive threats applied to e-business on the buy-side (upstream supply chain), and also 2 competitive threats from the perspective of the sell-side (downstream supply chain). Provide a brief explanation, how and/or why, each competitive threat, could impact a business. [5 marks]
Part B: Briefly describe how a company like Amazon, is both a buy-side and sell-side enterprise, and how this could be interpreted as anti-competitive (2 Marks).
Question 3: (7 Marks)
When a business decides to expand into a new overseas market, it is important for the business to develop its’ supply chain to improve operational success. In terms of “Distributors” to be used by your business (in the new market), identify 7 actions or selection procedures, in determining how your business would select or identify the best distributor. For each action or selection, provide a briefly explanation, including how this would improve operational success.
Question 4: (7 Marks)
While it is important to identify successful strategies when constructing an online presence, it is also valuable to understand why a poorly developed e-business strategy can lead to a business failing. Moreover, this can apply to both new start-ups and traditional brick-and-mortar stores. With this in mind, you are to briefly describe and discuss the following 5 failed e-business start-up strategies.
1. Timing errors:
2. Lack of creativity
3. Offering free services
4. Over-ambition:
5. Implementation
Question 5: (11 Marks)
For each of the following parts of Question 5, write about 150 – 200 words per discussion question.
1. Discuss the following statement with reference to how an organization should react to the Internet. ‘Is the Internet a typhoon force or a light breeze’. Can these forces fundamentally alter your business model?’. (4 marks)
2. Suggest how an organization can evaluate the impact of the Internet on its business. Moreover, examine this in terms of the current pandemic and lockdowns. (4 marks)
3. What are the main barriers to adoption of e-commerce by consumers and suggest how a company could counter these forces. (3 marks)
Question 6: (11 Marks)
Read the following Case Study and then answer the questions proceeding it. Write about 150200 words per answer.
Case Study
CISCO SYSTEM'S CONNECTION ONLINE
Customer Service Benefits
Cisco began providing electronic support to its business Cisco reaps many benefits from the CCC) system. The in 1991 using value-added networks (VANS). The first most important benefits include: applications offered were software downloads, defects Reduced operating costs for order taking. By taking its diagnoses, and technical advice. In spring 1994, Cisco order process online, Cisco has saved several hundred moved its system to the Web and named it Cisco dollars per year, or approximately 20 percent of its total Connection Online (CCO). (Not to be confused with operating costs. This is due primarily to increased Cisco Learning connection, which is related to e- productivity of the employees who take and process learning at Cisco, see Chapter 5.) By 2004, Cisco's orders. customers and reseller partners were logging onto
Cisco's website over 2 million times a month to receive Improved quality. The system facilitates Cisco's Six technical assistance, place and check orders, or Sigma mission.
download software. The online service has been so well Enhanced technical support and customer service. With received that nearly 85 percent of all customer service more than 90 percent of its technical support and inquiries and 95 percent of software updates are customer service calls handled online, Cisco's technical delivered online. The service is delivered globally in 16 support productivity has increased by 250 percent per languages. CCC is considered a model for B2B success, year. Reduced technical support staff cost. Online and several books have been written about it. technical support has reduced technical support staff costs by roughly $125 million each year.
Online Ordering by Customers Reduced software distribution costs. Customers
Virtually all of Cisco's B2B products are made to order. download new software releases directly from Cisco's Before (CO, ordering a product was a Lengthy, site, saving the company $180 million in distribution, complicated, and error-prone process because it was packaging, and duplicating costs each year. Having done by fax or by -snail mail.- Cisco began deploying product and pricing information on the Web and Web-based commerce tools in July 1995, and within a
year its Internet Product Centre allowed users to Web-based CD-ROMs saves Cisco an additional $50 configure and purchase any Cisco product over the million annually in printing and distributing catalogues Web. Today, a business customer's engineer can sit and marketing materials to customers. down at a PC, configure a product, and find out Faster service. Lead times were reduced from 4 to 10 immediately if there are any errors in the configuration days to 2 to 3 days.
(feedback is given by intelligent agents). The CCC) system also benefits customers. Cisco By providing online pricing and configuration tools to customers can configure orders more quickly, customers, 99 percent of orders are now placed through immediately determine costs, and collaborate much CCC), saving time for both Cisco and its customers. more rapidly and effectively with Cisco's staff. Also,
Tracking Order Status customer service and technical support are faster.
Each month Cisco used to receive over hundreds of In 2006, Cisco moved to selling online its hardware thousands of order-status inquiries such as, -When will (routers, switches, and VolP) and the software that my order be ready?- -How should the order be powers them separately. This unbundling gives classified for customs?- -Is the product eligible for customers more flexibility (see Hoover 2006). NAFTA agreement?- -What export control issues apply?- Cisco provides self-tracking and FAQ tools so
that customers can find the answers to many of their End of Case Study questions by themselves.
In addition, the company’s primary domestic and international freight forwarders update Cisco's database electronically about the status of each shipment. CCO can record the shipping date, the method of shipment, and the current location of each product. All new information is made available to customers immediately. As soon as an order ships, Cisco notifies the customer via e-mail.
Case Study Questions to Answer:
1. Explain the purpose of an organisation implementing an e-CRM system and how this relates to the changes made by Cisco, within the case study section on ‘Customer Service’. (4 marks)
2. Discuss why allowing Cisco B2B customers to complete online orders would also be a benefit to other business entities. Also, what could be potential disadvantages or risks to a business. (4 Marks)
3. Identity at least 3 cost saving benefits that Cisco has achieved from the implementation of their online connection system, and why they are justified. (3 marks)
END OF QUESTIONS
Submission Directions:
The assignment will be submitted via Blackboard. Each student will be permitted only ONE submission to Blackboard. You need to ensure that the document submitted is the correct one.
Academic Integrity
Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding Academic Integrity, as Academic Integrity is integral to maintaining academic quality and the reputation of Holmes’ graduates. Accordingly, all assessment tasks need to comply with academic integrity guidelines. Table 1 identifies the six categories of Academic Integrity breaches. If you have any questions about Academic Integrity issues related to your assessment tasks, please consult your lecturer or tutor for relevant referencing guidelines and support resources. Many of these resources can also be found through the Study Skills link on Blackboard.
Academic Integrity breaches are a serious offence punishable by penalties that may range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment.
Table 1: Six categories of Academic Integrity breaches
Plagiarism Reproducing the work of someone else without attribution. When a student submits their own work on multiple occasions this is known as self-plagiarism.
Collusion Working with one or more other individuals to complete an assignment, in a way that is not authorised.
Copying Reproducing and submitting the work of another student, with or without their knowledge. If a student fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent their own original work from being copied, this may also be considered an offence.
Impersonation Falsely presenting oneself, or engaging someone else to present as oneself, in an in-person examination.
Contract cheating Contracting a third party to complete an assessment task, generally in exchange for money or other manner of payment.
Data fabrication falsification and Manipulating or inventing data with the intent of supporting false conclusions, including manipulating images.
Source: INQAAHE, 2020
If any words or ideas used the assignment submission do not represent your original words or ideas, you must cite all relevant sources and make clear the extent to which such sources were used.
In addition, written assignments that are similar or identical to those of another student is also a violation of the Holmes Institute’s Academic Conduct and Integrity policy. The consequence for a violation of this policy can incur a range of penalties varying from a 50% penalty through suspension of enrolment. The penalty would be dependent on the extent of academic misconduct and your history of academic misconduct issues.
All assessments will be automatically submitted to SelfAssign to assess their originality.
Further Information: For further information and additional learning resources please refer to your Discussion Board for the unit.
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