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
usinesses.
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,
e 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 XXXXXXXXXXwords per whole question, unless
given other instructions, in the question. You should include at least 1-2 peer-reviewed and other
eferences 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 e-
usiness 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
ick-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
uy-side (upstream supply chain), and also 2 competitive threats from the perspective of the
sell-side (downstream supply chain). Provide a
ief 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
iefly 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
ick-and-mortar stores.
With this in mind, you are to
iefly describe and discuss the following 5 failed e-business
start-up strategies.
1. Timing e
ors:
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
eeze’. 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 cu
ent pandemic and lockdowns. (4 marks)
3. What are the main ba
iers 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 150-
200 words per answer.
Case Study
CISCO SYSTEM'S CONNECTION ONLINE
Customer Service
Cisco began providing electronic support to its business
in 1991 using value-added networks (VANS). The first
applications offered were software downloads, defects
diagnoses, and technical advice. In spring 1994, Cisco
moved its system to the Web and named it Cisco
Connection Online (CCO). (Not to be confused with
Cisco Learning connection, which is related to e-
learning at Cisco, see Chapter 5.) By 2004, Cisco's
customers and reseller partners were logging onto
Cisco's website over 2 million times a month to receive
technical assistance, place and check orders, or
download software. The online service has been so well
eceived that nearly 85 percent of all customer service
inquiries and 95 percent of software updates are
delivered online. The service is delivered globally in 16
languages. CCC is considered a model for B2B success,
and several books have been written about it.
Online Ordering by Customers
Virtually all of Cisco's B2B products are made to order.
Before (CO, ordering a product was a Lengthy,
complicated, and e
or-prone process because it was
done by fax or by "snail mail." Cisco began deploying
Web-based commerce tools in July 1995, and within a
year its Internet Product Centre allowed users to
configure and purchase any Cisco product over the
Web. Today, a business customer's engineer can sit
down at a PC, configure a product, and find out
immediately if there are any e
ors in the configuration
(feedback is given by intelligent agents).
By providing online pricing and configuration tools to
customers, 99 percent of orders are now placed through
CCC), saving time for both Cisco and its customers.
Tracking Order Status
Each month Cisco used to receive over hundreds of
thousands of order-status inquiries such as, "When will
my order be ready?" "How should the order be
classified for customs?" "Is the product eligible for
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
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 cu
ent 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.
Benefits
Cisco reaps many benefits from the CCC) system. The
most important benefits include:
Reduced operating costs for order taking. By taking its
order process online, Cisco has saved several hundred
dollars per year, or approximately 20 percent of its total
operating costs. This is due primarily to increased
productivity of the employees who take and process
orders.
Improved quality. The system facilitates Cisco's Six
Sigma mission.
Enhanced technical support and customer service. With
more than 90 percent of its technical support and
customer service calls handled online, Cisco's technical
support productivity has increased by 250 percent per
year. Reduced technical support staff cost. Online
technical support has reduced technical support staff
costs by roughly $125 million each year.
Reduced software distribution costs. Customers
download new software releases directly from Cisco's
site, saving the company $180 million in distribution,
packaging, and duplicating costs each year. Having
product and pricing information on the Web and
Web-based CD-ROMs saves Cisco an additional $50
million annually in printing and distributing catalogues
and marketing materials to customers.
Faster service. Lead times were reduced from 4 to 10
days to 2 to 3 days.
The CCC) system also benefits customers. Cisco
customers can configure orders more quickly,
immediately determine costs, and collaborate much
more rapidly and effectively with Cisco's staff. Also,
customer service and technical support are faster.
In 2006, Cisco moved to selling online its hardware
(routers, switches, and VolP) and the software that
powers them separately. This unbundling gives
customers more flexibility (see Hoover 2006).
End of Case Study
Case Study Questions to Answer:
1. Explain the purpose of an organisation implementing an e-CRM system and how this
elates 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
enefit 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