BSc Business Studies

BMG 403 E-Business

January Cohort (2012)
June 2013 Semester (55257)

Student Name:
_________________________
Module Coordinator: Dr. Bobbi
Sharma

E-BUSINESS -MODULE HANDBOOK

Contents

Page

INTRODUCTION.............................................................................2
MODULE TUTORS (6 & 7)................................................................2
AVAILABILITY OF MODULE TUTORS (8)...............................................2
RATIONALE...................................................................................2
AIMS

(9)....................................................................................2

LEARNING OUTCOMES (9)..............................................................2

MODULE TEACHING (10).................................................................3
TEACHING PLAN indicative content (11)..........................................4
RESOURCE LIST (12).......................................................................5
ASSESSMENT (13)..........................................................................6
ASSIGNMENT DETAILS (14)..............................................................6
FEEDBACK (15)..............................................................................8

E-BUSINESS -MODULE HANDBOOK

INTRODUCTION
This module provides students with an abstract understanding of the
technology and business processes involved in an Electronic-Business
(E-Business) environment.

MODULE TUTORS (6 & 7)

Dr. Bobbi Sharma: bobbi.sharma@qa.ulster.ac.uk
Dr. Arshad Jamal: arshad.jamal@qa.ulster.ac.uk

AVAILABILITY OF MODULE TUTORS (8)

Dr. Bobbi Sharma is available Monday 12.30pm-1.30pm and Tuesday
4.30pm-5.30pm.

RATIONALE
The twenty-first century company is characterized by ever-increasing
supply capabilities, ever-increasing global competition, and everincreasing customer expectations. To respond to these pressures, ebusiness is a means of enabling companies to revitalize business
processes to increase their cost efficiencies and improve operational
effectiveness, to work more closely with supplies and other business
partners, and to be more responsive to the need of their customers.

AIMS

(9)

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of ebusiness and its practical application in a range of different
organizations. The specific aims of this module are to:

Introduce students to the role, scope and potential of e-business

Develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical

awareness of current issues related to e-business

Develop expertise in using technologies of Internet

Simulate interest in e-business applications

LEARNING OUTCOMES (9)

On successful completion of this module students will:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

K1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the factors, which

influence how e-business is implemented in organizations;

K2 Understand the practice of e-business in organizations;

K3 Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental concepts, principles,

and theories of e-business;

K4 Be aware of the necessity for an organization to have an ebusiness strategy, and understand how organizations may use ebusiness technology in ways to gain competitive advantages.
2

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INTELLECTUAL QUALITIES

I1 Be able to acquire, analyse and synthesis materials that assist in

the understanding of e-business;

I2 Be able to critically evaluate current e-business practice in relation

to best practice models;

I3
Be able to consistently apply their knowledge and wider
intellectual skills to e-business;

I4
Be able to devise likely scenarios of the future direction of ebusiness.

PROFESSIONAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS

P1 Be able to apply concepts and models underlying e-business to

the real world through class discussions and/or case studies;

P2 Be able to scan and organize data, extract meaning from

information and share knowledge;

P3 Perform effectively in a team environment.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

T1
Be able to demonstrate competence in teamwork
interpersonal communications using a variety of media;

T2 Be able to deal with complex e-business issues systematically and

creatively;

T3 Be able to learn through reflection on existing e-business practice

and experience

T4 Demonstrate an ability to take responsibility for development of

knowledge and skills.

MODULE TEACHING (10)

Lectures / Workshops (including assessments)

42

Independent Study

158

Total Effort Hours

200

and

E-BUSINESS -MODULE HANDBOOK

TEACHING PLAN indicative content (11)

Session
Session 1

Topic

Reading

Introduction
Economics of E-Business

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.1)

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.2)

Technology in E-Business

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.3)

Group Formation (max 5 members per group)

Session 2

Group Project Outline (10%)

Group Report

(90%)

Discussion on assessment requirements

Session 3
Session 4

Social and Behavioural Issues

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.4)

Ethical and Regulatory Issues

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.5)

Check progress on Group Project Outline (10%)

Session 5

The Strategy of E-Business

Session 6

Check progress on Group Project Outline (10%)

Session 7
Session 8
Session 9
Session 10

Digital Marketing

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.6)

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.7)

Workshop on Group Report (90%)

Product and Service Innovation

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.8)

Reshaping Business Processes

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.9)

Group Project Outline Feedback (provisional)

E-Business Project Management

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.10)

Check progress on Group Report (90%)

Session 11

E-Business Skills and Culture

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.11)

Session 12

Future Challenges and Opportunities

(Reynolds, 2010, Ch.12)

Session 13
Session 14

Group Report: Continue in class and monitored by lecturer

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RESOURCE LIST (12)

Recommended
Reynolds, J, (2010) E-Business A Management Perspective. Oxford
University Press.

Other relevant textbooks include:

Laudon K. and Traver C. (2008) E-Commerce (4th Ed.), Pearson Education.
Chaffey, D. (2007) E-business and E-commerce management (3rd Ed.) FT
Prentice Hall.
Jackson, P. Harris, L. and Eckesley, P. (2003) e-business fundamentals.
Routhledge.
Turban, E., King, D., Lang, J., Lai, L., McKay J., Marshall P., Polland C.,
Seballos.
D.,Viehland, D. and Volonino L. (2009) Introduction to Electronic
Commerce (2nd Ed.), Pearson Education.
Philips, P. (2003) E-business strategy. McGraw-Hill.
Rayport, J. and Jaworski, B. (2003) (2nd) Introduction to E-Commerce,
McGrow Hill.

Journals
Practitioner-oriented journals:

Harvard Business Review

Academy of Management Executive

Sloan Management Review

California Management Review

Long Range Planning

E-BUSINESS -MODULE HANDBOOK

ASSESSMENT (13)
Assessment is by 100% coursework. Students will be assessed by one
group assignment. In week 2, session 6, students submit a group project
outline. This outline will provide the basis for a work shop in week 2,
session 7, aimed at providing clear and concise guidance on how to
design, develop and complete the assignment report due in week 4,
session 14.
The group assignment is designed to encourage students to critically
reflect on e-business strategy with reference to real-world business and
to make recommendations as how to improve the online business.
Students will be encouraged to develop group-working skills weekly and
within the second module assignment. This group assignment will
measure the students achievement of learning outcomes K1, K2, K3, I1,
I2, I3, I4, P1, P2, P3, T1, T2, T3, and T4.

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS (14)

Group Formation

Each assignment team will be comprised of no more than five

members.

Students are solely responsible for assigning themselves to a

group.

NO group assignments will be accepted with only one

author.

Failure to complete the group assignment as a group will result in

a repeat of the course work for the module with submission in the
summer repeat period.

Repeat fees will need to be also paid.

E-BUSINESS -MODULE HANDBOOK

Group Project Outline (10%)

Each group is required to submit the following;

Group name

Group leader and single point of contact for the group

Group members: Name, student number, degree course

Chosen ONE product / product group (e.g., music, books, food,

flowers, clothes, computer, or cars - relevant and up-to-date)

Brief rationale for this chosen product / product group

Project Plan: Details on the report structure, who will do what

and by when

Key Challenges: outline what you see as the 3-5 key issues (for
the assessment and as a group working together) and what the
group will do to address them.

One submission per group

Maximum length 1,000 words

Submission Deadline: Tuesday 9th July 2013, no later than 4.30pm

Print one hard copy, submit to Registry and collect receipt (your
proof of submission)

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Group Written Report (90%)

Based on your chosen product or product group (from assessment 1):

Describe and compare the offline and online retail environment for
this product / product group;

Analyse how value is created in e-business by applying Porters

Five Forces Analysis model or Amit & Zotts Value Creation model
to this product / product group;

Make recommendations for THREE significant improvements which

can lead to increased consumer use of online purchasing;

It should include at least ten references to the literature in your

chosen area.

Submission Deadline: Tuesday 6th August 2013, no later than 4.30pm

The full report should be word-processed with not more than 4,000
words.

1. Print one hard copy, submit to Registry and collect receipt (your
proof of submission)
2. Submit through TurnItIn Report within deadline set above
3. Email to your Module Tutor

FEEDBACK (15)
Group Project Outline (10%)
This will be provided in session 9, with each group.

Group Written Report (90%)

This will be provided within two weeks of submission. There will be
written feedback using the level 5 descriptors and verbal feedback using
the submitted report.
Individual feedback is also available for all students.