BCIS 5680 – Electronic Commerce Systems

INSTRUCTOR:     Dr. John Windsor
OFFICE:                 COBA 336 (565-4147)
OFFICE HOURS: 4:00-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, by appointment
SEMESTER:          Fall 2000

3 hours. This course provides tools, skills, and an understanding of technology, business concepts and issues that surround the emergence of electronic commerce on the Internet. In addition to acquiring basic skills for navigating the Internet and creating a personal electronic presence of the World Wide Web (WWW), the student will develop an understanding of the current practices and opportunities in electronic publishing, electronic shopping, electronic distribution, and electronic collaboration. The student will also explore several of the problem areas in electronic commerce such as security (authentication, privacy), encryption, safeguarding or intellectual property rights, acceptable use policies, and legal liabilities.

The course uses a combination of lectures, classroom demonstrations, self-learning, guest speakers, and project work. Web and database experience is not required, although completion of the first Analysis and Design course is expected (required). A willingness to experiment with and explore these emerging technologies is necessary.

TEXTBOOKS (REQUIRED):

Schneider, Gary P., and James T. Perry, Electronic Commerce, 2000.

Huff, Sid, et. al., Cases in Electronic Commerce, 2000

TEXTBOOKS (OPTIONAL):

Any book on FrontPage2000.
Any book on VisualInterDev

Course Objectives

Upon completing this course the student should:

 

SEMESTER SCHEDULE

Class

Date

TOPIC

READING

1

Aug 30

Introduction: Course Overview

S&P: Chapter 1

 

 

What is Electronic Commerce

Huff: Chapter 1

 

 

 

 

2

Sept 6

Internet and the WWW

 S&P: Chapter 2

 

 

 

 

3

Sept 13

Web Based Tools

S&P: Chapter 3
Huff: Chapter 2  & Case

 

 

 

 

4

Sept 20

E-Commerce Software

S&P: Chapter 4

 

 

 

 

5

Sept 27

Security on the Internet

S&P: Chapter 5
Huff: Chapter 3 & Case

 

 

 

 

6

Oct 4

Security on the Internet

 S&P: Chapter 6

 

 

 

 

7

Oct 11

Legal Principles

S&P: Chapter 11
Huff: Chapter 11

 

 

 

 

8

Oct 18

Electronic Commerce

S&P: Chapter 12
Huff: Chapter 4 & Case

 

 

 

 

9

Oct 25

Electronic Payments

S&P: Chapter 7
Huff: Chapter 7 & Team Case

 

 

 

 

10

Nov 2

Sales and Promotion

S&P: Chapter 8
Huff: Chapter 9 & Team Case

 

 

 

 

11

Nov 9

Purchasing and Support Systems

S&P: Chapter 9
Huff: Chapter 6 & Team Case

 

 

 

 

12

Nov 15

Web Auctions, Virtual Communities, and Web Portals

S&P: Chapter 10
Huff: Chapter 8 & Team Case

 

 

 

 

13

Nov 22

Thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

 

14

Nov 29

E-Commerce Marketing

Huff: Chapter 5 & Team Case

 

 

 

 

15

Dec 6

Business-to-Business

Huff: Chapter 10 & Team Case

 

 

 

 

16

Dec 13

Presentations and Final Exam

 

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

This is a subjective evaluation of a student's contribution in class unstructured discussion of the reading assignments, questions and guest lectures.  The evaluation will consider the quality of the contribution as well as the frequency of participation.   Completion of reading assignments and homework is essential to full participation.   Grades on class participation will be based on the following standards:

A -  

Asks good questions, makes valuable observations, and answers questions effectively on an ongoing basis.

B - 

A frequent participation, but all questions, answers, or observations are not always effective, or not on an ongoing basis, or tends to discourage effectiveness.

C - 

Only participates infrequently, or questions/answers do not reflect adequate preparation, or late to class.

D - 

Very rare participation, or question/answers reflect little or no preparation, or very late to class.

F - 

Displays no sign of life, or is absent for entire class.

As can be seen, students are expected to attend classes and participate.   Not attending a class will have an influence on this portion of the grade since participation is impossible if the student is not in class.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Web Home Page - You are required to have a web home page that will be used to identify you to perspective employers.  This page will conform to the requirements that will be presented during the first class meeting.  You may use either a JOVE account at the University, an account from some other ISP, or space provided on the Departments NT server.

Evaluation of an Electronic Commerce Site - Each student is to find a Electronic Commerce site and verify that it qualifies with the instructor (a simple or complex web site does not automatically qualify).  A report will be prepared detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the site.  Details of the analysis will be provided in class.  

Prototype of an Electronic Commerce Site - Student teams of three to five will develop a prototype Electronic Commerce site for a company.   The site should be clearly marked as a class project.  Details of the design requirements will be provided in class.

E-Commerce Case Analysis - Students will analysis e-commerce cases individually and in teams.  The analysis will focus on both the technology decisions and the business decisions that were made in the case.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

FINAL QUIZ 

15%

PERSONAL WEB SITE   

10%

EVALUATION OF SITE

10%

PROTOTYPE OF SITE

25%

Cases

30

CLASS PARTICIPATION

10%

 

COURSE POLICY:

1. Assignments are due in the instructors e-mail by the beginning of class on the due date. Incomplete or incorrect assignments will be heavily penalized. Graded assignments will be reported on WEBCT.

2. Missed exams for validated reasons of illness or death in the immediate family will be made up with a comprehensive exam at the end of the semester. This exam (if needed) will be scheduled at the instructor's convenience during final exam week. Rescheduled exams do not participate in any curve that may have been applied to the regularly scheduled exam.

3. The grade of "I" is not given except for appropriately documented emergencies (illness or death) and then only within the guidelines of stated University policy.

4. Students will adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards. All work submitted will be the result of each individual student's own effort only. Cheaters are penalized to the maximum allowed by University policy, which includes a final course grade of "F" and referral to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

Cheating includes collaboration on any outside assignments, which might be made on an individual basis for a grade, including regular homework assignments and the preparation of programs for submission. It also includes plagiarism, unauthorized preparation of notes for use on examinations, use of such notes during an examination, looking at another student's examination answers, allowing another student to look at you own examination answers, or the requesting or passing of information during an examination.

This policy is intended to protect the honest student from unfair competition with unscrupulous individuals who might attempt to gain an advantage through cheating. Students who become aware of suspicious activities on the part of others are asked to promptly notify the professor so that immediate corrective action can be taken.

5. The abuse or misuse of the University and College of Business resources is both unethical and unprofessional. Misuse includes the use of these resources for non-University related activities as well as the electronic theft (copying) of the work of others. Such activities will result in a grade of F in the course and referral to the Dean of Students for the appropriate disciplinary action.

6. It is the student's responsibility to satisfy all the requirements of this course as specified in the course outline, by the instructors, in the University catalogues, and by the academic calendar. This outline and the academic calendar are published to allow students to schedule their activities in advance. Hence, ignorance of class or university requirements will not be acceptable. Check the academic calendar for drop dates.

7. Assignments are defined sufficiently in advance of the due date to allow students adequate time for their completion. Consequently, no allowance will be made for computer failure and/or downtime. No allowance is given for printer delay. Turn in what you have by the scheduled time for any partial credit you may have earned. Professionals are expected to schedule their work efficiently and to allow for unexpected failures (contingency planning).

8. The College of Business Administration complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodation for qualified students with disability. If you have an established disability, as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request accommodation, please see me as soon as possible. You should bring with you the appropriate materials from the Disabilities Accommodation Office.