This unit introduces students to the ways organisations and businesses use the Internet and related technologies to securely conduct business activities. Students will acquire an understanding of the way e-business is carried out across all kinds of organisations for transactions and other business purposes. Students will analyse and design an e-business solution as part of a preliminary business case in order to gain an understanding of how e-business concepts can be applied to specific organisational and business environments.
Topics include:
The nature of e-business and its infrastructure components - for businesses, services sector, government, health, communities, not-for-profit etc
Using Internet concepts and technologies for developing Intranets and intra-organisational systems and integration
Web site development and implementation issues
Web interfaces and back office systems integration
E-business implementation, business process integration and change management
Inter-organisational systems (IOS) - including current developments in EDI, VANS and VPNs
Electronic Payment Systems
Demand chains, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in electronic marketing
E-procurement and supply chain management
Mobile systems and e-business
Electronic recordkeeping and e-business
The use of Web Services (.NET, XML etc), middleware and object-broking in e-business systems
Legal, Privacy and security issues in e-business
E-business models and cases
Trends for e-business
Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding
C1. To understand the concept of e-business, that is, how organizations and businesses organise their activities using the Internet and associated technologies to communicate, carry out and record transactions both internally and externally
C2. To understand the nature of e-business activities across business, government, community and not-for-profit sectors
C3. To understand core e-business activities and processes e.g. change management, EDI, electronic record keeping, negotiation
C4. To understand the legal, privacy and security issues and implications of using the internet to conduct e-business.
C5. To understand the implications for businesses and organisations of trends in e-business.
C6. To understand the need for the integration of web interfaces with back office systems and other business processes
Attitudes, Values and Beliefs
A1. To appreciate the complexity of legal, privacy and security issues and their implications for conducting e-business
A2. To appreciate the impetus of the internet and related technologies in driving internal integration and external business relationships and service provision (including mobile systems and web services)
Practical Skills
P1. To be able to analyse the potential for an e-business approach in a specific business or organisational environment and to prepare a simple e-business case
Relationships, Communication and TeamWork
S1. To be able to work in a small team to analyse the potential for an e-business approach in a specific business or organisational environment and to contribute to the preparation of a simple e-business case
Prerequisites
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed
IMS1704 or equivalent
Unit relationships
IMS2704 is a core unit in the second year of the BIS.
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed
Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.
Software requirements
To access weekly lecture/ class materials, you will need an Adobe Acrobat reader, and Microsoft Office software (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) and access to an Internet Browser You need to make yourself aware of the ‘Acceptable Use’ policies of both the Faculty of IT and the university. These can be accessed on the web at: http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/unisec/pol/itec12.html
Hardware requirements
Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 4 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Recommended reading
Schneider, G (2006). Electronic Commerce. Thomson Learning, ISBN no 1-4188-3703-2.
Turban, E, King, D., Viehland, D, and Lee, J. (2006) Electronic Commerce: A Managerial Perspective, Pearson Education, ISBN 0-13-197667-2
Other references as supplied in lectures
Library access
You may need to access the Monash library either personally to be able to satisfactorily complete the subject. Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.
Study resources
Study resources for IMS2704 are:
To access unit web page go to FIT Homepage/Units or select: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/ims2704/study Lecture notes/PowerPoint slides and other relevant materials and links will be posted on the web site each week.
In order to pass a unit, a student must gain all of the following: • at least 40% of the marks available for the every deliverable component including the presentation • at least 50% of the total marks for the unit
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
NA
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Assignment 1 (Individual)
23/08/06
15%
Assignment 2 (Group)
04/10/06
30 %
Tutorial Participation
11/10/06
5 %
The exam is 2 hours long and is closed book.
Exam period (S2/06) starts on 23/10/06
50 %
Assignment specifications will be made available IMS2704 Unit Web Site Assignment Page.
Assignment Submission
Unless otherwise instructed, all assignments are to be submitted to your tutor during a specified tutorial. Assignments will also be returned during specified tutorials or at specifed times.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
If you believe that your assignment will be delayed because of circumstances beyond your control such as illness, you should apply for an extension prior to the due date. All applications for extensions must be made in writing to your lecturer. Medical certificates or other supporting documentation will be required. Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted (up to one week late) at the discretion of the lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends). Assignments received later than one week after the due date will not normally be accepted.
This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment.
Extensions
It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions.
All applications for extensions must be made in writing to your lecturer. Medical certificates or other supporting documentation will be required. Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted (up to one week late) at the discretion of the lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends). Assignments received later than one week after the due date will not normally be accepted.
Grading of assessment
Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:
Grade
Percentage/description
HD High Distinction -
very high levels of achievement, demonstrated knowledge and understanding, skills in application and high standards of work encompassing all aspects of the tasks.
In the 80+% range of marks for the assignment.
D Distinction -
high levels of achievement, but not of the same standards. May have a weakness in one particular aspect, or overall standards may not be quite as high.
In the 70-79% range.
C Credit -
sound pass displaying good knowledge or application skills, but some weaknesses in the quality, range or demonstration of understanding.
In the 60-69% range.
P Pass
acceptable standard, showing an adequate basic knowledge, understanding or skills, but with definite limitations on the extent of such understanding or application. Some parts may be incomplete.
In the 50-59% range.
N Not satisfactory
failure to meet the basic requirements of the assessment.
Below 50%.
Assignment return
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.
Feedback
Feedback to you
You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.
Feedback from you
You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.
And if you are having problems
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism and cheating
Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
Communication
Communication methods
Appointments and other requests should be arranged using email.
Your Tutor should be your first port of call if you are having difficulties with the unit or the project work. If your problems are not able to be solved by your Tutor, you should then consult the unit leader.
Notices
Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the Notices Newsgroup in the Unit Website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.
Consultation Times
Appointments and other requests should be arranged using email.
Your Tutor should be your first port of call if you are having difficulties with the unit or the project work. If your problems are not able to be solved by your Tutor, you should then consult the unit leader.
If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:
Dr Linda Dawson Director, and Senior Lecturer Phone +61 3 990 32415 +61 3 990 44066 Fax +61 3 9903 1007
All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.
