BUS5960 B2C internet commerce - Semester 2 , 2007

Unit leader :

Ly Fie Sugianto

Lecturer(s) :

Clayton

  • Ly Fie Sugianto

Tutors(s) :

Clayton

  • Arie Wirawan Margono
  • Zhigang Liao

Introduction

Welcome to BUS5960 B2C Internet Commerce for Semester 2, 2007. This 6 point unit is elective to Masters of Business Systems, Electronic Commerce track. The unit has been designed to develop and extend your skills in implementing e-solutions for b2c internet commerce.

Unit synopsis

This subject provides an introduction to the deployment of business systems for B2C Internet Commerce. It covers the strategy, technology and implementation issues in Internet Commerce, in particular the selection of software and hardware systems used in on-line transactions. It builds the students understanding about the infrastructure for Internet Commerce by outlining the web markup languages, popular internet applications, protocols and utility programs.

The subject also outlines various web-based tools for B2C Internet Commerce, including web server hardware and software options and their various strengths and scalability. Web site hosting options and their implications, web client/server architecture and various communication models, are also discussed. This coverage will provide students with knowledge about the purpose, advantages and disadvantages of both hardware and software systems for building Internet Commerce platform.

The subject also enables students to develop understanding and practical hands on experience of some software packages for fundamental B2C Internet Commerce services, such as catalog display, transaction processing, and shopping carts. Suitable object-oriented business applications software packages, such as Yahoo!Store, BuyCons, Personal Shopper, ShopBuilder, SQL and similar software packages will be used to demonstrate the concept. Further, the subject introduces other key solutions to the current Internet Commerce applications. The unit will develop students understanding on the reintermediation trend of portals, the implication of the push-pull model in the information portals, the use properties of software agents in business applications.

Learning outcomes

This unit aims to develop students appreciation of the Internet technology for commercial applications. Upon the completion of this unit, students:

  • will understand strategy, technology and implementation issues for B2C Internet Commerce
  • will appreciate various ebusiness revenue models and strategies enabled by the internet
  • will be able to develop e-solution for simple business applications, including for displaying catalogs and processing transactions (exclusion: security of payment)
  • will understand business related issues, the opportunities and challenges in the Internet marketplace.

Workload

For on campus students, workload commitments are:

  • two-hour lecture and
  • one-hour tutorial (or laboratory) (requiring advance preparation)
  • a minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.
  • You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks, for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Unit relationships

Prerequisites

Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed BUS9520 Business Systems A or equivalent.

Microsoft.Net, ASP.Net, VB.Net (desirable)

Relationships

BUS5960 is an elective unit in the Masters degree in all Faculty of IT postgraduate degrees.

It is a prerequisite/corequisite for Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed BUS9520 Business Systems A or equivalent, or equivalent..

You may not study this unit and BUS9002, CPE5008 in your degree.

 

Continuous improvement

Monash is committed to ‘Excellence in education' and strives for the highest possible quality in teaching and learning. To monitor how successful we are in providing quality teaching and learning Monash regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. Two of the formal ways that you are invited to provide feedback are through Unit Evaluations and through Monquest Teaching Evaluations.

One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through Unit Evaluation Surveys. It is Monash policy for every unit offered to be evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as they are an important avenue for students to "have their say". The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

Student Evaluations

The Faculty of IT administers the Unit Evaluation surveys online through the my.monash portal, although for some smaller classes there may be alternative evaluations conducted in class.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to http://www.monash.edu.au/unit-evaluation-reports/

Over the past few years the Faculty of Information Technology has made a number of improvements to its courses as a result of unit evaluation feedback. Some of these include systematic analysis and planning of unit improvements, and consistent assignment return guidelines.

Monquest Teaching Evaluation surveys may be used by some of your academic staff this semester. They are administered by the Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ) and may be completed in class with a facilitator or on-line through the my.monash portal. The data provided to lecturers is completely anonymous. Monquest surveys provide academic staff with evidence of the effectiveness of their teaching and identify areas for improvement. Individual Monquest reports are confidential, however, you can see the summary results of Monquest evaluations for 2006 at http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/cheq/evaluations/monquest/profiles/index.html

Improvements to this unit

Latest version of software packages will be used to implement the e-solution in labs: SQL 2005 and Visual Studio.NET 2005.

Unit staff - contact details

Unit leader

Dr Lyfie Sugianto
Senior Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 55803
Fax +61 3 990 55159

Lecturer(s) :

Dr Lyfie Sugianto
Senior Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 55803
Fax +61 3 990 55159

Tutor(s) :

Failed to retrieve details for Arie Wirawan Margono

Failed to retrieve details for Zhigang Liao

Teaching and learning method

Teaching will be conducted through seminar-style lectures. Tutorial material have been designed to encourage group discussions and student participation, as well as allowing students to have experience developing e-solution with servers.

Timetable information

For information on timetabling for on-campus classes at all Australian campuses please refer to MUTTS, http://mutts.monash.edu.au/MUTTS/

Refer to

http://mutts.monash.edu.au/MUTTS/

Tutorial allocation

Register using Allocate+

Communication, participation and feedback

Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are 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.

Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are 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.

Unit Schedule

Week Topic References/Readings Key dates
1 Introduction to B2C eCommerce Schneider Ch1 16 Jul
2 eBusiness Modelling Schneider, Ch2, Darie Watson Ch1 23 Jul
3 Technology Infrastructure Schneider Ch8-9 30 Jul
4 Object Model DW Ch1, 2 6 Aug
5 Developing eSolution using Object model DW Ch2,3 13 Aug
6 Object Model (cont) DW Ch3 20 Aug
7 E-Catalog DW Ch3,4 27 Aug
8 E-Catalog DW Ch4 3 Sep
9 Search Facility DW Ch5 10 Sep
10 Administering the shop DW Ch8 17 Sep
Mid semester break
11 Administering the shop DW Ch8 1 Oct
12 Shopping cart DW Ch9 8 Oct
13 E-marketplace Schneider Ch6 15 Oct

Unit Resources

Prescribed text(s) and readings

  • Schneider G P Electronic Commerce, 7th edition (previous edition is generally acceptable), Course Technology Thomson Learning.
  • C Darie and K Watson, Beginning ASP.Net 1.1 E-Commerce, From Novice to Professional, 2ed rev., Apress, ISBN 1590592549

 

 

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.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Treese G W and Stewart L C, Designing Systems for Internet Commerce, Addison Wesley, 1998 

Kalakota R and Whinston A B, Frontiers of Electronic Commerce, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1996

Jerke N, Visual Basic Developer's Guide, Sybex, 1996

Menasce D A and Almeida V A F, Scaling for E-Business - Technologies, Models, Performance and Capacity Planning, Prentice Hall PTR, 2000

Required software and/or hardware

· Microsoft Visual Studio.Net (2003 or 2005)

· IIS web server (v5 or v6)

· SQL Server (2000 or 2005, or MSDE)

· eCommPro (eCommPro v.2 trial version may be downloaded from http://www.trellian.com/ecomm/index.html)

Software may be:

  • downloaded from http://www.trellian.com/ecomm/index.html
  • purchased at academic price at good software retailers

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students will need access to:

  • a personal computer with Windows XP
  • the internet via dial-up connection or preferably by broadband
  • a printer for assignments

On-campus students 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.

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 12 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

Lecture slides, tutorial materials, assignment specifications, sample examination with suggested solutions and unit guide can be downloaded from the BUS5960 website on MUSO.

Library access

The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching. To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.  Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.

The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching. To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.  Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website

Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)

All unit and lecture materials are available through the MUSO (Monash University Studies Online) site. You can access this site by going to:

  1. a) https://muso.monash.edu.au or
  2. b) via the portal (http://my.monash.edu.au).

Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then the MUSO hyperlink.

In order for your MUSO unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.

For example :

  • MUSO supported browser
  • Supported Java runtime environment

For more information, please visit

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html

You can contact the MUSO Support by: Phone: (+61 3) 9903 1268

For further contact information including operational hours, please visit

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html

Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html

Assessment

Unit assessment policy

The unit is assessed with two assignments (10% and 30%) and a two hour closed book examination (60%). To pass the unit :

You must get at least 50% in the final exam in order to pass the unit. If you fail the final exam, the final mark returned to you will be your exam mark out of 100 (your assignment marks will not be included).

Assignment tasks

  • Assignment Task
    Title :
    Hotmail
    Description :
    A full case study describing Hotmail is provided. Use the case study to answer the questions.
    Weighting :
    10%
    Criteria for assessment :
    Accurate answers to the questions indicating students' understanding of the business model topic.
    Due date :
    24 August 2007, 12pm
  • Assignment Task
    Title :
    B2C Implementation
    Description :

    In groups of two, your task is to develop an online shop that includes online catalog, search facility, administration tool for managing e-catalog, shopping cart. 

    Weighting :
    30%
    Criteria for assessment :

    Fraction attempted, working solution.

    An important part of the assessment is for student to be able to satisfactorily answer the questions during the face-to-face (interview) session.

    Due date :
    9 Oct 2007

Examinations

  • Examination
    Weighting :
    60%
    Length :
    2 hours
    Type ( open/closed book ) :
    closed book

Assignment submission

Assignments will be submitted by paper submission to the Assignment Box 1. On-campus Students Submit the assignment to the assignment box at Level 1, Building 63 by submission date, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out. Do not email submissions. The due date is the date by which the submission must be received/the date by which the the submission is to be posted.

Assignment coversheets

Coversheets can be downloaded from

http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/assignments/

University and Faculty policy on assessment

Due dates and extensions

The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. 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. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

Requests for extensions must be made to the unit lecturer at your campus 2 to 6 days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Late assignment

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 1 grade per day. Please refer to the Assignment sheet for more detail information.

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.

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at:

http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.

Plagiarism, cheating and collusion

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 (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/about/committees-groups/facboard/policies/studrights.html) 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.

Register of counselling about plagiarism

The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.

Non-discriminatory language

The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:

Deferred assessment and special consideration

Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Special consideration in the awarding of grades is also possible in some circumstances. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.