Direction: Read Basic Functionality of E-commerce Software, Introduction to Zen Cart. Also Read Chapter 1, Chapter 3, and Chapter 12 from Zen Cart Textbook

Answer any 5 questions from the list below and email to receive credit. Answers emailed after due date will not be given credit.

Due Thursday March 10, 2010

1. Explain three basic functionality of Shopping cart Software?
2. List and explain at least four features of Zen Cart.
3. What is Zen cart?
4. Compare and Contrast Zen Cart with OsCommerce
5. What is the purpose of Local/test server and live/production server
6. Why is it important to export and import Zen Cart db?
7. Describe 9 stages of a typical shopping flow.
8. Provide analogy for each of the following, Categories, Product types, Products
9. What is HTML? Provide example of heading  and paragraph
10. Why should a category be restricted based on a Product Types.
11. Why did Zen Cart Developers incorporate Product Type feature to their software?
12. What is the difference between Definition Properties and Layout properties?
13. Define each following Product Types
    • Product is free
    • Product is Call for Price
    • Product Priced by Attributes
    • Tax Class
    • Product is Virtual
    • Product Qty Min/Unit Mix
14. What is the benefit of adding Product Manufacturers?

Quiz 3 is given on March 10. It will have 3 questions from the list above.

E- COMMERCE MERCHANT SERVER SOFTWARE FUNCTIONALITY

E-commerce merchant server software provides the basic functionality needed for online sales, including an online catalog, order taking via an online shopping cart, and online credit card processing.

Online Catalog

A company that wants to sell products on the Web must have a list, or online catalog, of its products, available on its Web site. Merchant server software typically includes a database capability that will allow for construction of a customized online catalog. The complexity and sophistication of the catalog will vary depending on the size of the company and its product lines. Small companies, or companies with small product lines, may post a simple list with text descriptions and perhaps color photos. A larger site might decide to add sound, animations, or videos ( useful for product demonstrations) to the catalog, or interactivity, such as customer service representa-tives available via instant messaging to answer questions. Today, larger firms make extensive use of streaming video.

Shopping Cart

Online shopping carts are much like their real- world equivalent; both allow shoppers to set aside desired purchases in preparation for checkout. The difference is that the online variety is part of a merchant server software program residing on the Web server, and allows consumers to select merchandise, review what they have selected, edit their selections as necessary, and then actually make the purchase by clicking a button. The merchant server software automatically stores shopping cart data.

Credit Card Processing

A site’s shopping cart typically works in conjunction with credit card processing software, which verifies the shopper’s credit card and then puts through the debit to the card and the credit to the company’s account at checkout. Integrated e- commerce software suites typically supply the software for this function. Otherwise, you will have to make arrangements with a variety of credit card processing banks and intermediaries.

Reference: E-commerce: Business. Technology. Society., Fifth Edition
by Kenneth C. Laudon; Carol Guercio Traver

Here are two links on history, development of internet standard, and much more. This reading is both fascinating and challenging.   You may share any thought after perusing the given links.

• Internet from Wikipedia
• Complete detail about the Internet

1. Define  business model and business Plan
2. Explain three key elements of  business model
3. Write a paragraph in which you describe the conditions under which a Web site could become profitable by relying exclusively on advertising revenue
4. Compare and contrast the following 5 Revenue Models for conducting electronic commerce. You must provide one example of company using each of the Revenue Models
   •Fee-for-Transaction Revenue Models
   •Digital Content Revenue Models
   •Advertisement-Supported Revenue Models
   •Advertisement-Subscription Mixed Revenue Models
   •Web Catalog Revenue Models
5. Explain the client/server network
6. What is a Web server? Provide  example of two servers
7. What is MySQL, and functionality of MySQL?
8. What is PHP, and functionality of PHP?
9. Explain three features of Zen Cart.
10. Describe three E-Commerce software, other than Zen Cart.

A firm’s competitive advantage can be detected by answering  the following question, What special advantage a company brings to the  marketspace?

Students can participate by reading the contents from 1 or more of  the links listed below and answering “What competitive advantage Time Warner Cable has over Verizon Fios, or vice versa?”.  You can share any thoughts from the reading as well.

• WikiInvest
• Seeking Alpha
• Gerson Lehrman Group

(Participation includes posting meaningful, insightful comments. See guideline)

Direction: Read pages 2-19, 111-137 and Introduction to E-commerce

Answer any 5 questions from the list below and email to receive credit. Answers emailed after due date will not be given credit.

Due Wednesday, February 9, 2011

1. Explain how Autobytel benefits both consumers, and car dealers?
2. How does Autobytel make profit?
3. Gary P. Schenider supports Rayport and Jaworski’s definition of E-commerce. What is their definition of E-commerce?
4. What is definition of E-commerce described by me, supported by Kalakota, and Robinson?
5. What is E-business?
6. Briefly explain seven unique features of E-commerce technology?
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using electronic commerce as a medium?
8. Describe the three types of E-Commerce
9. What factors led to Dot.com bust?
10. Provide examples of at least 3 companies that failed during dot-com bust and explain why it failed.
11. How does the second phase of electronic commerce differ from first phase?
12. Explain 3 key elements of business model
13. Discuss two businesses that has applied Web catalog revenue model to their operations.

Quiz 1, held on February 10, will have 3 questions from the list above.