SCENARIO You are part of an IT company specialising in the design and development of computerised business systems. Your consultancy has won a contract from a client. Over the years the client has been a very successful business but is now finding it hard to compete with Internet based stores which can offer a wider range of products at lower prices. The company management has decided that they wish to set up an e-commerce site to complement their current business. The client‟s management makes extensive use of the Internet but they do not have technical backgrounds, so they are not in a position to understand the implications of this development for their business. You have been provided with a description of the client company below. Client Information Bulbus Electrical is an electrical wholesaler based in Manchester. It supplies electrical goods which include such products as: cables, plugs and sockets, light bulbs, fire alarms, security alarms and CCTV equipment to retailers. These goods are produced by many different manufacturers, and often Bulbus will have different manufacturers‟ versions of the same item. Details of the stock held by Bulbus are kept in a stock book. To purchase electrical items, a retailer must first register with Bulbus. The company currently takes orders by phone from registered retailers who can order many quantities of many items that Bulbus have in their current catalogue. Bulbus pays a printing firm to create the catalogue but would rather create their own catalogue from the data held in their local database. They are eager to add further customers to their information system so that they can email their customers with any specials that are currently available as well as the entire catalogue which is produced every 6 months. This will act as a spur to encourage sales in the marketplace and keep the public up-to-date about the new ranges of items available for purchase.Page 3 of 6 Assignment Tasks Using the details given in the above scenario, you are required to address the following three individual assignment tasks so that you can prepare a final single report for the client. You will need to consider the possible effects of the proposed e-Commerce on the organisation and processes of the company. You will also need to investigate the wider impact of the Internet on the client‟s industry. Task 1 N.B. You are strongly recommended to submit a draft of your answer to this task by email to your module tutor for formative feedback by week 6 of the module. a) Provide an assessment for the client of the potential impact on the organisation's aims, structure, functions and stakeholders of implementing an e-Commerce system as proposed. The assessment should consider what it means for the potential markets, effects on current distribution channels, the structure and organisation of the organisation. (This task allows you to demonstrate Learning Outcomes 1.1 and 1.2) b) Provide an assessment for the client of the impact of introducing an e-Commerce function into their organisation on the organization, the customer and the global impact of e-Commerce (This task allows you to demonstrate Learning Outcomes 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3) Task 2 Provide a statement for the client that describes the following for the proposal for an e-Commerce solution: a) Objectives, Market Research, Target markets, Market potential b) An evaluation of existing competitor e-Commerce sites. c) The risks and financial implications of introducing the proposed e-commerce solution. (This task allows you to demonstrate Learning Outcomes 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3,) Task 3 Produce a high level design for the proposed e-Commerce solution which covers the following areas: a) Technology requirements e.g. hardware, software, security, maintenance, back-end systems, supply sources, distribution channels. b) Payment systems e.g. electronic cheque, Paypal, NoChex, credit or debit cards. c) Security – e.g. prevention of hacking, viruses, identity theft, firewall, impact on site performance, Secure Socket Layer(SSL), secure HTTP (HHTPS), digital certificates, strong passwords, alternative authentication methods. d) Legislation – e.g. Data Protection Act 1998, Computer Misuse Act 1990, Consumer Credit Act 1974, Trading Standards, Freedom of Information Act 2000, copyright legislation. e) An evaluation of your proposed design. (This task allows you to demonstrate Learning Outcomes 3.4 and 3.5)Page 4 of 6 Student Guidelines 1. You should write this assignment in report style, although a formal report structure will not be required. The report should contain your solutions to each of the four tasks specified above. You should write each task of this assignment as detailed above, in coherent and appropriate English. 2. You must ensure that the submitted assignment is all your own work and that all sources used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assignments which show evidence of academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is in the Induction Area). Please also refer to the "Guide to Unfair Practice in Assessment' on the module page on iLearn. 3. You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the Harvard system. The "My Study Skills‟ area contains the following useful resources; Study Skills Guide (containing a Harvard Referencing section) and a Harvard Referencing Interactive Tutorial. You must use the Harvard Referencing method in your assignment. 4. You should use diagrams and tables of figures where appropriate ensuring to reference their source using the Harvard Referencing method. 5. It is advised that you write your report within approximately 3,500/4,000 words in order for your research and summarising skills to be developed, and for effective time management. You are required to ensure that the assignment addresses all of the assessment tasks .There is no penalty for being over the suggested word count, however, in the interests of good academic practice, assignments submitted with excessive word counts (e.g. over 4,000 words) may be returned to students and asked to be reduced before marking. The word count excludes the title page, reference list and appendices. Where assessment questions have been reprinted from the assessment brief these will also be excluded from the word count. ALL other printed words ARE included in the word count. Printed words include those contained within charts and tables. 6. Your assignment should be submitted as a single document. For more information please see the "Guide to Submitting an Assignment" document available on the module page on iLearn. Recommended Additional Resources Textbooks BTEC, 2011. Computing & Systems Development Study Guide Level 4HNC Level 5 HND. Pearson EBSCO Business Source Complete – Online 'library' resource available via iLearn Magazines, journals and newspapers Academic publications from credible sources such as:  The British Computer Society, http://www1.bcs.org.uk/  The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), http://www.iee.org.uk  The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society, http://www.computer.org  The Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), http://www.acm.org Websites Internet based sources and search engines.Page 5 of 6 Assessment Criteria for Pass To achieve a pass you must meet all of the assessment criteria as stated below. Failure to cover all of the assessment criteria will result in a referral grade and you will be required to re-submit your assignment. Further guidance on completion of your assignment can be found in the guidance notes which are posted on the group learning space by your module tutor. For additional support please post questions onto the group learning space, or email [email protected] Learning Outcomes/ Assessment Criteria Criteria Met For tutor use (you may wish to use this in your preparation for your assignment submission) LO 1: Understand the structure and aims of business organisations. 1.1. Summarise the key aims of the organisation Task 1a) 1.2. Describe the structure of the organisation and the organisation‟s industry Task 1a) LO 2: Understand the impact of e-Commerce 2.1. Explain the impact on consumers of the development of e-Commerce Task 1b) 2.2. Explain the impact on businesses of the development of e-Commerce Task 1b) 2.3. Explain the global impact of e-Commerce Task 1b) LO 3: Be able to design e-Commerce solutions 3.1. Explain the role of objectives and market analysis in the development of e-Commerce Task 2 3.2. Evaluate the e-Commerce systems used in the client‟s industry Task 2 3.3. Discuss the financial implications of the proposed e-Commerce solution Task 2 3.4. Produce a high level design of an e-Commerce solution that covers technology, payment systems, security and the role of legislation. Task 3 3.5. Produce an evaluation of the above design Task 3 Assessment Criteria for Merit To achieve a Merit all of the Pass criteria need to be met, then the tutor will assess whether you have met the Merit Criteria. Each of the Merit criteria must have been met at least once within the assignment. The following statements are examples of how a merit may be achieved, if you do meet the Merit Criteria by showing you have reached this level in other ways then credit will be awarded for this. You will need to meet M1, M2, M3 at least once. 1.1. How implementing e-Commerce will affect the client‟s aims and organisation 1.2. Demonstrates an understanding of how the structure of the client‟s industry is changing due to the Internet M1Page 6 of 6 2.1. Independent research, outside that provided in class, has been utilised to prepare the work. 2.2. Research has been carefully selected and summarized. 2.3. Information sources are clearly identified by the use of appropriate referencing M2 3.1. The report is clear, concise and logical and describes the role of eCommerce and its possible role in the client‟s industry. 3.2. A Structured Approach has been taken to the design of the eCommerce solution and the design approach has been evaluated. M3 Assessment Criteria for Distinction To achieve a Distinction you have met all of the Pass and the Merit criteria. Each of the Distinction criteria must be met at least once within the assignment. The following statements are examples of how a Distinction may be achieved, if you do meet the Distinction Criteria by showing you have reached this level in other ways then credit will be awarded for this. You will need to meet D1, D2, D3 at least once. 1.1. Conclusions have been developed on the effects of current and recent trends and development of e-Commerce and the industry 1.2. There is a synthesis to the work in that it flows well throughout leading to valid, thought-out conclusions that demonstrate an integrated solution of aims, processes and technology for the client. D1 2.1. A range of credible sources of information have been used in the explanation of trends and developments in e-Commerce 2.4. Assignment is completed fully to deadline D2 3.1. Ideas are evaluated for their validity and realism in the context of the client. 3.2. An attempt at an evaluation has been made of the recommended approach to strategic and tactical decision making in implementing eCommerce in the client‟s industry.