Assignment title: Information
PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
ECM81IS Page 1 of 15
ASSIGNMENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT SHEET
Module Title: MCommerce – ECM 81IS
Module
Instructor : Mr. Santhosh John
Semester: SPRING 2017
Programme: MSc - IT
Module
Leader: Mr. Santhosh John
Maximum
Marks 100
Intended Module Learning Outcomes
This assessment is designed to demonstrate the achievement of the following
intended module learning outcomes:
Apply understanding of the underlying principles, tools and
techniques to discuss and evaluate the impact of M-commerce and
the applications that support it.
Strategically align business models and objectives with M-commerce
solutions.
Analyze business and functional requirements, investigate and
recommend mobile solutions.
Hand out Date 19th February 2017
Due Date: Work proposal - 30th March 2017 through Moodle by 11:00 pm
Final assignment 4th May 2017 through Moodle by 11:00 pm
Submitted on:
Submitted to:
Signature:
Mr. Santhosh John, Through Moodle
Note: You need to also submit a 650-700 words proposal through Moodle before 30th
March 2017 as an interim review of your assignment. This would help you and me to
comprehend the direction of your analysis and take corrective actions if necessary.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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Individual Assignment -Spring 2017
Mobile Commerce (ECM81IS)
Submission Date: 4th May 2017 (Week 12)
Total Marks: 100
Introduction
This is an individual assignment aimed to give the student exposure to the concepts,
principles tools and techniques underpinning M Commerce and their application. This also
provides an opportunity for the students to recommend a mobile solution to a business
and functional requirements provided.
Outcomes of the assignment
Apply understanding of the underlying principles, tools and techniques to discuss
and evaluate the impact of M-commerce and the applications that support it.
Strategically align business models and objectives with M-commerce solutions.
Analyze business and functional requirements, investigate and recommend mobile
solutions.
General Instructions
1. If you are unable to submit your work due to extenuating circumstances you may
apply for an extension.
2. The MEC policy on Assessed Coursework applies to this coursework. You are
advised to read the guidelines in the student handbook.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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Assignment tasks
Task 1
You are required to produce a work proposal briefing the expected deliverables, approach
towards the solution, potential risks and timeline. (10 Marks)
Expected Deliverables of the assignment [The deliverables are the specific work products
that student must produce in order to complete the assignment. Example: For a business
analysis assignment, deliverables could be business analysis plan, feasibility report,
business requirement specification etc.] Approach towards the solution [Specify the
Literature, Software and Hardware needed to meet the assignment objectives] Potential
risks foreseeable [Technical risk, Management risk, External risk etc.] Timeline and work
breakdown (Gantt chart): References
Task 2
“Cloud computing- variation of pervasive computing has become a recent trend in the
business world which enables mobility and flexibility at its best on M-Commerce. It is a way
for business organizations to outsource much of the hassle and worry of IT infrastructure,
and eliminate large investments in computer hardware”.
Discuss and evaluate the role of cloud computing within the context of M-Commerce. Your
discussion should analyze the extend of wireless-networking technology and increasing
trends towards mobility and portability of devices in terms of their encouragement on
business organizations to look at innovative ways of using pervasive computing. Your
evaluation should have the support of a realistic M-Commerce solution of your choice.
Your discussion/evaluation should be furnished as a write up with 1000 words of your own
apart from the reference/d contents.
(25 Marks)
Task 3
“XML Webservices provided an opportunity to traditional Ecommerce applications to
perform according to the principles of both B2C and B2B models. Platform, language and
device independent nature of XML extended this to a device to device (D2D) model with
respect to the M-Commerce”. Critically evaluate how this transition strategically align
business model with the support of necessary cases of your choice in the domain. YourPG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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evaluation should be furnished as a write up with 600 words of your own apart from the
reference/d contents.
(15 Marks)
Task 4
Produce a proposal for the development of a realistic Mobile Commerce application for the
business scenario provided. Your proposal should accommodate the stages given below
with appropriate deliverables.
Note. You are not expected to actually implement the system.
Stage 1 Architecture and business flow
Outline the proposed mobile commerce application’s business flow and architecture.
Identify the benefits to the various categories of user, arising from the addition of a
mobile-access facility. You are required to list the implications of proposed applications as
well.
Stage 2 Technical Requirements
Identify the business to technical requirements of the proposed mobile solution based on
the number of users, volume of data, applications, services with respect to bandwidth,
security and performance etc... Discuss any conflicts that arise between the various
technical requirements.
Stage 3 Design
Produce a simple screen prototype/story board for the proposed sales order suite. Your
design stage should produce a topological design, showing how the wireless part of the
network would be integrated into the wired backbone network.
Stage 4 Devices
Identify the devices to construct the network as well as the portable/handheld devices to
implement the system with proper justification. What are the technical capabilities and
limitations of users’ devices, and how do these issues affect the design requirements?
Stage 5 Critical EvaluationPG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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A reflection of your learning experience. You must be specific and not just say ‘I learned a
lot about this or that …’ but say exactly what you did learn. Include other points such as
time management issues and technical issues. .
Your proposal should be furnished as a write up with 1000 words of your own apart from
the reference/d contents and screens.
(50 Marks)PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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Business Scenario
Al-Arabia Surgical Equipment Suppliers LLC is a leading Surgical Equipment supplier in
Sultanate. The Al-Arabia Managing Director has just returned from a trade fair with some
disturbing news. Couple of their competitors are actively exploring the use of mobile
technologies within their sales process! The Managing Director has requested the Business
IT Manager, Mr. Salim-Al-Harthy, to propose and prototype a new M-Commerce
application for the sales process of Al-Arabia.
You have been delegated this task by Salim-Al-Harthy.
Business Process
This is a real-world example, so the business processes need careful explanation. The
existing (old) process and details of the new network-based process are outlined in detail
below.
Existing Business Process
Order Processing System
Salespersons are allocated to various places of the Sultanate. Salespersons visit and sell the
surgical equipments to the Doctors who work at the Hospitals. These equipments need to be
updated on a regular basis as technology improves. The relationship is therefore between the
doctor and the firm represented by the salesperson. The salesperson has a visit plan per
month to visit hospitals which have existing customers (doctors) and also visits the hospitals
looking for new customers. The visit involves talking to doctors(s) for a short period of time
to discuss requirements and new products available from the firm. Each customer has a
customer number. If the customer wishes to place an order then this is all completed on
paper. A pre-printed order form is completed by the salesperson and signed by the doctor.
The order form has a number, date and details of the products ordered and the total value of
the order. The salesman derives all the product information from a product catalogue
manual. The product catalogue is printed at the start of each calendar year and is updated
via paper inserts during the year. Each product has a product code, description, unit of
measure, price.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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The order form is in duplicate and a copy is left with the customer. The other copy is sent in
to the firm by overnight post but the salesperson telephones the details of the order through
to the office usually on the same day (typically after leaving the customer or at the end of
day).
Summary of problems with existing sales order process:
Paper based and administrative workload for salespersons is high. Sales order process not
integrated with other business processes. For example, lack of visibility regarding
production data – salespersons only know what is available from stock via a weekly stock
update printout and by finding out what are the production schedules for following week.
Proposed Sales Order Processing
The logistics of the process remain the same. A salesperson will still visit a customer at a
hospital– the firm is anxious not to lose this personal contact. However, an order will be
raised electronically via the salesperson using a mobile device in real-time whilst visiting
the customer. The salesperson should be able to access customer records, product records
including a graphic image of the product and raise an order electronically. The details of test
data for customer, product and order information can be held in the mobile device from the
server.
The order will be received by the office and processed electronically. This has a number of
implications for the business which are expected to be explored in your management report
for the assignment. The proposed Order Processing System should have the facility for
mobile payment too.
The implications include:
Personalized service – customers could order via their own mobile phone, but how
would this change the role/workflow of the salesperson?
Back office systems – inbound data will need to integrate with the back office
business systems. The firm does not have an integrated back office system at present.
Web site – the web site could be modified to become an e-commerce site capable of
accepting orders.
Transport – the firm could consider operating a fleet of vans fitted with wireless
communications.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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Guidelines
Follow the guidelines mentioned below for your assignment.
Assignment should be typed and an electronic copy is to be submitted
through Moodle
Handwritten assignments will not be accepted
The assignment should not be more than 15 pages in (size A4) paper.
Minimum acceptable size is 8 pages.
Assignment should have Complete and sign the cover sheet with the
following information
Assignment Name
Class
Student name
Student ID
It should have Table of Contents
Use page numbers
Assignment should be typed in your own words using Times New Roman
font size 12.
Heading should be with Font Size 14, Bold, Underline
Use Diagrams and Examples to explain your topic, provided citation, if
applicable.
You are encouraged to refer the books in Library or use internet resource or
computer magazines or any other resource but you should not cut/copy and
paste from internet. The report should be in your own words.
Copy paste from the Internet is strictly not acceptable.
CU Harward referencing style must be followed.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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Regulations
Work submitted up to 1 week (5 working days) after the due date for submission will
lose 10% of the mark (after internal moderation).
Work submitted after this, but up to 2 weeks (10 working days) late will lose 20% of the
overall mark.
Work tendered for submission more than 2 weeks (10 working days) after the due date
will not be accepted and an absence will be recorded for the assessment concerned.
This will count as a failed attempt and may result in you failing the module overall.
Plagiarism policy
As per MEC policy, any form of violation of academic integrity will invite severe penalty.
Plagiarised documents, in part or in whole, submitted by the students will be subject to
this policy.
A. First offence of plagiarism
a. A student will be allowed to re-submit the assignment once, within a maximum
period of one week. However, a penalty of deduction of 25% of the marks
obtained for the resubmitted work will be imposed.
b. Mark deduction: When the work is resubmitted, the marking will be undertaken
according to the marking criteria. In compliance with this policy, the 25%
deduction is then made on the marks obtained. For example, in an assessment
that carries a maximum of 50 marks, suppose a student were to obtain 30 marks
for the resubmitted work, the final marks for that assessment will be 22.5
(after deducting 25% of the marks actually obtained for the resubmitted work).
c. Period of resubmission: The student will have to resubmit the work one week from
the date he or she is advised to resubmit. For example, if the formal advice to
resubmit was communicated to the student on a Sunday (latest by 5 pm), the
student will have to resubmit the work latest by next Sunday 5 pm.
d. If the re-submitted work is also detected to be plagiarized, then the work will be
awarded a zero.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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e. Resubmission of the work beyond the maximum period of one week will not be
accepted and the work will be awarded a zero.
B. Any further offence of plagiarism
a. If any student is again caught in an act of plagiarism during his/her course of study
(either in the same module, same semester or in any other semester), the student
will directly be awarded zero for the work in which plagiarism is detected. In such
cases, the student will not be allowed to re-submit the work.
C. Guidelines
a. Type 1: In case plagiarism is detected in any component or part submission
(submitted at different times) of one assessment (assignment), the deduction in
marks will be applicable for the whole assessment (assignment), even if only the
component or part submission alone needs to be resubmitted.
b. Type 2: In case plagiarism is detected in a group assessment, all students of the group
will be considered as having committed an act of plagiarism irrespective of whether
plagiarism is on account of the act of all or a few or only one member. The policy will
then be applied to all students.
c. Type 3: Combination of Type 1 and Type 2: In case plagiarism is detected in any
component or part submission (submitted at different times) of a group assessment
(assignment), the deduction in marks will be applicable for the whole assessment
(assignment), even if only the component or part submission alone needs to be
resubmitted. All students of the group would be considered as having committed an
act of plagiarism irrespective of whether plagiarism is on account of the act of all or a
few or only one member. The policy will then be applied to all the students of the
group.
d. Type 4: Variation of Type 1 and Type 2: In cases where the assessment consists of
components or part submissions that could be a group assessment component (e.g.
group assignment) and an individual assessment component (e.g. individual
reflection), the following will be applicable:
1. If plagiarism is detected in the group assessment component, all students of
the group will be considered as having committed an act of plagiarism,
irrespective of whether plagiarism is on account of the act of all or a few or
only one member. The policy will then be applied to all students of the group.
In such cases the group assessment component will be resubmitted as per the
policy.PG-MCO-ECM81IS-SPRG-17-CW1-QP-R
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2. If plagiarism is detected in the individual assessment component, the individual
assessment component will be resubmitted as per the policy. The policy will
then be applied to that student alone.
3. In both cases (a) and/or (b), the deduction in marks will be applicable for
the whole assessment (assignment).ECM81IS Page 13 of 15
D. Amount of similar material
a. The total amount of similar material in any form of student work from all sources put
together should not exceed 30% (including direct quotations).
b. The total amount of quoted material (direct quotations) in any form of student work from
all sources put together should not exceed 10%.
c. The total amount of similar material in any form of student work from a single source
should not exceed 7 percent. However, cases having a similarity of less than 7 percent in
such cases may still be investigated by the faculty depending on the seriousness of the
case.
d. If faculty member find enough merit in the case of a student work with a similarity (with a
single source) of more than 7 percent as not a case of plagiarism, the faculty member
should provide detailed comments/remarks to justify the case.
Each task will be graded as follows:
Evidence of research Critical evaluation Overall
100
85
80
75
70
Shows evidence of
extensive investigation of
relevant concepts,
technologies and issues.
Clearly defined argument/
problem definition and
source for lucid
argumentation.
Shows clear evidence of reflective thinking about the issues
presents a clear and relevant argument. Substantial originality of
innovation and thinking.
Work of a
very high
standard
68
66
64
60
Shows evidence of
investigation of relevant
concepts, technologies
and issues. Presentation
of data, arguments and
decisions in a useful form.
Accurate data and
conclusions of the
analysis.
Shows reasonable evidence of reflective thinking about the issues
with adequate evaluation. Demonstration of detailed analysis and
clear expectations are set based on literature. Good logic and
coherence of argumentation.
Work of
good
quality
58
56
54
50
Reasonable level of
investigation. Adequate
application of theoretical
framework and research
methods.
Adequate evaluation, lacking in depth of reflective thinking with
respect to major points. Demonstration of adequate ability to
conduct critical analysis.
Acceptable
and
adequate
work
48
46
Less adequate research
into the relevant concepts,
Largely descriptive, with little reflective thinking. Work with
some meritECM81IS Page 14 of 15
45 technologies and issues.
Satisfactory
conceptualisation of the
area of study.
but at the
lower end
only just
achieving
what is
required.
44
42
40
Poor research.
Inadequate, inaccurate or
irrelevant treatment of the
task specifications. Poor
application of theoretical
framework and research
methods.
Clear signs of understanding, but presentation, reflection and
analysis are poor.
The work is
only just
acceptable
in its
present
form.
38
35
30
20
0
Lack of evidence of
research or weak report.
No discernible reflection or evaluation. Inability to deal with the
chosen research question in a critical manner.
The work is
deemed
weak and
inadequate.ECM81IS Page 15 of 15
Assignment Evaluation Grid
Student Id______________ Student Name:_______________________________
Deliverables Aspects 0 1-4 5-8 9-10 Marks
Task 1 Work
Proposal
Non
Submission
Weak briefing on Expected
deliverables, approaches and
time line
Good briefing on
Expected
deliverables with
realistic
approaches and
time line
Excellent/Perfect
briefing on
Expected
deliverables with
realistic
approaches and
time line
Deliverables Aspects 0 1-8 9-17 18-25 Marks
Task 2
Technology
Evaluation
Weak/Plagiariz
ed content/ No
report/No
Presentation
Discussion on cloud computing,
wireless and mobile technology
with respect to M Commerce
with minimal points and without
a specific case.
Good Discussion
on cloud computing,
wireless and mobile
technology with
respect to M
Commerce with a
generic case and
adequate points.
Good and complete
discussion on cloud
computing, wireless
and mobile
technology with
respect to M
Commerce with a
specific case and
perfection.
Deliverables Aspects 0 1-5 6-12 13-15 Marks
Task 3 Critical
Evaluation
on business
strategy
alignment
with respect
to
MCommerce
Weak/Plagiariz
ed content/ No
report/No
Presentation
Partial evaluation on the
transition from B2C and B2B
model to D2D model with XML
Webservices.
Good evaluation on
the transition from
B2C and B2B
model to D2D
model with XML
Webservices.
(Emphasized on
business only)
Complete and
perfect evaluation
on the transition
from B2C and B2B
model to D2D
model with XML
Webservices.
(both business and
technical aspects)
Deliverables Aspects 0 1-20
Identification of a business flow,
technical requirements, design,
devices and critical evaluation of
a mobile system with
minimum/shallow justification.
21-35 36-50 Marks
Task 4
Proposal of
mobile
commerce
solution
Weak/Plagiariz
ed content/ No
report/No
Presentation
Recommendation of
an appropriate
mobile commerce
solution with the
Identification of
perfect business
flow, adequate
technical
requirements, good
design, appropriate
devices and critical
evaluation without
screens/prototype.
.
Recommendation of
an excellent mobile
commerce solution
with the
Identification of
perfect business
flow, excellent
technical
requirements,
complete design,
appropriate devices
and excellent critical
evaluation with
screens/prototype.
Signature of evaluator:
Total Marks
Penalty
Final Marks