ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

(Department of Business Administration)

WARNING

PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM THE AWARD OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENT(S) BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN THE “AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.

Course: Introduction to e-Business (8426/9551) Semester: Spring, 2025

Level: BBA/PGD

Please read the following instructions for writing your assignments. (AD, BS, Bed, MA/MSc, MEd) (ODL Mode).

1. All questions are compulsory and carry equal marks but within a question the marks are distributed according to its requirements.

2. Read the question carefully and then answer it according to the requirements of the questions.

3. Avoid irrelevant discussion/information and reproducing from books, study guides, or allied material.

4. Hand-written scanned assignments are not acceptable.

5. Upload your typed (in Word or PDF format) assignments on or before the due date.

6. Your own analysis and synthesis will be appreciated.

7. Late submission of assignments will not be accepted.

8. The students who attempt their assignments in Urdu/Arabic may upload a scanned copy of their hand written assignments (in PDF format) on University LMS. The size of the file should not exceed 5MB.

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

ASSIGNMENT No. 1

Q. 1 Define e-business and explain its role in shaping the new economy. How has the growth of e-business influenced related industries? (20)

Q. 2 Explain the development of the Internet and the role of the World Wide Web (WWW) in enabling e-business. How has this technological evolution influenced business operations globally? (20)

Q. 3 Discuss the characteristics and types of e-business models. How can the framework for analyzing e-business models be applied to evaluate a real-world e-business? (20)

Q. 4 Explain the concept of disintermediation and reintermediation in
e-business. How do these processes impact the cost of production and distribution for businesses? (20)

Q. 5 Explain the importance of creating an effective e-marketing plan. How can businesses use online advertising and the marketing mix to target online customers? (20)

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

ASSIGNMENT No. 2

This assignment is a research-oriented activity. You are required to prepare a detailed report of about 3000 words on the topic allotted to you to be submitted to your teacher for evaluation.

You are required to select one of the following topics according to the last digit of your registration number. For example, if your registration number is 18-IDM-3427183 then you will select topic # 3(the last digit): -

List of Topics:

Key Technologies Shaping E-Business: From Internet to Wireless
Types and Analysis of E-Business Models
Economic Factors Influencing E-Business
Strategies for E-Marketing Success
Management Strategies for E-Business: A Case Study on Ryanair
Formulating Effective E-Business Strategies
Implementing and Evaluating E-Business Strategies
Gaining and Sustaining a Competitive Advantage in E-Business
Phases of E-Business Development: Challenges and Future Landscape
Evolution and Definition of E-Business in the New Economy

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT # 2:

1.5 line spacing
Use headers and subheads throughout all sections
Organization of ideas
Writing skills (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
Professionalism (readability and general appearance)
Do more than repeat the text
Express a point of view and defend it.

INTRODUCTION TO E-BUSINESS (8426)

Unit–1: Introduction

Defining e-business
The development of the new economy
Types of e-business and related industries
The growth of e-business
Use of the internet
Key people

Unit–2: E-business Technologies

The development of the internet
The World Wide Web (WWW)
Information infrastructure
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
Program languages
Industry standards
Wireless technology
Interactive television
Payment systems

Unit–3: E-business Markets & Model

E-businesses
E-business environment
E-marketplaces
E-business markets
E-business models
Types of e-business models
A framework for analyzing e-business models

Unit–4: E-business Economics

Towards perfect competition
The effect of the internet on the competitive environment
Key economic characteristics of the internet
Cost of production and distribution
Disintermediation and reinter mediation
Economics of information
Connectivity and interactivity
Economies of scale
Economies of scope
Transaction costs
Network externalities
Switching costs
Critical mass of customers
Mini Case Study: Online gambling
Pricing

Unit–5: E-Marketing

Internet marketing

E-marketing plan

The marketing mix

Branding

Online advertising

Targeting online customers

Interactive television and e-marketing

Customer relationship management

Unit–6: Management of E-business

Management Knowledge

Managing applications systems for e-business

Mini Case Study: Ryanair

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Management skills for e-business

Managing risk

Unit–7: E-business Strategy: formulation

Strategic management and objective setting

The strategic process

Internal analysis

External analysis

Competitive strategies for e-business

Unit–8: E-business Strategy: implementation and Evaluation

Strategic controls

Organizational learning

Organizational culture and e-business

Organizational structure and e-business

Change Management

The evaluation process

Organizational control and evaluation

Financial evaluation

Technology evaluation

Human resources evaluation

Website evaluation

Business model evaluation

E-business strategy evaluation

Unit–9: E-business Future

(Gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage)

Competing effectively

First-mover advantages

Generic strategies

Mini Case Study: Glasses Direct

Integrating generic strategies

Expanding product lines

Lock-in and switching costs

Bricks and clicks

Winner-takes-all

The problem of sustaining competitive advantage

The phases of e-business development

The performance of e-business

The future of e-business

Recommended Book:

Combe, Colin. Introduction to E-business. Routledge, 2012.

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