3 E-Commerce Articles

1. Computer-Crime Incidents at 2 California Colleges Tied to Investigation Into Russian Mafia.

Well this particular article is about a representative of the Russian mafia and how he has been installing software illegally into computers on major universities and campuses. This unjust man was actually installing “keyboard monitors” which records the keystrokes as they are typed and saves the data to a file. From this software, the Russian mafia was getting users’ credit card numbers and other personal data which people don’t want viewed by others.
Using new technology to steal private information? This really makes me angry! I mean, why do people have to do such unjust things these days. It just doesn’t make sense why people have to steal using software which is intended to monitor what their kids are doing online because of online predators. Also, the fact that these men are trying to steal money from parents who are only trying to send their kids to college is just disgusting period. These kinds of crimes should never happen but I guess from a man who only knows how to kill and commit crimes, this type of action isn’t that ignorant and low to him. Overall, I feel as though this man should go to prison for many years for his intellectual-property offense.

2. Fine Print Not Necessarily in Ink

This article selection talks about the fine print of websites and the strings attached which viewers and consumers may not know about at all. The fine print, which is more than likely privacy laws, doesn’t usually have everything you need to know before confirming your action or entering a site. Also it seems as though these privacy laws are actually in affect to limit your rights. In fact, Jason Catlett said, “The problem is corporate lawyers tend to write privacy policies that take away all your rights”. Another thing is that most of these clauses you see in fine prints won’t actually stand in the court of law when argued upon.
Overall, I feel like I could take both sides of this argument. I mean if you’re going to buy something online or enter a webpage you should most definitely read all the fine print to know what you are getting yourself into. Not reading the fine print is like basically asking something bad to happen. I mean if something does happen you won’t know how to answer it or where this problem even came from in the first place. On the other hand though I don’t believe it is fair that websites and firms can have strings that are attached to their services while it’s not being written in the fine print. I mean all strings and actions should be printed on paper/website before the service is done. Not only will this be better for consumers but it will also help decrease problems concerning these issues.

3. Security Shake Up Needed to Increase Consumer Confidence in E-Commerce

This informative writing talks about how online consumers have been consistently buying a lot less online because they believe there isn’t enough security on the web for personal data and information. Another reason is because of the rise of phishing attacks and viruses which come from unfamiliar sources. People, since hearing this, have been doing offline transactions more and more even though these transactions are still more likely to be open to abuse. So in the end, consumers need more confidence to return back to their online shopping.
I believe online transactions are safer than people actually realize. I mean, nowadays, online shopping and transactions are one of the main ways consumers and firms get their inventory or supplies. This slump in online purchases is just going to last for a short time because people gain their confidence back; they will start to realize that the online transactions are most likely safer than offline. In fact, “four out of five card data breaches are at point-of-sale, not online,” said Litan (bizreport). Overall from this statistic people should begin to realize online is secure compared to offline.

3. Provide one example of how electronic commerce could help change an industry's economic structure from a hierarchy to a network.

One example is when transaction costs are high. Transaction costs are the total of all costs that a buyer and seller incur through a sale transaction. When these costs get too high, hierarcies decrease costs by adapting to same scale economies. Now networked structures, with their information technology, resources and skills, can take advantage of more prominent economic efficienceies by entering the market. Finally, with cooperation among firms, transaction costs begin to lower.

4. How might managers use SWOT analysis to identify new applications for electronic commerce in their strategic business units?

Well a manager would weigh out and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which are associated with the business unit. By using the SWOT analysis, you will be able to create your own strategy that will make you different from competitors allowing your firm to have success in the marketing world.

2. Choose one major difference between the first wave and the second wave of electronic commerce. Write a paragraph on your blog that describes the difference to a person who is not familiar with either business or internet technologies.

Electronic Commerce is defined as business communication and trasactions over networks and through computers (Dictionary.com). E-commerce is a field of business technology that is still advancing to this day. In fact, we are now in the second wave of e-commerce which has had many new advancements in the technology aspect of the rising field. One major difference between the first and second wave is the increasing broadband connections and improved hardware developments, which allows more businesses all over the world to get involved more efficiently. Broadband is a term that can be replaced with the word high-speed. Basically, the term describes a wideband high-speed data transmission that uses one wire to carry many channels at once. Now like I said earlier these new connection speeds help make business-to-business transactions, which is when businesses focus toward other firms not consumers, alot easier in general. Overall, these improvements allow companies better control in tracking parts, inventories, and production status.

1.Describe three factors that would cause a company to continue doing business in traditional ways and avoid electronic commerce.

• Small purchases over the net would actually increase the cost of doing business due to the fact that the company would have to charge more to re-coup the expense of transferring money. Consumers would rather avoid the time and excess costs.
• The nature of a product is basically its brandname reputation in the market. The problem this aspect causes for internet business is the fact that consumers can't physically check the quality of the product online, whereas in traditional business the product is right in front of you and it can be held and checked berfore purchasing.
• Shipping profile is difficult for internet business because when you're shipping something heavy/large, you have to pay extra money. So, for businesses that only sell large products, they will be paying extra costs all the time.