E-Business Models: Integrating Learning from Strategy Development Experiences - Assignment Example

?THE INTERNET AND E-BUSINESS Table of Contents Task 1 Present Environment for E-Business With the passage of time, internet is offering more and more opportunities to its users. The world-wide-web is internationally pervasive. Additionally, the internet has involved more users from more nations as compared to some other communication tool. However, it is mainly utilized in United States and Europe, through the expansion over the coming few years is expected to happen in Asia and Latin America. In this scenario, the internet is mainly used for e-business. E-business is concerned about saving money instead of spending it (GoECart Ecommerce Platform, 2011; AME Info, 2002). In addition, e-business simplifies the business processes by centralising IT processes to make them well-organized for business. For instance, a large size IT organisation Oracle saved one billion dollars by adopting the same practice. In the same way, there exist a lot of businesses adopting the same practice. When our data is all locked up in small parcels at different location, dispersed all over our business, not only becomes challenging and time-consuming to get a worldwide perspective, but it is as well an extremely large waste of money. Thus, centralising IT systems on an e-business model can accumulate enormous sums that are able to be a great deal better spent somewhere else (GoECart Ecommerce Platform, 2011; AME Info, 2002). 1.2- OBC Benefit from e-commerce and some of the difficulties The management of Oxenford Business College (OBC) desires to implement the new technology based/web based learning structure. The purpose of this system implementation is to facilitate the college to use a modern technology to perform education related activities. In addition, with this implementation Oxenford Business College is indented to improve its organisational efficiency. Thus, these innovative aspects will allow Oxenford Business College to take advantage of wider student access and business working. This system will offer following advantages: One of the main advantages that Oxenford Business College will be able to attain is higher competitive edge. The new web based infrastructure will offer an excellent management support to the college. Oxenford Business College will be able to establish better e-learning arrangement Oxenford Business College will be able to get better business performance Oxenford Business College will be able to offer better control over business working Oxenford Business College will be able to enhance its access to distant students Oxenford Business College will be able to implement distance learning arrangement that facilitate better knowledge distributing and credibility The emergence of interactive and online resources has brought optimistic advantages to the learning experience of students. In addition, the resources at the present comprise interactive material/data, digitised material, online and Internet resources, web links, external collections and numerous choice questionnaires. Additionally, with these web based learning facilities students are able to access the learning data and resources when and where they desire. On the other hand, administrators are as well able to build up resources simultaneously and place them to ‘hand out’ access to the data and information resources when it is necessary. In simple words, the intranet is utilized to offer the students an excellent way to access information and support for gathering information (El-Khatib et al., 2003; Vinitha et al., 2006). 1.3- Security and Legislation Issues This section outlines some of the important security and privacy issues regarding Oxenford Business College. This section also assesses the applicable significance of such factors to OBC. The majority of the e-learning originalities have focused on course development and delivery, with minimal or even without keeping in mind the safety, privacy and security as necessary elements. Though, it is obvious from the on top of trends that there will be a emergent requirement for elevated levels of privacy and confidentiality in e-learning systems, and that security technologies have to be put in place to convene these requirements. In addition, the confidence of clients concerning their rights to privacy is growing, and novel privacy legislations encompass newly been established with diverse controls. Additionally, it is as well apparent that privacy has become essential for information about e-learning tasks assumed with business staff. As businesses can advertise their learning techniques to abilities plus knowledge development in an attempt to notify staff, they do not want competitors to discover the details of training offered which could compromise their strategic commands (El-Khatib et al., 2003; Vinitha et al., 2006). In case of possible security and privacy attacks, some of the main issues can be: Hacking attack to main servers Hacking attack to student profiles Hacking of business data Security breaches to business funds Changing or deleting educational records Illegal marking or hacking of assignment solutions Fake marking to students 1.4- Modes of Communication OBC Are Likely To Need To Use In order to develop well-organized learning plans, businesses and educational organisations have to be familiar with the advantages as well as boundaries of various e-learning methods and techniques. In this regard, the existing research is able to support practitioners with studying the influence of various aspects on e-learning’s efficacy. IN addition, synchronous and asynchronous are two fundamental kinds of e-learning which are normally evaluated for establishment of any new college or university e-learning arrangement. However, up till now, e-learning schemes mostly dependent upon asynchronous ways for teaching and learning. Though modern developments in technology and growing bandwidth potentials have guided to the emergent fame of synchronous e-learning (Hrastinski, 2008; Pedroni, 2007). In addition, current debates deal with the worth of asynchronous versus synchronous web based or e-learning. In this scenario, asynchronous e-learning, normally facilitated with media like that e-mail and discussion boards, facilitates work relationships between learners and teachers, yet when members could not be able to come online at the same time. It is therefore a main part of elastic e-learning. In fact, a lot of people who take online courses for the reason that of their asynchronous type; unites education with family, work and other commitments. Thus, asynchronous e-learning makes easy for learners to log on to an e-learning atmosphere at time which suites them and download documents or broadcast messages to peers or teachers. In this way, students are able to spend more time educating their contributions; those are normally recognized more considerably contrasted to synchronous communication (Hrastinski, 2008; Pedroni, 2007). Moreover, synchronous e-learning, normally supported by media like that video conferencing and chat, has the possibility to allow the e-learners to build learning societies. In this way, learners and teachers practice synchronous e-learning as an additional social as well as keep away from frustration of asking and answering questions in real time situations. Furthermore, synchronous conferences facilitate e-learners feel similar to contributors rather than isolated (Hrastinski, 2008; Pedroni, 2007). Task 2 2.1- Internet Technology for the Benefit of IT administrators In this section I will present a detailed analysis of some of the important aspects of internet technology available for the benefit of Information Technology Administrators. In this section I will discuss about the tools that can facilitate the IT Administrators to better manage IT operations at the Oxenford Business College. By establishing a web based e-learning arrangement for Oxenford Business College we will be able to get a modern and state of the art technology based structure. For such kind of arrangement one of the important concerns is its management. For this purpose, there exist a lot of tools which can help manage this kind of web sites. In this scenario, a tool can be used to organise lessons for the students. For this purpose, we can make use of automated system management that automatically manages and handles the lessons at the university. Thus, this system will offer an excellent support to admin for managing the overall lessons in a much better way (El-Khatib et al., 2003; Chick, 2001). Then we will make use of the simple student profile management system that will manage the student working and activities at such accounts. In this situation admin will be able to check, alter and add student’s accounts. Here this system will also make use of innovative techniques to deal with the students’ payments at the course website. For the overall network security management, the network manager will make use of the latest tools and methods for controlling and handling different aspects of the user working and operations at web based business network (El-Khatib et al., 2003; Chick, 2001). 2.2- IT Administrator Capable of making Adjustments For Oxenford Business College’s web based e-learning arrangement, one of the major step could be the implementation of most excellent security arrangement that can be only accessible to corporate administrators. However, in such kind of implementation different issues can occur regarding student information security. Thus, making minor adjustments to the website by IT administrator is not a good idea. It can cause high level security and privacy issues. If an admin requires passing some student illegally, he will enter his fake marks and also generate whole fake degree. In such situation there is need for a great deal of enhanced ways and methods to ensure effective management of such operations at Oxenford Business College web based e-learning arrangement. So I will not prefer such rights for admin to make minor changes to business network. 2.3 Functions of Intranets In this section I will present the functions of intranets of client servers, browsers and search engines at the Oxenford Business College web based e-learning arrangement: Intranet The intranet will make use of enhanced technology based infrastructure for the better management of Oxenford Business College web based e-learning arrangement. Here intranet will offer following main functions: (Broadley, 2007; Brown & Voltz, 2005; Barone, 2011; Australian Flexible Learning Framework, 2004) Offer security to whole university Offer legal access to authorized staff to network Offer course management Offer staff development Offer exam capability Offer student and teacher interaction and communication Client Server The client side of Oxenford Business College web based e-learning arrangement of intranet will provide access to only legal students for offering them interaction and access to business data and information. In this scenario such access will offer a great deal of support for student working and operations such as: (Broadley, 2007; Brown & Voltz, 2005; Barone, 2011; Australian Flexible Learning Framework, 2004) Student’s course access Student’s notes access Student’s lecture videos Student’s exams and quizzes Possible Student’s working and communication based interaction Browsers For the web based e-learning arrangement of intranet at Oxenford Business College, user browser will make use of new and enhanced technology for the potential management of user interaction with the corporate systems. Here we will suggest SSL based security parameters for network access and control (Broadley, 2007; Brown & Voltz, 2005; Barone, 2011; Australian Flexible Learning Framework, 2004). 2.4- Intranets and Extranets Facility to OBC This section will analyze the potential application of intranets and extranets facility at OBC for the better management of the online learning process. Potential application of intranets and extranets facility to Oxenford Business College’s web based e-learning arrangement will offer following advantages: (Broadley, 2007; Brown & Voltz, 2005; Barone, 2011; Australian Flexible Learning Framework, 2004) Suitable planning for the course Effective availability of course contents to students Effective and enhanced resources sharing and availability to all stakeholders using 24*7 approach Resources availability to student to meet accessibility guidelines for students with special requirements and/or disabilities. Planning and offering high-quality usage of external resources as well as collections like digital libraries Offering overall management of staff and working Security policy establishment Communication among all possible stakeholders Task 3 3.1- E-Business Models This section discusses different e-business models that could be employed by a college to generate revenue: (Trombly, 2000; Rappa, 2010; Burke, 2008; Bagchi & Tulskie, 2000) Affiliate Model Affiliate model generates revenue through corporate application to business network. Here we will offer affiliation to a number of colleges and schools to our collage for distance learning and learning management. In addition, we will charge them appropriate fee for consultation and learning management. Here we will also offer online advisements to those institutions on our online website that will also generate revenue for us. So this model can generate a lot of income. Online Advertisement Model We will offer our affiliated institutions to advertise with us. This model will also allow us generate revenue for our college. Direct Sale Model This e-business model will also be an important model for Oxenford Business College’s web based e-learning arrangement. Here we will offer our educational services to students and will charge them appropriate fees. Here our system will automatically collect fees at monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. 3.2- Analyses Models This section analyzes the models which are outline in above section. The one of the important models I have proposed is direct sales model that involves the direct sales of educational services to students. Here we will charge directly from the students for usual services cost for each semester or year. This will be a main source of revenue for our corporate. The other sources of revenue that I have proposed for Oxenford Business College will be affiliate model and online advertisement model. This will be an extremely high quality arrangement for collecting revenue for our provision to or educational services. This will be a really high quality idea for revenue generation (Trombly, 2000; Rappa, 2010; Burke, 2008; Bagchi & Tulskie, 2000). 3.3- Advise to OBC on E-business Future The new world is full of technology artifacts and modern technology based tools. In case of Oxenford Business College’s web based e-learning arrangement we are expecting more and more technology advancement in future. In addition, at the present, new tools and technologies are modernizing every field of life. Additionally, the adoption of these tools and technologies has transformed the working environments and life styles of people. Now people require easy to use applications (Laudon & Laudon, 1999; Turban et al., 2005). Information technology has not only changed the business structure but it has also modernized the educational environment. Now we can see more and more web based educational arrangements. Now a lot of technology based certifications are done through web based systems. There are many people who work at day time and get education or certification second time. In this overall situation the idea of web based distance learning is one of the ideal ideas for improving educational and learning processes. The overall application of the e-learning will offer an excellent support for improving educational processes (Trombly, 2000; Rappa, 2010; Burke, 2008; Bagchi & Tulskie, 2000). Task 4 4.1- Advice to OBC for good website design This section is about the specification of good website design for Oxenford Business College’s web based e-learning arrangement. I have outlined below some of the important needs and requirement of the good web design for the Oxenford Business College website of e-learning: Usability Usability is a meted of determining interactive user experience when connected with a user interface, like that a website or software system. In addition, a user-friendly system interface design is simple to find out, supports clients’ jobs and objectives proficiently and efficiently, as well as is pleasing and appealing to utilize. Additionally, the level of usability of a system can be assessed by appealing planned clients of the system to contribute in a usability testing meeting (UsabilityFirst, 2011; Usernomics, 2011; Nielsen, 2011). Navigation A more effective set of graphic navigation as well as interactivity based communication links inside our web-pages will draw users' attention towards the web page, weaning them from the wide-ranging purpose web browser communication links and drawing them more into our view point. Through offering our own steady and expected set of navigation buttons we as well offer the user an opportunity for good judgment of our website's structure as well as formulate the logic and organization of our website visually precise (Dartmouth College, 2002). Accessibility Accessibility fundamentally outlines that people with disabilities are able to make use of a product. More specially, accessibility is formulating user interfaces operable, perceivable and logical for people with a broad variety of capabilities. In addition, it includes the entire types of disabilities, or practical limitations, comprising auditory, visual, speech, physical, cognitive as well as neurological disabilities (Lawton, 2007; Lynch & Horton, 2004). Consistency and standards Consistency and standards in system design state that system users should not have to wonder in various situations, words or actions denote the similar thing. In addition, the consistency is a basic system interface design principle for working user interfaces (Zuschlag, 2010; Usernomics, 2011; Martin, 2010). 4.2- Impact of a well-designed website Through the application of well designed website, Oxenford Business College will be able to attain following advantages: (PSU, 2011) Effective Website design for easy working Better user interaction User satisfaction Student’s manageability Student’s better communication Teacher effective knowledge conveying Superior distance learning environment Better handling of knowledge transfer Less distraction to client Effective and fruitful results Long-term interaction based relation User satisfaction 4.3 Usability Issues for New Website Design For the successful implementation of Oxenford Business College’s web based e-learning system we need to keep in mind some of the important usability issues. In this scenario we need to streamline major aspects regarding system’s working and operational performance. I have outlined below some of the important usability issues those need to be considered for the enhanced system application: Language problem (foreign students) System compatibility (for different system qualities and strength) System working (Different web browser support) Operating system support (XP, MAC, etc.) Screen Resolution (Different Screen Sizes) Page Loading Speed (Slow Internet connection) Accessibility Issues (People with disabilities like color blindness) References AME Info, 2002. E-Business today and tomorrow (page 1 of 2). [Online] Available at: http://www.ameinfo.com/16727.html [Accessed 27 November 2011]. Australian Flexible Learning Framework, 2004. How to structure your e-learning project plan. [Online] Available at: http://community.flexiblelearning.net.au/ManagingFlexibleDelivery/content/article_2961.htm [Accessed 24 November 2011]. 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