E-Business

“Electronic business, or e-business may be defined as the application of information and communication technologies in support of all the activities of business.” [1] While this definition is broad, it covers just about every major development in business and the way that business is conducted nowadays. People are still controlling business with other people and relationships are still made during the exchange of products and services. Electronic business functions mainly as a tool to conveniently bring people together and enable the external activities and relationships of the business with individuals groups and other businesses. [1] The use of computers and other electronic devices are vital for e-business to occur. E-commerce and e-business are commonly confused. E-business is more than just E-commerce. [1]

 Strategy is a large part of e-business. The Internet provides a ton of capabilities and opportunities for businesses to thrive and develop. Marketing on the Internet is used widely by a large variation of companies who are trying to get their product out to consumers. Budweiser uses commercials to promote their beer and successfully identify with mainstream culture. “Wassuuup”, Budweiser’s commercial quote, was being heard throughout the population after airing on TV. [2, pg. 1] It is important for the company using e-business and e marketing to make sure they portray what product they are selling while making a connection with their audience. Too much focus on a catchy label or funny add can take away from what product or service the company is offering. Television is good for brand building and establishing a presence.[2, pg. 1] It may be expensive to produce a very easy commercial but the connection made after the commercial is what will pay off in the end.

            Email is also a very effective way of getting a company message out. When emails are sent the subject is usually in view before the entirety of the message can be seen. This provides an opportunity for message to be given to the consumer about what it is they are trying to sell before it gets deleted. Emails also cost very little to send out and have proven to be an effective way to market. Blast Methods is a type of strategy that sends the same message to everyone on an email list with the idea it will apply to someone. [3, pg. 1]

            In conclusion e-business focuses on the use of technology to better business and increase revenue. Computers and television provide two major outlets for companies to market their product to consumers. Commercials are a huge asset when broadcasted during the right programs. The Superbowl is infamous for having entertaining commercials. Time slots for the Superbowl start at $1 million for 30 seconds of airtime and are viewed my tens of millions of people across the world.





[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_business

[2] http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/How-e-business-marketing-works

[3] http://multichannelmerchant.com/marketing/using-targeted-email-marketing-to-improve-results-28072013/

Database 7/22

Jstor online database is one of the most useful personal databases I have encountered and used while in college. "It is a  digital library founded in 1995. Originally containing digitized back issues of academic journals, it now also includes books and primary sources, and current issues of journals."[1] This data base provides access to thousands of published scholarly sources that are useful for writing papers, conducting research, and sharing information between people. Having access to this data base through a college or other institution allows your remote access to documents necessary in order to complete work whether it be on campus, at home, or on summer vacation. This database continues to grow and provides a wide variety of fields for research. When using the database a person is able to search scholarly articles, books, magazines, reviews, and miscellaneous resources.[2] One of the problems with JSTOR is that some of the articles offer a "read only" section.[3] This can be detrimental and end up costing you money if they require you to buy it. 

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSTOR

[2]http://www.jstor.org/action/showAdvancedSearch

[3]http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/01/blogs/eviews/pros-and-cons-of-jstor-register-and-read/

This system faces a lot of challenges. It is not completely search specific yet. Meaning, when searching for a specific item or subject articles that contain the search words show up as well as other articles in the subject. Unless you know exactly what article you are looking for, there may be some sifting necessary in order to reach the desired information. 

The organization or person using this database has the ability to go through many books and articles remotely. Books can be accessed without ever having stepping in a library or bookstore. There are also no hours limitations on JSTOR. Anyone can access it at anytime with a login ID and password. 

I would make the database open to everyone not only registered users or universities. Anyone can go to a library look at books without belonging. The same concept would be useful online as well. 

Smartphones

Smartphones are highlighted, analyzed, and broken down in chapter 4. These devices are bringing the worlds of on the internet together with cameras, video recorders, music devices, navigation systems and much more. Smartphones have transformed the world over the past decade. Since the invention of the first cell phone, remote capabilities have taken off at a very fast rate. On my Zoho spreadsheet I have highlighted a bunch of products made by Apple mainly focusing on computers and tablets but also incorporating the Iphone. The textbook highlights the how these devices bring the Internet and web browsing together with other technology devices. It compares the Android by Motorola, Blackberry, Palm, and Iphone by Apple in operating system capability as well as physical attributes but doesn’t really highlight how these devices have connected every other person in the world who owns a device similar to theirs. These devices have also changed the way humans who own them live. They set a new base line for what is considered normal.

            I am an Iphone owner and any other college student who owns one knows the overwhelming helplessness that occurs when their phone is either lost or broken. A recent study by intersperience.com reveals how smartphones are changing the way we live and the far-reaching implications of our business. [1] Nowadays lives are structured around communication and ability to communicate with someone at any given moment of the day. 79% of populations now own a mobile phone of some sort and 44% use a smartphone. [1] 56% of those users report being on the phone “all of the time” and 65% say they would feel lost without them. [1] Business, transactions are done via electronic banking, appointments are set up with phone calls, emails, or text messages. Conferences no longer have to happen in meeting rooms; instead they can occur on a multiline call completed from a smart phone. Students at colleges most effectively communicate with professors via email and friends via txt. Social media has applications designed specifically for smartphones and tuition payments, as well as loan money and money from home can all be received and monitored remotely from the smartphone. It could be argued that Smartphones are being used as the precedent when conducting day-to-day business. What can and cannot be completed rests on the users ability to access their smartphone to check assignments or payment for business ventures. With all of the capabilities these devices offer it’s not wonder why they are relied on so heavily. The ability to have this type of information readily available almost immediately has molded the way some societies function. 

References:

[1] http://www.intersperience.com/article_more.asp?art_id=43 

Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing

Web 2.0 seems to be just a jacked up version of the traditional web page. Using these different types of websites the user can do more than just search for information. These sites create the ability to have a unique browsing experience tailored to the user. Web 2.0 sites highlight popular Internet sites such as social media and allow people to make their own sites and input their own data providing them with control over the domains. While Web 2.0 can be very beneficial and time efficient it is also a target for spamming. With normal websites now there are constructive users who actively participate on the web and make it better. There are also those out there who are detrimental and incorporate Trojans and viruses on their web pages to infect others. These Web 2.0 sites will be a great source of informational trading with others who do similar work, some users will gain a free ride or access to the information without contribution.

             One of the key features of Web 2.0 according to Wikipedia is Basic Trust. This feature really tweaks my interest. Trust is a key ingredient to many things that can either make or break something when it comes to a new product or system. Wikipedia itself is a prime example of a trust-based system that has excelled and been for the most part pretty reliable. Trusting the users and their ability to input the right information as well as monitor what is being put up can jeopardize the integrity of the domain. Problems don’t usually arise from the trust aspect of systems but the other attribute that goes hand in hand: freedom. Trusting users to positively contribute to Web 2.0 sites also gives the user the ability to post whatever type of information they so please. Have freedom on this new type of website will either provide misinformation on a wider scale or can be like Wikipedia and has reputable users with occasional users defaming the system. It is a calculated roll of the dice but provides and intriguing feature. Using RIA, WOA, and Social Web, makes the experience visibly more appealing, application friendly, and more involved with the user. Some other features available are search box, (found on my blog), links,(also blog feature) open authoring, and tags. Social web interconnectivity will probably yield the most use. Being able to tie blogs, wiki, and social networking into one will be very beneficial.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 

http://www.explainingcomputers.com/web2.html

Artie, please change the blog name to your name - please see other students.

Artielewicki

 E-commerce is a highly valued Business Information System (IS) for companies, corporations, and the paying customer. This type of IS allows for company-to-company transactions, company to customer transactions, and company to public market exposure. E-commerce relies on mobile electronic transactions and the consumer’s ability to access wireless Internet. With smart phones and applications booming, companies are developing their own smart phone applications that allow people to make purchases from their tablet or phone with out having to physically be in one of their stores. Items can then be either shipped directly to them or picked up at a local store nearby pending the items availability and company options. This satellite form of business has the ability to boost a company’s stock price and market value if all of its benefits are being utilized at maximum capacity. The value of E-commerce is seen beyond the extra revenue it generates. Web site and mobile orders that use shipping require a great deal of information from the consumer in order to complete the purchase. Informational output such as email, location, history of sale, product style, phone numbers, etc. is compiled by the company and stored. Analyzing this statistical information correctly and finding out the central tendencies from the data pool will show the value of the entire package. It will show which products are being sold the most, where they are being sold, and at what rate they are being sold. Knowing when and where to advertise an array of products is similar to sport specific training. It will meet their organizational goals by giving them the best chance of selling the most products based on the demand in that area. The downside of this method is that companies have the information but aren’t even aware that they have it or if they do they have it they don’t know how to use it or interpret it. The input is the sale and information collection, the process is means of delivery and coming up with statistical data, output is interpreting the data usefully, and the feedback is how effectively the system is used.