Module Name: Technology and Practice of e-Commerce
Task Details/Description:
Your task is to research and write a report on comparing the potential of several eCommerce verticals from the investor perspective.
Length 2000 (+/- 200) words. Please stick to this strictly, overlong work will be penalised, because your audience of senior managers are time poor. For that audience if you cannot write succinctly, selecting only the most valuable information, you are not giving them what they need.
A few tips:
- Step1: Select 2-3 vertical Ecommerce companies and identify how they are using eCommerce across the various sectors of their business. and
- Step 2: What is the impact of those technologies for the organization. As a starting point you can compare their websites and identify the advantages and pitfalls of their approach.
- Step 3: Imagine that you want to create a similar business. From the analysis done in step two identify good practices for those business that you want to adopt to your business, and what practices you want to avoid, and justify your decision. Think of other ecommerce technologies you want to adopt and why? Are there any ethical issues to be considered?
- Try to be original, this will please the marker. In particular, do not present cases which have been presented in class.
- Use diverse sources drawing on both research and practice and reference them accurately.
- Read the marking guidelines at the end of this document.
- Tip: Pick a specific industry sector to focus your ecommerce analysis.
Module Learning Outcomes Assessed:
2. Analyse recent developments in ICT and their relevance for modern businesses.
Assessment Weighting for the Module:
The overall weight of the coursework is 100%.
Assessment Criteria
Marking guidelines are provided at the end of this document.
Portfolio Marking Guidelines
| Criterion | Excellent 70%+ | Good 60-69% | Adequate 50-59% | Poor 0-50% |
| Presentation 10% | The report is of professional quality. A senior manager might read the report carefully and be influenced by the arguments presented. The exposition and presentation are excellent. | The report is good but not of professional quality. A senior manager could read all the report and might be influenced by some of the arguments presented. The exposition and presentation are very good | The report is weak in parts but contains some material of value. A senior manager might skim the report and develop an interest in the technology after reading the report but would be unlikely to be influenced by the arguments presented. The exposition and presentation are good. | The report is consistently poor quality. A senior manager would be unlikely to finish reading the report. The exposition and presentation are well below what is expected of a professional piece of work. |
| Sector analysis and critical thinking 50% | Demonstrates insightful analysis of the technology via the comparison of similar business to your proposed ecommerce business. Aspects covered are likely to depend on your e-commerce business, but may include technologies of importance, target market, potential risks, future prospects, ethical issues. There is excellent coverage of relevant aspects. | Demonstrates clear analysis of the technology via the comparison of similar business to your proposed ecommerce business. Aspects covered are likely to depend on your e-commerce business, but may include technologies of importance, strategy, market, potential risks, future prospects, ethical issues. | Demonstrates understanding of the technology via the comparison of similar business to your proposed ecommerce business. Aspects covered are likely to depend on your e-commerce business, but may include technologies of importance, strategy, market, potential risks, future prospects, ethical issues. Coverage of aspects of relevance may be limited. | Demonstrates a lack of understanding of technology via the comparison of similar business to your proposed ecommerce business. There is inadequate coverage of relevant aspects. |
| Creativity and originality 10% | The report stands out from the crowd. The topic is cutting edge. | You took ownership of the task and produced something with your own stamp on it. | You engaged with the task, but the report is mechanical. You took a well-trodden path instead of finding your own way. | There is no evidence you engaged with the task. The topic is dull. |
| Research and Referencing 30% | Evidence is provided that the author thoroughly investigated both research and practical aspects of the technology and selected industry. Arguments are well grounded and evidenced using carefully chosen references and statistics. All references are correctly presented in Harvard format | Evidence is provided that the author investigated at both research and practical aspects of the technology and selected industry. Arguments are well grounded and evidenced using suitable references and statistics. All references are correctly presented in Harvard format | Evidence is provided that the author looked at either the research or the practical aspects of the technology and industry with a reasonable amount of diligence. Arguments are grounded and supported using suitable references and statistics. All references are correctly presented in Harvard format | Evidence is provided that the author looked at some relevant aspects of the technology and industry. An attempt is made to present arguments and support them with evidence from sources. References may contain some errors of formatting, but ALL sources are referenced. NOTE this is the MINIMUM standard I expect. |
