Course Syllabus and Schedule Spring 2011

November 13, 2010

Course Syllabus and Schedule Spring 2011

MET AD 648 INTRODUCTION TO ECOMMERCE

BOSTON CAMPUS - HYBRID

DR. KIP BECKER (www.bu.edu/goglobal)

Please read the complete syllabus as you are responsible for all dates, assignments and issues covered

Hybrid Format

The hybrid format is designed to combine the flexibility and technology features of on line education with the personal instruction advantages of the classroom. The class will meet in the classroom, computer lab and will have on line sessions. We will have class sessions, online sessions and lab sessions. Be certain you keep track of the location of each meeting.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The objective of the course can be summed up quickly as helping you to appreciate the rapid growth associated with internet enabled business as well as some of the difficulties. It is my objective to introduce you to the general issues, technical (security, WEB and Internet systems, payment mechanisms, etc) and non-technical (strategy, marketing, business development, etc.). In addition I will want you to become acquainted with some development tools. One such tool is the Blogger which is a general communications tool. Blogger is being used by teenagers and private publishers to discuss everything from a teen’s favorite record to comments by private individuals (and now companies) concerning your company. Politicians, TV anchors and firms have underestimated the power of the Blog. Several have been very sorry for this underestimation. Blogs are easy and kind of fun. They are a rapidly growing national and international communications medium and something you should understand.

Throughout the course the student is introduced to the Ecommerce environment relating to B2B, B2C as well as B2G. We will also briefly discuss the controversial, and rapidly growing, area of P2P. In pursuing these objectives, the course will employ the following:

1. On line Lectures reviewing text information in a valued added manner with enhanced discussions of chapter topics

2. Present Ecommerce related simulations to assist in the better understanding of specific Ecommerce issues.

3. Development of a Blog

4. Interaction in discussion groups to communicate about on-going text, lecture and discussion questions.

5. Development of a draft ecommerce website (for profit or not for profit) with explanations of the design, purpose, audience and interactions.

6. Readings from text, cases and recent information sources

In an effort to:

1. Combine theory and practice

2. Combine the strategic with the tactical

3. Use relevant concepts to analyze and assess complex Internet enabled business situations.

4. Gain an understanding of the different areas of the company that are affected by internet enabled technologies.

KIP BECKER

Dr. Kip Becker is an Associate Professor and the Chairman of the Department of Administrative Sciences. He has published over thirty articles and book chapters both nationally and internationally in the areas of international management, Electronic Commerce, strategy, marketing and global service sector issues. He is on the Board of the International Management Development Association and the Editor of the Journal of Transnational Management. He is on the editorial review boards of: Advances in Competitiveness Research. International Journal of Organizational Analysis,PRAGYAA – Journal of Management, Strategic Outsourcing, The Journal of Teaching in International Business, and the Journal of Business and Information Technology. He has owned a waterfront restaurant and is president of Northwind Management International which conducts management training and consulting with companies, governments and associations worldwide. Prior to entering academe' Dr. Becker's experience included positions with: TDX systems of Cable and Wireless Ltd. in marketing, the U.S. Department of Justice, a special task force in the Regan administration and as a U.S. army helicopter pilot during Viet Nam and Desert Storm. He holds a second degree black belt in TKO Karate. For a complete resume with publications see: www.bu.edu/GoGlobal

COURSE MATERIALS:

I am very much aware of the climbing cost of text so have attempted to reduce your costs by reducing the number of books we will use and offering online digital text and options in ordering.

The material for the textbook and cases is provided below and the University Bookstore has the text and cases. I do want to point out a caution should you decide to order a used text online. I have found that ordering times can greatly vary if you are not ordering directly from source. In some cases students have not received text or they have been too late to be of use. Be careful if you select to go to other sources for your text that you are sure that you will receive it in sufficient time for the course. You must have the book the first day of class as we start off with a lengthy reading assignment the first week. No excuses! There is some merit to checking with the sender as to when you will receive the book if time is short.

Custom Text: E-commerce: Business,Technology,Society 2010
ISBN for the bookstore shorter text (less cost) is 10: 0558465196

Or ISBN 13: 9780558465193

Publisher: Pearson, Copyright: 2010

NOTE: If you wish to buy the book: E-commerce: Business, Technology, Society Kenneth Laudon and Carol Guercio Traver be sure you have the 6th or 7th edition.

CASES: (COURSE PACKAGE FROM BU BOOKSTORE)

NOTE: You MUST have this material by the beginning of the course as # 1 is required reading for the first weeks.)

1. Blogging: A new play in your marketing game plan (bh 281/0007-6813)

2. Ford Fiesta Movement (INSEAD 510-015-1) (01-2010-5664)

3. Second Life Mercedes-Benz Enters the Metaverse (HHL reference no 308-389-1)

COURSE GRADING:

Your final grade will be based upon the following:
Note: some weeks have two discussions or assignments and in those cases they will be averaged to provide one discussion or assignment grade for the week.

1. In Class and On-Line: blog, interaction, written assignments& discussions 25%

2. Web Project to include functional design and lab class participation 15%

3. Exams (2 exams of 30% Each) 60%

TOTAL 100%

GRADING PROCESS:

While there is no fixed absolute number of grades in any one level, it is important to note that high grades reflect an excellence in the understanding of class material and organization of thought. In addition, as an important aspect of any class, whether on line or in a classroom, is the shared thoughts and insights of the class members grades will also reflect an individual’s contributions to the class. I will follow the Boston University, Metropolitan College, recommendations concerning grading standards. As such, A and A- grades are awarded for superior class work and normally represent the top 20% of the class. Please note that the Department does not allow extra work to be used to change a course grade. This is considered “off syllabus” and not fair to the others in the class. Please do not ask for off syllabus work as you will be referred to this section of the syllabus.

Power Point Slides for Lectures: please note that I expect you to take notes in class. It is impossible to me to conceive that you could get a good grade in class without good notes. I do post some of the power point slides from the lectures on my website (http://www.bu.edu/goglobal) I suggest that you print these out BEFORE the class and use them as a means to pace your notes. It is a good format and provides much of the material so you can listen. Some of the slides are not present and, of course, the slides are only an outline and the background for the outline is in the class lecture.

Class Participation

You are asked to keep up on a weekly basis. The essence of this course is learning a set of ideas and knowing how they apply in international business situations. Mastering the material requires you to assess, think, and form judgments, so high quality on line participation is essential. High-quality participation includes substantive contribution to case discussions, insights into topics we are discussing, questions regarding relevant topics, and on-line interactions with others. There is not much time to accomplish quite a bit so it is essential that you do not fall behind. Please see timely presentation section regarding assignments and due dates. I would recommend that you attempt to keep ahead to provide some individual flexibility in case a problem arises during the course.

Please note that I expect you to participate in the weekly class and when noted, online. Remember that online discussions should be like classroom discussions. That is to say they should be a discourse and on going throughout the week. Often students ask, “When should I post my discussion to the board?” The answer to that is you should be active throughout the week and post early to stimulate discussion and several additional times to respond to others. If everyone waited until the end of the week or Saturday, there certainly would not be much of a discussion. There would be a list of single postings. It would also not be possible to give much thought to other’s contributions. This would leave the discussion board without much enthusiasm or interactive spirit. I truly want you to be part of the Boston University community and the community of my classroom. I look forward to reading your postings when we are online for the week and learning from them. I know that the other students do as well.

On Informed Contributions:

Informed discussion is not to be confused with opinion. Each student came into the class with an opinion on lots of things. I have rarely found a member of a class not to have opinions on most everything. Some are even strong opinions. Some of the opinions are founded in fact and some are treated as fact but are really judgments that have been formulated by association with printed or verbal inputs coming from newspapers, magazines, family and friends. Understanding what you believe is one important aspect of maturity. Understanding what others believe, and why they believe it, is equally (if not more) important and may be what education is really all about.

ASSIGNMENTS:

You will have different types of assignments in this class. Some will be for class discussion (e.g. cases), some will be turned in and there will be online discussions and assignments. Be sure to keep track of what assignments are due and if they are written or for discussion. Check the assignments section of the syllabus as well as the assignment area of the online course management system (vista).

Timely Presentation of Materials Due

Please Note: All work requests (Tests, assignments, paper etc.) have due dates. These are the LAST DATES that stated material is due. This means that it is a good idea to personally target dates before that date as your personal completion date to avoid difficulties. Please consider this a fact and not a subject for discussion. Dates are often viewed by students as the date to turn in an assignment. I view assignment due dates as the LAST DATE in which to turn in an assignment. With this warning please note that I am not inclined to accept late work and if late work should be accepted it will only be done only after considerable weighting of rationale and with penalty.

Exams : There will be a Mid Term test and a second c Comprehensive Exam. These exams will cover information from lectures, discussions, videos, cases and readings. Each exam is closed book/closed notes and (please note) closed on line material. The course overall and the exams will be structured to promote and reward learning, thinking and understanding. This will require memorization of important issues and terms as well as the ability to discuss concepts in an informed manner. The test will contain both true/false, fill in blanks and Short Answer responses. Please note that you certainly need to take notes in class if you expect to do well on the exam. Be organized; take notes and study as the semester progresses (not the few days before an exam) and you will do well. Do not and it is difficult for me to envision you will. It is important to keep up with the reading, refer to the back of the chapter for important terms and concepts and learn as you go along. There is too much material to try to learn it at the end of the class. Think ahead and be prepared as there are no “off syllabus” ways to raise a grade. Such accommodations are unfair to others in a class whom would not have the same opportunity.

On Memorization: I would expect you to represent what you have learned from this course well (as well as representing me well) in the future. Since I would not expect you to carry notes or the text once you complete the course it is paramount that you either tattoo on your body, or impress in your mind, important concepts so you can speak and act intelligently once we have parted. As tattoos are awkward to refer to and often not viewed positively by most business cultures that leaves me not many alternatives other than requesting you put to memorization important material. Many students tend to commiserate with each other claiming they will only forget. I can only respond that I will admit that I have forgotten a lot of what I learned. I will also acknowledge as well that it is difficult for me to speak intelligently about things that I have not learned.

REQUESTS FOR MAKE UP EXAMINATIONS OR LATE ASSIGNMENTS:

I strongly advise you to avoid requesting a make-up exam as it is a disservice to others in the class who have organized their schedules to assure the timely presentation of materials and examinations. Requests for a make-up exam (see above) are rarely acceptable and are handled on a case-by-case basis. Since written or presented material can be (and should be) done in advance there would be no situation that I can think of that would allow this material to be late. Please consider the dates for assignments to be the last date that this material can be presented and not the day that it is to be presented. This will help you to make deadlines should unfortunate situations arise at the last minute.