Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

School for Human Resource Development

Course Title: Electronic Commerce
Course Description: This Course emphasizes organizational issues related
to Internet Commerce, such as business models for B2B or B2C e-Commerce,
technology infrastructure, Internet payment mechanisms, information
privacy, and competitive advantage.
Course Objectives: The objectives of the Course are to provide students
with an appreciation of the major technical and organizational issues
related to e-Commerce. By the end of the semester, the student will be
able to:

Explain how Internet Commerce can be used to create a competitive

advantage for an organization;
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of different business models
related Electronic Commerce ;
Analyze a business case and identify strengths and weaknesses in
the organizations e-Commerce strategy;
Explain technical, ethical, and policy issues in Internet Commerce
(e.g., data mining, security, privacy, and intellectual property
rights) as well as how individuals, organizations, and policy
makers are addressing these problems.
Explain the effects of policy decisions on e-Commerce and
businesses

Course Outline
Week 1: Overview of Internet Commerce (CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS)
E-commerce
Internet economy
E-commerce
E-business
What are the components of a typical successful E-commerce
transaction loop?
the advantages and disadvantages of e-commerce for businesses
Week 2: Benefits and Limitations of E-Commerce
Differences between traditional an electronic commerce
Forces are fueling e-commerce: technological, market,
Economic
Technical and non technical limitations of E-commerce
Week 3: Types of E-Commerce
Week 4: The Generic Framework of E-Commerce
Week 5: The Architectural Framework of Ecommerce

Social,

Week 5:
Merchant,
Utility
Week

E-Business
Manufacturer

Models: Brokerage, Advertising,

(Direct), Affiliate Community,

Infomediary,
Subscription

6: E-commerce Services
E-banking
E-tailing
E-Sourcing
E-Procumbent
E-Advertising/Webvertising
online publishing

Weeks 7: E-Commerce Market Mechanisms:

E_Marketplaces,
Supply & Value Chains
E_success factors, E_catalogs,
Search Engines
Week 8: E-COMMERCE APPLICATIONS: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS
EDI
EPS?
Weeks 9: E-Commerce Security
Weeks 10: Internet Commerce Issues Internet consumers, market research,
data mining, information privacy, the right mix of bricks-andclicks; mass customization
Weeks 11: E-Business Strategy; the virtual value chain
Teaching Methodology: Lecture, discussion, business cases,
presentations
Method of Evaluation: Case-based class presentations, and written TCTs
(30%), Final exam (70%).
Course Textbook(s):
1. Cases in Internet Commerce , by Huff (2000), or
2. Cases in E-Commerce, by Rayport and Jaworsky (2001), or
3. Global Internet Commerce: Theory and Case Studies, by Westland and
Clark (1999).