electronic commerce (EC)

The process of buying, selling, or exchanging products, services, or information via computer
networks
EC can be defined from these perspectives:
Business process
Service
Learning
Collaboration
Community
e-business
A broader definition of EC that includes not just the buying and selling of goods and services,
but also servicing customers, collaborating with business partners, and conducting electronic
transactions within an organization
Pure versus Partial EC
EC can take several forms depending on the degree of digitization
1.the product (service) sold
2.the process (e.g., ordering, payment, fulfillment)
3.the delivery method

brick-and-mortar (old economy) organizations

Old-economy organizations (corporations) that perform their primary business offline, selling physical products by means of physical agents
virtual (pure-play) organizations
Organizations that conduct their business activities solely online
click-and-mortar (click-and-brick) organizations
Organizations that conduct some e-commerce activities, usually as an additional marketing
channel
Internet versus Non-Internet EC
Most EC is done over the Internet, but EC also can be conducted on private
networks, such as value-added networks, local area networks, or on a single
computerized machine
Non-Internet EC includes the use of mobile handwriting-recognition computers
used by field reps to write their notes in the field

electronic market (e-marketplace)

An online marketplace where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods, services, money, or
information
interorganizational information systems (IOSs)
Communications systems that allow routine transaction processing and information
flow between two or more organizations
intraorganizational information systems
Communication systems that enable e-commerce activities to go on within individual
organizations
intranet
An internal corporate or government network that uses Internet tools, such as Web
browsers, and Internet protocols
extranet
A network that uses the Internet to link multiple intranets
EC applications are supported by infrastructure and by these five support areas:
People
Public policy
Marketing and advertisement
Support services
Business partnerships
Six elements of a business model include descriptions of:
1.Customers to be served and the companys relationships with these customers
including customers value proposition
2.All products and services the business will offer
3.The business process required to make and deliver the products and services
4.The resources required and the identification of which ones are available, which
will be developed in house, and which will need to be acquired
5.The organizations supply chain, including suppliers and other business partners
6.The revenues expected (revenue model), anticipated costs, sources of financing,
and estimated profitability (financial viability)