E-business is everywhere. Most newspapers and magazines carry articles about the hottest new idea for conducting commerce over the Internet. But what is the truth behind the e-business world? How does it operate? How and why does a business go on-line?

As e-commerce increasingly creeps into all facets of everyday life we need to understand how e-business evolved, the technologies and business models that drive it, the threat it poses to traditional business models, and how it is likely to grow in the future.

This course aims to provide insight how e-business operates. It examines how e-business evolved, the technologies and business models that drive it, the threat it poses to traditional business models, and how to develop a fuller understanding of e-business opportunities.

Unit 1: Introduction to E-Business

Section 1: Historical development of the Internet and e-business

1.1 The rise of the Internet

1.2 The Internet moves from academia to mainstream

1.3 The growth in accessible technologies

1.4 The first "dot-coms"Section 2: Defining e-business

2.1 e-commerce versus e-business

2.2 Types of e-business transactions

2.3 The components of m-commerce Section 3: e-business versus traditional business models

3.1 Introducing e-business models

3.2 The threat of new entrants

3.3 Low barriers to entry

3.4 The threat of disintermediation

3.5 The threat of customer powerSection 4: Drivers for change

4.1 Why embrace e-business?

4.2 Where can e-business be applied in an organisation?

4.3 Identifying the cost benefit Section 5: Looking to the future

5.1 After the dot.com bubble

5.2 Trends in e-business models

5.3 Clicks and mortar as a future strategy

Unit 2: E-business - Applications, Models and Technologies

Section 1: E-business applications

1.1 E-business applications in context

1.2 On-line ordering

1.3 E-procurement

1.4 What is e-CRM?

1.5 B2B marketplaces

1.6 On-line training and learning

1.7 Customisation of web content

1.8 Secure customer access to websitesSection 2: Introduction to e-markets

2.1 From marketplaces to marketspaces

2.2 Portals and B2B marketplacesSection 3: Main technologies

3.1 HTML

3.2 Database technologies

3.3 EDI and XML

3.4 Content creation tools

3.5 Catalogue tools

3.6 Multimedia toolsSection 4: Inter- and intra-organisational information systems

4.1 E-mail

4.2 Intranets and extranets

Unit 3: E-Business and the Consumer

Section 1: Consumer-based models in e-business

1.1 E-shops and e-malls

1.2 E-auctions

1.3 Information brokerage

1.4 Aggregated buyingSection 2: On-line consumer demographics

2.1 The typical Internet customer

2.2 Internet demographics

2.3 Demographic variations

2.4 Growth markets of the futureSection 3: Market research on-line

3.1 Sourcing market research information on-line

3.2 Data miningSection 4: Internet promotional strategies

4.1 Using search engines for marketing

4.2 Approaches to web advertising

4.3 Case studies of success and failure of web advertising

4.4 Off-line advertising

4.5 Permission and relationship marketing

4.6 Legal implications of marketing on-line

Unit 4: Impact of E-Business on Business Processes

Section 1: Effect of e-business on business processes

1.1 Modelling business processes

1.2 Identifying the potential impact on all processes

1.3 Specific process examplesSection 2: Logistics and JIT delivery issues

2.1 E-business issues of logistics, fulfilment and JIT delivery

2.2 Case studies of e-business in fulfilment

2.3 Case study of e-business in JIT deliverySection 3: E-business and procurement

3.1 How does e-business affect the procurement process?

3.2 Case studies of e-procurement

3.3 Investigating e-procurement solution providers

Unit 5: E-business in the Service Sector

Section 1: Internet service delivery

1.1 Service industries

1.2 Atoms versus bits: Tangibles versus intangibles

1.3 Applicability of service delivery to the Internet

1.4 Factors restricting service delivery on-line

1.5 The future of the service sector on-lineSection 2: E-business in the service sector

2.1 Travel agents

2.2 Financial services

2.3 Legal services

2.4 Publishing

2.5 Lessons learned from case studiesSection 3: Regulating the service sector on-line

3.1 Legislation governing service provision on-line

Unit 6: Legal, Fiscal and Ethical Issues of E-Business

Section 1: Legal considerations

1.1 Identifying the legal implications of e-business

1.2 Taxation and the InternetSection 2: Financial considerations

2.1 Managing e-business risk

2.2 Return on investment

2.3 Sources of fundingSection 3: Ethical issues

3.1 Internal e-business ethics

3.2 Using personal data

3.3 Regional issues on a global stage

3.4 Intellectual propertySection 4: Privacy, security and trust

4.1 Privacy

4.2 Security

4.3 Trust

4.4 Dealing with internal and external security - firewalls

4.5 Security of transactions- public key infrastructure

4.6 Digital signatures

For a more detailed syllabus on this course, click here

On completion of your course, you will receive two qualifications:

Qualification 1: E-Business Management Diploma

E-Business Management Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Dip after your name.

Qualification 2: Level 4 E-Business Management Award

This Course leads to an NCFE Level 4 Award Certificate for successful learners. That means that it is independantly accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3). In accrediting the programme at level 4, NCFE attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 4 national qualification.

This award has been designed by Stonebridge Associated Colleges to meet specific learners' or employers' requirements. Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that this learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

At the end of the course you will receive an award issued by Stonebridge Associated College, and also gain full awarding body accreditation for the course.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 120 hrs.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support
• The course fee includes the awarding body registration and certification fee (valued at up to £30.00).

What is NCFE

NCFE is the UK's longest established awarding body, recognised as a highly professional and responsive organisation, committed to maintaining excellent customer service and a friendly approach.

NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.

Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that a learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE. Learners successfully completing NCFE accredited programmes receive an externally accredited and nationally recognised NCFE certificate.

For more information on this award, click here

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