Questions and Answers (basma)

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NIZWA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

BUSINESS STUDIES DEPARTMENT

SEMESTER -2 / ACADEMIC YEAR 2019-2020

FINAL EXAM (ASSIGNMENT) COURSE CODE

BAEB2203

COURSE NAME E-Commerce for Business

LEVEL Advanced Diploma

TUTOR(S) Iram Fatima

SECTION(S) 1

DURATION:

DATE TIME

START 7th May 2020 9:00AM

END 9th May 2020 8:00AM

MARKS BREAK UP:

No. of Questions Marks for Each Question

1 10

2 10

3 10

4 10

5 10

TOTAL MARKS 50

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) The Final Assignment will be available in Moodle at 9:00 am on the date of examination.

2) This is an open resource examination; there are (5) pages. Students are allowed to refer any digital materials (Internet, Proquest, Masader, and OER) with proper referencing and citation for each answers.

3) Students has to answer the questions typewritten in the word (.docx) format. Figures / Diagrams, equations and solving of problems can be written by hand and added to the document as a picture/image.

4) Save the assignment file using the student ID & Course code.[ Eg : 22s1234 – BAEB2203]

5) Students should submit the answers through the turnitin link provided in moodle page. If any problem occurs, send it to the staff email [Email: [email protected]]

6) Students are encouraged to upload the answers in the moodle at least two hours before the deadline to avoid any technical issues.

7) In case of any technical problem in opening or submitting your assignment please contact your course tutor through email and copy the Department Head

8) Any form of cheating is punishable. Students involved in cheating will be treated according to the Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Policies.

9) Students are advised to write the answers in their own words. Based on the plagiarism policy and the department approved similarity level, the marks will be deducted for the plagiarized [Copied] answers.

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10) Students should complete their assignment within the given time. Assignments submitted after the deadline will be marked 0.

11) Assignment can be uploaded in the moodle ONLY ONCE, so please check your answers before uploading them. The teacher WILL NOT DELETE any assignment for any student to upload them again.

12) The Assignment consists of five (5) Questions with total of 50 Marks.

13) All questions are compulsory and hence all must be answered.

14) 4, 5, 6 marks questions must be answered in detail in NOT LESS than 200 words.

15) Scenario based questions must be answered in your own words in NOT LESS than 300 words.

16) Typography: i. Font style : Times New Roman

ii. Font size : 12 iii. Line spacing : 1.5 iv. Paper size : A4

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY & PLAGIARISM POLICY: The student should be ready to prove the authenticity of the work done. If any form of plagiarism/reproduction of answers are

discovered, student will be awarded zeromarks.

DECLARATION:

I declare that the Final Exam (assignment) submitted is original and acknowledge that I am aware of the NCT’s Integrity and

Plagiarism Policies (January 2011) mentioned in moodle, and the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to

breaches of such policy and regulations.

I AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID DATE OF SUBMISSION

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Case 1:

E-Bay, one of the most famous online companies was established nearly 25 years ago. e-Bay describes its purpose

as to develop new communities around the world built on commerce, based on trust and inspired by opportunity. E-

Bay consists of 2 major businesses: The e-Bay marketplaces which offer auctions and fixed-price product listings.

The mission of it was to create the world’s online marketplace. The second one PayPal, the mission of which was to

create a new global standard for online payments.

The vast majority of e-Bay’s revenue is from the listing of products and commission on completed sales. For

PayPal purchases an additional commission fee is charged. The e-Bay marketplace is well known for its core

service which enables sellers to list items for sale on an auction or fixed price basis, giving buyers opportunity to

bid for and purchase items of interest.

E-Bay’s business is based upon trust, value, selection and convenience for buyers and access to broad global

markets, efficient marketing and distribution and opportunity to increase sales for sellers.

E-Bay faces a lot of completion from both direct and indirect competitors. It states that the major competitive

factors for the marketplace business include ability to attract, retain and engage buyers and sellers, price and

selection of goods, trust in seller and transaction, customer service etc.

The marketplace growth was due to improve performance in few areas. Firstly, number of size and categories in the

marketplace for example Antiques, Art, Books etc... Secondly formats of interaction. E-bay developed many ways

for the sellers to sell their products like, online auctioning, fixed price selling etc. Finally, marketplace growth was

achieved through delivering specific sites for different countries. But there is still more scope for localising based

on a particular country. e-Bay believes that it has improved these factors, but its competitors still have opportunities

for improving in some areas.

Answer the following questions:

a. Discuss how the usage of technology along with strategic decisions supported eBay’s continued growth.

(5 Marks)

b. Suggest opportunities for the competitors in Oman to improve their online business.

(5 Marks)

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Case 2:

Maha Al toubi was looking for best price for a toy for her son. Searching the web, she discovered that people were

buying toys and reselling them online at a huge profit. So she built a simple online store using free templates and

started selling educational and other toys. The business grew fast and later she switched to yahoo store front. She

needed a professional look and also some support services. By using Yahoo store Maha has complete control over

her site with regards to product descriptions, prices, orders and so on at a minimal cost with limited computer

knowledge.

Mr and Mrs. Abdullah retired in 2012. While surfing the internet, they discovered how easy it was to go into e-

commerce. The couple decided to sell online products related to their favorite football team. Using Yahoo’s web

hosting services and templates, they built their store and generated RO 35,000 in sales. Their store ships orders

within an hour.

Answer the following questions:

1. Do you think it is easy to start an online business? Why or why not? Justify your answer with appropriate

reasons and examples from the above case. (6 Marks)

2. What benefits are people enjoying in an online business? (4 Marks)

Case 3:

What does globalization actually mean? Coming from the application of free market principles it has created the

belief that the world is small and that consumers are becoming more and more alike, thus allowing companies to

use the same advertising and marketing across regions and countries. Such a policy has enabled companies to act

global and think global. Indeed, in 1985 it was Friends of the Earth that create the motto ‘think global, act local’ in

order to oppose global forces – particularly with regard to environmental issues.

However, such ‘glocalisation’ [global localization] makes a lot of sense for multinational companies operating

today and planning new market entry, for a number of reasons. Firstly, the term globalization for many countries

means ‘Americanization’. For some this have negative implication of greed, loss of native culture and the intrusion

of the English language. At its extreme, it drives many of the anti-globalization activists. Thus there is real risk that

companies will damage their brand and reputation if they don’t recognize the importance of localization when

considering market entry.

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Secondly, consumers are as different as they are similar – local and regional cultures have a deep effect in shaping

consumer demand. These differences are more interesting than the similarities, in that they can allow product and

service differentiation as well as new approaches to segmentation and marketing communications. To take

advantage of such opportunities, businesses have to have a clear insight into how and why consumers in one market

may differ from ones in another.

It is also seen that global brands come under threat from local brands which are gaining in currency. We would

expect this to continue. This is not to say that there is no room for global brands! Many global brands have

successfully tapped into local culture and tastes and recognized the need to either modify the product/ service

completely or change different elements of the offer and how it is ultimately marketed. Thus companies expanding

into new geographic markets have to ensure that their strategies are based on a real understanding of regional and

local markets.

Businesses wanting to expand their geographic reach have to consider at a strategic level what level of

understanding of consumer needs they require. Generalizations are important and are a good place to start.

Differences, rather than similarities, have to be considered, and interrogated in terms of how these will impact

customer needs.

Answer the following questions:

1. Explain the difference between globalization and glocalization with appropriate reasons and examples.

(6 Marks)

2. How can you relate e-Commerce to globalization? (4 Marks)

Scenario Based Questions:

1. Think about the innovation that you have seen during the time you have used the Internet and World Wide

Web. What do you think are the main sites in Oman which have changed the way you spend your time or

buy online? State and explain any 5.

(Answer the question in minimum 300 words) (10 Marks)

2. Currently there is limited private sector e-commerce activity in Oman. The government however, is actively

promoting a “digital society” and “e-government” services.

a. Describe four ways in which the government is promoting a digital society in Oman.

(Answer the question in minimum 300 words) (10 Marks)