Internet Way: a Unifying Theory and Methodology for Corporate Systems Development The face of business has changed drastically since the advent of the Internet. Traditional brick and mortar businesses are finding themselves with new marketing avenues. The Internet has led to the invention of a new comer to the business world as well, the e-business. These businesses exist only on the Internet. They do not have a traditional brick and mortar structure. In these businesses, customers place orders by phone or online, Pay for it via credit card, bankcard, or e-check. The item is shipped right to the customer's door.

This new type of retail store offers many advantages over the traditional brick and mortar storefront. Often e-stores can offer items at a fraction of the cost of traditional stores. They do not have the expenses involved in maintaining a storefront. The customer must pay for shipping; however, in many cases this is still cheaper than using a traditional retail store. The process is convenient, the item is shipped right to the customer's door, eliminating the need to waste gas, or go out in inclement weather. The Internet offers the customer more selection than the traditional store. A customer can compare hundreds of items and a variety of stores all from the comfort of their home. This gives the customer access to better prices and allowed them to comparison shop quickly and efficiently. There are many advantages for the retail customer in using e-commerce services.

There are many advantages of the customer using e-commerce. E-commerce does offer many new advantages and opportunities for companies as well. However, just as with the traditional brick and mortar storefront, the em-store must find a way to attract customers and maintain their marketshare. They must differentiate themselves from their competitors either by price, by product, or by quality or services. Just like a traditional brick and mortar store, one must do their research and know who their customers are; they must also know their buying habits. A customer profile must be obtained in order to offer the customers what they want and then provide what they want at t price they are willing to pay. The marketing concepts of e-commerce are essentially the same as for a traditional brick and mortar building.

For businesses that began on the Internet, the infrastructure was easy to develop along with the set up of the website. However, for the traditional brick and mortar establishment, the entry into e-business may mean that they need to make some basic modifications to their existing business structure. This can often mean the addition of expensive hardware, software and the training of personnel. These changes can be very expensive and can lead to the overall failure of the company to meet operating costs. These expenses can make a profitable business lose money due to staggering expenses.

This dissertation will explore how businesses can use the Internet to replace much of the hardware, software and other items needed to make the transition. Their research will explore how the Internet can be used to perform all of the functions of this expensive equipment. It can be used to replace servers, networks, and other common pieces of equipment used in e-commerce. This method reduced costs and cuts down on the space and personnel required running an e-business.

The purpose of this dissertation is to demonstrate how the Internet can be used to take over many of the functions needed by businesses today. This process involves and specific method and protocol, which has been dubbed "The Internet Way." This research will explain the methodology involved in "The Internet Way" and demonstrate how it can be applied to almost any business. It will demonstrate how the method can save companies time and money in the development of their e-commerce segment. It can help to streamline many processes such as inventory control, ordering, billing, accounting, market research and many other daily functions of the new business.

The implementation of "the Internet Way" in many cases involves a partial or complete business process re-design. This is a frightening word to many managers as it often connotes large expense, severe interruptions in daily activated and other concerns. In order to institute a successful e-business portion of their business, many of the old brick and mortar systems simply will not work. They may prove to be too cumbersome or will not be able to provide the adequate functions necessary at all. This research will demonstrate how "the Internet Way" can help to make business process re-design an easier task, saving much time, money and stress. The Internet Way will make the transition into e-business...

However, many times, even though this may appear to work fine on the outside, it is spelling hidden disaster in many cases. There may be many slow-downs in terms of receipt and processing of customer orders. There may be delays in billing. Competition in the world of e-business requires speed and efficiency. Customers have added another dimension to the demands that a customer places on a service provider. They are used to getting things instantly, with the click of a mouse. Quality and price are still an important element in e-business. However, customers now want speed and efficiency. This is where the old systems fall short. The Internet Way solves all of these problems and can mean the difference between success and failure in the e-world.
The Internet Way is a relatively new concept and one that will certainly become the standard of the e-business in the future. It represents a paradigm shift in the world of business and if a company is to compete, they must either make the shift or die. Many businesses have been reluctant to make the jump into e-commerce for fear of the expense, necessary technical staff to operate it, or the fears caused by a lack of knowledge. The Internet Way will attempt to alleviate some of these fears and allow companies to make the leap into cyberspace.

E-commerce provides many opportunities for standard business and e-businesses alike. Companies that do not utilize the latest technological breakthroughs are leaving themselves vulnerable to their competitors who do. E-commerce may not replace an existing brick and mortar business, but even so, it will add an additional avenue for sales and advertising. The Internet Way will make the possibilities of the Internet accessible and possible for companies who otherwise would not be able to afford it. The Internet Way is expected to offer solutions to many problems in getting started in e-commerce.

This research will explain the many facets of the Internet Way and explore methods to place these new concepts into action. It will include a typical plan for implementation. In addition, this research will examine case studies and discuss the potential pitfalls and advantages of the Internet Way for these businesses. Several different types of businesses will be explored. Finally these case studies will be analyzed and suggestions will be made for improvement. The final product will entail an extensive review of the Internet Way and the solutions that it has for businesses of today.

Preface

Acknowledgements page

Abstract

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2- Literature Review

Chapter 3 - Methodology

Chapter 4 - Data Analysis and Results

Chapter 5 - Summary and Conclusions

Works Cited

Appendices

Abstract

This research will explore the applicability and practicality of introducing a protocol called the Internet Way into the way businesses conduct e-business. It will explore the advantages and disadvantages for the company. It will demonstrate how "The Internet Way" can offer an expensive solution to the development of e-business either with or without the presence of an existing brick and mortar structure. The protocol will be discussed and the applicability of the protocol will be examined in a variety of situations. This evaluation will be accomplished via case studies. "The Internet Way" is a viable alternative to more expensive, less effective means of entering into the world of Cyberspace.

Chapter 1

Introduction

As far as technology goes, the Internet is a relatively new concept. As is the case when any new technology, or method is introduced, there are many that jump on the bandwagon and embrace the technology fully from the beginning. However, there are some that are reluctant to embrace the new technology and approach it with a sense of fear. Most of this fear stems from the lack of knowledge about the new item or area. This has been the case with many traditional businesses and the interdiction of e-commerce.

Many managers know that installing the necessary equipment to enter into the world of e-commerce is expensive to say the least. It involves the purchase of big servers, extra PCs, peripherals, software, not to mention sometimes miles of cables. This process may involve the modification of an existing building or the purchase eof a new one. Then there is the extra personnel needed to run the thing. There is a huge outlay of equipment and no guarantee…