E-Commerce E-Business Will Affect Project

E-Commerce

E-business will affect project management by creating resources for individuals or teams. Newsgroups or online forums encourage and manage online text discussions over a period of time among members of special interest groups or project teams. Joining a discussion group that is relevant to the business that is concerned will present opportunities for collecting research about the market, as well as making potential customers aware of relevant products and services. The strategic planning process of an electronic business project may be simplified and assisted by online templates and support groups. These aides identify how risks can be minimized by proper planning and how planning is implemented. They also help a business detect changes in the marketplace so effective measures can be made to avoid dropping out of competition. Consultants and managers may be found through online resources that will shepherd an e-business through particularly difficult problems.

E-business has already affected supply chain management in the way that businesses order and pay for supplies. Purchase cards are used. A data pool kept by the suppliers improves efficiency in transportation of goods. Freight information is given to the customer, such as shipping times, tracking and storage. Paperless, electronic freight and goods payment, as well as choices of brands and services have been only part of the changes that e-business has made in supply chain management (Seitz 1). Not only has business to business been affected, but business to customer has been affected as well, for transactions are prompt and the preponderance is auction related.

E-business will affect retailing by gaining larger consumer bases over the Internet. E-businesses that sell in non-specialized areas with food and beverages, non-food items, or who specialize in the sale of new goods, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals are the most important sectors in the e-business economy. However, the e-business sector involving sales of products with private labels is growing in popularity. Well-known labels had equaled confidence and security for the consumer over the Internet, but observers have found that currently private labels compete horizontally with well-known labels. Not only do buyers and suppliers negotiate over the Internet, but now testing, refinement and offering of private label products will have this ability. Niche products also can compete well in e-business (vegetarian, organic and fair trade goods). A report from Forrester Research finds that e-businesses will account for 10% of total U.S. retail sales by 2008. (Rush, 1)

E-business will affect entertainment by offering all kinds of entertainment choices over the Internet. Broadband and cable Internet will be able to offer TV programs, movies, games and other entertainment options, competing with usual entertainment sources. "A survey of broadband consumers found 47% of the respondents willing to pay an additional monthly fee for bundles of entertainment or security services" (Gonsalves, p. 1). Market research shows that consumers are willing to watch about five minutes of video on cellular phones, which is just enough time for a music video, during the day when they have free time or during a subway ride. Sports highlights or mini-series would take just about this amount of time. People with advanced handsets, such as iPods would be attracted to premium content, even if it costs more than the basic service, on wireless technology.