E-commerce 2021-2022: Business. Technology. Society., Ebook, Global Edition

PROJ ECTS

1. 
   Select an e-commerce company. Visit its website or mobile app and describe its business model based on the information you find there. Identify its customer value proposition, its revenue model, the marketspace it operates in, who its main competitors are, any comparative advantages you believe the company possesses, and what its market strategy appears to be. Also try to locate information about the company’s management team and organizational structure. (Check for a page labeled “the Company,” “About Us,” or something similar.)
   
2. 
   Examine the experience of shopping online versus shopping in a traditional environment. Imagine that you have decided to purchase a digital camera (or any other item of your choosing). First, shop for the camera in a traditional manner. Describe how you would do so (for example, how you would gather the necessary information you would need to choose a particular item, what stores you would visit, how long it would take, prices, etc.). Next, shop for the item on the Web or via a mobile app. Compare and contrast your experiences. What were the advantages and disadvantages of each? Which did you prefer and why?
   
3. 
   During the early days of e-commerce, first-mover advantage was touted as one way to success. On the other hand, some suggest that being a market follower can yield rewards as well. Which approach has proven to be more successful-first mover or follower? Choose two e-commerce companies that prove your point, and prepare a brief presentation to explain your analysis and position.
   
4. 
   Select an e-commerce company that has participated in an incubator program such as Y Combinator, Startupbootcamp, Seedcamp, or INiTS, or another of your choosing, and write a short report on its business model and the amount and sources of capital it has raised thus far. Include your views on the company’s future prospects for success. Then create an elevator pitch for the company.
   
5. 
   Select a B2C e-commerce retail industry segment such as pet products, sporting goods, or toys, and analyze its value chain and industry value chain. Prepare a short presentation that identifies the major industry participants in that business and illustrates the move from raw materials to finished product.
   

I^ Ocado, Waitrose, and other similar e-commerce businesses can also be classified as online retailers insofar as they warehouse commonly purchased items and make a profit based on the spread between their buy and sell prices.