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Chapter 1 Introduction to e-business and e-commerce 47

7 Summarize the impact of the introduction of e-business on different aspects of an
organization.
8 What is the relevance of intermediary sites such as Kelkoo (www.kelkoo.com) to
the B2C company?

Essay and discussion questions
1 Discuss the following question with reference to how an organization should react to
the Internet. ‘Is the Internet a typhoon force, a ten times force, or is it a bit of wind? Or
is it a force that fundamentally alters our business?’ (Andy Grove, Chairman of Intel).
2 Suggest how an organization can evaluate the impact of the Internet on its business.
Is it a passing fad or does it have a significant impact?
3 ‘Similar benefits and barriers exist for the adoption of sell-side e-commerce for
both B2B and B2C organizations.’ Discuss.
4 ‘In most countries the Internet will never be used by more than 50 per cent of the
population, so its impact on businesses will be limited.’ Discuss.
5 ‘Confusion over the meaning of the terms e-commerce and e-business will limit the
adoption of e-business in many businesses.’ Discuss.
6 Analyse Figure 1.4, commenting on:
the overall percentage of sales for e-commerce predicted for 2004 across all
markets;
the variation in percentage of sales for e-commerce predicted for 2004 in
different markets;
the growth rates indicated over the four years of predictions;
the implications for the developing world.

Examination questions
1 Explain the relationship between the concepts of e-commerce and e-business.
2 Distinguish between buy-side and sell-side e-commerce and give an example of the
application of each.
3 Summarize three reasons why a company may wish to introduce e-commerce.
4 Describe three of the main barriers to adoption of e-commerce by consumers and

suggest how a company could counter these.
5 Outline the internal changes a company may need to make when introducing
e-business.
6 Summarize the differences between adoption of Internet access for consumers
and businesses and give reasons for these differences.
7 Name three risks to a company that introduces buy-side e-commerce.
8 Name three risks to a company that introduces sell-side e-commerce.