Page 388 - Introduction to Electronic Commerce and Social Commerce

Internet Exercises 375

that utilize the service? What is their chance of success? 4. What is MasterPass™ and how does it work? Some ques-
What factors do you think will pay a role in its success tion the longer-term viability of MasterPass™. Find pro
or failure? Start by reading the press release at boku. and con information and debate the issue.
com/#merchants and boku.com/#carriers. 5. Discuss the differences between convertible and noncon-
3. In B2C EC criminals may use fake or stolen credit cards vertible virtual currencies. What are some examples of each?
to pay merchants. What steps should the merchants take Contrary to the strict definition, are there some instances
to combat the fraud? where the nonconvertible virtual currencies have actually
4. A metropolitan area wants to provide users of its public been used as a medium exchange in the “real” world?
transportation system with the ability to pay transit 6. Chart the supply chain portion of returns to a virtual store.
fares, and make retail purchases, using a single contact- Check with an e-tailer to see how it handles returns.
less smart card. What sorts of problems can it encounter Prepare a report based on your findings.
in setting up the system, and what types of problems 7. Some say outsourcing B2B services may hurt the com-
could the riders encounter by using the cards? petitive edge. Others disagree. Discuss.
5. Discuss the differences between Litecoin and Bitcoin? 8. Which activities are most critical in order fulfillment of
How likely is it that Litecoin will become a widely used B2C (check Table 12.1). Which are for B2B? Discuss the
global virtual currency? What will be the key reasons for differences.
its success or failure. 9. Write a report about the status of Amazon.com’s same-
6. A retailer wants to move into cross-border commerce. day delivery projects.
What types of payments will they need to accept and why?
7. Discuss the problem of reverse logistics in EC. What types
of companies may suffer the most from this problem? INTERNET EXERCISES
8. Differentiate order fulfillment in B2C from that of B2B.
9. Watch youtube.com/watch?v=OTnSXMhqQ-g to 1. Select a major retail B2C merchant in the United States
gain a better understanding of the bullwhip effect and and one outside of North America. Detail the similarities
potential factors that cause can cause it. Based on your and differences in the e-payment systems they offer.
understanding, what sorts of factors should demand What other payment systems could the sites offer? Write
forecasting incorporate to mitigate these factors? a short report.
10. Describe the importance of providing a single demand 2. A number of companies are providing digital (mobile)
forecast for improving control along the entire supply wallet systems. What is a digital wallet? Make a list of
chain. these companies and their products. Compare their vari-
11. Investigate and discuss how artificial intelligence can be ous capabilities. Do you think any of these products will
used to manage warehouse operations. Begin with be popular in the near future? Why or why not?
yahoo.com/tech/meet-the-new-boss-the-worlds-first- 3. Go to smartcardalliance.org/smart-cards-applica-
128660465704.html. tions-transit-open-payments-resources. The site lists
a number of existing transit systems that are using con-
tactless smartcards effectively. Select two of the systems
TOPICS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION and compare and contrast them.
AND DEBATES 4. Read about Starbucks’ gift cards and stored-value
mobile app. In recent years these have been victimized
1. Several years ago Facebook declared that all Facebook by cybercriminals. What types of cybercrimes have been
applications, including games, would have to use committed, what has been the impact, and how have the
Facebook Credits as their currency. A short time later they problems been addressed?
rescinded this policy. Why would Facebook issue such a 5. Download the lastest version of the CyberSource Fraud
policy? Why did they rescind it? Do you agree with their Benchmark Report at cybersource.com. In the report, is
actions? mobile commerce more or less susceptible to fraud than
2. Besides music and apps, what are some of the other places nonmobile EC, which mobile operating systems are
where EC micropayments could be used? most susceptible to fraud, and what techniques are most
3. Which would you prefer, paying for goods and services often used to combat it.
with a physical debit or credit card or paying with your 6. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has working relations
smartphone? What are some of the benefits and limita- and special programs with Amazon, UPS, Fedex, and
tions of each? most recently with the Chinese firm Alibaba. What is the