Internet Exercises

URLs can change over time. If any of the sites used in these Internet Exercises change, please visit the Turban Electronic Commerce 2002, 2e Companion Web site at http://www.prenhall.com/turban for an update.

Chapter 16

  1. Survey several online travel agencies (e.g., Travelocity.com, cheaptickets.com, priceline.com, expedia.com, and so on) on the Web and compare their business strategies for customers. Especially focus on how they compete against physical travel agencies.

  2. Enter digitalenterprise.org and find Web metrics. Read the material on metrics and the use of metrics for advertisement.

  3. Go to Nissan Motor Corporation's Web site (nissandriven.com). Discuss how Nissan complements its promotion and sales program with its Web presence. What are the business values added by its Web site?

  4. Visit companysleuth.com and discuss the types of competitive information the site offers. The information is offered free to anyone. Why? The same vendor offers the Electronic Library (elibrary.com) for a fee. How are these two services related? Why is the first one offered free?

  5. Check the music CD companies on the Internet (e.g., CDNow.com) and find out if any focus on specialized niche markets as a primary strategy.

  6. Enter ibm.com/procurement and go to the e-procurement section. Read IBM's e-procurement strategy and the "Consultant's Report-Best Practices." Prepare a report on the best lessons you learned.

  7. American Greetings is the world's largest greeting card company. Until the early 1980s, cards were sold mainly in specialty card stores (about 65 percent). However, by 1999 over 65 percent were sold at discount stores (e.g., Wal-Mart). Because of this fact and the strong competition in the greeting card industry, American Greetings profits declined sharply in 1999. Your job as a strategy consultant is to assess the potential impact of EC on American Greetings' business. Use a SWOT approach and prepare a report. Use stock market and financial information available for free on the Internet.

  8. Enter bolt.com and upoc.com and compare their marketing strategies.

  9. Enter bluelight.com and find out why it has succeeded where Kmart failed.