A. It's primarily a fundamentals and survey type of class. The second Ecommerce class is a business strategy type class. In this class we touch on a lot of different ecommerce topics and tools, the strategy class is a focused class one set of topics only.

A. They are for the Strategy class only, you can safely ignore them.

3. What about the readings? Where do we get them?

A. You'll get the readings from the reading schedule. There are hyperlinks to the various PDF versions of the articles. You also get some of the readings from the book store. Unfortunately HBR didn't have those available in digital format.

A. You are responsible for reading the articles (according to the reading schedule) and doing a write up of 3 to 4 concepts for each article (delivered as single paper) you are required to read. Please see the notes section to see how these article are to be written up. You are also responsible for presenting select concepts in class during the discussion of the articles.

5. What about this web assignment? I'm not a programmer, in fact I hate programming, and this isn't a programming class. Is learning HTML Hard? What about the software tools required?

A. You're right, this isn't a programming class, but I will require a small HTML project and walk you through it by the hand. I'm having a entire class dedicated to web page development which will be working on your assignments as examples. It is important to learn how to do some remedial "things" in Html and publish it. It is really much simpler than it appears. There are 3 assignments, but they all build on what you previously did, and they are small in scope. I'll provide you with all of the software tools required for the assignment.

A. Yes, you have to incorporate the content of 6 carefully selected articles (that you will have read for the class by the time you hit the case) into your case analysis. I will provide you with instructions on exactly what the concepts are from each of the articles that I want you to apply to the case. I'll also provide you with explicit directions for writing up the case. It may seem like a lot of work, but it won't be really. The case will be between 5-8 pages when done, and we will discuss it in class..

A.The PGP assignment is an exercise in web security and encryption. You'll download the PGP application, set it up and read the relevant parts of the the 150 page manual to figure out how to use it. After that, the assignment consists of sending me encrypted email, that's all. You should start early on this, late starters will get little sympathy from me if they run into difficulties. I give the assignment to you early in the quarter and expect you to diligently work on it during the course of the quarter. During the Security discussion, I will go over the software and how it is used. The next week the PGP assignment is due.

A. Class is segmented in to two parts; My stuff and Your stuff. I'll bring you an informational lecture during the first half of class and then the second half of class is devoted to the presentation and discussion of the materials you are learning (either case discussions or article concept summaries).

A. Yes, your team really does get web space, and it is on a Web production server.

A. If we decide to do it then at the end of the quarter, each team will present their analysis of the work on their clients business case. They will also be required to hand in a printed report, and an electronic version. Some Quarters we've done collaborative projects with universities around the world.  As a new concept, we will introduce the review of 3-5 public websites for recommended changes and improvements.

A. I'll try to bring you things that you couldn't get in the readings or elsewhere. It'll probably be a view from the trenches as this is what I do for a living.

A. Yes, here it is:

• Each student will have to complete the startup tasks for this class which consist of entering your email address in the email database, filling out the class registry, procuring documents, etc...
  
  
• Each student will procure a series of articles, read them, and construct a report each week consisting of 3-4 concepts from each article. You will then prepare to present these concepts as a 2 minute oral summary of selected concepts in the class discussion with the intent of educating the other students about those concepts and fielding questions regarding those concepts being presented. I will randomly choose students to present during the discussion segments of those classes.
  
  
• Each student will analyze and prepare (1) case study. This case study will have it's own set of instruction and requirements which will be provided by the instructor one week prior to the case being due. Each student will prepare a case write up of 5 -8 pages per the directions of the case in MS Word and email it to the instructor as well as present the 'dead tree' edition in class.
  
  
• Each team will be required to analyze and present their findings for their assigned client or selected websites.  Additionally they will need to collaborate online (in the team's forum and chat space) to collate their views about the client/website (based upon their article readings) synthesize a unified front, select speaker(s), prepare arguments and then present their view of the client/website as part of the last class. Both processes will be monitored closely and graded by the instructor and your team's peers. You'll be required to hand in a written and electronic report. Please see the web site for specific instructions for each client/website. I do expect a detailed outline of the client/website during week 8.
  
  
• Each student will have to complete a web assignment, and the team complete two complementary assignments that incrementally build on the previous assignments. (It sounds a lot worse that it really is.)
  
  
• Each student will have to do a PGP project, consisting of downloading the software, installing it, reading the relevant parts of the manual and sending me an encrypted email message.
  
  
• Often there are special collaborative opportunities that we can undertake with other universities around the world. When these opportunities present themselves, we'll participate.

13. What about the site? Is there anything else that I should be aware of?

A. Yes. There are some reading materials which have been explicitly purchased from an online vendor for the express purpose of teaching this class. They are password protected and cannot be distributed freely. You'll receive a username and password to access them. Their availability is a benefit of being in this class so please do not redistribute them without expressed permission. Also, you'll be sharing a site with the strategy students so there may be items meant only for them, so don't worry if your see some strange things.

A. I have an interactive philosophy and I expect my students to adhere to it. It's not a "I teach, you learn" type of structure. It's an I lecture (some) and then facilitate the group learning from the discussion generated by the students collective learning. Also the spirit of the class is to develop independent thinkers and speakers, which means that you will disagree with my (and other students) perspective and analysis during the course of the quarter. I encourage that (within the limits of student - teacher respect of course), and hope students will take a stand a defend their perspectives during discussion. Being politically incorrect is not a bad thing in my classes, being a lazy thinker is.

A. Please see the syllabus for that, it explains everything.

A. I'm a night owl and am online most all the time (Except when I'm out of town). I can be reached via email, voice mail, the instructor's forum and additionally will be holding office hours in the animated chat room during this quarter (as an experiment). If there's a real emergency, I can be paged.  My contact information is contained in the signature below.

A. I'm planning on posting the lecture assignments just before class. Since I'm in the process of upgrading the lecture material for this class it'll take some time. The same goes for the case and the client information.

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Ben Schreiner
W: 312-899-1383      WF: 312-899-1388
HF:312-787-1724

Email: ben.schreiner@centurasoft.com

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