Week 11 - Chapter 9

E-commerce is the practice of using the internet for monetary transactions such as buying and selling. In these modern times almost anything can be done digitally. From shopping, to paying bills, to running a business. It doesn't matter what kind of business you have or the size of it, you will need to practice some form of e-commerce within it.

Some businesses have even become purely digital, relying on their online presence to sell their products and services rather than having a physical store. E-marketplaces has also connected many online shoppers with a variety of online stores, and paying without using physical cash has become the norm in society.

But e-business and e-commerce also has its downsides. It's easier to commit fraud on the internet since the buyer and seller don't see each-other face to face when making a transaction, and data from peoples credit card details and bank accounts can be compromised. Overall, it is important to become aware that technology has made its footprint in the way we do business and has changed it for both better and for worse.

Gray, H., Issa, T., Pye, G., Troshani, I., Rainer, R. K., Prince, B., & Hugh, J. W. (2015). Management
information systems. Wiley.

Week 10 - Chapter 8

Social computing combines both IT and social behavior to create a unique social context that widely extends the potential for collaboration and interaction on the internet. Connecting individuals from around the world to share and communicate ideas and opinions with one another.

Through the power of social media, ordinary people can now voice their opinions about any organization or business, making it harder for modern-day companies to control the flow of mass opinion. But that's not to say that social opinion doesn't have it's merit. 

Companies who chose to embrace social computing as a means to expand their business (aka 'social commerce') can reap the benefits from having a closer relationship with their customers and thus gain a better understanding of their audience while improving their business performance. But there are some dangers to avoid while engaging in social computing, such as potential invasion of  privacy and hacking attempts of personal information and company data.

Gray, H., Issa, T., Pye, G., Troshani, I., Rainer, R. K., Prince, B., & Hugh, J. W. (2015). Management
information systems. Wiley.