Treffer: ECommerce: Meeting the Needs of Local Business with Cross-Departmental Education.

This document offers a brief introduction to electronic commerce (known as eCommerce) and explains the challenges and frustrations of developing a course around the topic. ECommerce blends elements of computer science (HTML and JavaScript programming, for example) with traditional business functions, such as marketing, salesmanship, finance and accounting, to create a new academic discipline. Challenges include: (1) melding aspects of two disciplines into one without duplicating either; (2) identifying and dispelling common misconceptions; (3) placing boundaries around a very dynamic topic; (4) defining local business needs; and (5) making the results meaningful. The course described is offered in day, evening and online sections. Content is divided as follows: new and traditional marketing (40%); HTML and Front Page programming (40%); current telecommunications (10%); and good Web page design (10%). Class projects were designed to stimulate student interest in current issues (such as concerns about taxation and privacy) and required development of an original Web site design with an eCommerce business plan. The document concludes with recommendations for eCommerce course developers. (Contains 3 figures and 23 references.) (PGS)