Credits 3
Nature Non-Science Medium of Instruction English
Teaching Pattern 28 hours of Lecture 14 hours of Tutorial Prerequisites Nil
60% Coursework Assessment
40% Examination
Aims
This subject equips students with the knowledge of fundamentals of E-Commerce (EC), various technical and non-technical infrastructures and mechanisms supporting EC. Studying the subject will help develop students’ analytical / practical skills in the applications of E-Commerce in a business setting. It also provides the conceptual framework to analyse possible benefits and limitations of applying the e-commerce approach to business.
Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing this subject, students will be able to:
understand how EC is being conducted in online business activities.
understand the advantages and disadvantages of using e-commerce in a business setting.
appraise various social issues associated with the conduct of electronic commerce.
analyse and evaluate the possible benefits and limitations of applying the e-commerce approach to business.
Indicative Contents
Fundamentals of E-Commerce (EC)
Fundamentals of EC and some of its terminology; Business (B2B) and Business-to-Customer (B2C) concepts; Success factors for EC.
Applications and Implementation of EC
EC Advertisement; Internet marketing; Auction basics; Web auction strategies; Virtual community strategies.
Electronic Payment Systems
Basics of Electronic Payment Systems; Common technologies to be used; Advantages and disadvantages of different technologies.
Technical Infrastructure for EC
Web Hosting Services; Comparison of Web Hosting; Commerce Service Providers and the advantages and limitations of each; E-business software and its choice; Basic Electronic Commerce Software Functions; Electronic fund transfer; Web-based client/server; Intranet and extranet.
The Environment of EC
Internet Security
Security Threats to E-Commerce; Implementing Security for EC; Risk associated with EC.
Teaching/Learning Approach
Lectures focus on the introduction and explanation of key E-Commerce concepts, with specific reference to current issues wherever appropriate. Talk(s) from the industrialists might be arranged.
Tutorials provide students with the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of the concepts taught in lectures and to apply the theories to the analysis of real-life issues. The activities in tutorials normally include student presentations and discussions of problem sets and case studies.
Assessment Approach
A variety of assessment tools will be used, including presentations, case studies, written reports, tests and examination designed to develop and assess students’ analytical / practical skills in the applications of E-Commerce in a business setting as well as communication skills.
Indicative Readings Recommended Textbook
Gary P. Schneider, New Perspectives on E-commerce (Comprehensive), Thomson Learning (latest ed.).
References
Efrain Turban, David King, Introduction to E-Commerce, Prentice Hall (latest ed.).
Gary P. Schneider, Electronic Commerce, Thomson Learning (latest ed.).
Oz, E., Foundations of e-Commerce, Prentice Hall (latest ed.).
CC2104 Introduction to Microeconomics Level 2
Credits 3
Nature Non-Science Medium of Instruction English
Teaching Pattern
28 hours of Lecture 14 hours of Tutorial Prerequisites Nil50% Coursework Assessment
50% Examination
Aims
This subject equips students with analytical skills that are necessary for the understanding of economic issues from a micro perspective. It provides the conceptual framework to analyse microeconomic behaviour of economic agents, business decisions, and market efficiency. Studying the subject will also help develop students’ critical thinking for their life-long learning.
Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing this subject, students will be able to:
understand the issues involved in the allocation of scarce resources for individual economic agents and the economy as a whole.
apply relevant economic knowledge to conduct economic analysis of the behaviour of firms and markets.
identify market failure and discuss the effectiveness of government economic policy upon the tradeoff between efficiency and equity.
use concepts of market force interaction to analyse and predict changes in markets.
Indicative Contents
Scope of Microeconomic Analysis
Concept of scarcity, choice and opportunity cost; Nature of economics as a science for understanding human behaviour.
Demand, Supply and the Price Mechanism
The law of demand; Elasticity of demand; The law of supply; Production and cost; Price control; The functions of price and the market system.
Production and costs
Production function; Law of diminishing returns; Various measures of cost; Costs in the short run and long run; Economies and diseconomies of scale.
Market Structure
Perfect competition; Monopoly; Monopolistic competition; Oligopoly; Profit maximization under different market structure.
Efficiency of Markets
Teaching/Learning Approach
Lectures focus on the introduction and explanation of key economic concepts, with specific reference to current economic issues wherever appropriate. Occasional group discussions will be conducted.
Tutorials provide students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the concepts taught in lectures and to apply the theories to the analysis of real-life economic issues. The activities in tutorials include student presentations and discussions of problems sets and case studies.
Assessment Approach
A variety of assessment tools will be used, including presentations, case studies, written reports, tests and examination designed to develop and assess critical thinking as well as analytical and communication skills.
Indicative Readings Recommended Textbook
Mankiw, N. Gregory, Principles of Microeconomics, Thomson South-Western (latest ed.).
References
Frank, Robert H, Microeconomics and Behaviour, Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill (latest ed.).
Miller, Roger LeRoy, Economics today – the micro view, Addison Wesley (latest ed.).
Parkin, Michael, Microeconomics, Addison Wesley (latest ed.).
Pindyck, P.S. and Rubinfeld, D.L., Microeconomics, Prentice Hall (latest ed.).