COM6004 e-Commerce Systems Arden University

COM6004 e-Commerce Systems

Case Study Assignment

Date for Submission: Please refer to the timetable on ilearn

(The submission portal on ilearn will close at 14.00 UK time on the date of submission)

As part of the formal assessment for the programme, you are required to submit an e- Commerce Systems assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing the module, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the theory and technical skills required to design and develop dynamic web applications.

• Apply and critically evaluate appropriate client-side and server-side technologies to implement an e-Commerce web application to meet the needs of both the users and the client.

• Accurately deploy established design and development techniques to implement an e- Commerce web application that meets the needs of both the users and the client.

• Develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of users and clients.

• Utilise appropriate multimedia objects to assist the development and marketing of an e- Commerce web application.

Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the word count; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in Arden University (AU) Harvard format. You should address all the elements of the assignment task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work.

Maximum word count: 4,000 words

Please note that exceeding the word count by over 10% will result in a reduction in grade by the same percentage that the word count is exceeded.

You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.

Assignment Task

An E-Commerce website enables businesses to connect with their customers. For this assignment, you are asked to plan and implement an e-commerce site for a fictitious business that sells blu-rays (movies and tv shows). The specific genres and titles are up to you but the site should represent some of the typical functions expected of an e-commerce enabled business.

Stage 1

Propose a case study that requires the design and development of an e-commercesystem for a fictitious company selling movies and tv shows on blu ray. (10 marks) (400 words)

(LO1)

Stage 2

Plan and design between four to seven web pages for the given company that represents some of the typical processes and contents of an e-commerce site. Provide recommendations with regards to a markup language, database, scripting (both client-side and server-side), multimedia components, and layout design. (30 marks) (1200 words)

(LO1)

Stage 3

Implement four to seven web pages for the e-commerce site. Provide an explanation as to how the implementation meets the requirements of the company and the users. Note that the website has to be a dynamic website. It should be built using PHP, ASP, or JSP. You cannot build the website purely as HTML/CSS pages as these are not dynamic. Also, you cannot use a website or software that auto-generate the code for you such as Wix. WordPress, or Dreamweaver. Where you use codes you have studied online, make sure you modify the code for your website and provide an appropriate reference at the end of your report. (40 marks) (1600 words)

(LOs 2 & 3)

Stage 4

Post-implementation always opens our eyes to a better way to improve the functionality of the system. Recommend improvements, including innovative approaches to the e-commerce system. This may include ways of making the process faster, easier, and safer. (10 marks) (400 words)

(LO4)

Stage 5

Post-implementation always opens our eyes to a better way to improve the design of the system. Consider how you can improve the design of the main interface pages of your case study e.g. multimedia elements such as social media features, video, animations, images or other features of your choice. Provide an explanation and justification for your choices. (10 marks) (400 words)

(LO5)

Formative Feedback

You will have the opportunity to submit parts of your work at designated stages of the module to receive formative feedback.

The feedback is designed to help you develop areas of your work, and it helps you develop your skills as an independent learner. Make notes of the following dates as milestones for feedback submissions: Week two for topic approval, week four for section 1, week six for sections 2 & 3, week eight for section 4, and week ten for section 5. The tutor will send an email to confirm these dates. The formative feedback is to allow time for you to reflect on the feedback and draft your final submission.

Your work must be submitted to your tutor.

Formative feedback will not be given to work submitted after the above date.

Guidelines

You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the AU Harvard system.

The My Study Skills Area on iLearn contains useful resources relating to referencing.

You must use the AU Harvard Referencing method in your assignment. Additional notes:

Students are required to indicate the exact word count on the title page of the assessment.

The word count excludes the title page, tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices. Where assessment questions have been reprinted from the assessment brief these will also be excluded from the word count. ALL other printed words ARE included in the word count See ‘Word Count Policy’ on the homepage of this module for more information.

Assignments submitted late will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0% fail.

Your assessment should be submitted as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file. For more information please see the “Guide to Submitting an Assignment” document available on the module page on iLearn.

You must ensure that the submitted assignment is all your own work and that all sources used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assignments which show evidence of academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is on the homepage of your module and also in the Induction Area).

Assessment Criteria (Learning objectives covered – all)

Level 6 study represents the student’s increasing autonomy and independence in relation to their knowledge, understanding and skills. At Level 6, students are expected to demonstrate problem solving skills in both practical and theoretical contexts. This should be supported by an understanding of appropriate theory, creativity in expression and thought based on independent but informed judgments. Students should demonstrate the ability to seek out, invoke, analyse and evaluate competing theories and claims to knowledge and work in a critically constructive manner. Work at this level is articulate, coherent and skilled.
Grade	Mark Bands	Generic Assessment Criteria
First (1)	80%+	An exceptional knowledge base exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical considerations. The work demonstrates extraordinary independence of thought and originality. There is exceptional management of learning resources and a high degree of autonomy is demonstrated which goes above and beyond the brief. The work demonstrates intellectual originality and creativity. Writing is exceptionally well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, outstanding professional skills are demonstrated. The work is original and with some additional effort could be considered for internal publication.
70- 79%	An excellent information base within which the discipline is explored and analysed. There is considerable originality in the approach and the work demonstrates confidence and autonomy and extends to consider ethical issues. Learning resources have been managed with exceptional confidence and the work exceeds the assessment brief. Writing is exceptionally well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, an excellent level of professional skills are demonstrated and the work demonstrates a high level of intellectual and academic skills.
Upper second (2:1)	60- 69%	A very good knowledge base which explores and analyses the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical issues. There is evidence of some originality and independence of thought. A very good range of learning resources underpin the work and there is clear evidence of self-directed research. The work demonstrates the ability to analyse the subject and apply theory with good academic and intellectual skills. Academic writing skills are good, expression is accurate overall and the work is consistently referenced throughout.
Lower second (2:2)	50- 59%	A satisfactory understanding of the discipline which supports some analysis, evaluation and problem-solving within the discipline. There may be reference to some of the ethical considerations. The work shows a sound level of competence in managing basic sources and materials. Academic writing skills are good and accurate overall and the work is planned and structured with some thought. Professional skills are satisfactory (where appropriate). The work may lack originality but academic and intellectual skills are moving into the critical domain. The work is referenced throughout.
Third (3)	40- 49%	Basic level of performance in which there are some omissions in the understanding of the subject, its underpinning theory and ethical considerations. There is little evidence of independent thought and the work shows a basic use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are limited. The work may lack structure overall. There are some difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). There is an attempt to reference the work.
Marginal Fail	30- 39%	A limited piece of work in which there are clear gaps in understanding the subject, its underpinning theory and ethical considerations. The work shows a limited use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are weak and there are errors in expression and the work may lack structure overall. There are difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). The work lacks original thought and is largely imitative.
	29% and below	A poor performance in which there are substantial gaps in knowledge and understanding, underpinning theory and ethical considerations. The work shows little evidence in the use of appropriate sources and materials. Academic writing skills are very weak and there are numerous errors in expression. The work lacks structure overall. Professional skills (where appropriate) are not developed. The work is imitative.