SYLLABUS
Instructor Name: Charles Snead
Email Address: Charles.Snead@sps.cuny.edu
Program: B.S. in Information Systems
Course Name and Number: IS 326 – E-Commerce
Type of Course: Required
Credits: 3 cr, undergraduate
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
The Internet and an assortment of information technologies have led to the development and
continuing evolution of electronic commerce (e-commerce), which has revolutionized the way
people, organizations, and governments interact with each other. This course approaches the
study of e-commerce strategies, operations, workflows, and technologies from a value-creating
perspective. Through lectures, case studies, and group projects, students develop an
understanding of the special characteristics that identify the similarities and differences between
e- commerce and other forms of commerce, such as hybridized models. Students develop a
conceptual foundation to help them identify and evaluate new trends, innovative business
opportunities, and the potential impacts to various industries, as well as the fundamental
technological structures required for implementation. In addition, students learn to assess the
potential limitations, issues, and risks associated with various e-commerce initiatives. Students
must collaborate to produce an e-commerce proposal, which can then be used to create the ecommerce solution.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Detail the history of e-commerce, and identify the major phases of development as a social
and commercial phenomenon;
• Compare and contrast characteristics of e-commerce compared with traditional modes of
doing business;
• Categorize and predict emerging e-commerce technologies and their impact on business,
society, and politics;
• Design and apply new business models, services, operations, and processes for doing ecommerce;
• Understand and apply marketing methods in e-commerce;
• Describe and explain e-commerce security issues and strategies to address them;
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•
•
Identify, analyze, and explain ethical dilemmas and legal issues associated with various
ecommerce technologies and business practices, and then address them in designing
internet ventures; and
Analyze, plan, design, and build an effective e-commerce solution.
Program Learning Outcomes/Competencies addressed by the course:
• Analyze, determine requirements, design, and evaluate the kind of information systems
that can help achieve business goals, as well as evaluate the feasibility and optimal
implementation of such systems;
• Build secure, reliable, and accurate software systems using programming and database
skills;
• Manage, secure, analyze, and use organizational data resources—always conscious of fair
and ethical
usage standards—to create value for key stakeholders;
• Assess the impact and strategic value of emerging technologies;
• Apply systems thinking and design thinking skills across a broad range of industries and
environments; and
• Solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and make
ethical decisions.
Course Grading and Requirements:
Course Assignments
Project Assignments (3)
Weekly Discussions (7)
Chapter Quizzes (3)
TOTAL
Points or Percentage of Final
Grade
35%
30%
35%
100%
Notes on Grading:
• Discussions: Discussions occur in three parts. The first part consists of the initial post,
due by Thursday of the applicable week. The second part consists of at least three
substantive responses to the initial posts of other students, which is due by no later than
Sunday of the applicable week. The third part is a one-two paragraph weekly summary of
what you learned by reading others’ posts for the week.
• Quizzes: Weekly quizzes are open book, comprised of 30 multiple choice and T/F
questions.
• Project Assignments: The instructor will provide a list of fictional e-commerce startups for
which the student will research various aspects and produce a proposal. The proposal is
broken into three parts, with a part due each week.
• Late Work Policy: Late individual assignments, quizzes, and exams will have 10%
deducted for each week late.
Undergraduate Scale
2
Letter
Grade
Ranges
%
GPA
A
93 - 100
4
A-
90 - <93
3.7
B+
87 - <90
3.3
B
83 - <87
3
B-
80 - <83
2.7
C+
77 - <80
2.3
C
73 - <77
2
C-
70 - <73
1.7
D
60 - <70
1
F
< 60
0
Textbook: E-Commerce 2018, 14th Edition by Kenneth Laudon. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-483951-6.
Pearson, 2017. Online version is recommended. 180 day rental option available from
VitalSource.
Additional Resources: None.
Course Outline:
Week /
Dates
Week 1
Topic
Materials
Introduction to
E-commerce
Course syllabus,
announcement,
requirements
Assignments Due
initial
course Welcome and
course Introductions Post:
5/31/2024
Project Selection:
6/2/2024
3
Week 2
What is
ecommerce?
E-Commerce 2018, Chapters 1-2
E-commerce
concepts
Week 3
E-commerce
platforms
All Other: 6/9/2024
E-Commerce 2018, Chapters 3-4
Web sites,
mobile
sites, and apps
Week 4
Security and
payment
systems
D2 Initial Discussion
Post: 6/6/2024
D3 Initial Discussion
Post: 6/13/2024
All Other: 6/16/2024
E-Commerce 2018, Chapters 5-6
D4 Initial Discussion
Post: 6/20/2024
All Other: 6/23/2024
Marketing and
advertising
concepts
4
Week 5
Social, Mobile,
and
Local Marketing
E-Commerce 2018, Chapters 7-8
D5 Initial Discussion
Post: 6/27/2024
All Other: 6/30/2024
Ethical, Social,
and
Political Issues
Week 6
Week 7
Online Retail and E-Commerce 2018, Chapters 9-10
Services
D6 Initial Discussion
Post: 7/4/2024
Online Content
and
Media
All Other: 7/7/2024
Social Networks,
Auctions, and
Portals
E-Commerce 2018, Chapters 11-12 D7 Initial Discussion
Post: 7/11/2024
All Other: 7/14/2024
Supply Chain
Management and
Collaborative
Commerce
ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS: The CUNY School of Professional Studies is
firmly committed to making higher education accessible to students with disabilities by removing
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architectural barriers and providing programs and support services necessary for them to
benefit from the instruction and resources of the University.
Early planning is essential for many of the resources and accommodations provided. Please
see: https://sps.cuny.edu/student-services/disability-services
ONLINE ETIQUETTE AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY: The University strictly prohibits the
use of University online resources or facilities, including Blackboard, for the purpose of
harassment of any individual or for the posting of any material that is scandalous, libelous,
offensive or otherwise against the University’s policies. Please see:
http://catalog.sps.cuny.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=205
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Cheating, forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the educational mission
of the City University of New York and the students' personal and intellectual growth. Please
see:
https://sps.cuny.edu/about/dean/policies/academic-and-student-policies/academic-integrity
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: If you need any additional help, please visit Student Support
Services:
https://sps.cuny.edu/student-services
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