Launching a Business on the Internet
CHAPTER 16
LAUNCHING A BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
Electronic business is no longer an alternative; it is becoming an imperative. The most important first step in launching an e-business is planning, understanding the target customer, marketing the business, and choosing the right products and services to offer. The next step is deciding on the software and hardware to build the Web site and the mechanics that will handle payments, fulfillments, etc. Choosing an ISP is also important, because speed, accountability, and availability of traffic statistics are critical for ensuring Web site performance.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Is there a difference between vision and mission? Elaborate. How do they relate to starting an online business? Be specific.
Vision is what your business is trying to achieve and how the goals will be met. It also involves how the Web site will help fulfill these goals and how the company will measure success. In contrast, mission follows vision, in that it represents the company wide statement of what the company is all about, its commitments, responsibilities, and obligations within the framework of the vision of its leaders.
A visionary usually starts an online business by explaining how he foresees the product or the service to become years down the road. Once accepted, the newly formed company states its mission with a focus on online business via technology, etc.
2. Identify the key steps of the Internet business life cycle. What step is the most critical? Why?
a. Business planning b. Technology infrastructure c. Design d. Marketing e. Fulfillment f. Maintenance/enhancement
No specific step is necessarily more critical than the others. Like the value chain concept, where each chain has to carry its weight to assure total strength, in the Internet business life cycle, each phase is there for a reason and must
LAUNCHING A BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
Electronic business is no longer an alternative; it is becoming an imperative. The most important first step in launching an e-business is planning, understanding the target customer, marketing the business, and choosing the right products and services to offer. The next step is deciding on the software and hardware to build the Web site and the mechanics that will handle payments, fulfillments, etc. Choosing an ISP is also important, because speed, accountability, and availability of traffic statistics are critical for ensuring Web site performance.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Is there a difference between vision and mission? Elaborate. How do they relate to starting an online business? Be specific.
Vision is what your business is trying to achieve and how the goals will be met. It also involves how the Web site will help fulfill these goals and how the company will measure success. In contrast, mission follows vision, in that it represents the company wide statement of what the company is all about, its commitments, responsibilities, and obligations within the framework of the vision of its leaders.
A visionary usually starts an online business by explaining how he foresees the product or the service to become years down the road. Once accepted, the newly formed company states its mission with a focus on online business via technology, etc.
2. Identify the key steps of the Internet business life cycle. What step is the most critical? Why?
a. Business planning b. Technology infrastructure c. Design d. Marketing e. Fulfillment f. Maintenance/enhancement
No specific step is necessarily more critical than the others. Like the value chain concept, where each chain has to carry its weight to assure total strength, in the Internet business life cycle, each phase is there for a reason and must