The third module of the T171 course was about how the internet has influenced business practices and resulting issues for society. There were a number of difficult concepts to understand but I gain an understanding of how the nature of the internet relates types of business conducted online and the four main categories involved2a.
Transaction Grid T171 1
This was further highlighted by examples of actual businesses which currently traded on the internet which fell within each of the 4 types. I also learned about products the Electronic Shopping Test2. My understandings of these concepts were greatly enhanced by undertaking the exercise to score a number set products against the principles of the test3.
Secondly I gained an insight into some of the changes that result of an organisation being online2b.
I-2-0 Grid3
Examples being the way those interactions within the company have had to change in order for the company to succeed. For example how the responsibility pattern of a traditional business changes due to a blurring of the roles and tasks. How it allows for a much more efficient administration system to be evolved. How different communication strategies had to be developed and what effects these have on a business e.g. the effects of the type of asynchronous communications normally used, such as allowing the company to easily change its organisational structure and allowing the business to obtain the widest reach with the minimum of direct contact.
1 transaction.gif [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module3/aboutmod3/grid.cfm [Accessed 12 Sept 2004]
2 T171 Module 3 [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module3/aboutmod3/loutcomes.cfm [accessed 29/04/2004]
2a. Understand the four distinct categories of online business transactions;
2b. Understand the fundamental benefits for a company/organization of being online;
3 T171 Module 3 Section 1, [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module3/section1/whatmakes.cfm [Accessed 12 Sept 2004]
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