The U-Build-It Hardware Company

U-Build-It Hardware Company is a chain of 5 stores selling hardware products in a Midwestern State. It provides a full range of hardware and gardening products, ranging from hand tools to building and plumbing supplies to gardening supplies and plants. It as well offers its own line of kits produced under contract by a local lumber company for do-it-yourself ("U-Build-It") utility and storage sheds and patio and porch furniture.

Marsha Robinson, CEO of U-Build-It, has been instructed by her Board of Directors to provide products via the Web. The Board's decision was based on the strategic assessment conducted by a local management consultant who forecast U-Build-It is likely to go out of business in a decade unless it engages in electronic commerce.

Marsha assigned you to head up a team to get U-Build-It into e-business in two years. With her advice and approval, you decided that U-Build-It's e-business effort would not substitute the existing stores, but instead would supplement them.

In planning the e-business roll-out, you find out that the approach to take is a three-phase project. Phase 1 will be a very easy e-business model, building up to a full-scale model by Phase 3. Marsha and the Board of Directors approved your approach and authorized you to move forward to build up a project plan.

Written Assignment:

Make your plan. describe what U-Build-It's e-business solution will appear for each phase. Specifically, describe the front-end and back-end technical architectures for each phase. As well, what are the needs for the customer interface for each phase?

That is, what will the web-based site look like and what will it do?

Your paper must be in the form of a follow-up presentation to Marsha that is appropriate for presentation to the Board, if she approves it. Use PowerPoint and use the speaker notes to record the detailed information which supports your plan.

You must expect to be given no more than 45 minutes for your presentation (or around 25 slides), with ten minutes for problems and answers. Carefully and fully cite all references in your notes; however don’t clutter the slides with this information.

Note: If you don’t have PowerPoint available for making a presentation or if you prefer, you might prepare prepare your response as a traditional term paper. This paper must be formatted to use 1-inch margins on all sides, 12-point type, and single-spacing. The paper must be around 20 pages long, however should not surpass 25 pages.