The purpose of this assignment is to identify strategies and objectives for electronic commerce initiatives, discuss types of implementation costs and Web hosting service features, and describe the process of managing electronic commerce implementations.

Respond to the following by writing at least one paragraph for each item and support your response.

1) Identify four objectives that the company needs to target with this implementation and indicate how each will help the company’s growth. Also decide on how you will rank the list in order of importance and explain why you selected this order.

2) Although the company has not discussed a budget amount, the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) has asked you for a “ball park” figure for the initial costs and ongoing annual costs. You may assume that this will be a large online business and you may use the dollar amounts provided in the text in the figure entitled “Estimated Costs For Business Web Sites” or search for this information online. In the event that the CFO does not want to spend the money, describe how you will counter this by explaining the concept of “opportunity cost” and give two examples that should be considered.

3) Based on the requirements involved, the company has decided to outsource the Web hosting function. In preparation for the decision, prepare a summary of Web hosting service features that need to be considered.

4) Since this type of initiative has never been undertaken by this company, describe the process of managing the electronic commerce implementation. Make sure to address the concept of project management and name and describe at least four new positions that would need to be created and the duties that each person would perform.