problem1. One reason for the confusion surrounding E-procurement is that most literature and the press frequently lumps all procurement in a single group, as if all purchasing and commodity groups required the same systems and approach. In fact, this is not so.
What are the key distinctions which must be made when considering a company’s E-procurement strategy?

problem2. In the past, firms employed to distribute catalogues to retailers to market or promote their products. Nowadays, online catalogues are instead employed. Such catalogues, complete with photos, are loaded in the information system. Prepare a comparison of paper online catalogues and catalogues, stating the merits and demerits of each.

problem3. When studying the guiding principles for developing and implementing an E-Procurement initiative (Involving all stakeholders including suppliers), give a discussion of ground rules, which have to be learnt by organizations and which must not be ignored.

problem4. When building any computer-based system, such as an E-procurement system, requirements engineering is carried out. It is the procedure of discovering, documenting and maintaining a set of requirements for computer-based system.

(i) What are requirements?

(ii) What is a requirements document? What are the characteristics of such document?

(iii) describe the concept of “system modelling” employed in requirements engineering.

(iv) Why should requirements validation be performed?