E-commerce - Syllabus

Course Overview and Structure

Embark on a profound academic exploration as you delve into the E-commerce course () within the distinguished Tribhuvan university's CSIT department. Aligned with the 2074 Syllabus, this course (CSC370) seamlessly merges theoretical frameworks with practical sessions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Rigorous assessment based on a 60 + 20 + 20 marks system, coupled with a challenging passing threshold of , propels students to strive for excellence, fostering a deeper grasp of the course content.

This 3 credit-hour journey unfolds as a holistic learning experience, bridging theory and application. Beyond theoretical comprehension, students actively engage in practical sessions, acquiring valuable skills for real-world scenarios. Immerse yourself in this well-structured course, where each element, from the course description to interactive sessions, is meticulously crafted to shape a well-rounded and insightful academic experience.


Course Description:

This course covers the fundamental concepts of E-commerce and E-business models, and components of E-commerce system.

Course Objectives:

The main objective of this course is to provide basic concepts of E-commerce, E-commerce Business Models, E-Payments, E-commerce Security, Digital Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and Basics of Recommendation System.

Units

Key Topics

  • Introduction to E-commerce
    IN-1

    Overview of E-commerce and its significance in the digital age.

  • E-business vs E-commerce
    IN-2

    Understanding the differences between E-business and E-commerce.

  • Features of E-commerce
    IN-3

    Key characteristics and benefits of E-commerce.

  • Pure vs Partial E-commerce
    IN-4

    Types of E-commerce models and their applications.

  • History of E-commerce
    IN-5

    Evolution and development of E-commerce over time.

  • E-commerce Framework
    IN-6

    Understanding the components of E-commerce framework including People, Public Policy, Marketing and Advertisement, Support Services, and Business Partnerships.

  • Types of E-commerce
    IN-7

    Overview of different types of E-commerce including B2C, B2B, C2B, C2C, M-Commerce, U-commerce, Social-Ecommerce, and Local E-commerce.

  • Challenges in E-commerce
    IN-8

    Common obstacles and difficulties faced in E-commerce.

  • Status of E-commerce in Nepal
    IN-9

    Current state and trends of E-commerce in Nepal.

  • Overview of Electronic Transaction Act of Nepal
    IN-10

    Understanding the legal framework governing E-commerce in Nepal.

Key Topics

  • E-commerce Business Model
    E-01

    Overview of e-commerce business models, including their key elements and types. This topic sets the foundation for understanding various e-commerce models.

  • Elements of Business Model
    E-02

    Breakdown of the essential components that make up an e-commerce business model, including revenue streams, cost structures, and value propositions.

  • Types of Revenue Models
    E-03

    Exploration of different revenue models used in e-commerce, including transaction-based, subscription-based, and advertising-based models.

  • B2C Business Models
    E-04

    In-depth look at various business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce models, including e-tailers, community providers, content providers, and more.

  • E-tailer
    E-05

    Detailed analysis of the e-tailer business model, including its characteristics, advantages, and examples.

  • Community Provider
    E-06

    Examination of the community provider business model, including its role in facilitating online communities and generating revenue.

  • Content Provider
    E-07

    Study of the content provider business model, including its focus on creating and distributing valuable content to attract customers.

  • Portal
    E-08

    Analysis of the portal business model, including its role as a gateway to other websites and online services.

  • Transaction Broker
    E-09

    Exploration of the transaction broker business model, including its facilitation of online transactions and revenue generation.

  • Market Creator
    E-10

    Examination of the market creator business model, including its role in creating and facilitating online marketplaces.

  • Service Provider
    E-11

    Study of the service provider business model, including its focus on offering value-added services to customers.

  • B2B Business Models
    E-12

    In-depth look at various business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce models, including net marketplaces, private industrial networks, and EDI.

  • Net Market Places
    E-13

    Analysis of net marketplace business models, including e-distributors, e-procurement, exchanges, and industry consortia.

  • Private Industrial Networks
    E-14

    Examination of private industrial networks, including single-firm and industry-wide networks.

  • Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
    E-15

    Study of EDI, including its layered architecture and role in facilitating electronic transactions.

  • EDI in E-commerce
    E-16

    Exploration of the role of EDI in e-commerce, including its benefits and applications.

  • E-commerce and Industry Value Chain
    E-17

    Analysis of the impact of e-commerce on industry value chains, including the role of e-commerce in creating value for customers.

  • Firm Value Chain
    E-18

    Examination of the firm value chain, including its primary and support activities.

  • Firm Value Web
    E-19

    Study of the firm value web, including its role in creating value for customers and stakeholders.

  • Case Studies of Global and Local E-commerce Systems
    E-20

    In-depth analysis of real-world e-commerce systems, including global and local examples.

Key Topics

  • E-payment System
    EL-1

    Overview of electronic payment systems, including their types and applications in e-commerce.

  • Online Credit Card Transaction
    EL-2

    The process and security measures involved in online credit card transactions.

  • Online Stored Value Payment System
    EL-3

    A payment system that stores value electronically, allowing users to make payments online.

  • Digital and Mobile Wallet
    EL-4

    Electronic wallets that store payment information and allow users to make transactions online or through mobile devices.

  • Smart Cards
    EL-5

    A type of card that stores and processes data, often used for secure online transactions.

  • Social/Mobile Peer-to-Peer Payment Systems
    EL-6

    Payment systems that enable individuals to send and receive payments through social media or mobile devices.

  • Digital Cash/e-cash
    EL-7

    A digital equivalent of physical cash, allowing for anonymous and secure online transactions.

  • E-Checks
    EL-8

    An electronic version of traditional checks, used for online transactions.

  • Virtual Currency
    EL-9

    A digital currency that exists only in electronic form, often used for online transactions.

  • Electronic Billing Presentment and Payment (EBPP) System
    EL-10

    A system that enables customers to receive and pay bills electronically.

  • Auctioning in E-commerce
    EL-11

    Types of auctions used in e-commerce, including English, Dutch, Vickery, and Double auctions.

  • SET Protocol
    EL-12

    A secure protocol used for online credit card transactions, ensuring secure payment processing.

  • Features of SET
    EL-13

    Key features and benefits of the SET protocol for secure online transactions.

  • Participants in SET
    EL-14

    The roles and responsibilities of participants involved in the SET protocol, including cardholders, merchants, and banks.

  • Card Holder Registration
    EL-15

    The process of registering as a cardholder in the SET protocol, including requirements and benefits.

  • Merchant Registration
    EL-16

    The process of registering as a merchant in the SET protocol, including requirements and benefits.

  • Purchase Request
    EL-17

    The process of initiating a purchase request in the SET protocol, including the roles of cardholders and merchants.

  • Dual Signature
    EL-18

    A security feature in the SET protocol that requires dual signatures for payment authorization.

  • Payment Authorization
    EL-19

    The process of authorizing payments in the SET protocol, including the roles of cardholders, merchants, and banks.

  • Payment Capture
    EL-20

    The process of capturing payment information in the SET protocol, including the roles of merchants and banks.

  • Status of E-Payment Systems in Nepal
    EL-21

    An overview of the current state of e-payment systems in Nepal, including trends and challenges.

  • Case Studies of Global and Local Payment Systems
    EL-22

    Real-world examples of successful e-payment systems, including global and local case studies.

Key Topics

  • E-commerce Website/Software
    BU-1

    Overview of e-commerce website/software, including its types and characteristics.

  • Building Catalogs
    BU-2

    Creating product catalogs for e-commerce systems, including static and dynamic catalogs.

  • Building Shopping Cart
    BU-3

    Designing and developing a shopping cart system for e-commerce applications.

  • Transaction Processing
    BU-4

    Processing transactions in e-commerce systems, including payment processing and order management.

  • Development of E-commerce Website/Software
    BU-5

    Developing e-commerce websites/software, including database design and application programming.

  • Integration with ERP Systems
    BU-6

    Integrating e-commerce systems with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

  • Integration with Payment Gateways
    BU-7

    Integrating e-commerce systems with payment gateways for secure payment processing.

  • Using Open Source CMS for E-commerce Development
    BU-8

    Using open-source Content Management Systems (CMS) for developing e-commerce applications.

Key Topics

  • Challenges and Approach of E-government Security
    SE-1

    This topic covers the challenges faced by e-government in terms of security and the approaches to address them. It explores the importance of security in e-government and the ways to mitigate risks.

  • Security Management Model
    SE-2

    This topic introduces a security management model for e-government, outlining the key components and processes involved in ensuring the security of e-government systems.

  • E-Government Security Architecture
    SE-3

    This topic delves into the architecture of e-government security, including the design and implementation of secure systems and infrastructure for e-government services.

  • Security Standards
    SE-4

    This topic covers the security standards and guidelines for e-government, including international standards and best practices for ensuring the security of e-government systems and data.

  • Data Transaction Security
    SE-5

    Security measures for protecting data during transactions in e-commerce.

  • Security Mechanisms
    SE-6

    Various security mechanisms used in e-commerce including cryptography, hash functions, digital signatures, authentication, access controls, intrusion detection systems, and secured socket layer (SSL).

Key Topics

  • Digital Marketing
    DI-01

    Introduction to digital marketing, its importance, and role in e-commerce. Covers the fundamentals of digital marketing and its applications.

  • Online Advertisement
    DI-02

    Types and formats of online advertisements, including display ads, video ads, and interstitial ads. Covers the benefits and challenges of online advertising.

  • Ad Targeting
    DI-03

    Techniques and strategies for targeting specific audiences with online advertisements, including demographic, behavioral, and contextual targeting.

  • Search Engine Marketing
    DI-04

    Using search engines to promote products or services, including search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

  • Keyword Advertising
    DI-05

    Using keywords to target specific audiences and promote products or services, including keyword research and optimization techniques.

  • Search Engine Optimization
    DI-06

    Techniques and strategies for improving the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs).

  • Display Ad Marketing
    DI-07

    Using display ads to promote products or services, including types of display ads, targeting options, and measurement metrics.

  • Advertising Exchanges
    DI-08

    Platforms that enable the buying and selling of online advertising inventory, including real-time bidding and programmatic advertising.

  • Programmatic Advertising
    DI-09

    Using automated technology to buy, sell, and deliver targeted online advertisements, including real-time bidding and data-driven targeting.

  • Real-Time Bidding
    DI-10

    A type of programmatic advertising that enables the buying and selling of online advertising inventory in real-time.

  • E-mail Marketing
    DI-11

    Using email to promote products or services, including email campaign strategy, creation, and optimization.

  • Affiliate Marketing
    DI-12

    Partnering with affiliates to promote products or services, including affiliate network models and commission structures.

  • Social Marketing
    DI-13

    Using social media platforms to promote products or services, including social media strategy, content creation, and engagement metrics.

  • Mobile Marketing
    DI-14

    Using mobile devices to promote products or services, including mobile-optimized websites, apps, and advertising formats.

  • Local Marketing
    DI-15

    Targeting local audiences with online marketing efforts, including location-based targeting and local SEO strategies.

  • Online Marketing Metrics
    DI-16

    Measuring and analyzing the performance of online marketing campaigns, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics.

  • Pricing Models for Online Advertisements
    DI-17

    Different pricing models for online advertisements, including cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM), and cost-per-action (CPA).

  • Case Studies: Facebook Marketing Tools
    DI-18

    Real-world examples of using Facebook marketing tools to promote products or services, including Facebook Ads and Facebook Insights.

  • Case Studies: Twitter Marketing Tools
    DI-19

    Real-world examples of using Twitter marketing tools to promote products or services, including Twitter Ads and Twitter Analytics.

  • Case Studies: Pinterest Marketing Tools
    DI-20

    Real-world examples of using Pinterest marketing tools to promote products or services, including Pinterest Ads and Pinterest Analytics.

  • Location Based Marketing Tools: Google AdSense
    DI-21

    Using Google AdSense to target local audiences with online marketing efforts, including location-based targeting and ad placement.

Key Topics

  • Search Engine Optimization
    OP-1

    Understanding how to optimize e-commerce systems for search engines to improve visibility and drive traffic. This includes understanding how search engines work and techniques to improve search engine rankings.

  • Working Mechanism of Search Engines
    OP-2

    In-depth understanding of how search engines crawl, index, and retrieve data to provide search results. This topic covers the inner workings of search engines.

  • On Page SEO
    OP-3

    Optimizing individual web pages to improve search engine rankings. This includes techniques such as keyword optimization, meta tags, and content optimization.

  • Off Page SEO
    OP-4

    Building a website's reputation and authority through external factors such as backlinks, social media, and online reputation management.

  • Page Ranks
    OP-5

    Understanding how search engines rank web pages and the factors that influence page ranking. This includes understanding Google's PageRank algorithm.

  • Using Google Analytics
    OP-6

    Understanding how to use Google Analytics to track website traffic, behavior, and conversion rates to inform e-commerce optimization decisions.

  • Social Media Analytics
    OP-7

    Understanding how to use social media analytics to track engagement, sentiment, and conversion rates to inform e-commerce optimization decisions.

  • Recommendation Systems
    OP-8

    Understanding how recommendation systems work and how they can be used in e-commerce to personalize customer experiences and improve sales.

  • Collaborative Recommendation Systems
    OP-9

    Understanding how collaborative recommendation systems work, including user-based and item-based collaborative filtering.

  • Content-Based Recommendation Systems
    OP-10

    Understanding how content-based recommendation systems work, including feature-based and knowledge-based systems.

  • Use of Recommendation Systems in E-commerce
    OP-11

    Understanding how recommendation systems can be applied in e-commerce to improve customer experience, increase sales, and enhance customer loyalty.

 

Lab works

Laboratory Works:

The laboratory work includes developing E-commerce applications. The students are highly encouraged to use server side and client side scripting for developing the applications with categories, shopping carts, payment gateways. Students can also use open source ecommerce CMS frameworks and configure them to simulate e-commerce systems. The laboratory work for e-comerce optimization includes SEO tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Analytics,Twitter Analytics etc. Students can also implement basic recommendation system in the e- commerce systems.