The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus

Department of Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics

COMP3210 Electronic Commerce
Fall 2007/2008
Dr. Paul Walcott


Course Description

Name: COMP3210 (CS35L) Electronic Commerce
Semester: Fall 2007/2008
Summary: Provides a rigorous introduction to the field of electronic commerce, including the
Internet and World Wide Web, planning e-commerce initiatives, marketing, legal
aspects, web design, usability and implementation, payment systems and security.

Goals: The goals of this course include:
To provide training in the theory and practice of e-commerce
To hone e-commerce website development skills
To develop students research, writing and presentation skills

Objectives: A student that has successfully completed this course shall be able to:
Define e-commerce
Describe the state of e-commerce in the Caribbean
Compare and contrast technologies comprising the Internet and the World
Wide Web
Comprehend e-commerce legislation and Internet law
Compare and contrast e-payment systems
Evaluate the quality and usability of e-commerce websites
Evaluate the security of e-commerce websites
Create a simplified business plan for an e-commerce initiative
Create an e-commerce initiative

Credits: Four (4)
Pre-requisites: COMP2160 Object-Oriented Programming
Instructor: Dr. Paul Walcott
Room CMP-10
Tel: 417-4372
email: pwalcott@uwichill.edu.bb
web: http://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/staff/eportfolios/paulwalcott

Textbook: Schneider, Gary, Electronic Commerce, Seventh Annual Edition, Thomson
Course Technology, 2007

Course website: http://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/staff/eportfolios/paulwalcott/courses/comp3210/
Method of Examination

Research Paper / Presentation 10%

Laboratories 10%

Project (due November 23, 2007 at 12:00pm) 10%

Course test(s) (October 17, 2007 at 10am; November 7, 2007 at 10am) 10%
===
Coursework 40%

Final Examination (as per university schedule) 60%



Course Timetable

8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6
Mon T
(LR10)

Tues L
(LR05)
T
(LR02)

Wed L
(LR05)
P
(BLEXT)

Thur T
(TSR7)
P
(ESL)

Fri P
(BLEXT)

Key: P Practical/Laboratory T Tutorial L Lecture



Course Regulations

Regulation 1

Please note that Regulation E.16 from the General Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Science, as
published in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences Handbook 2007-2008, pp. 27, states that:

In order to pass a course, a student must have been in satisfactory attendance at the course;

Satisfactory attendance as defined in this course is at least 75% attendance of all lectures, tutorials and
laboratory sessions.


Regulation 2

All assignments are due on or before the due by date and time. Late assignments will not be accepted.



Course Topics and Schedule

Week Date Session/Topics
1 September
3 - 7
Session 0: Course Introduction
Course Introduction
2 September
10 -14
Session 1: An Introduction to e-commerce
Topics include: Advantages/disadvantages of e-commerce, 1
st
and 2
nd
waves of
e-commerce, e-commerce categories, SWOT analysis and international issues.
Designing, Building and Evaluating e-commerce Initiatives
3 September
17 21
Session 2: Internetworking and the WWW
Topics include: The Internet/WWW, network
characteristics/topologies/devices, Internet protocols and Internet connection
options.
4 September
24 28
Session 3: Designing, Building and Evaluating e-Commerce Initiatives Part I
Topics include: User interface design, electronic commerce software,
evaluating websites, website usability, XHTML 1.0 and cascading style sheets
5 October
1 5
Session 4: Designing, Building and Evaluating e-Commerce Initiatives Part
II
Topics include: JavaScript programming, XML
6 October
8 12
Session 5: Designing, Building and Evaluating e-Commerce Initiatives Part
III
Topics include: An Introduction to PHP and MySQL programming
Creating and Marketing e-Commerce Initiatives
7 October
15 19
Session 6: Planning e-commerce initiatives
Topics include: Business plans, identifying objectives, change management,
website costs, outsourcing and project management.

Test #1: October 17, 2007 at 10:00am covers Sessions 1 - 5
8 October
22 26
Session 7: Making Money on the Web
Topics include: Identifying products and revenue models
9 October 29

November 2
Session 8: Marketing a Web Site and Promoting Products and Services
Topics include: Marketing strategies, market segmentation, Identifying,
customer behaviours, customer relationship models and web advertising.
e-Commerce Legislation and Internet Law
10 November
5 - 9
Session 9: e-Commerce Legislation and Internet Law
Topics include: Borders and jurisdiction, intellectual property, electronic
transaction act and the computer misuse act.

Test #2: November 7, 2007 at 10:00am covers Sessions 1 - 8
Security and Electronic Payment Systems
11 November
12 16
Session 10: Processing Payments On-Line and the Fulfilment Phase
Topics include: The ACID/ICES tests, payment cards and the fulfilment phase.
12 November
19 23
Session 11: Securing an e-commerce Initiative
Topics include: Cryptography, physical security, computer and communication
channel security.

Project due November 23, 2007 at 12:00pm in CMP Department Office.
Course Conclusion
13 November
26 - 30
Session 12: Course Conclusion / Review
Project Presentations