Purpose of this assignment

This assignment considers the structure of organisations, the impact of e-Commerce upon them and the design of effective solutions. You must demonstrate that you understand the needs of a business and the advantages and possible risks posed by an e-Commerce venture. Furthermore, you need to demonstrate that you have an awareness of existing e-Commerce solutions and the technical and legal issues involved with their implementation and the effect of these upon both the organisation and customers

Scenario

A qualified and practising Pharmacist named Sheena has decided to open a number of pharmacy outlets in Bradford. The group of Pharmacies are called, “Heartland Pharmacy”.
Sheena is planning to open 4 (four) pharmacy retail outlets in major high streets and adjacent to doctors’ surgeries/community health centres.
She would like customers and patients to be able to access medical advice and purchase associated pharmaceutical and related products 24/7. However, in order to provide this service, she will need to open her pharmacies on a 24 hours basis. This is a cause for concern because it would incur additional costs in terms of staffing, overhead costs relating to premises, for example lighting, heating, security of monies held on premises during opening hours for purchase transactions.
At present each pharmacy outlet will have its own Branch Manager, a Principal Pharmacist, a Pharmacy Technician, and a Sales Assistant. The opening times for each pharmacy are currently from 8.00 am to 8.00pm Monday to Saturday and Sunday is 10.00am to 5.00pm. There is an emergency number for emergency prescriptions. This emergency number is for the Principal Pharmacist who is on duty at that time for each retail outlet.
Sheena would like to have a website for the group of Pharmacies but is not sure if that is a good idea and does not know how to go about it for the group. She does not have time or the skills to create a group website and has therefore asked you for your expertise.
You have been appointed to provide guidance, advice and expertise in the area of E-commerce design and development for businesses. You are to produce a report that will allow her to take her business into the digital age.

Task 1

The introductory section of your report on e-Commerce should explain the structure and aims of Heartland Pharmacy
This section of your report should include the following:

• State what type of organisation Heartland Pharmacy is
• Write out a Mission Statement for the organisation (maximum 3 sentences)
• Make a list of the stakeholders and what their interests in the organisation are
• Complete a PESTLE analysis for the organisation
• Draw a diagram to show the internal and external functions of the organisation
• Make a list of 3 types of data/information that could be collected throughout the organisation and state what decisions could be made using it

Task 2

The second section of your report should explain the impact of implementing an e-Commerce solution.
Make a list of the potential advantages available to the organisation, and to the customers, of implementing the e-Commerce system
Perform a risk assessment of implementing an e-Commerce system for this organisation

Task 3

The third section of your report should explain your design for the e-Commerce solution.
This section of your report should include the following:

• Choose an existing e-Commerce system in the same business area and evaluate it using annotated screen prints. What type of business model does it use? What security and payment systems does it utilise? etc.
• Justify the new Heartland Pharmacy e-Commerce system by listing its objectives and target markets
• State the hardware/software and policies/procedures that you would use to implement the system, ensuring that you take security and data integrity into account.
• State the financial implications of adding an e-Commerce solution from both the start-up and working capital perspectives. What are the initial and on-going financial implications?
• State some of the criteria you would use to evaluate the e-Commerce system after it had been in place for 6 months. You should consider customer service and legislation issues

LO1 Understand the structure and aims of business organisations

1.1 Assess an organisation’s core business functions
1.2 Evaluate an organisation’s business aims and show how they relate to stakeholders

LO2 Understand the impact of e-Commerce

2.1 Analyse the impact, including the risks, of introducing an e-Commerce system to an organisation
2.2 Discuss the global impact of e-Commerce on society

LO3 Be able to design e-Commerce solutions

3.1 Investigate market potential for an e-Commerce opportunity
3.2 Evaluate current e-Commerce systems in use by organisations
3.3 Discuss the financial implications of an e-Commerce solution
3.4 Design an e-Commerce solution
3.5 Evaluate the suitability of an e-Commerce solution