1. Text A The future of e-business
Unit 5 E-Business
Text A The future of e-business

2. Lead in Listening practice: The concept of e-business (p. 96) Answers:
collaborating with business partners
IBM
parts and supplies
do joint research
equipment and software
Travel bookings

3. Lead in
Definition
E-business (electronic business): the application of information and communication technologies in support of business activities.
It enables companies to
link their internal and external data processing systems more efficiently,
work more closely with suppliers and partners, and better satisfy the needs of their customers.

4. Lead in Making prediction Discussion:
What are the internal and external forces that can affect an e-business?
Internal forces: factors closely associated with the actions and decisions taking place within a firm
External forces: factors affecting e-business planning that originate from outside the organization

5. Reading and Researching
Read para : Internal and external factors that affect an e-business
Fill in the second table on p.101
Key points highlighted
Kind of forces
Definition
Factors involved
Internal forces:
factors closely associated with the actions and decisions taking place __________________
External forces:
factors affecting e-business planning that originate from _______________________

6. Internal and external factors that affect an e-business
Definition
Factors involved
Internal forces
factors closely associated with the actions and decisions taking place within a firm
External forces
factors affecting e-business planning that originate from outside the organization
A firm’s planning activities, organization structure, human resources, management decisions, information database, and available financing
Globalization, demographic, societal, economic, competitive technological, and political and legal forces.

7. Reading and Researching
Read para. 1-6: Two fundamental models of e-business
Table on p. 100
Model
Customer focus
Examples mentioned
B2B
B2C
Dell, General Motors, Ford
Other businesses
Barnes & Noble.com, Lands’end.com
Individual consumers

8. Reading and Researching
Specialized terms
1. Business-to-business (B2B) (para. 1, L5): 企业对企业的电子商务
The buying, selling, and exchanging of products or services over the Internet between companies, rather than between companies and consumers
2. Business-to-consumer (B2C) (para. 1, L5): 企业对消费者的电子商务
The selling of products or services to consumers over the Internet

9. Reading and Researching
Synthesize key points from para. 1-6
1. Model 1 (para. 1-4): Business-to-business (B2B): customer focus – other companies or businesses
Type 1: Focus – facilitating sales transactions between businesses
Example: Dell
Type 2: Focus – relationship with suppliers
Example: General Motors and Ford
2. Model 2 (para. 5-6): Business-to-consumer (B2C): customer focus – individual consumers
Examples: Barnes&Noble.com, Lands’end.com

10. Reading and Researching
Model 1 (para. 1-4): Business-to-business (B2B): customer focus – 1. other companies or businesses
Type 1: Focus – facilitating sales transactions between businesses
Example: Dell
A large portion of Dell’s online-orders are 2. from corporate clients who are well-informed about the products they need and are looking for fairly priced, high-quality computer products that will be delivered quickly.
Advantages:
To Dell – 3. reducing storage and carrying costs and rarely stuck with unsold inventory
To customers – reducing costs associated with wholesalers and retailers, helping to reduce the price they pay for equipment.

11. Reading and Researching
Type 2: Focus – relationship with suppliers
Example: General Motors and Ford
General Motors and Ford develop 4. special B2B systems to link thousands of suppliers that sell the automobile makers parts
Advantages:
To General Motors and Ford – significant savings
To suppliers – 5. being the preferred suppliers for General Motors and Ford

12. Reading and Researching:
Model 2 (para. 5-6): Business-to-consumer (B2C): customer focus – 1. individual consumers
Examples: Barnes&Noble.com, Land’send.com
The most important strategy for B2C firms: 2. understanding how consumers behave online
B2C firms aim to:
Provide round-the-clock global access to all kinds of products and services
3. Build up long-term relationships with customers:
Example: Barnes & Noble
4. Using specialized software to track the decisions and buying preferences as customers navigate the website
Advantages: the customers’ repeated purchases repay the investment many times over

13. Language building-up
Task 1: p. 102
Task 3: p. 104

14. Specialized vocabulary Task 1: p. 102
1 e-business models para. 1, L2 2 reduce expenses para. 1, L4 3 corporate clients para. 3, L4 4 unsold inventory para. 3, L7 5 wholesalers and retailers para. 3, L8-9 6 comparison shopping para. 5, Bullet point 1 7 buying preferences para. 6, L5 8 individualized service para. 6, L9

15. Specialized vocabulary Task 1: p. 102
9 创造销售收入 para. 1, L 简化交易程序 para. 3, L2 11 标价合理、高品质的产品 para. 3, L5 12 大量的原材料 para. 4, L 增加购买量 para. 4, L1, p 与消费者建立长期的关系 para. 6, L 互联网的宽带连接 para. 7, L1, p 信息数据库 para. 10, L5

16. Specialized vocabulary Task 1: p. 102
1 e-business models 电子商务模式 2 reduce expenses 减少开销 3 corporate clients 公司客户 4 unsold inventory 未售存货 5 wholesalers and retailers 批发商和零售商 6 comparison shopping 比较购物 7 buying preferences 购物偏好 8 individualized service 个性化服务

17. Specialized vocabulary Task 1: p. 102
9 创造销售收入 generate sales revenue 10 简化交易程序 facilitate sales transactions 11 标价合理、高品质的产品 fairly priced, high-quality products 12 大量的原材料 large quantities of raw materials 13 增加购买量 increase the volume of purchases 14 与消费者建立长期的关系 build long-term relationships with the customers 15 互联网的宽带连接 broadband access to the Internet 16 信息数据库 information database

18. Specialized vocabulary Task 2: pp. 102 -103
1. conduct business 2. growth opportunity 3. human resources 4. individualized services 5. buying preferences 6. generate sales revenue

19. Formal English Task 3: p. 104 1. making …. easier
2. know more than enough; reasonably priced
3. very impressive; extraordinary
4. give
5. estimates
6. protect