Internet Exercises

Chapter 5

1. Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Go to the web sites for Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Amazon.com was the first to start its on-line bookstore in 1995 and soon claimed that it was the “largest bookstore in the world.” Do a comprehensive comparison of the two bookstores, including: 1) the number of titles in print; 2) the prices; 3) delivery options, including shipping prices; 4) the number of international titles; 5) the ease of searching for titles; and 6) anything else that would be important to you as a customer. Does Amazon still have the first mover advantage? Which on-line bookstore would you be more likely to use? Why?

2. Characteristics of Useful Information. Go www.edmunds.com to find information on purchasing cars. Select one car that you would potentially be interested in purchasing. Discuss the importance of certain characteristics of information in selecting your car: 1) accuracy; 2) completeness; 3) relevance, and 4) timeliness. Give examples of each from this web site.

3. Privacy of Information. Go to the web sites of three drug stores and examine their privacy policies. Do they have policies? What protections are offered if they have policies? You might wish to visit Lawtons, Shoppers Drug Mart, , and Pharmasave.

4. The Internet. Will the Internet make traditional travel agencies obsolete? Go to the web sites of three airlines such as Air Canada, Jetsgo, and WestJet. Choose a route that you would like to take (e.g. Halifax to Vancouver), round trip during the summer. Compare the times, convenience (is the flight direct or does it have stops?), and prices of each of these airlines. Then call one or two travel agencies and see what they can do. What are the advantages of using the Internet to reserve and purchase your tickets? What are the disadvantages?

5. Computer Viruses. Use the Internet to get information about three types of antivirus software programs. Compare the features and prices of each program. Which of these would you be most likely to buy? Why? Which do you have now?

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