Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Prentice Hall Fourth Quarter - 1,627 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

EBay's SWOT Analysis from an IT Stand Point With the development of computer science that triggered tremendous uprising of various new technologies, Internet has become one of the most attractive fields for investing. A lot of different ventures have been started, and most of them turned out to be rather profitable. EBay is one of those ventures, and within the course of this report we will do the SWOT analyses for EBay as well as discuss their overall strategies for further growth and development. EBay is the forerunner to the Internet classifieds. (Fellenstein, p. 67) Their approach to Internet based business is rather unique the company took the traditional classified section of local and international newspapers and trade magazines from all over the globe and created an Internet version that everyone who has access to Internet can enjoy. With the help of the Internet, they have brought markets together by offering millions of sellers the opportunity to sell their products to millions of potential buyers. With e Bays auction style selling, the buyers manipulate the pricing initially set by the seller and adjust the final selling price based on what the market will bear.

For now, EBay has successfully branded its name and is the premier auctioneer of choice for millions of buyers and sellers. However, EBay is faced with many challenges as it struggles to define the strategies for the next phase of growth. At year-end December 31, 2001, e Bays business has grown to $ 748. 8 million in net revenues and net income to $ 90. 4 million, representing a 74 % annual growth. (Fellenstein, p. 84) EBay currently has about 50 million registered users, a level representing more than 100 % increase over the 22. 5 million users reported at the end of the year 2000. The incredibly rapid growth of the Internet market that no other mass medium in history ever experienced is attracting fierce competitors such as Amazon. com and Yahoo! as well as new startups.

In order to maintain its competitive edge and continue its growth, EBay will need to identify new marketing strategies and guide the organization into executing these strategies effectively. Strengths Ebay's success can be attributed to several key factors. First, eBay has established itself as a community, creating a bond amongst its users; which differentiates eBay from other major competitors. The services it offers are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, bringing people from all walks of life together into one central marketplace.

Second, eBay has established brand name recognition. Most Internet savvy individuals have heard of EBay. In fact, during the 2001 Christmas season, eBay was the number one online holiday shopping destination with 5 million unique daily visitors. (May, p. 77) Third, Ebay's business model of generating its revenue by collecting listing fees and commissions from product sales has been sound. As of December 31, 2001, eBay had 126. 5 million listings, while users transacted over $ 2. 7 billion of gross sales in the fourth quarter of 2001 alone. (May, p. 80) Finally, Ebay's low overhead and infrastructure has given them a tremendous edge on generating profits. Weaknesses Ebay's technology infrastructure may be their biggest issue. EBay supported 300 million page views per day during the fourth quarter of 2001 and sent out more then 1. 5 giga-bits per second. (Fellenstein, p. 99) With this amount of data passing back and forth over its technology platform, additional increases in subscribers and user transactions make it extremely vulnerable for data interruptions.

Although EBay achieved 99. 9 % site availability for two straight quarters, their technology platform will potentially face unprecedented challenges if the subscriber base continues to grow at its current rate. (May, p. 123) Another issue that EBay faces in managing its business for profitability, growth, and dominance is its staffing and organizational structure. As the business experiences tremendous growth and expansion into new markets, growing through acquisitions, and offering additional services, it needs an informed and experienced staff to support corporate objectives. As the company takes on new ventures, the existing staff may not be knowledgeable enough to manage the business. The company must take steps to ensure it doesnt outgrow its current internal capabilities by hiring skilled managers capable of solving tomorrows problems. Opportunities Opportunities are abound for EBay. As Internet commerce flourishes globally, EBay can implement a global strategy for maintaining its competitive advantage by expanding its community of buyers and sellers.

By targeting individual buyers and sellers world wide, Ebay's subscriber base can grow exponentially. But there is another target audience that EBay can attract, that is the business to business market. This market has tremendous opportunities and is unrivaled for expansion. Another golden opportunity for EBay is to align itself with some strategic partners. For example, a preferred shipping company and a secure payment company. The most fundamental strategy in obtaining distinctive competencies would be to erect barriers to entry.

One manner in which to do so would be to develop strategic partnerships that would firmly entrench eBay as the online auctioning model that no other company could copy. By reverse engineering the EBay experience, one can determine that payment and shipment are the two most important components of the eventual transaction. Therefore, it would be logical for EBay to form a partnership with a reliable shipping company and a secure payment (credit card) company. Threats The most threatening issue facing EBay is, of course, competition. Due to the low overhead associated with Internet commerce versus brick and mortar retailers, many barriers are eliminated for established companies. Because EBay offers many different products across many different categories through its fixed pricing sites and auction site, the competition is fierce and many.

Ebay's competitors include the major mass merchandisers like Wal-Mart and Amazon. com, as well as some new comers to the online business such as Buy. com, AOL. com, Yahoo, and MSN. Still other electronic retailers exist that offer their products through multiple channels like cable television and the Internet, such as QVC and the Home Shopping Network. (Fellenstein, p. 104) Another threat that EBay faces is that of regulatory and litigation risks. As a broker of merchandise, the question of whom should be held accountable and responsible for the accuracy, authenticity, reliable deliveries, or fraudulent activities from business transactions.

Since EBay approves buyers and sellers to transact business through its computer system, should they be liable for their actions? These activities represent real and potential risks that can and will be costly to EBay. Not only in litigation costs but management will be distracted from managing its core business. Current Strategies Ebay's current business strategy is to execute a strategy that balances increasing bottom-line returns with investments in future growth.

Near term investments include international development and selective expansion, broadening and deepening category offerings, development of fixed price formats and other merchandising options. Additionally, improving the user experience, ongoing development of e Bays next generation architecture and attracting new buyers and sellers to the eBay platform while building loyalty with existing e Bays community of users. With e Bays forecast of growth, they plan on achieving $ 3 billion in revenue by 2005, based on its estimated size of its addressable markets. () These markets include the categories of collectibles, practical items, computers, used autos and parts, and the continued strength of its proven global trading model. Two immediate issues are front and center for EBay. The first issue facing EBay will be its ability to integrate a technological platform capable of handling the increased exponential surge of transactions that is anticipated with its forecasted growth. And the other main issue facing EBay will be its ability to expand its organizational structure well enough to manage and support all the business objectives of acquisitions, market expansion, and technological growth without adding substantial overhead cost and reducing profitability.

With the rate of growth EBay projects just for the next two years, the current system will need a tremendous investment in hardware, software, security, and engineering. EBay needs flexibility to handle the increase system challenges in order to respond to multiple systems associated with the mergers and acquisitions as well as the transactional growth it anticipates. Additionally, it needs to insure a stable system operation that has built-in redundancy for protection from system failures, downtime, hackers, and viruses. As for its internal growth, this is a major challenge for any company. Maintaining a loyal workforce, hiring qualified individuals, and keeping everyone informed of new or current policies and procedures will take a commitment from the top.

A clear vision and strategic plan from a qualified Human Resource professional is in order. One of the most vital things that EBay should consider when developing its current strategies is making sure that their systems of money transactions as well as all the information about buyers and sellers is properly secured. A business that big is always a great target for those computer professionals who can use their knowledge to make money, and in the contemporary shaky situation when the legislation about Internet and the activities within its conceptual framework is not well defined, someone might take advantage of any potential weakness in the system and use it to his / her benefit. (Ghosh, p. 117) Words Count: 1, 511. Bibliography: Fellenstein, S.

and Wood R. Exploring E-Commerce, Global E-Business and E-Society. Prentice Hall, 2002. Ghosh, A. Security and privacy for E-business.

Wiley, 2001. Home, F. E-Enterprise: Business Models, Architecture and Components. Cambridge University Press, 2000. May, P. The Business of Ecommerce: from Corporate Strategy to Technology.

Cambridge University Press, 2002. Menace, D. Scaling for e-business. Prentice Hall, 2000. Model, M. Now or Never: How Companies Must Change Today to Win the Battle for Internet Consumers.

Harper business, 2001.


Free research essays on topics related to: e bays, organizational structure, fourth quarter, prentice hall, internet commerce

Research essay sample on Prentice Hall Fourth Quarter

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com