Active Learning Model for Teaching B2B e-Marketplaces

Journal of Information Systems Education, Spring 2005 by Gricar, Joze, Pucihar, Andreja, Lenart, Gregor

An indirect goal of the student's project is to encourage the organizations to consider e-marketplace adoption in order to enhance its competitiveness (Gricar et al. 2004, 224). For example, one group of students developed a prototype for a pharmaceutical company that resulted in a 3-hour presentation for a session of 23 purchasing and sales managers. This presentation resulted in the company deciding to further explore the possibilities of using reverse auctions with their current suppliers.

In addition to creating an awareness among students and project organizations, the goal of this approach is to enhance sharing knowledge about the use of e-markets to Slovenian companies within the region as well as to demonstrate the possibility of greater competitive advantage in international business. This exposure comes from various activities organized by the Center of eCommerce at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences at the University of Maribor in Slovenia. Some examples are: the Graduate Student Bazaar, workshops and panel discussions at the annual Bled eCommerce Conference; the annual Merkur Day-an undergraduate and graduate student eCommerce Conference where students present prototypes; and through Business and Government Executive Meetings. '

This approach offers an excellent example for knowledge transfer to companies by engaging them in student projects. It also demonstrates that research can meet actual business needs in the area of eBusiness development and links educational issues to the European Commission ICT diffusion policy (Selhofer 2004, 189).

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to acknowledge that part of this teaching was described in a shorter form in the chapter "E-Business W@tch Reports as a Resource in Student Projects - a Slovenian case Study" of "The European e-Business Report 2004 (3rd Synthesis Report)" (Gricar et al, 2004).

7. REFERENCES

Archer, N.; Gebauer, J. (2000), "Managing in the Context of the New Electronic Marketplace" Proceedings 1st World Congress on the Management of Electronic Commerce, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, January 19-21.

DeSisto, R. (2000), "e-Marketplaces: Place your Bets of Fold Your Cards", Gartner Symposium ITXPO 2000, Insight for the connected world. Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, USA. 16-20 October 2000.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (2004), "Slovenia Current Economic Trends 2004-2005 Autumn Issue 2004"

European Commission (2003), "The European e-Business Report 2002/03 (1st Synthesis Report)" European Commission, Enterprise Directorate General. http://www.ebusinesswatch.org/images/stories/space/reports/eBusiness-Report2004.pdf

European Commission (2003), "The European e-Business Report 2003 (2nd Synthesis Report)" European Commission, Enterprise Directorate General. http://www.ebusinesswatch.org/marketwatch/resources/E-Business-2003 .pdf

European Commission (2004), "The European e-Business Report 2004 (3rd Synthesis Report)" European Commission, Enterprise Directorate General. http://www.ebusinesswatch.org/marketwatch/resources/S ynthRep_2002-03.pdf