Evaluate E-Business Website - Assignment Example

?E-BUSINESS Analysis for UNIVERSAL ORLANDO By Table of Contents Electronic business (E-business) refers to a broad variety of web based business activities such as selling and purchasing different services and products. Additionally, it can also be described as “some sort of business operation in which the contributing partners work together through electronic means rather than through direct physical contact or physical interactions (Andam, 2003) and (Laudon & Laudon, 1999). This report is based on the analysis online business website www.universalorlando.com. This report assesses this e-business platform and presents some suggestions which can help improve the operations of this website. This report also evaluates social networking or mass customization techniques those can be used to enhance the business working and operational performance. 2- INTRODUCTION In the ever increasing worldwide economy, e-commerce and e-business have progressively turned out to be a necessary element of business strategy as well as a powerful channel for financial progress. Additionally, the incorporation of ICT (information technology) in traditional business practice has transformed associations inside businesses, among stakeholders (such as workers and managers) and outside businesses. In addition, the utilization of information technology in business area has proficiently improved production, offered enhanced customer contribution, and facilitated through massive personalization, with the intention of minimizing business expenditures to some extent. Moreover, with the developments in web-based technologies and internet, differences among customary marketplaces and the worldwide electronic markets are slowly being confined. In this scenario, in e-business platforms, the use of ICT is intended to improve business performance. Additionally, it comprises some procedures that a business (legislative, a revenue or non-profit unit) can perform over a network supported by computer systems. In this scenario, wide-ranging description of e-business could be the change in a business’s practices to provide extra customer support through the implementation of technologies, computing models and thinking of the modern financial aspects (Andam, 2003), (Ray, 2011) and (Turban et al., 2005). 3- BUSINESS OVERVIEW Universal-Studios-Florida, Orlando was started in 90s as theme park that allows visitors to have rides as well as enjoy movies based entertainment. Additionally, the ideas of Universal Studio are aimed at providing the guests with an experience resembling that they are in a movie set watching shows, enjoying rides and a lot of children based facilities and attractions that are inspired by well-liked television, film and music productions for example Harry Porter based theme park. In addition, the park is composed of 6-themed sections those are Production Central, Hollywood, San Francisco/Amity, New York, Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone and World Expo. Universal Orlando Resort is a theme-park and attractive visiting place in Florida, Orlando. It is a combined business framework among Blackstone Group along with NBC Universal. In addition, Universal CityWalk is a night time activity place, and it comprises three Loews Hotels. Moreover, the Universal-Orlando-Resort is the leading assets owned by Universal Studios. Subsequent to the Walt Disney World Resort, the Theme Parks of Universal-Studios-Florida are the second biggest resort in Greater Orlando (Universal Orlando Resort, 2011). Furthermore, the Universal-Studios-Florida, Orlando uses a web technology based website that is www.universalorlando.com. This website is an e-business platform that allows visitors to purchase and take information about the business rides and resorts online. Moreover, this website also provides Universal Studios Florida Parks, Vacation Plans, tickets, hotels, packages and Park Tickets. 4- E-BUSINESS OF UNIVERSAL ORLANDO E-Business Universal Orlando is formed on multiple business paradigms. Universal Orlando has established a web based platform that offers support for numerous business activities. In this regard I have presented below some of the main types of e-business arrangements those can be used for the Universal Orlando business: (Summers et al., 2003), (Eid et al., 2006), (Klein & Quelch, 1997) and (Moen et al., 2008) 4.1- E-Marketing The Universal Orlando web based portal has a very effective and resourceful web based business promotion platform. Since we launch the website and open the web page, we are instantly able to know the most recent and up-coming events at the Universal Orlando entertainment website. In this scenario, one of the main aspects of this web based platform is its user friendly working and interactive look. This leads to more effective business advertisement. This as well offers much targeted business marketing. 4.2- Information Portal The online business website of Universal Orlando as well works as the business information portal that provides massive information for continuous business working and operational practices. Additional, this information portal is capable to offer a detailed business and corporate overview with necessary business details, corporate policies, site maps, tickets information and other entertainment news. In addition, this information portal is able to offer huge business and corporate details with extensive business and customer guidance. This portal allows an online business customer to have all the necessary business information at a single place which can provide the customer much better direction and services. At this web based platform customers from all over the world can observe desired theme parks and entertainment aspects by visiting business pages. 4.3- Online Booking/E-Booking One of the prime and superior characteristics of this Universal Orlando business website is that it offers superior approaches and means through which a person can select and book theme parks tickets and other entertainment vouchers from the web based link. In addition, this booking system is able present more enhanced capability of facilitating customers for online payments and also enables for better management of the overall booking and payment procedure. 4.4- Sales System The Universal Orlando online business system is able to offer better services and support by presenting online shopping facility. Additionally, the web based store offers guidance about shopping procedure at Universal Orlando Resort related shopping items. Here we can buy Universal movie character, gifts, toys and unique shops offering important things we can purchase. In addition, the new Universal CityWalk facility offers a variety of provisions presenting all the things from surfing application, playthings, coast and riding on skateboard accessories, ornaments, handbags, wristwatches and more. Moreover, on this website we can securely pay and easily purchase the required items with excellent payment support and different aspects of transaction management. Thus, this sales system is a completely automated system designed to facilitate the overall business interaction and organizational transactions. In this way business will be able to enjoy a great deal of support plus facility for business sales management (Universal Studios., 2011). 5- ISSUES AT E-BUSINESS OF UNIVERSAL ORLANDO This section outlines some of the important issues in the E-Business of Universal Orlando. In this scenario I will assess the issues those are really critical for establishing effective online business management for the Universal Orlando web based business: (Dix et al., 1998), (Myers, 1998) and (Kurkovsky et al., 2005) 5.1- Extra loading time The website of Universal Orlando contains heavy graphics and complicated information contents. In this way the business website of Universal Orlando takes too much time to load the web page at the user end. This page loading time becomes too problematic if users are using a low speed internet connection. In this way the user of website has to wait too long to see the web page containing the required information that definitely creates the feelings of interruption for the user in case viewing the overall web pages. These all aspects typically lead to more complicated issues as well as diverse problems in case of web page handling and management. This long time loading issue creates user interaction based problems as well. 5.2- Information Overload The business line of Universal Orlando is extremely large. In this scenario, in order to display all the business information on a single page is a really tough task to deal with. In this scenario huge information is given at the main webpage of the business website. This sometime causes huge problems in viewing the business website and then getting the right thing. In addition, the information at the main web page of Universal Orlando website is scattered all through the web page and this huge sometimes the loading of this information turns out to be frustrating for the user of website in an attempt to find or discover the right kind of information or services. By opening the webpage for the first time, the user watches the web page which is offering several informational contents those are rather hard to distinguish and evaluate. 5.3- Heavy Graphics The web page has used high-definition images those require too much time to load and offer a number of issues in case of overall management of webpage. These heavy images cause more problems in loading information at the website and cause problems of navigation speed. In this scenario, a user with low bandwidth connection suffers from diverse problems regarding the low speed of the system to load the web content. This slowness definitely moves in the direction of lower satisfaction from the customer. This overall aspect leads to system usability related issues. 5.4- Complex Interface The overall user interface of the business website is extensive and very complex to manage the overall information and user aspects on the web page. This complex user interface causes issues regarding business website information extraction and management. Also complication of overall user interface sometime causes huge problems regarding the data extraction and information presentation. Here customer needs a plenty of time to obtain the right information and required data. 5.5- Site Contents Arrangement The overall website contents are arranged in a much harder way to handle and administer in case of navigation and movement across the web pages. This overall arrangement leads to some of the user information handling in addition to management issues. A new user definitely requires much time to understand and navigate across the web page to get the right information and data contents. Moreover, these all aspects and issues cause some possible concerns regarding effective information management and resourceful website performance. 6- WEBSITE EVALUATION This section presents a detailed analysis of the Universal Orlando website: 6.1- CARS Checklist Model For the analysis of Universal Orlando website I have selected the CARS Checklist (credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, support) model for the overall analysis and evaluation of Universal Orlando business website. In this scenario, CARS Checklist (Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, and Support) is designed for the smooth website utilization and its usability analysis. In addition, a small number of causes will convene each standard mentioned in the list, and yet those that cannot acquire the maximum level of quality that is established. However if we discover to utilize the standards inside this list, we will definitely be a great deal better capable to divide the premium information from the cheap information offered at the website (McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2003). 6.1.1- Credibility In analysis of Universal Orlando website the credibility is about the studying the sources that are produced by the business which recognizes the matter and who takes into account its significance. It is about the quality of the business website information. In this scenario we are aimed to assess some of the prime and basic aspects regarding the quality of information and its better effectiveness for the better business usage. In this analysis I have found that Universal Orlando website is offering a great deal of excellent business information and data management facilities. 6.1.2- Accuracy In Universal Orlando website the accuracy analysis is about the information which is presented at the website and this information is perfect, modern and accurate in all aspects. In this scenario we can be able to potentially recognize that Universal Orlando website is offering much deeper web based information interaction and data services. Thus, these all features lead to more enhanced data management and operational support. There also exists a high level information accuracy that is found at the Universal Orlando website. These all aspects are extremely useful as well as effective for business availability of information to the diverse users of website. 6.1.3- Reasonableness This characteristic of the website analysis for Universal Orlando online business website is about the deep and thorough analysis of the website reliability and impartial capabilities. Here we are competent to distinguish that website is offering all the information in an improved manner that a user wants to enjoy. Moreover, the overall available information is completely honest and fair regarding the overall business point of view. 6.1.4- Support This aspect of the website analysis for Universal Orlando online business website is about the availability of customer support at the website. Additionally, this form of support can include customer assistance information, call center or only order inquiry and response system. These all aspects lead to more enhanced information and working performance at the business website of Universal Orlando. In this connection companies can be provide huge information and customer business support for an efficient business management and better contentment of their customers (Harris & Spinks, 2007). 6.2- Branding In case of Universal Orlando online business the branding of the business is really high. The business has developed theme-parks on the basis of its movie characters as well as cartoons. Presently Universal Orlando comprises three main theme parks: (Universal Studios., 2011) Universal Studios Florida® Theme Park Universal's Islands of Adventure® Theme Park The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - The business is offering high class services and working support through its valuable business management support. In this scenario the business has promoted its movies through its theme-parks and as well got huge welcome through its movies at theme parks (Universal Studios., 2011). This business also offers rides and extra gifts those are mainly based on its movie characters and theme parks. In this way the business is able to get high children and people reception at the business for the better facility and provision of entertainment. The way of business branding has given an enhanced support to all the areas of business working. This has offered support to the business theme parks and also to the movies business, because both these businesses are running in a parallel to each other (Universal Studios., 2011). 6.3- Social Networking Universal Orlando is also offering social network based support to its viewers. In this scenario business is facilitating with a web based platform that provides enhanced support in form of business promotion and user convention. In addition, the business has offered social network support to the websites such as Facebook and Tweeter social networks. The prime objective of such social network based business support is to offer more enhanced facility and marketing approach at the business platform for providing business customers a single place for communicating and sharing people experience. This also enhances business productivity and offers facility for the business services promotions (Turban et al., 2005). Image Source: http://www.universalorlando.com/OverviewPages/ThemeParks/themeparks.aspx 6.4- Mass Customization The business offers mass customization of business services according to customer needs and demands. In this scenario, a user or customer can be capable to plan his vacations and trips to the Universal Orlando resorts and parks. The online portal of Universal Orlando offers an excellent support for planning of overall trips and useful tips for mass customization of people entertainment arrangement (Turban et al., 2005). The online website of Universal Orlando mass customization also offers facility of navigation to various people. To provide assistance, website offers guidance maps and theme park pictures to the clients to better understand and plan their vacations. Therefore diverse people come and analyze the overall structure of theme parks and plan their trips in a much better way. This property as well leads to better satisfaction of customer. For better guidance of customer the website as well offers vacation and trip planning videos those can better lead the customers to plan and manage their trips in a better way. This as well offers them the confidence regarding planning and presents them an easy way to add extra services to their overall trip. Here people are also able to arrange the trip in a much better way because these videos are extremely helpful in case of viewing as well as assessing the gorgeous theme park. Image Source: http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort_information/Trip_planning/what_to_bring.aspx 7- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEB BASED BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT This section presents some recommendations for improving Universal Orlando web based business. These recommendation and improvement plans are formed on all the possible issues those we have evaluated in addition to major problems found in the web based platform of the Universal Orlando web based business: 7.1- User Satisfaction One of the main recommendations for possible enhancement in the business at the Universal Orlando web based business is to improve the user satisfaction level. In this scenario there is an awful need to bring the promising improvement in the user contents and information extraction areas. This will usually lead to much better user satisfaction as well as it also improves the overall quality of business services. 7.2- Website Navigation For the Universal Orlando web based business possible improvement we need to bring is to augment the website navigation by integrating much quicker as well as simpler navigation mechanism among website links. This will lead to much better user interaction and working performance at the website. 7.3- Information Contents The website informational contents of Universal Orlando web based business need to be arranged in a much better way to offer online clients the means to take advantage of better website interaction as well as information. This will offer online customers to have a faster access as well as information content at the web based business platform. 7.4- Website Design There exists a small need for the potential improvement in the website design. The website design needs to be modified to show less complicated user interface as well as information arrangement. Therefore the website needs to be customized to present the overall information at the website in a more constructive and enhanced way, which can improve the overall website working plus operational performance. 7.5- Website security The security of the web based business is one of the main concerns in the present age of technology. In this scenario there is a vital need for the establishment of a great deal of enhanced service for business security and online transaction management. 8- CONCLUSION In this overall report I have presented a comprehensive analysis of some of the prime aspects of web based business of Universal Orlando (www.universalorlando.com). In this scenario I have presented a comprehensive analysis of some of the main aspects of business, it’s working and operational areas. This report has outlined various factors about online working of the business. This report has discussed various issues those should be alleviated to enhance overall business operational performance. This report has also discussed the recommendations to bring possible business improvement and working developments. 9- REFERENCES Andam, Z.R., 2003. e-Commercer and e-Business. [Online] Available at: http://www.apdip.net/publications/iespprimers/eprimer-ecom.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2011]. Dix, A., Finlay, J., Abowd, G. & Beale, R., 1998. Human-Computer Interaction. Hillsdale: Prentice Hall. Eid, R., Trueman, M. & Ahmed, A., 2006. B2B international internet marketing, A benchmarking exercise. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 13(1/2), pp.200-13. Harris, R. & Spinks, A., 2007. The C.A.R.S. Checklist for Evaluating Internet Sources. [Online] Available at: http://www.andyspinks.com/researchhelp/web/CARS.pdf [Accessed 31 March 2011]. Klein, L.R. & Quelch, J.A., 1997. Business-to-business market making on the Internet. International Marketing Review, 14(5), pp.345-61. Kurkovsky, S., Zanev, V. & Kurkovsky, A., 2005. SMMART: Using Context-Awareness in M-commerce. In MobileHCI '05: Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Human computer interaction with mobile devices & services. Salzburg, Austria , 2005. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Laudon, K.C. & Laudon, J.P., 1999. Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2003. The CARS Checklist (Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support). [Online] Available at: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0079876543/student_view0/research_center-999/research_papers30/conducting_web-based_research.html [Accessed 30 March 2011]. Moen, o., Madsen, T.K. & Aspelund, A., 2008. The importance of the internet in international business-to-business markets. International Marketing Review, 25(5), pp.487-503. Myers, B.A., 1998. A Brief History of Human Computer Interaction Technology. ACM interactions. 5(2), pp.44-54. Ray, L., 2011. How Is a Management Information System Useful in Companies? [Online] Available at: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4926548_management-information-system-useful-companies.html [Accessed 19 February 2011]. Summers, J. et al., 2003. Essentials of Marketing. Australia: Thomosn. Turban, E., Leidner, D., McLean, E. & Wetherbe, J., 2005. Information Technology for Management: Transforming Organizations in the Digital Economy. New York: Wiley. Universal Orlando Resort, 2011. Two Incredible Theme Parks, Too Incredible to Miss. [Online] Available at: http://universalorlando.co.uk/minisite/UK/overview.aspx [Accessed 30 March 2011]. Universal Studios., 2011. More than 60 Shopping Venues. [Online] Available at: http://www.universalorlando.com/OverviewPages/Shops/over60venues.aspx [Accessed 29 March 2011]. Universal Studios., 2011. Our World-Class Theme Parks. [Online] Available at: http://www.universalorlando.com/OverviewPages/ThemeParks/themeparks.aspx [Accessed 31 March 2011]. Read More