Collaborative e-business planning: developing an enterprise learning tool for information management and information systems curricula

This paper presents an evaluation of a collaborative e-business planning assignment implemented on two e-business and e-commerce modules: an undergraduate Information Management in the Digital Economy module and a postgraduate E-Business and E-Commerce module. The modules were delivered to students of information management and information systems. The paper outlines the general design of the modules, and a specific assessment in the form of a collaborative e-business planning assignment is presented. An evaluation of this assignment is presented, based on the findings of a survey instrument distributed to the students at the end of the module. Data were collected on students’ domain knowledge and transferable skills acquired as a result of undertaking the task. Analysis of the data suggests that the task was an effective learning tool for the students in acquiring domain knowledge and transferable skills appropriate to learning about, and for the practice of, e-business and e-commerce. Differences in the type and level of transferable skills acquired by undergraduates and postgraduates are identified. The implications of these findings for further face-to-face and Web-based education in e-business and e-commerce are addressed