E-commerce is a buzz-word, but many people have little idea about the technologies, processes, and business applications surrounding it. Beginning business, economics, and finance students are required to learn about the fundamentals of the Internet and e-commerce. Computer literacy for many business people now includes knowing about the successful design and management of an e-commerce program: examining business issues and e-commerce strategies, and grasping the ways that these can be integrated with technology and infrastructure requirements. Electronic Commerce is the book for these people because it covers the concepts and foundations of electronic commerce as they relate to various decision-making scenarios in the Internet world.Electronic Commerce is a comprehensive book that mixes descriptive information about the Internet and electronic commerce with practical applications and actual case studies. Among important issues covered are intranets/extranets, electronic data exchange, electronic payment systems, supply chain management, auctions on the Web, marketing and advertising on the Web, new hardware and software technologies, security issues, and building a successful e-commerce site, as well as personal, social, organizational, legal, and tax issues. Every chapter starts with an industry profile and two information boxes, which serve as case studies and the bases for further discussions on the practical applications of specific electronic commerce topics. Projects and hands-on exercises conclude each chapter. About the Author Hossein Bidgoli, Ph.D., is Professor of Management Information Systems at California State University. A master teacher and articulate speaker, Dr. Bidgoli helped set up the first PC lab in the United States. He is the author of 40 textbooks, 25 manuals, and numerous technical articles and papers on various aspects of computer applications and information systems published and presented throughout the world. A double winner of meritorious performance and professional and promise awards, Dr. Bidgoli has been a systems analyst and information systems consultant. He was also Director of the Microcomputer Center at Portland State University. CONTENTS: Getting Started with Electronic CommerceElectronic Commerce FundamentalsElectronic Commerce In Action Intranets and Extranets Electronic Data Interchange Electronic Payment Systems Marketing and Advertising on the WebTechnologies and Applications to Support Electronic CommerceInfrastructure for Electronic Commerce Personal, Social, Organizational and Legal, Tax, and International Issues Security Issues and Measures: Protecting Electronic Commerce Resources Building a Successful Electronic Commerce Site: A Life Cycle Approach Appendix A Basic Web Literacy and Instructions for Creating Web Pages Glossary