Abstract
This paper makes reference to a Toys R Us case study which shows how a firm that has been in existence in 1948 and that has been so geographically dispersed, has made efficient internal communication essential to staying competitive. This paper takes a look at the devices employed by Toys-R-Us and at how the managers attempted to do carry out the successful strategy.

From the paper:

"Microsoft Exchange Server was deployed at the Toys R Us national offices and distribution centers, messaging has become a silent contributor to the company's success and an indispensable part of every employees workday. Dan Hannay, director of operations development for Toys R Us, comments, "Since we started using Microsoft Exchange Server, I would guess that, from my vantage point, productivity has increased by 400 percent. Everyone loves to check their e-mail every day, and because e-mail is the primary vehicle for communication, its essential to check it frequently"."

Tags:strategy, employees, productive, toys, games, goods, apparel, infant, preschool

Abstract
This research paper provides a background and overview of how cultural influences affect consumer buying behaviours to identify any commonalities and differences between consumers in the United States and Russia, and to determine what impact these differences and commonalities have on online and brick-and-mortar outlet purchasing behaviours. Chapter one introduces the topics under consideration, provides a statement of the problem, the purpose and importance of the study, as well as its scope and rationale. Chapter two provides a critical review of the relevant and peer-reviewed literature concerning e-commerce and e-tailing and a discussion of the respective economies of Russia and the United States today. Chapter three presents the study's methodology, a description of the study approach, the data-gathering method and the database of study consulted. Chapter four is comprised of an analysis of the data developed during the research process and chapter five presents the study's conclusions, a summary of the research and salient recommendations for companies seeking to establish or expand their online presence in the future.

Outline:
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Methodology
Data Analysis
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

From the Paper
"The trends are clear and unmistakable. Just a decade ago, online sales were a very small part of the national economy of the United States and were virtually nonexistent in the former Soviet Union, and online sales in total comprised a tiny fraction of global trade. Today, though, online sales are in the tens of billions of dollars, and electronic commerce is becoming increasingly important to consumers, sellers, and entire economies. Though considered to be in its relative infancy, Internet usage and on-line marketing are also growing explosively. In fact, during 2003 alone, approximately 40 million households in the U.S. made at least one purchase from the Internet, up from only six million in 1994 (Black, 2005). Rapid innovations in a wide range of telecommunications, the volume and rapidity of air travel (in spite of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States), e-business and instantaneous "live" television coverage of important - and not so important - events have made the world a smaller place in which to live and shop, but with an enormously wider selection of choices available for those with the right tools and access. Today, new words and terminologies have entered the vernacular to describe this emerging reality; e.g., Internet, e-commerce, KBE, ISPS, dot-com companies, web portals, telephony, PGs, wireless application protocols; combined with other buzzwords such as "creative destruction" and "paradigm shift," as well as neologisms such as "glocalization," "globalating" and "technoglobalism," it is clear that more and more businesses will be turning to the Internet as a way to improve their competitive advantage and increase their market share in current and additional markets (Mutalib, 2002). Indeed, advances in technology have provided useful supportive tools in the conventional market. For example, television and radio have greatly facilitated one-way communication. Various information systems can be used to process transactions, collect and analyze data."

Tags:on, line, purchasing, cultural, differnces, internet

Abstract
This paper examines the e-business supply chain in comparison with the bricks-and-mortar supply chain, noting the improvements in communication and the streamlining of the supply chain.

From the Paper
"The supply chain consists of three parallel streams. The one that we are most familiar with starts with the raw materials, proceeds through products, manufacturing, sales and delivery to the customer. Transitioning from the bricks-and-mortar business environment to the e-business environment involves more than just setting up a web site. As Stephen Hoare points out, the challenge that traditional bricks-and-mortar businesses face when trying to develop an..."

Tags:supply chain, online, Internet, e-business, bricks and mortar, communication, warehouse

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts Amazon.com with Target by using a SWOT analysis of Amazon.com's Internet based business with Target's bricks and mortar-based business. The paper also looks at the impact of e-commerce on businesses today.

From the Paper
"Although the dot-com boom was forecast to cause a revolution in retailing with many analysts expecting a significant shift to so-called e-tailing, the new business model of having only an Internet presence without a physical brick and mortar presence has not come to dominate the American commercial market. Instead traditional retailers have added e-commerce to their business plans but have not abandoned their physical stores in most cases. Amazon com is a clear exception to this."

Tags:amazon, target, click/click, click/brick

Abstract
This paper takes a closer look at the new phenomenon of online retailing, and compares it to the more customary variety of commerce. The researcher interviews "real-life" shoppers, asking them to compare their internet experiences with their experiences in the high street. The paper questions whether consumers prefer one over the other and whether there are certain things that people will not buy in cyberspace. The paper also questions whether the online marketplace inspires the same level of comfort and trust as its brick and mortar counterpart.

Paper Outline:
Introduction
Aims
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Internet shoppers cited the wider variety of choices available, especially in terms of the above-mentioned favorite purchases. For the high street shopper, the "what you see is what you get factor" proved to be the most positive aspect of the shopping experience. The subjects were fairly evenly divided as far as the other criteria were concerned. However, subjects did feel that one could get a better price online, as opposed to in the high street. There was, nevertheless, a striking difference in spending amounts between the two styles of shopping. Very clearly, the subjects spent considerably more money in the high street than on the Internet."

Tags:customer, shopping, center, merchandise, satisfaction

Abstract
This paper will provide a critical discussion on the development of the Internet and place a special focus on the way it has impacted on the financial sector. Probably the most affected sector has been the brokerage industry, where the Internet has virtually obliterated the barriers to entry for smaller start up firms. No longer are the world's brick-and-mortar giants like Citicorp, Merrill Lynch, and in Canada, the big 6 six banks, in firm control of the market.

Abstract
This paper uses an example of a college with no desktop computers for students to use and discusses how wireless and LAN technology could change the educational process. It explains that the traditional educational process is brick-and-mortar-based and depends on classroom interaction and discussion. The writer suggests that classrooms of the future could be virtual, and the need for traditional college campuses might fade away.

From the Paper
"This new approach to learning would certainly affect the students, but it would also affect the learning experience itself. Some professors may be computer phobic, and some students may be, too. Students come from all age groups, economic levels, and social backgrounds, and expecting all students and all professors to immediately comprehend the wireless and plugged-in world of laptops may not be realistic. Classroom attendance might fall if the students could plug-in to an online classroom, or download class notes uploaded by other students or by the professor. In the future, brick and mortal classrooms might not be necessary. Virtual classrooms, accessible by each student and each instructor could take the place of traditional classrooms, and not only save the school money, but save valuable land and expansion space, too. Classrooms are already becoming much more technology based, but if classrooms were unnecessary, the technology could be expanded to the LAN, and more students would have access to communal information from all classes, not just one class."

Tags:college, technology, virtual, classroom

Abstract
This paper states that it is essential that human resources fund and train personnel and staff to exploit the latest Internet technology to the fullest extent possible because e-governance is becoming one of the major public-sector phenomena of the twenty-first century. The author points out that today's centralized governments are in retreat, as members of the public are savvier and temporal demands are more acute. The paper relates that the utilization of e-governance must be a priority of governments and of strategic human resources that seek to protect the state from appearing inflexible, unresponsive or even anachronistic. The author emphasizes that the ability of the state to "spin" its own message to suit its own needs is greatly enhanced by e-government. The paper asserts that e-governance affords people the opportunity to engage in online transactions that are much faster than traditional "bricks-and-mortar" transactions. In addition to the sources used by the paper, the paper also includes an annotated bibliography of five more sources.

From the Paper
"In a matter related to much of what has been stated above, e-governance allows governments to distribute their message to the masses in a fashion that far exceeds - for speed and convenience, certainly - the manner in which it can be transmitted via other media. Specifically, interactive government web sites can be accessed by members of the public at any time and almost anywhere - as long as an internet hook-up is in place. Because of this, citizens wishing to voice their displeasure (or support) of a government measure do not have endure the tedium of calling into a government ministry or the uncertainty that always seems to accompany penning a letter to government officials and then wondering if it ever arrived. As well, for individuals who are removed from their television sets or who do not have ready access to the local newspaper, an interactive internet site can be a fast way of learning more about something that may very well impact their lives or the lives of others they care about. Finally, because a government web site is not medi

Tags:phenomena, china, spin, training, savvy

Abstract
This paper examines the complexities of doing business in our virtual age, looking at the particular challenges of marketing a virtual bookstore. At the center of this paper is a case study of an individual who once owned a bricks-and-mortar bookstore and considered opening a virtual bookstore, only to find the marketing challenges too great. This study shows how the booksellers have had to adjust their own business practices so that they could interact in the smoothest possible way with virtual stores. This paper then presents some possible modifications that will allow this particular bookseller to succeed in today's virtual age.

From the Paper
"Independent bookstores have traditionally taken chances on new authors, who often contribute substantially to making the marketplace of ideas more diverse. But the number of independent bookstores " which have allowed new writers to find their audiences " seems to decrease each day. The loss of these bookstores is not the same as the closing of a cute clothing boutique; each independent that closes takes with it some measure at least of the freedom of expression that exists only when it is used. The support of these newly emergent authors is something that virtual bookstore owners can use as a marketing strategy. This man, who is planning to open a virtual mystery bookstore later this year, intends to use this as a marketing strategy. Especially for mystery readers there's always this search for new authors. Mystery readers tend to read a lot of books and they're always running out of new works to read by their favorites, so they're always looking for new writers. And that's often very hard to find in a Barnes and Noble because they're committed to these huge profits and sales figures. I'm not looking for that. I'm looking to make a little bit of a profit and I want to be part of the mechanism that brings new authors into the public arena. And I know that there are a lot of people who would appreciate that. I go to conferences all the time, and people are always asking when there's going to be a bookstore all about new voices."

Tags:e-commerce, products, owner, manager, marketing, consumers, research, strategy, implementation, internet, megastores, publishers, small, technology, developments, flow, relationships, global, hi, tech, organizations, sales, service, volume, amazon, ebay, yahoo

Abstract
This paper explains that outsourcing, especially in the IT industry, is seen as a strategic move to improve an organization's profitability. Given this assumption, the author presents an extensive literature review investigating leadership requirements in real organizations and virtual organizations that use an outsourcing strategy. The paper defines the traits of leaders, compares requirements for leadership of virtual and real organizations, looks at the effect of culture and structure on the leadership role in outsourcing ventures, discusses cost benefits and budget and project management for outsourcing, reports on the
uncertainties leaders face when dealing with IT outsourcing and reviews issues of worker motivation, team working, and leadership in virtual organizations.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Purpose of this Study
Hypothesis
Importance
Proposed Methodology
Limitations
Conclusion
Literature Review
Leadership Traits and Styles in Real Organizations and Effects of Physical Proximity
Leadership Traits Required for a Virtual Organization
Internal and external factors Impacting the Information Technology Industry
The Significance of Knowledge Management of the Workforce and Organization
Organizational Structures and Cultures in Real and Virtual Organizations
True Financial Impact of Outsourcing and the Hidden Costs of Outsourcing
The leadership Requirements for Planning An Outsourcing Venture and the Responsibilities to Existing Workforce
Culture and Synergy Needs of a Virtual Organization and their Impact on the Motivation of the Workforce
Virtual Teams and Management of Virtual Teams
Project Management in the Virtual Work and Communication Requirements

From the Paper
"Presently organizations often use three different types of motivational methods with their employees. The first,'Satisfaction Theory' postulates that individuals find some form of pleasure or satisfaction during the process of completion of the tasks and are of the opinion that his or her ability to complete the task demonstrates their capability and expertise. The second method uses the 'Incentive Theory' where the worker is offered some form of incentive to encourage him or her to perform better. These incentives can be in a number of forms such as higher pay, promotions, etc."

Tags:globalization, knowledge-based economy, holistic style standardization