E-COMMERCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Overview

ECE develops student academic skills and 21st century skills through participation in an e-business challenge. Each school team, consisting of at least one teacher and six students, is challenged to develop an innovative for-profit or not-for-profit e-business. Throughout the school year, students learn about e-technologies and Internet-based business development by participating in online technical seminars and virtual conferences facilitated by content experts, high school teachers, and business professionals. Student teams develop mock e-commerce companies and assume positions in a company to complete the challenge. Each student documents work in an e-Portfolio that demonstrates the variety of skills developed and artifacts produced during the program.

What Do You Do in E-Commerce Entrepreneurship?

The E-Commerce Entrepreneurship (ECE) Challenge
This year, ECE students are challenged to develop an innovative e-business that is related to sustainable energy and/or environmental responsibility.

Research
Students brainstorm and research ideas from a broad range of environmentally conscious e-commerce services and products, either for-profit or not-for-profit. Students also investigate case studies of successful e-commerce entrepreneurs and case studies of companies that have taken steps to “go green.”

Develop
After researching domain names and validating ideas online, students form mock companies, author a business plan that describes their e-business, network with working professionals, and tackle the logistics of production and delivery.

Design
After developing and refining their solutions, teams design marketing material, such as e-blasts (electronic newsletters), jingles, print advertisements, ring tones, and video commercials, to “sell” their solutions via the World Wide Web.

Present
Each team presents its solution to the e-business challenge in three different venues for evaluation by a panel of business professionals and higher-education faculty. First, they post their business plan and multimedia marketing materials to a company Web site (including a fully automated online store) for online evaluation. Second, they create an interactive exhibition booth. Finally, they deliver a five-minute oral presentation to demonstrate their innovative solutions.

Awards
ECE students are recognized for outstanding performance in a variety of categories:

• Outstanding Team Player
• Outstanding Team Leader
• Outstanding Business Plan
• Outstanding Exhibition Booth
• Outstanding Web Site Design
• Outstanding Multimedia Elements
• Outstanding ePortfolio
• Outstanding Oral Presentation
• Battelle Business Innovation Prize
• CCC Internship Award
• The "Greenie" Award

Requirements of E-Commerce Entrepreneurship (ECE)

Topic
Your team’s solution will be graphically described in a concept map and demonstrated through the use of a working prototype.

• Concept Map of Business Idea and Elements
• Web-Based E-Store (including shopping cart and product description)
• Sample Product or Simulated Service

Company Identity
Your team will form a mock company, assign product development responsibilities, and develop a company identity including the following:

• Company Name and Profile
• Company Slogan and Logo
• Company Organization Chart
• Company Employees’ Resumes, Job Descriptions, and Portfolios

Business Plan
Your team will develop an e-commerce concept to be described in detail in a business plan that includes the following:

• Narrative Description of Service/Product
• Research and Development Citations
• Domain Name and Internet Search Results
• Market Test and Evaluations
• Business Info, Features, Characteristics

Web Site
Your team will apply and document the research, problem-solving activities, and critical thinking skills used to design, plan, and produce the product or service presented on your team’s Web site. In addition, your team will ensure that the following have been completed:

• Browser Compatibility Check
• Integrated Payment Functionality
• Posted and Accessible on the World Wide Web at the CTexpo.org server
• Company Domain Forwarded and Masked

Marketing Materials
Your team will design and develop marketing materials to present your e-business solution via your company Web site.

• Market Test Results
• E-Business Advertising Jingle
• E-Business Magazine Advertisement
• E-Business E-Blast
• E-Business Video Commercial

e-Portfolio
Each student will document project activities such as research, problem-solving activities, and multimedia development used to design, plan, and produce the e-business in an e-Portfolio. Your e-Portfolio will document your individual progress during the project and should contain digital files, digital photographs, research citations, digital video, and personal reflection about the work.

For More Information

Contact Dan Cogan-Drew at 203-535-3172 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Download the CCC Student Program Guide (PDF, 4.6 MB): Program_Guide_summer09.pdf