Active learning ideas
The digital revolution has transformed how business is conducted. This topic explores e-business, which involves using the internet to conduct trade, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), where companies hire external agencies to handle non-core activities. Students examine the shift from traditional 'brick-and-mortar' stores to 'click-and-order' platforms.
Activity 01
Students debate the future of the Indian marketplace. One side argues that e-commerce will replace local shops, while the other argues that the 'touch and feel' experience of traditional shops will always prevail.
How does e-business differ from traditional business?
Activity 02
Divide the class into a 'Parent Company' in one country and a 'BPO Unit' in India. They must simulate the transfer of a customer service task, highlighting the benefits of 24/7 service and cost efficiency.
What are the primary benefits of outsourcing?
Activity 03
Students discuss in pairs the steps they take to ensure a safe online transaction (e.g., checking for HTTPS, not sharing OTPs). They then create a 'Cyber Safety Checklist' for their peers.
How can businesses secure online transactions?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
E-business and E-commerce are the same thing.
E-commerce is just a part of e-business. E-business includes not just buying and selling (commerce) but also other activities like production, inventory management, and human resources conducted electronically. A 'Circle within a Circle' diagram can clarify this relationship.
Outsourcing only happens between different countries.
Outsourcing can be domestic as well, such as a company hiring a local security agency or a catering service. Peer-led brainstorming of 'outsourced' services in their own school can help students see the broader scope of the concept.
Methods used in this brief
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