Design and Implementation of an Online Bookshop (a Case Study of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri Bookshop)
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF STUDY
The purpose of the study is to identify the problems inhibiting the bookshop growth and recommend practical solutions, analyzing the existing problems or systems of transaction and complete mode of operation.
Therefore, to change the problematic existing system it is by designing an effective, user friendly or on-line transaction for students, lecturers and other interested customers anywhere they may be and projecting it for implementation.
CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCTION
The review of literature discusses or deliberates on the inspection and examination of the various areas in this chapter that will appear or contribute in the writing of this project such as the concept of E-shopping, concept of computer networking and the internet, internet access, concept of internet gateways, the World Wide Web and its benefits and the merchant account.
All these will in one way or the other be part of the breaking down of this project topic.
HISTORY OF ON-LINE BOOKSHOP
This brief history of on-line bookshop is taking its roots from the parent system which is the E-commerce also known as electronic commerce. Online bookshopping is the buying and selling of books specifically over the internet. Unlike the general name E-commerce which involves buying and selling of all other goods and services. It is interesting to say that the relationship between them is that there is an exchange of goods instead of at the location of the store; it is conducted on-line and makes use of technologies such as electronic data interchange, E-mail, electronic fund transfers or smart cards to receive payment and keep track of transactions.
As history has it, at the close of the 20th century the bulk of on line bookshopping as a part of E-commerce transactions were retail transactions as security and encryption technology over the internet improved. It was affected by the explosive growth in E-commerce due to the expansion of the medium (internet) in the late 1990s.
It almost moved faster than other segments of E-commerce transactions due to the ease and interest in people to be more knowledgeable. It spiced up the transactions in E-commerce because from the statistics E-commerce grew from $11.2 billion in 1998 to $31.2 billion in 1999, and in the year 2003, the transactions were predicted to grow to $380 billion. All these came to be as on-line bookshopping started to become one of the fastest growing segments of E-commerce. As it is said its transactions are business-to-business. Soon after then, companies like eBay created a new aspect of E-commerce which is the consumer-to-consumer transactions.
Conclusively, on-line bookshopping joined as E-commerce became the ideal medium for markets to experiment with adjustments in their store environments and promotions to reach the most effective market target. Companies can now use the information they get from on line book shopping sites like www.bookserve.ca to find out what products are selling, where the bulk of their customers come from and what promotions and sales bring in the most customers.
CONCEPT OF ON-LINE SHOPPING
Literally, the word shopping denotes the activity of going to shops and buying things (0xford Advanced Learners Dictionary).
According to Kiely T. (1997), On-line shopping is the buying and selling of goods or services on-line or via the internet or other networks. While Microsoft Encarta premium (2009) is of the opinion that it is the exchange of goods or services by means of the internet or other computer networks. This follows the basic principle of traditional commerce i.e. the buyers and sellers coming together to exchange goods for money and profit. This concept provides an opportunity or avenue for consumers and retailers to communicate with each other and carry out their objectives i.e conduct business.
Rani Kalacota (1997) defined On-line shopping as part of an on-line business where consumers meet their suppliers for goods and services while Christopher M.H and Chris F. K (1994), defined On-line shopping as the process of managing on-line financial transactions by individuals and companies. This however, includes business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-government (B2G) transaction. However, On-line shopping launches its focus on the systems or methods and procedures whereby all financial documents and information are exchanged. The on-line financial statements are not left out. According to Christopher M. and Chris F. K’s (2002) comments on this, on-line shopping is particularly concerned with the technologies that enable EPI systems function well on the internet.
CHAPTER THREE
INTRODUCTION
This section of the project deliberates on the source of information about the current system organization and maintenance. The organizational chart, representing the organizational structure of the bookshop in a hierarchical order will be illustrated. The problems of this system will be outlined carefully.
Finally, the proposal of the system to be developed, its exploration, input and output specifications, requirements and the scope will be expressed.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The main method of research concerning this project is by observation and interview with the bookshop chairman. After frequent visits to the bookshop, it was easy to draw out conclusions from some observation about the current system. Brief interviews with some students who agreed having an idea of the bookshop were also of great help to this project.
ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDY
The Federal Polytechnic Nekede Bookshop known as POLYNEK Consultancy LTD is a bookshop like other shops established with the aim of generating some worthwhile revenue through the sale of textbooks and other learning materials to customers, the students precisely. It is also faced with the task of funding the POLYNEK farm etc. The bookshop is located in the school of business. Its missions are to provide students with quality and edifying books for their use with ease at affordable prices.
CHAPTER FOUR
INTRODUCTION
Having heard and read all from chapter one about the old system and this new method that will be designed to restructure it. We have come to this chapter, the fourth chapter where the system will be developed and implemented. Also, before the end of this chapter, the main menu, web development, language development (selection), system flowchart, program flowchart, program source codes, hardware requirements and finally the documentation, all will be discussed in this chapter.
CHAPTER FIVE
INTRODUCTION
An adage says that every beginning has an end. With everything being under total submission to nature, we have finally arrived at the last chapter of this project work, this chapter discusses in brief all that have been said in the first, second third, fourth, and the fifth chapters. Also included are the summary, conclusions and recommendation parts of this chapter.
SUMMARY
On-line Bookshopping, a unit of E-commerce is a website that will synthesize and increase the functionality of book sales. Although a lot of websites have been designed and hosted to achieve a lot of goals in different businesses. But this one exclusively designed for FEDPOLYNEK Consultancy Limited (Bookshop) will go a long way in boosting and unveiling the fortunes of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri and their method of operation which has not yielded sufficient profit as expected.
This web designer/developer noticed and took up as a topic. All the steps starting from the first chapter are all designed to make the website project come through. For future references and modifications, the source code is also included showing the language steps used to design the website.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this is a user friendly website designed for on-line buying and selling of books. It is a site that inculcates the new web technology in its full design. When this is fully implemented it will promote and improve the standard of operations of the bookshop which is entirely manual. Furthermore, as the whole wide world walk towards living in a global community, the school Bookshop and the entire Federal Polytechnic Nekede community, will now fit into the global market community and be recognized. The inconveniences faced by our students and unsatisfactory turnover will now be history.
RECOMMENDATION
Having presented all that is required for the successful implementation of this project research work, the following are suggested by the programmer aimed at improving and eliminating the problems encountered each day by both students and the management. The measures are as follow;
- The server should be managed by a database administrator who has undergone training on using MYSQL database.
- A merchant account should be obtained from any of the financial institutions.
- There should be a regular update of the website so as to compete and give round the clock service to the people.
- There should be no hesitation in attending to the needs of the new system designed.
REFERENCES
- Christopher M.H & Chris F.K., (Sept. 1994); MIS Quarterly, vol. 18 n.3, p-251 – 275, Computerized Loan Organization Systems; An Industry Ease Study of the Electronic Markets Hypothesis.
- Duncan D.J. & Whetstone J. (1996), p. 25-36, Is On-Line Bookshopping Ready for the Internet? Information Systems Management.
- Guisbery M.J. (1981) p. 459-478, Diagnosis of MIS Implementation Failures; Promising Results & Unanswered Questions, Management Science.
- Han. K.S., & Noh, M.H. Journal of MIS Research (1998) p. 103-124. An Analysis of Major Failure Factors to Reduce the Dysfunction of On-line Shopping.
- Ives B., & Olson M. (1984), User Involvement & MIS Success. A Review of Research Management Science 30, 586-603.
- Kalokota R. & Whinston A.B. (1996), Using Client Server Broker Architecture For Intranet Decision Support p. 171-192
- Kiely ., (1997), The Internet”; Fear & Shopping Cyberspace. Harvar Business Review p.13-14
