http://www.sajim.co.za/training.main.asp?print=1


   
  Training Vol.2(2/3) September 2000

Information Management Training 
Prof Adeline du Toit 
asadt@lw.rau.ac.za 

The Internet is the backbone for the new information economy and it is radically changing 
business models around the world. E-commerce is transforming the global marketplace and 
presents unparalleled opportunities for companies to expand their markets. 

E-marketplace creates new opportunities for training 

The National-Louis University in Chicago has grasp this opportunity by offering a Master of 
Science degree in E-Commerce via the Web. Founded in 1886, the university has been 
committed to meeting the needs of adult students and the curriculum for this degree is 
designed to incorporate real-life experiences in the workplace. The degree is designed for 
experienced professionals and executives who are looking for graduate-level study which 
will enable them to assist their enterprises to successfully undertake business initiatives using 
electronic commerce technology. 

The electronic classroom is the nucleus of the interaction between students for this degree 
and tutors. It is a required and vital piece in the on-line courses, which simulates the 
traditional classroom discussion activities among groups and between students and tutors. A 
group of students form a class and a professor facilitates the course material and learning 
experiences. Some course material is provided on the course Web site that is accessible only 
by password. Other material may be provided through links to other Internet sites. Teaching 
and class discussion are carried out through the electronic classroom. Course work includes 
large-scale behavioural simulations, case studies, instrumented learning, seminar discussions, 
role-play, demonstrations and student presentations. On-line bulletin boards and newsgroups 
are used to stimulate interaction among students and instructors in order to augment 
collaborative learning. 

The programme provides knowledge and skills in electronic commerce technology and 
related business applications. It emphasizes the integration of electronic commerce 
technology with business functions. Programme content includes the technical, leadership 
and managerial skills necessary to achieve that integration. Courses address practical 
problems related to electronic commerce, so that students will be able to apply their new 
knowledge and skills in their work settings almost immediately. Further, the courses are 
sequenced to provide continuity and contain common threads and themes. These threads and 
themes include business process design, change management, marketing (focus on the needs 
of internal and external customers and constituencies), technology (as it relates to electronic 
commerce), and methods to assess the costs and benefits of electronic commerce initiatives. 
The programme serves adults who work in diverse organizational settings, public as well as 
private, not-for-profit as well as for-profit. 

To learn more about the programme, visit the Web site at http://e-commerce.nl.edu. If you 
have any questions about the programme, e-mail Jennifer Jones at jjon@chicago1.nl.edu.



  

Disclaimer 

Articles published in SAJIM are the opinions of the authors and do not 
necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor, Board, Publisher, Webmaster 
or the Rand Afrikaans University. The user hereby waives any claim 
he/she/they may have or acquire against the publisher, its suppliers, 
licensees and sub licensees and indemnifies all said persons from any 
claims, lawsuits, proceedings, costs, special, incidental, consequential or 
indirect damages, including damages for loss of profits, loss of business or 
downtime arising out of or relating to the user’s use of the Website. 

 

ISSN 1560-683X

Published by InterWord Communications for the Centre for Research in Web-based Applications,
Rand Afrikaans University