E-Commerce

The Electronic Government initiative in Malaysia was launched to lead the country into the Information Age. It has improved both how the government operates internally as well as how it delivers services to the people of Malaysia. It seeks to improve the convenience, accessibility and quality of interactions with citizens and businesses; simultaneously, it will improve information flows and processes within government to improve the speed and quality of policy development, coordination and enforcement.


The vision of Electronic Government is a vision for government, businesses and citizenry working together for the benefit of Malaysia and all of its citizens. The vision focuses on effectively and efficiently delivering services from the government to the people of Malaysia, enabling the government to become more responsive to the needs of its citizens.


The 7 pilot projects of the Electronic Government Flagship Application are as follows;

1. Project Monitoring System (PMS)

2. Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)

3. Generic Office Environment (GOE)

1. Electronic Procurement (EP)

2. Electronic Services (E-Services)

3. Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX)

4. E-Syariah

Project Monitoring System (PMS) is led by the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit (ICU) as one of the e-government projects that create a mechanism to monitor project implementation throughout various government agencies and statutory bodies i.e. from project application to approval to implementation, mid-term review and completion. PMS would also provide a platform for exchanging ideas and demonstrating best practices in project implementation. The PMS is designed to provide a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of government projects.



The introduction of Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) as an e-government project will provide a single interface for government employees to perform human resource functions effectively and efficiently (Yusoff, 2002). The objective of HRMIS is not just for record keeping but also to provide transactional functions such as leave applications, loan processing, competency management, recruitment, and selection of employees. The HRMIS project is anchored by the Public Service Department (PSD). The project started in 1999 and all modules have been completed in September 2006.


The aim of Generic Office Environment (GOE) is to introduce a fully Integrated, distributed and scalable office environment that leverages use of multimedia information technology. This will enable efficient communication, allowing collaboration across all workers, and ensuring right information reaching the right people in a timely manner The GOE project consists of modules namely Enterprise-wide Information Management System (EIMS), Enterprise-wide Communication Management System and Enterprise-Wide Collaboration Management System The EIMS provides a universal interface for users to manage, find, retrieve and compose the information that they need in their day-to-day operations Via the Communication and Collaboration Management Systems.


The electronic procurement system, better known as ePerolehan, streamlines government procurement activities and improves the quality of service it provides. ePerolehan converts traditional procurement processes in the Government machinery to electronic procurement on the Internet and can be accessed at http://www.eperolehan.com.my/m.my.





The next e-government project is Electronic Services (eServices). This project is a pilot project that allows citizens of Malaysia to engage in transactions with government and utilities payments such as telephone and electricity bill, police summons, Road and Transport Department (RTD) services. The eServices can be accessed through three websites, namely
http://www.eservices.com.my/; http://www.rilek.com.my/; and http://www.myeg.com.my/.



The main objective of Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX) is to improve the mobilization of human resources and optimize work force utilization through systematic matching of job seekers to job vacancies. For example, the ELX project initially started in November 2000 and until April 2007 about 405,530 job seekers and 62,255 employers were registered. Out of total 898,856 vacancies posted, 877,052 jobs were matched with suitable candidates.




The main objective of implementing E-Syariah is to improve the quality of service in Syariah courts. This will eventually enhance the Islamic Affairs Department's effectiveness through better monitoring and co-ordination of its agencies and thus improve the management of its 102 Syariah courts. The E-Syariah application consists of Syariah Court Case Management System, Office Automation System, ESyariah Portal, Syaree Lawyers Registration System and Library Management System. (eSyariah).

Besides these seven main projects under e-government flagships, several government agencies has taken initiatives to introduced online services for the public projects, aims to increase the ease and efficiency of public service to the people. Among others were Public Services Portal (myGovernment), e-Tanah, e-Consent, e-Filing, e-Local Government (e-PBT), e-Kehakiman, Custom Information System (SMK), Pensions Online Workflow Environment (POWER), and Training Information System (e-SILA).

As the risk of losing information is getting higher in E-Government system and the challenge is even greater compared to paper environment, therefore change and risk management must be in place to ensure information available overtime. NAM needs to develop partnerships and to share recordkeeping responsibilities with the creating agencies.


References:
1. “About MSC Malaysia.” <http://www.msc.com.my/msc/msc.asp>.
2. “e-Government.” <http://www.msc.com.my/rakyat/E-Goverment.html>.
3. “eperolehan .” <http://home.eperolehan.com.my/en/about/overview.aspx>.
4. “e-Services .” <http://www.gov.my/MyGov/BI/Information/SiteMap/>.
5. “E-syariah.” <http://www.esyariah.gov.my/>.
6. “Generic Office Environment.” <http://www.mampu.gov.my/mmampu.php?Lang=01>.
7. “Generic Office Environment.” <http://www.mampu.gov.my/mmampu.php?Lang=01>.

Blogs have caught the attention of the business world. Some CEOs of Fortune 100 companies are blogging and say the results have exceeded their expectations. A corporate blog is fast becoming a 'must have' part of business marketing and PR strategies. It can create and maintain a conversation with your customers and stakeholders and build thought leadership.

Types of Corporate Blogs

1. Internal Blogs
An internal blog, generally accessed through the corporation's Intranet, is a weblog that any employee can view. Many blogs are also communal, allowing anyone to post to them. The informal nature of blogs may encourage employee participation, free discussion of issues, direct communication between various layers of an organization, and a sense of community.

2. External Blogs
An external blog is a publicly available weblog where company employees, teams, or spokespersons share their views. It is often used to announce new products and services, to explain and clarify policies, or to react on public criticism on certain issues. It also allows a window to the company culture and is often treated more informally than traditional press releases, though a corporate blog often tries to accomplish similar goals as press releases do.

3. CEO Blogs
Although there are debates on whether CEOs should blog or not, blogging among CEOs is becoming popular. Executives who blog include Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of General Motors, Jonathan Schwartz, President and CEO of Sun Microsystems, and Mark Cuban, owner of The Dallas Mavericks among other things.


Corporate blogging provides a clear mind map or editorial guidelines of overall marketing or communication strategy to its employees and third parties with organization communication plan and media mix. Besides that, it encourages employee participation in contribution of expertise, free discussion of issues or topics and deal with it, collective intelligence, be a direct communication between various layers of an organization and shares their views with others employees, teams or spokespersons publicly. Furthermore, it can be used to announce new products and services, explain and clarify policies of the company and to react on public criticism on certain issues. Business blog can interact with a target market on a personal level by building a level of credibility and asking for their feedback on products and services.


A corporate blog makes it easy for readers, be they customers or prospects, to find the latest and most accurate information about its new products and services. It can help achieve customer familiarity with the company products or services. Through the corporate blog, a company can converse directly with customers and prospects. Two-way communication creates trust and builds customer relationships. A corporate blog is the perfect choice for interacting with existing and potential clients. Corporate blogging serves as a channel for a company and its customers to meet on common ground and to know each other more. A corporate blog allows a company to closely track where and under what condition its products or services are being discussed online.


Through the corporate blog, a company can keep an ear to the ground to hear what is being said about the company and speaking up when the situation calls for it. A more personal or understated benefit of a corporate blog is that it gives a human face to a perceived faceless and detached business entity. A corporate blog conjures images of people who are passionate about their products or services and are eager to engage customers and prospects.
(http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/186126/blogging/corporate_blogging_dos_and_donts.html)






One of the challenges to overcome for corporate blogging is the fear factor many corporate execs have - fear of loss of control. How can you control what people say if anyone can publish? That is precisely the same fear in many organizations today with blogs.

What is E-learning?
E-learning means using the technology to support the learning process and often the medium of instruction is through computer technology.
As far as I’m concerned, these universities of Malaysia have adopted E-learning and give emphasize on it. They are, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (Unitar), Multimedia Universiti (MMU), Open University Malaysia (OUM). Besides these universities, others too promoting E-learning as they are important and necessary in order to cope with the standard.

From the students’ perspective, these are the pros and cons.
Pros:
Learning time is flexible
In many contexts, E-learning is self-paced and the learning sessions are available 24x7. Learners are not bound to a specific day/time to physically attend classes. They can also pause learning sessions at their convenience.

Expenses reduced
With E-learning, we can afford getting higher education degrees at respectable universities and colleges by saving extra expenses for traveling, and accommodation. Taking myself as an example, I stay at Puchong and I travel from my home to the campus each day; petrol fuel has been one of the expenses to me. For students from outstation, they can’t afford to make this kind of travel every day; the only way to go about it is to rent him/her a room nearby the campus.

Reducing environmental impact
E-learning allows students to avoid travel, thus reducing the overall carbon output and the usage of papers. Notes will all be in digital form instead of printing them on papers, hence is more environmentally friendly.

Cons:
Unreliable internet connection
One of the frustrating cons ever, it might not happen in any other countries out there, but some of the Internet Service Providers (ISP) here in Malaysia are rather frustrating. Slow connection is often a factor, worse still, disconnections happen quite often as well which lead to frustration.

Level of motivation could be low
With E-learning it’s so flexible that students can go online even lying on a bed with their laptop on but here’s the problem where level of motivation of students could be low because of flexibility; Unmotivated learners or those with poor study habits may fall behind.

Complex management of computer files and online learning software
Some students just don’t really know computer stuff, some just hate it. They might find it difficult for them to use the software and have problems dealing with management of digital files.

One of the most influential things which stimulate e-learning development is globalization through the Internet. The globalized world of computer technologies accepts people of different cultures irrespective of their origin, boundaries, genders, races, ages and sexes. E-learning has become an integral part of this e-world, as well as part of the developments in Malaysian universities even though it leaves so many questions and demands regarding its improvement as it get benefits.

More information on E-learning:
http://www.managerwise.com/article.phtml?id=306

We understand that the purpose of e-commerce is to purchase products and services online. E-commerce brings a lot of convenience to the world as well as cons.

After reviewing the blog, we know that there are a lot of victims made online transactions and get cheated. While the internet users are trying to identify theft and phishing, other types of online fraud continue to proliferate.

Before learning how to protect ourselves from these frauds, we need to identity the common forms of online fraud being perpetrated today. They are as followed:

1. Auction fraud
2. Goods not delivered
3. Bogus money offers
4. Bad checks for services or goods
5. Work-at-home plans and pyramid schemes
6. False loans or credit help for a fee
7. Charity frauds
8. Fake government grants

Thus, how we protect ourselves from online fraud??

There are some common tips here to guide us to protect ourselves from being cheated, they are >>

1. Don’t do business with an organization you can’t verify or don’t trust.

2. Check with your consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau for outstanding complaints.

3. Confirm contact details, including physical addresses, phone numbers, and localities of incorporation. Don’t do business with organizations that won’t freely provide this information.

4. Understand all the rules of an auction before bidding.

5. Confirm an auction sellers’ track record and contact details before bidding on their item.

6. Avoid buying collectible or one-of-a-kind items in an online auction. If you can’t inspect it beforehand, how do you know it’s the real thing?

7. Don’t send cash or use wire transfers to pay for online goods, services, or auction items.

8. Insist on a cashier’s check for the exact amount of goods or services you’ve sold over the Internet. Never deposit a check you’ve received for amounts exceeding the price you’ve negotiated.

9. Even if you’re familiar with a charity, call the organization to confirm their online request before making a donation.

10. Use good judgment when responding to offers of easy money. If the offer appears too good to be true, it probably is.

11. Be wary of unsolicited requests for upfront fees from lenders, government agencies, or other organizations.

12. Make all online transactions with credit cards over secure Web sites. Even if you’ve done your due diligence and decided to transact business with someone, you should still pay the safest way.

http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/library/article.jsp?aid=internet_fraud_prevention

We can always see online fraud happens around the world. E-commerce brought benefits but also brought harms. Hence, we need to have some general knowledge of some of the common types of fraud in order to know how to protect ourselves. With caution, common sense, and awareness we can keep our finances secure.