Digital Commerce
Learning Objectives
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At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
A. Explain the element of digital commerce.
B. Provide one example of how Human Resources is being impacted by digital commerce.
C. Explain the consequences when employees shop online at work.
Overview of Digital Commerce
Digital access is the element that is examines the buying and sells of goods online (Ribble, 2015). Over 80% of Americans make purchases online, with about 15% buying items weekly (Smith & Anderson, 2016). This accounted for over $350 billion being spent in 2015 (Smith & Anderson, 2015). Although the amount of purchases vary across generations, each generation is making purchases online (Smith & Anderson, 2015). Therefore, this importance of this element has increased. People need to educate each other about how to shop and sell online properly, legally, and ethically. We need to hold ourselves accountability as well. In addition, we need to understand how to research the places we may purchase from and protect our identities from being stolen.
Connections to Digital Citizenship Theme
In the field of Human Resource Management (HRM), the element of digital commerce should be a consideration when developing your HRM practices. At first this issue may seem to be something that is not within the realm of HRM but it truly is a valid concern. The reasoning being about 50% of employees admit to shopping online while at work (Fisher, 2015) which may include using the company's devices (e.g., computers, tablets, smartphones) . There are many implications for employees shopping online at work. These include: lost of productivity time for the organization, opening the organization's network to potential virus or malware, potential compromise of organization's sensitive data, and potential unlawful or unethical acts from the employees. For example, in my personal experience, an employee was selling fake watches (that imitated a very expensive brand) online. Since he was selling them across state lines, this made this a very serious crime and plus he was using company-owned computers to conduct this crime. This brought the company into a situation that they did not to find themselves in.
HRM professionals need to take the implications of employees shopping online at work very serious. Therefore, a policy could aid organizations to avoid these situations and consequences. A thorough policy could educate employees on the potential harm such actions may have on the company and others; consequences faced if such actions are conducted by employees, and the parameters of using company-owned devices. Pamphlets or web resources could also be provided to educate employees about being ethical and lawful when selling items online or looking to make purchases online. This could include how to research potential companies and how to protect your identity from being stolen online.
NPR Radio Audio Broadcasts
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The following are podcasts from NPR that highlight several of the issues you just read about regarding the digital commerce and the impact on HR professionals.
NPR Broadcast #1
Headline: Identity Theft: A Growing Concern for Businesses
Published date: February 29, 2013
Time length: 4:33
The Link to the transcript is below:
Published date: February 29, 2013
Time length: 4:33
The Link to the transcript is below:
Summary of NPR Broadcast #1
This podcast discusses how identities are being stolen not just from individuals but businesses. This is given way to fraudulent businesses. This is problematic because if people fail to research companies they are considering conducting online shopping transactions they may be scammed and lose their money. Further, people meed to understand how to protect their identities.
This podcast discusses how identities are being stolen not just from individuals but businesses. This is given way to fraudulent businesses. This is problematic because if people fail to research companies they are considering conducting online shopping transactions they may be scammed and lose their money. Further, people meed to understand how to protect their identities.
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NPR Broadcast #2
![Theft stealing someone identity](/uploads/5/9/5/6/59564357/published/identitheft.jpg?1494688422)
Headline: Victims of Social Security Number Theft Find It's Hard to Bounce Back
Published date: February 9, 2009
Time length: 3:54
The Link to the transcript is below
Published date: February 9, 2009
Time length: 3:54
The Link to the transcript is below
Summary of NPR Broadcast #2
This podcast describes how difficult to recover when your social security number has been stolen. It can require a lot of time, effort, and money to find some resolution. During this time you may it difficult to purchase anything on credit since yours has been ruined. You may find it difficult to get a job if they require background checks. You may spend your time explaining to creditors, potential employers, bankers, and others what happened to your credit.
This podcast describes how difficult to recover when your social security number has been stolen. It can require a lot of time, effort, and money to find some resolution. During this time you may it difficult to purchase anything on credit since yours has been ruined. You may find it difficult to get a job if they require background checks. You may spend your time explaining to creditors, potential employers, bankers, and others what happened to your credit.
References
Fisher, A. (2015). More employees are getting fired for shopping online at work. Retrieved May 11, 2017 from http://fortune.com/2015/12/01/online-shopping-work-fired/
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know (3rd ed.). Eugene, Oregon: International Society for Technology in Education.
Smith, A., & Anderson, M. (2016). Online shopping and e-commerce. Retrieved May 10, 2017 from ww.pewinternet.org/2016/12/19/online-shopping-and-e-commerce/
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know (3rd ed.). Eugene, Oregon: International Society for Technology in Education.
Smith, A., & Anderson, M. (2016). Online shopping and e-commerce. Retrieved May 10, 2017 from ww.pewinternet.org/2016/12/19/online-shopping-and-e-commerce/