Development of Online Auction Market

Development of Online bewray off MarketAbstractThe globe of online auction sale bridgeeer bridge off ex channel bridge is a in truth competitory world, its to a fault al close monopoly where companies much(prenominal) as e-bay take the biggest market puzzle shargon. Beca office the net profit has no goerning body and does non belong to whatsoever government in that respect is no control over what users ar switching or buying or whether there is ethical, mora referic or legal ramification on the act of the guests which use the run of these companies.Competing with companies such as e-bay, a well established brand with world(prenominal) dominance is non something I had in forefront Student Online Auction System is no exception in its use up for these advantages and war-ridden skirt to thrive in this highly competitive global market. This report imp finesse outline the stage in carrying out an investigation of a enigma case which is a real world and under discontinueed a innovative dodge. To be able to achieve tasks, mixed analytical and design methodologies were investigated.It is also important to consider the organizational structure and gardening, this skunk play a vital role in entropy sit downing because often a failure in an tuition establishment go with may be more c whollyable to lack of recognition of or respect for the culture of the organization than because of the engineering science itself.Major organisations such as e-bay but serving of emphasizes on c altogethering their customers Community members rather then customers. The original mood that suffice the birth of e-bay was to establish an online community were members match in online forums were they subscribe in open discussions on how to improve the services deliver the goodsd, exchange ideas as well as select doing and buyingIn this realize an hear leave behind do to be more aw atomic number 18 of the requirements of the customer, an d to draw off the scheme bind the facility were customers, give a slantdback on the dusts functionality, usability and salve of navigation and then carrying out any relevant improvements suggested by these feedbacks at the maintenance stage.Chapter 1IntroductionThe aim of this bedevil is to design and effectuate up an online rail line sticker where students at the university asshole buy and cover articles through effective bidding dodging. It also pass ons a guide for me to assure the tolerate successfully through gathering essential knowledge and belles-lettres relating to the fundamental issues that skunk support and improve security. The projects objective is to create a tool that will reduce the operational risks related to do this persona of clientele where fraudulent misuse of user accounts is very common.In doion formations are fundamental part of organisations asset, its distinguished as an asset because instruction systems use selective information bases which are the building blocks of an information system. The information gathered and stored in these building blocks are then analysed and refined to help organisations decision making process.Although routine filing system will probably satisfy the definition of information system a Data Base Management System (DBMS) is a program design specifically to store and access data. It also has peculiar(prenominal) features not present in cabinet filling system such as consistency, clipping saving, access control, reliability and recovery.This project is about ontogeny a system which merges Database with website engineering science to produce an Online auction clientele.http//www4.ncsu.edu/wurman/Papers/Wurman-article.pdf1.2 verbal description of Project Objectives.The main objective of this project is to make Students who want sell their unwanted items a computerized lineage by developing a database system together with a database operate site to give online services for th eir customers. In order to give a good service and stay competitive on the market, the business should be able to adopt this impudently system.The project will seek on some some other Auction Businesses who already uses this technology and also investigate on how this business move give online services. In addition to that, the project will investigate the existing systems employ by the existing online auction companies in day to day activity and chance upon the problem area of their system in order to come up with a disclose system.Starting from the research and analysis it will go to the implementation by having an appropriate report on the process undertaken including interpretation of techniques and software use to develop the system. It will also analyse and lay the appropriate technology for SOAS Ltd to give an efficient service and to run the business more in effect.Finally there will be testing and evaluating the immaculate carrefour to make sure that it meets t he directments in order to satisfy the client. main(prenominal) points why set up Student Online Auction System.To provide quick and an efficient service to their customers.To get or attract more customers by giving online and fast services.To improve communication with customers.To protect data or information a enlightenst unauthorised access.Online service will save journey (time) for any customers.Generate Revenue for both students and the come withStay competitive on the market.No interruption.Peace of mind.1.3 Academic ObjectivesTo design and implement a database c at oncern system forTo gain an understanding of a database systems and the technology behind them.To research on other estate agents who currently become a database guidance system and online system.To discusses a range of methodologies, tools and techniques in order to select the almost suitable approaches for the development of the project.To demonstrate all the practical(a) and theoretical association gai ned during my studies at the university.To meet deadlines following the software development principle including project management and documentation.To develop a website for London wide estates.1.4 Personal ObjectivesTo gain a valuable knowledge and have in a configuration of fields that should help build my future career.To gain confidence in my ability to make the right decision and cope with difficult situation during the development of the system with self-tuition and minimum supervision.To achieve an insight and hands-on practical experience of analyzing, designing, testing and documentation of a real world project.To lift myself to face the real world in the computing attention with the experience I have gained in the past and will gain developing the system.By developing this system I hope to demonstrate my capacity of mastering a real word project.1.5 Project ProposalAlthough conventional auction houses still enjoy some popularity by restricting their treat on e few r eserved items such as art effects and memorabilias. They have in some manner or other adopted technology to conduct their business. This is because of the fast pace of technological alteration that is taken over the way that business is conducted all over world. These eld boththing seems to be done on a computer and paper practise is becoming thing of the past. It is well known event that Information technology is so important in making the life of many businesses oftentimes easier. It is also essential that businesses dep dying on a computerized database system to provide or record information for running their business on everyday basis.Student Online Auction Systems Ltds purpose is to set up a database driven website were customers primarily students sell and buy items from to each one other. The project will make use of the web-driven database technology to implement and set up fully execution online business. The purposed online system will allow customers to browse, search without registering and unaccompanied allow to buy, sell or both after registration.In order to set up the system a variety of various softwares will be applyhypertext markup languageXMLJAVASCRIPTASP.net Visual studioSQL ExpressChapter 22.1 BackgroundThe business relationship of internet auctions started in mid 1990s, and quickly become one of the most successful applications of electronic commerce. Perhaps EBay, the premier consumer-to-consumer (C2C) internet auction site, is mostly perceived as pioneer for the industry. As the business to business (B2B) auctions performance volume increases the potential for the industry is greater then that of conventional auctions. With auction sites such as eBay and U-Bid being common household names, it seems life-threatening to conceptualise that the online auction phenomenon is actually very young. exclusively young it is. In situation, the world of online auctions as we know it found its beginning in the year 1995 with a co mpany dedicated to holding auctions for geeks wanting to buy, sell and trade computers and peripherals. Today, this site, fondly known as eBay, has become the worlds largest online marketplace hosting more than 100,000 auctions daily in 315 categories. With more than 40 million bids placed on eBay since its inception, it is no question that other entrepreneurs hoping to claim a piece of the internet auction market quickly followed suit. Far from being a lonely beacon in the world of online trading, eBay is now competing with several other extremely successful online auctions sites. In fact, hundreds of auction sites put up be found listed in various auction directories on the web.On these sites, consumers world wide buy, sell and trade items ranging from out of date collectibles to daily essentials. Virtually everything imaginable can be found on internet auctions at a great price.http//www.unc.edu/draughn/assignment1.htmlhttp//www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/2006-06-25- physics-of-ebay_x.htm2.2 What is an online Auction?An online auction is an internet-based activity, which is used to negotiate prices for purchasing or sale of direct materials, capital or services. Online auctions can be used to sell these are called Forward (or Seller) Auctions and closely resemble the activity on B2C auction websites. Companies have used forward auctions to sell off surplus assets or in times of shortages -highest bid wins. However, most companies are starting to use Reverse (or Buyer) Auctions, where purchasers seek market pricing, inviting suppliers to compete for business in an online event. Auctions can be either private/closed where there are typically few bidders who have no visibility of each others bids, or open, where a greater number of participants are invited. In this case participants have visibility of either their rank or the bidding itself. Bidding on an internet auction is as simple as surfing the web. tout ensemble you need to do is register a t an auction site and begin seek for merchandise. Once you bring forth exactly what you are looking for, you can place a bid and monitor the bidding action with just a few clicks of your mouse. Most auctions sites also allow you to transfer remunerations through PayPal, an online honorarium system. That means that your personal quote pester information is not given(p) to any buyer or auction site directly. So, no depicted object whether you are searching for a one-of-a-kind antique or looking for a bottle of discount designer perfume, you can bet that you will find what you seek at the online auctions. http//www.caslon.com.au/auctionsprofile.htm2.3 How do Online Auctions Work?Internet auctions are behemoth flea markets. Sellers may chap one item at a time or multiple lots of the alike item. In theory, online auctions run frequently like local auctions, but behind the scenes there is a battle array of data going on continuously. Just like local auctions, there are selle rs and bidders and winners and losers. Winners are expected to pay for what they bid on at the conclusion of the auction. But that is where the similarities amidst online and local auctions end.2.3.1 RegistrationAt online auctions you will be required to register before you can buy or sell an item (s). This is required to track items you bid on or sell, keep up with the bids, determine the winning bids and build a database on seller and bidder feedback.2.3.2 Winning BidsThe bidding for each auction closes at the schedule time. In the case of sales of multiple lots, the participants with the highest bids at the close of the auction are obligated to buy the items. If no one bids at or above the reserve price, the auction closes without a winner. At the close of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate, usually by email, to arrange for payment and delivery of the goods.2.3.3 Payment OptionsBuyers may have several payment options, including credit control board, debit ca rd, personal check, cashiers check, money order, cash on delivery and escrow services. However, all sellers do not approve all forms of payment. Credit cards affirm buyers the most consumer protections, including the right to seek a credit from the credit card issuer if the product is not delivered or if the product received is not the product ordered. Typically, sellers victimization business-to-person auction sites accept payment by credit card. But many sellers in personal auctions do not. Usually they require payment by cashiers check or money order before they launch the item to the winning bidder2.3.4 Types of auctions.There are twain attributes of Internet auctions business-to-person or person-to-person. Sellers of business-to-person auction sites have somatogenetic control of the merchandise being offered and accept payment for the goods. In person-to-person auctions, individual sellers or small businesses offer their items for auction directly to consumers. Generall y, the seller, not the site, has physical possession of the merchandise. After the auction closes, the seller is responsible for dealing directly with the highest bidder to arrange for payment and delivery.Chapter 33.0 IntroductionInternet auctions can be characterised in two ship canal third-party auction sellers such as e-Bay, Amazon.com and Yahoo that auction goods for others (either individual sellers or corporate chains), and direct auction sellers which create their own auctions online via their company websites. A substantial number of retailers and catalogue firms are taking advantage of the pick up in these online auctions to unload merchandise and increase sales, and growth in the online auction category is now well documented. Catalogue marketers as diverse as The Sharper Image, Ross-Simons, Cameraworld.com, and CompUSA are all successfully auctioning products online. A business model is the mechanism by which a business intends to specify a tax proposition or a value c luster for targeted customers, a financial model and a market offering3.1 ebays Business ModeleBay has build an online person-to-person trading community on the Internet, using the World all-embracing weathervane. Buyers and sellers are brought together in a manner where sellers are permitted to list items for sale, buyers to bid on items of interest and all eBay users to browse through listed items in a fully automated way. The items are arranged by topics, where each type of auction has its own category.eBay has both streamlined and globalized traditional person-to-person trading, which has traditionally been conducted through such forms as garage sales, collectibles shows, flea markets and more, with their web port. This facilitates indulgent exploration for buyers and enables the sellers to immediately list an item for sale in spite of appearance legal proceeding of registering.Browsing and bidding on auctions is free of charge, but sellers are aerated two kinds of charge sWhen an item is listed on eBay a non-refundable Insertion Fee is charged, which ranges between 30 cents and $3.30, depending on the sellers opening bid on the item.A fee is charged for additional listing options to promote the item, such as highlighted or bold listing.A Final Value ( last-place sale price) fee is charged at the end of the sellers auction. This fee generally ranges from 1.25% to 5% of the final sale price.eBay notifies the buyer and seller via e-mail at the end of the auction if a bid exceeds the sellers minimum price, and the seller and buyer finish the transaction one by one of eBay. The binding contract of the auction is between the winning bidder and the seller only.3.2 Amazons Business ModelAmazons business model is one in which Amazon depends on third party to deliver information goods or services to end customers. There are three operational strategies that have helped Amazon.com to enhance its competitive advantage, including cost-leadership, customer var iousiation and centering strategies (Saunders, 2001, pp.122-123). The origin strategy, cost-leadership is pursued by Amazon.com by differentiating itself primarily on the basis of price. Due to this strategy, Amazon.com always makes sure that it offers the same reference products as other companies for a considerably less price. Their countenance strategy is customer differentiation. Amazon.com provided current and prospective customers with differentiation though design, property or convenience and Amazon.com always selects a differentiator that is different among the competitor. So, Amazon.com consumers can recognize and differentiate its product from competitors (Saunders, 2001, pp.122-123). The last strategy that it uses, is a focus strategy. This strategy takes one of the two earlier strategies and applies it to a deferral within the market (Saunders, 2001, pp.122-123). Amazon.com focuses on outstanding customer service as a niche but not the whole market because each nic he has its own demand and requirement.3.3 Customer interfaceTo a certain extent, the Amazon.com customer interface can be customized to each users preferences. When a user logs in to Amazon.com after purchasing, the website reconfigures and presents content that pertains to individual users, depending upon the users responses or profile (2004, p.188). For Amazon.com, collaborative-filtering software is used to veer the website to each user through comparing each users purchases with the purchases of other users with similar preferences (2004, p.188). A list is then compiled of additional purchase recommendations, with suggestions crossways product categories as well, such as similar areas of interest in CD or DVD format (2004, p.188).Additionally, the website promotes and fosters a community of customers through encouraging readers to submit book reviews and facilitating online discussions about previously read books (Spector, 2000, p.78). These activities provide users with an in teractive component and give them an opportunity to contribute to the websites content as well as develop a group identity and thought of belonging which can lead to possible friendships (Spector, 2000, p.78). 3.4 Technology behind the Online Auctions untouchable Internet system is safer then handing over your card details on the phone. The application used to secure the online monitory system is the Secure Socket stratum SSL. This technology is a military strength encryption technology, which works in conjunction with secure servers. This technology scrambles and encrypts sensitive information such as credit card details with a code before dismissal by a merchant server from a PC and that of the company taking a customers money. One of the other applications is a system of digital certification.When a user visits the website, intending to purchase over the Internet online, the website will viewing a lock sign on the toolbar infra and provide information that the website is s ecure to use, the SSL lock will identify if the website is certified or not? The certificate is to authorise secure online transaction processing, which acts like an Identity card for the site and for the company behind the site. Its confirmed that the site belong to a register trader.3.4.2 MethodologyThe Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) is perfect(a) method of system development and if not understood fully it can lead into confusion into the mass of details available on the different stages of this methodology. SSDAM looks at the system from three different, but highly interdependent perspectives. The first is that of functionality or processing. This looks at the way in which data is passed around the system and the processes or activities that transform it, i.e. it sets out the functions provided for users by the system. The second is that of data. An information system (IS) exists only to store and act upon organisations data. By understanding the true char acter and structure of data we get to real heart of the system. Data structures are far more constant than processing or functions, which tend to change fairly frequently therefore its the data view that forms the backbone of SSADM. The final view looks at the effects of time and real world events on the data held within the system. Whereas the function and data views are rather injection in nature, the events view is dynamic it is specifically designed to model system behaviour over time.3.4.2.1Advantages of using SSADMTimelines Theoretically, SSADM allows one to plan, manage and control a project well. These points are essential to deliver the product on time.Usability indoors SSADM special emphasis is put on the analysis of user necessarily. Simultaneously, the systems model is developed and a comprehensive demand analysis is carried out. Both are tried to see if they are well suited to each other.6 resolve to changes in the business environment As in SSADM documentation of th e projects progress is taken very seriously, issues like business objectives and business needs are considered while the project is being developed. This offers the possibility to tailor the planning of the project to the actual requirements of the business.Effective use of skills SSADM does not require very special skills and can easily be taught to the staff. Normally, common border and diagramming tools are used. Commercial carapace tools are also offered in order to be able to set up SSADM easily.Better note SSADM reduces the error rate of IS by defining a certain quality level in the beginning and constantly checking the system.Improvement of productiveness By encouraging on-time delivery, meeting business requirements, ensuring better quality, using human resources effectively as well as trying to avoid bureaucracy, SSADM improves the overall productivity of the specific project and the company.Cuts costs SSADM separates the logical and the physical systems design. So the system does not have to be implemented again with new hard -or software.73.4.2.2 Disadvantages of using SSADMSSADM puts special emphasis on the analysis of the system and its documentation. This causes the jeopardy of over-analysing, which can be very time and cost consuming. Due to various types of description methods, checks of consistence cannot be carried out. Especially with large systems, the outline diagram can become very unclear, because all relevant data flows have to be included. However, large companies carrying out various projects, can profit from the fact that SSADM gives the possibility to reuse certain techniques and tools for other projects. This reduces cost and time washed-out enormously in the long run. So, the danger of spending too very much money on analysis can be compensated by the reuse of the developed systems and experience gained.3.4.3 UMLThe unified modelling language defines the industry standard bank bill and semantics for properly applying that notation for software built using object-oriented (OO) or component based technology. UML2.0 provides common and consistent notation with which to run along (OO) and component software systems. The UML potentially decreases the learning curve for developers because they only need to learn the one modelling language.3.4.3.1 Advantages of using UMLWide industry tolerationWide range of tool supportConsistent modelling notation3.4.3.2 Disadvantages of using UMLModelling tools do not fully support it and sometimes get the notation wrong when they doNot yet knowMany developers only understand UML notations, often because most books and modelling tools do not go beyond the UML to address user interface modelling, or even business rulesThe full notation is overkill for most projects, most efforts only need a small subset of the notation3.4.5 Using SSADM with UMLComplex information systems require a methodology for their development in a incorporate manner. Many different methodologies e xist, each suitable for a particular type of application. In this report we develop a taxonomy covering two different classification features for methodologies targeted at the workflow area. Features identified include concerns, method structure, data gathering means, stack involved, notations, adaptability, flexibility, exception, CASE tool. unified Modelling Language (UML) and Unified Process are relatively strong on hard aspects and lame on soft aspects. Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) is mayhap the most comprehensive but some soft aspects are omitted. The crew of techniques such as UML and Workflow is identified as a way forward.Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)HTML is one of the next generations of Generalised Markup Languages (GMLs). HTML is very easy to use language for web designing. HTML allows web developers to format web rapscallion using set of markup tags provided by HTML.HTML can be used within asp.net codes. This can only be made possible by using a asp.net function called asp followed by (HTML), e.g. Hello Word . HTML is used within asp.net to design the interface to make it easy to navigate through a site. HTML forms unchanging Web sites, but with the use of ASP.net is can be dynamic.3.4.5.1 ASP.NETASP stands for restless Server Pages. This is one of Microsofts latest software product. ASP.NET is built upon the .NET good example. The .NET Framework consists of two main components the common language runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework class library. The foundation of the .NET Framework is the CLR. It is like an agent that manages codes at execution time for both Windows and ASP.NET applications. The class library is an object-oriented collection of reusable components. It can be used to develop applications for both Windows and the Web. The .NET Framework is a free download, but the development tools can be expensive.ASP.NET is used by Web developers to create dynamic Web pages. It offers a set of reusable, pre defined and ready to use controls. This control saves time as it minimises the amount of codes to be written.3.4.5.2 Java ScriptJavaScript is a client side scripting language. It is highly efficient as many tasks are client-side processing. JavaScript is an interpreted programing language with object oriented capabilities. JavaScript can be embedded into the HTML to add functionality. JavaScript is very useful for setting validations on a page to minimize error entry.Microsoft SQL 2000Microsoft SQL Server 2000 is a full-featured relational database management system (RDBMS) that offers a variety of administrative tools to ease the burdens of database development, maintenance and administration. It has features such as Enterprise Manager, Query Analyzer, SQL Profiler, Service Manager, Data Transformation Services and Books3.5.0 indigenous ResearchPrimary research involves getting original data directly about the product and market. Primary research data is data that did not exist b efore. It is designed to answer specific questions of interest to the business. Here a questionnaire was chosen to be the method of conducting market research in to online auction website as the primary source. A questionnaire with composed of ten questions were distributed into ten students at different times and days to get maximum answer ratio. adopt Appendix AChapter 44.0 Fact finding analysisAll projects that involve system development must have thorough fact finding or investigation carried out before the specification, design and social system of the application. Its important for the project to be clear about what the system needs to do and this will require obtaining information about a potentially wide range of subjects.4.0.1 Examining any existing documentationAlthough there was physical documentation available to examine for existing companies such as e-bay, it was relatively small amounts of electronic journals available at the research web resources such as Mental.4. 0.2 InterviewingInterviewing is the most and common techniques that is used almost in every computing or business project. This is because is an easy way of collecting information face-to-face with the people involved in the old or new system.This process has started from the first day of the project by meeting both my supervisor Mrs Patricia Robertson, for more updates. The process started by drawing some business activity model (for more information please look at the BAM (Business Activity Model). These activities had to be change few several times to meet the systems requirements.Through out the project it was important to interview regular users of the existing systems used by other companies such as e-bay and Amazon for feedbacks and updates. The project had faced some sit back at the beginning due to the fact that the original sole use of SSADM as methodology was not good idea, which made it hard getting the exact system requirement. With the help of some of the SSADM techniq ues such as the BAM and ER diagram coupled with UML CASE diagrams we managed to reach an over look of the system.QuestionnaireAs part of the investigation process, questionnaires were lively and handed out to some randomly selected people from the Westminster harrow Campus ,as they could be the new potential customers , these were filled out on the while they were in the Hall ways and student union centre.Questionnaires generally tend to be an inexpensive method of getting people to provide information. The technique used will be closed questions. This will allow people to frame their short answers on a fixed set of options, to avoid people getting bored by long open questions which they have no time for.4.0.4. Analysis of the questionnaireThe questionnaire started with asking potential customers how often they visit Online auction? The group of people questioned consisted 60% of (19-30) years olds, 20% of the age (18) and 20% of the age (31-45), 30% of the participants answered t hat they visit online auction websites at least once a week 1% answered everyday 40% said they visit once a month and 20% percent said they never visit online auction websites. But perhaps more surprisingly of all questions, participants were undecided 50% yes and 50 % No when asked whether online auctions offer a better deal. There was however good result when participants were asked whether they actually sold or bought from online auctions the result was 60% yes and 40% no. see graph below4.1.0 Market PositioningOnce a potential market segments have being identified and target audience selected, SOS Ltd would need to determine the lay of its services amongst service industries in the market place. Effective management of merchandise communication will enable the companys marketers to position their services in the mind of the customers, its therefore important for the company to position itself along side the specialist online auction web site such sites need to build a good re putation for