Case Study Analysis: Virtual Business, Technology Impact, ROI, Digital Business Models, Information Security

This case study analysis discusses the key trends, advantages and disadvantages of managing virtual business in the global environment. It also explores the importance of technology and its impact on Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.com. The analysis critically evaluates emerging digital business models and the challenges associated with information security threats and ethics. Additionally, it discusses how the situation at both companies could have been dealt with differently.

Individual Case Study Analysis

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................3
QUESTION 1.................................................................................................................................................3
Critically discuss the key trends, advantages and disadvantages of managing virtual business in the
global environment.................................................................................................................................3
Discuss the importance of technology and its impact on Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.com...............4
QUESTION 2.................................................................................................................................................5
Compare and contrast native apps against web apps.............................................................................5
Critically discuss the impact of Return on Investment (ROI) on any digital business in general and then
specifically of PWA, either on Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.com.........................................................5
QUESTION 3.................................................................................................................................................6
Critically evaluate emerging digital business models and challenges associated with information
security threats and ethics in general. Perform a critical analysis with respect to the case study
scenarios..................................................................................................................................................6
QUESTION 4.................................................................................................................................................8
From the case study it is clear that the companies mentioned did make use of PWA. How would you
have dealt with the situation at both companies differently if you were responsible?...........................8
Do you think PWA can be impacted by new collaborative relationships and strategic alliances through
digital technology? Why or Why not? Critically discuss and justify your answer....................................8
QUESTION 5.................................................................................................................................................9
Compare and contrast digital business and e-commerce. What are the E-Commerce principles and
discuss how they could be applied to digital businesses?.......................................................................9
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Technology can be defined as the branch of science which works in the manner to
introduce something new in their working style so effective result can be obtained. In current
scenario, there is a huge demand technology as it makes any of the work faster easier and more
convenient so that problem do not arises for any of the person. In context of the file, case study
has been given related to Return on Investment and Progressive Web Application. On the basis
of given case scenario five different question will be addressed in this particular file.
QUESTION 1
Critically discuss the key trends, advantages and disadvantages of managing virtual business in
the global environment.
Virtual business can be explained as the process of conducting the business activity
through online sources where physical presence of the company cannot be seen. Although,
warehouse or small office for quarries can seen but proper business setup is rarely found with
these types of business activity. It is necessary to understand that it is among the fastest growing
industry where company can reach up to maximum number of customers in a very short time
period. Some of the popular example of virtual businesses in global market are known as
Alibaba, Amazon, MakeMyTrip and many more. Its key trends are discussed below in detail.
 Digital Mailbox: It has been the major trend which can be seen within virtual businesses
and entity is able to maintain its record easily without facing any sort of errors. With the
help of digital mailbox, company can easily identify about the mail send or received
including all of its information which might be helpful.
 Advanced use of Live receptions services: It means that organization are able to help
their customers within a very short time period. Here, different team experts are
appointed who handles the query of customer who are facing any sort of problem and it is
the reason that it has been key trends within managing virtual business (Rensema, 2020).
 Remote work keeping rising: It is among the most important trend within COVID-19
where each of the person wants to perform their duty from the premises of home. It
means that virtual business allow its employee to work from any part of the world due to

which chances of interruption within performing the business activity reduces
automatically.
Advantage of Managing Virtual Business in Global Environment
 In global environment whenever any of the entity is able to manage their business
through virtual means that overhead cost can be reduced from the company.
 Satisfaction level among the employees can be improved because it has been found that
employees likes to perform their responsibility by seating at home (Louie and et. al.,
2016).
 Access to the new market can be seen easily within these types of business as it has been
found that there is no requirement of setting up of physical office or store which makes
easy to enter into a new market.
Disadvantage of Managing Virtual Business in Global Environment There is high probability that fluctuation can be seen within communication system due
to which many of the time company may have to suffer in these types of business setup. In context of some of the organization, maintaining data and security is important due to
which it is not possible for each of the business entity to conduct their business process
through virtual means. If employees are unable to perform their part of work as per the required manner, then
huge problem may arise where company may suffer to maintain their goodwill in the
market place.
Discuss the importance of technology and its impact on Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.com
In twenty first century, technology is playing the vital role for providing the effective
services to the customer. In simple words, technology has allowed the people to be connected
with each other which is quite important. In context of business entity, technology has become
one of the crucial factors which has changed their whole concept towards attaining the goals
(Laraba, Olaru and Niculescu, 2017). In simple words, it is said that any of the entity which is
performing their part of work should make them rely upon technology because it can allow them
to perform their work in fastest approach which is quite essential in current scenario.
Impact of Technology on Alibaba and MakeMyTrip

Discussing about both of this business, they perform their business through online
sources by taking the help of customers. The Artificial intelligence allow them to perform much
of their work which is quite important. The most important thing is that they are able to provide
the services to their customers as per their own willingness which is the key reason behind their
success. In detail, Alibaba is able to conduct its business activity within 200 different nations by
setting their place of business from China which it self shows that technology is the key reason
behind their major success through the world. On the other side, MakeMyTrip is also trying to
connect their customers online where they provide them the suitable services while travelling
from one place to another. As per the willingness of customer, company provide them the
services which means each category of people can become the part of company by seating at
home and the main reason is technology. In short, technology is the key reason behind the
success of Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.
QUESTION 2
Compare and contrast native apps against web apps.
Native apps and web apps are two different concepts of using the application where both
of them has its own advantages. Talking about Native app, it is among one of those apps which is
easy to use as proper application is designed in it which can be easily installed. On the other side,
web apps are although cheaper in price to design but this are quite ineffective in some of the
situation such as whenever there is no internet connections. Native apps use fast processor which
allows to use application quite easily but on the other side, web application might not fast as per
the requirement of users (Web app vs. Native app, 2019). Talking about native apps, it is said
that these types of apps can allow us to provide notification by using system software but this
type of feature is rarely available on the platform of web apps.
Critically discuss the impact of Return on Investment (ROI) on any digital business in general
and then specifically of PWA, either on Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.com
In present scenario, must of business entity are trying to shift themselves towards virtual
business which is quite important for attaining the goals. Discussing it in detail, it is said that
whenever any of the business entity performs its business activity, they mainly focus upon
Return on investment. In detail company trying to involve themselves within digital business
gets the opportunity to increase their customer base within the market which is quite necessary.

The impact of Return on Investment on any digital business is quite favourable as entity gets the
opportunity to fulfil the requirement of each customers by working upon their requirement
mentioned in the feedbacks. In addition to this, sales can be increased easily which is the most
important thing and if in case any of the entity is not able to enhance their sales, it will become
one of the most difficult tasks for them to sustain within the market.
Talking about specific organisation like Alibaba.com this are the organisation which is
based on PWA where company majorly focuses upon HTML, CSS3 and many more.
Alibaba.com is among one of those organisations which has made huge investment upon PWA
and they are finding the Return on Investment because company is able to achieve huge success
from the market with the help of PWA. The impact of PWA is that customers are able to get
beneficial services and even they are able to handle the site of Alibaba which makes less burden
for customers due to which they are able to earn huge benefits (Kim and et. al., 2017). Overall, it
has been obtained that impact of ROI on PWA is higher as compared to other form of application
because company like Alibaba.com is able to connect with maximum number of customers
which is quite necessary for attaining the targets.
QUESTION 3
Critically evaluate emerging digital business models and challenges associated with information
security threats and ethics in general. Perform a critical analysis with respect to the case study
scenarios.
The digital business models have been emerging at a rapid speed in current scenario it
focuses that how an organisation can outperform in each of sectors so that they can accomplish
their goals and target. Talking about the topic in detail, it is said that digital business models
allows to improve several aspects in the business where they majorly focus on providing the
services to the customers. Also, these models are effective because company gets the opportunity
where they can connect with new customers on a daily basis for attaining the goals. In order to
accomplish the goals, this models only focuses upon the introduction of new technology which
are less costly with higher opportunity of attaining the goals. In context of MakeMyTrip and
Alibaba.com, both of the them are one of the leading business organisation in their respective
field but the major focus of the company is that how they can attain goals (Suryani and Ardianto,
2020). Here, company uses PWA for enhancing their customer base and even this is allowing

them to conduct their business at any part of the world due to which company is able to generate
higher profits in a very short time period as well.
Although, company gets opportunity to perform at greater platform for attaining the goals
but certainly any of the option do not remains with them related to maintaining the security. It
means that Alibaba and MakeMyTrip might have to suffer from cyber attack through the sources
of unethical hacking. It means that if an organisation wants to attain their goals and target they
must be able to being out some of those technology which can allow them to settle down and
attain their goals. There are some of the challenge’s association with information security threat
and ethics and that has been mentioned below:
Protecting software attack: It is among the biggest challenge which is association
within information security. By conducting some of the unethical practices people tries to attack
upon the software built by the company and that can cause the huge problem for the organisation
in sustaining within the market.
External Breaches: It is equally important that company must be able to focus towards
external breaches as it is among the biggest challenges for the company. Under this breach
company like Alibaba.com and MakeMyTrip.com might have to suffer from huge problem
because their data stored might get corrupt due to which company may have to suffer from
different issues (Barni and et. al., 2019).
Strong Link in Supply Chain: It is also one of the challenges for the digitally
transformed company where they must be able to ensure that they are capable for developing the
strong link in supply chain. It means that company should be able to perform in the manner
where they are able to develop strong link and if in case, they fail to do so then there will be the
situation where company will not get any of the idea that how unethical practices has cost them a
huge loss.
These are some of the major challenges for the company which are performing their
business activity through modern approaches. The main challenge for the organisation is to
protect the data and information about their customers because there are number of unethical
practices which can cost a huge problem for the entity.

QUESTION 4
From the case study it is clear that the companies mentioned did make use of PWA. How would
you have dealt with the situation at both companies differently if you were responsible?
The given case study shows the great importance about the PWA and how it has been
helping the business entity like MakeMyTrip and Alibaba which completely depends upon the
online customers. It was not like that where company had not faced the problem as both of the
them had to suffer from different types of problem but great step taken by the management had
allowed them to come ahead of their rivalry firms. As per the given question, if I would have
been appointed in this place, different decision would have been taken for attaining the
objectives of the company. In case of Alibaba, major focus would have been upon hybrid
application which can support customer to use office site as a application or on the basis of web
browser. It would have allowed the user to use the facilities of company depending upon the
speed they input for attaining the targets. At the same time, native apps would have been majorly
focus for MakeMyTrip which could have allowed the entity to attain their goals and target
(Pensiri, Nantaporn and Parichut, 2016). It is because not only PWA but use of native apps
allows the customer to use the information of company in smooth manner. It means that if an
entity would have been performed effectively their goals could have been accomplished easily.
Do you think PWA can be impacted by new collaborative relationships and strategic alliances
through digital technology? Why or Why not? Critically discuss and justify your answer.
There is different organisation which has been performing in the market with the help of
application that has been designed. Although, the performing style of PWA has a huge impact by
collaborative relationship and strategic alliances through digital technology. It is because the
performing style of PWA will improve much and more as compared to previous time period.
This will provide the way through which interface can be improved in much and more effective
manner. On the other side, users can be helpful to understand the application in a very short time
period which is quite important on a daily basis. But there will be some of the challenges as will
in the implementation of new collaborative relationship as unnecessary cost will increase which
can create problem for some of the company which are formed with less capital.

QUESTION 5
Compare and contrast digital business and e-commerce. What are the E-Commerce principles
and discuss how they could be applied to digital businesses?
Digital business is explained the business process where entity conducts each of their
activity through online mode. These types of process can be helpful for the entity in enhancing
their performance and attaining the goals of a company. On the other side, E-commerce relates
with buying and selling of goods through online mode. The process of e-commerce has made
easier for the customer to attain their goals and target in an effective manner because company is
able to provide the services to customer to purchase product through online sources which
provide more comfort to their customers (Kreutzer, Neugebauer and Pattloch, 2017). In simple
words, e-business is a wider concept as compared to E-commerce. It means that if an
organisation wants to attain the goals of an organisation, they must be able to perform in the
manner where limited problem arises for entity in performing their day to day business activity.
There are different types of principles of E-commerce and all of those principles can be
effective for attaining the goals of a company.
 User Friendliness: The e-commerce websites should be friendly in nature which can be
operated by each of the customers. It is needed because, in each of the case, it is not
necessary that customer will have the knowledge to use some of unfriendly website
where they might face number of problems.
 Emphasize on Security: In any of the e-commerce site or business, maintaining the data
is important because it has been found that each of the e-commerce site stores the data
and information about the customers who are connected with the organization. By
considering this, company must work on maintaining their security so that any of the
problem doesn’t arises for the customers.
 Effective Product Description: It is equally necessary that product description should be
done in an effective manner so that customer can collect the detail knowledge about the
product before purchasing them (Remane and et. al., 2017).
There are number of other principles of e-commerce but among them, this are some of the
most important once. These principles can be applied to Digital business as e-commerce is
limited in size whereas digital business is wider in concept. In simple words, e-commerce is the

part of digital business which means that this principle has been formed according to e-
commerce as well as digital business.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is concluded that information technology has a huge
importance in current market position where each of the business activity are being conducted
through online sources. The use of PWA is allowing to bring more friendly to the organisation
which are conducting their business through online sources. It is equally necessary for digital
business to work on maintaining their sites because data theft can create huge problem for the
organisation where it will not be easy for them to provide proper facilities to their customers.

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Rensema, D. J., 2020. The Current State of Progressive Web Apps: A study on the performance,
compatibility, consistency, security and privacy, and user and business impact of
progressive web apps.
Louie, K. W. D. and et. al., 2016. Method and system of editing workflow logic and screens with
a gui tool. U.S. Patent Application 15/057,974.
Laraba, M. T., Olaru, S. and Niculescu, S. I., 2017. Analysis of PWA control of discrete-time
linear dynamics in the presence of variable input delay. IFAC Journal of Systems and
Control, 1, pp.24-36.
Kim, H. and et. al., 2017. Membrane crystallinity and fuel crossover in direct ethanol fuel cells
with Nafion composite membranes containing phosphotungstic acid. Journal of
Materials Science, 52(5), pp.2400-2412.
Suryani, N. and Ardianto, D. T., 2020. Digital Flipbook Empowerment as A Development
Means for History Learning Media. JPI (Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia), 8(2), pp.266-
275.
Barni, A. and et. al., 2019, July. Fostering the creation of a Digital Ecosystem by a distributed
IEC-61499 based automation platform. In 2019 IEEE 17th International Conference on
Industrial Informatics (INDIN) (Vol. 1, pp. 635-640). IEEE.
Pensiri, A., Nantaporn, K. and Parichut, P., 2016. The Study of Tourists’ Behavior in Water
Usage in Hotel Business: Case Study of Phuket Province, Thailand. International
Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 10(10), pp.3366-3370.
Kreutzer, R. T., Neugebauer, T. and Pattloch, A., 2017. Digital business leadership. Digital
Transformation–Geschäftsmodell-Innovation–agile Organisation–Change-
Management.
Remane, G. and et. al., 2017. Discovering digital business models in traditional
industries. Journal of Business Strategy.
Online
Web app vs. Native app. 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
https://www.app-press.com/blog/web-app-vs-native-app