Market globalisation, more effective models of supply and fulfilment, the strategic use of evermore capable and available information technologies (IT) and changing customer expectations has transformed the business environment. The proactive business firms have restructured their entire business model and the manner in which they interact with this information or digital economy.

The electronically altered approach towards customers and suppliers and the associated changes related to the business infrastructure is referred to as e-business. Governments, the private and public sectors, the media and the academic community - all are heralding e-business as a revolutionary means of conducting business and facilitating relations with customers and suppliers alike, in global virtual communities and open-ended organisational networks. Consequently, the existing organisations must focus on the new challenges, opportunities and threats related to e-business.

Opening of the Indian economy a decade before has resulted in the exposure of Indian companies not merely to the global competition but to an entirely new business environment of 'e-business'. Earlier, most of the organizations followed restrictive industrial policies and non-customer-focused practices, therefore, the new 'customer-delight' driven and free-market oriented business environment is shocking many businesses - especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many of them are at a loss to perceive this change and are continuing as before, hoping that soon the business will be as usual, while others are almost at a loss in coping with it in terms of new strategies and infrastructure. Therefore, there is an acute need for the Indian companies to have a quick appraisal of the new business environment and be able to formulate necessary strategies and align their business processes and infrastructure accordingly to transform themselves into an 'e-business' successfully. Consequently, it is equally important for the managers of these organisations to understand the design, implementation and management of these e-businesses, and the challenges and opportunities, which they offer. The course on E-Business: Planning and Implementation has been designed to serve this purpose. In particular, the objectives of this course are: