Premium Essay

Harley Davidson

In: Business and Management

Submitted By ogibson
Words 2420
Pages 10
Harley-Davidson, Inc:
Identifying eBusiness Risks and
Related Assurance Services for the eBusiness Marketplace
(Case Study)

1. What new risks did Harley-Davidson face by integrating eBusiness into its supply-chain management system and by allowing suppliers to have access to the company’s Intranet?
E-commerce is a fantastic way for businesses to connect with customers around the world in a way that has never before been possible. Yet, that is not to say that eBusiness does not have risks that entrepreneurs must be aware of before setting up a presence online. Harley-Davidson faces a variety of risks by integrating eBusiness into its supply-chain management system and allowing supplier to have access to the company’s Intranet.
1) Although the eBusiness system implemented by Harley-Davidson is full-proof, considerable risks associated with hackers, viruses, and interception of credit card numbers travelling over the communication lines still exist in the system. Credit card information can be easily intercepted via internet for deceitful purposes increasing the risk of fraudulent transactions.
2) Technology itself poses a risk to eBusiness, simply because ecommerce is so dependent on it. Infrastructure problems, such as a server malfunctioning, can shut down a website. Likewise, viruses can delete valuable data, and software glitches can keep a site from working properly.
3) Suppliers may violate confidentiality agreements and disclose confidential information to competitors. They can also manipulate the computer system and take advantage of their increased access to Harley-Davidson’s purchasing schedules.
4) Harley-Davidson and suppliers may have inadequate procedures for processing, transmitting and storing information.
5) Suppliers may not know well how to operate the system. Their system may be not up to par in terms of being

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