Business Assessment  Business Case  Security Aspects  Critical Analysis 

Business Impact Statement   Business Process Analysis and Redesign Report   Project Plan

Diary

Vision

The vision is to produce a website for the church incorporating aspects of E-commerce. This isn't a regular bricks 'n' bricks to bricks 'n' clicks translation, however. The main business processes will still be carried out at the church itself. The website will be a way through which distribution of information can take place, with the possibility of interactivity.

The possible components of the website could include:

• Create a website that is intuitive and friendly to a wide range of ages
• Setting up an online payment system, for donations or hall hire. This will involve:
  • Creating a bank account specifically for online income
  • Finding and implementing a suitable web host for such a venture
  • Training staff to:
    • Create an online version of the newsletter every week and upload it to the website or email it to parishioners
    • Gain a better understanding and knowledge of online money transactions
    • Arrange the home delivery of sermon tapes each weeks
      

     

Risks

As with all business ventures, there are risks involved with the creation and implementation of an e-commerce website. In this particular case, one of the major risks is the uncertainty of a definite audience. A lot of the parishioners are more elderly folk who may not have a computer, much less Internet access. It would be folly for the church to try to translate any of its business processes onto the web in full, because they would be cutting out a lot of their current parishioners. So it is best to create a website which doesn't seek to replace the physical church. It's definitely a bricks 'n' clicks business with the emphasis more on the "bricks".

Another risk could be the potential loss of patrons. Whereas this website should not be a replacement for the physical act of going to church; some parishioners may take it that way and think that because they receive an online summary of the sermon every week, they don't need to attend the sermon in person any more. This is an attitude which should be discouraged.

A definite risk is the idea of an online donation system. Of the parishioners that do have Internet access, many would be wary at the idea of donating over the web. In today's society, there are still those who are reluctant when it comes to online transferrals of their money. It would be a bad investment to go to the trouble of creating an online donation system if no one is going to donate. So this is something which must be undertaken with care. Perhaps the church could survey the parishioners to see how many of them would donate or pay hall hire online if given the opportunity.

Finally, there is a risk in the fact that the church is a non-profit organisation, and thus will receive no guaranteed income from the website. This means that the entire venture may be more effort than it's worth. The implementation of the website will mean a bit of extra effort from the church staff, with no increase in pay. There is the possibility that this increase in workload may dishearten the staff, and they may come to the conclusion that the website is simply too much trouble to maintain. However, this is just a risk which can be avoided if the options are looked at carefully and only the feasible components are implemented.

Back to Top

Costs and Benefits

The expense involved with an e-commerce website can be up to $60 a month just for the cost of hosting. Added to that is the cost of the domain name, as well as the cost involved in setting up any sort of online money transferral systems. For the home delivered sermon tapes, the cost of tapes and petrol need to be taken into account too. In this particular case, the design of the website is free because it is a student project as part of course requirements. But if this were in a different situation, the design of the website would be another cost.

Of course, there are a number of benefits to this venture as well. One of these benefits is the spreading of the Word to more people. There may be some people who find they are "too busy" to go to church for an hour every week, but they don't mind looking at the church website every once in a while to read the latest sermon. In this way, the website broadens the potential audience of the church. People who would normally miss out on the sermon can read it online or order it on tape. This makes it a lot more convenient for the parishioners, increasing their happiness. And of course in this business, the happiness of the customer is a number one concern.

Another benefit is inherent in the prospect of having information about the church's confidential counselling service on the website. This page will include a link to the minister's email address, presenting the opportunity for people to email any problems or concerns to the minister that they may be too embarrassed or worried to speak about in person.

Of course, as stated earlier, none of these benefits will produce any definite income. In this way, the venture into e-commerce might cost a bit to get started, and it's money that may not necessarily come back. But if the process is handled correctly, an e-commerce website can be a positive business move.

Back to Top

Business Constraints

Being a church, there are certain constraints that will be put upon a potential e-commerce website. The biggest constraint is that what the church provides is intangible. The essence of the church isn't hearing the minister speak or sitting in a building, it is the atmosphere of the community and the sense of friendliness and welcome. This "vibe" is what the church is really about. And this vibe is something which cannot be successfully translated onto the Internet. Because of this, there is no real way that a church website could ever replace the church itself.

Even if this website had online video streaming of the minister doing his sermons, or a chat room where users can congregate and talk afterwards, it would still not compare to the physical and spiritual experience that the church offers. This is a big business constraint as far as e-commerce potential goes. Only secondary aspects of the church (such as newsletters, written sermons or photos) are able to successfully translate across onto the web.

This is why a church does not have as much e-commerce potential as other businesses such as a book shop or a fast food enterprise. Whereas they provide books and food, the church provides something which cannot be provided through the Internet. However, despite these constraints, it is possible to create a useful and practical church e-commerce website. And this is what we hope to prove with this report.

Back to Top