Virtual Organization E-Business Paper

Virtual Organization E-Business Paper

The virtual organization that I have chosen to write this paper on is Riordan Manufacturing. E-business (electronic business), derived from such terms as "e-mail" and "e-commerce," is the conduct of business on the Internet, not only buying and selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners (CIO Definitions, 2001). For this paper I will analyze the legal issues Riordan Manufacturing may face when conducting e-business and discuss possible solutions. I will identify issues that may arise in Riordan Manufacturing international business and determine the conflicts of law which pertain to those issues. I will discuss which laws apply to the situations, and which court will decide the issues.

Riordan Manufacturing is wholly owned by Riordan Industries, a Fortune 1000 enterprise with revenues in excess of $1 billion. Riordan Manufacturing is an industry leader in the field of plastic injection molding. Riordan Manufacturing has facilities in San Jose, California, Albany, Georgia, Pontiac, Michigan, and Hangzhou China (University of Phoenix, 2006).

Today e-business has emerged as a mainstream way to facilitate business transactions around the world. Even with the world's economy in a downturn and digesting the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, e-business has continued to grow. The legal issue that I see in e-commerce is that a third of small- and mid-sized businesses have suffered at least some disruption due to security (PC World, 2007).

With business users being comfortable using the Internet it has become the medium of choice for both product research and marketing. While sales and marketing professionals look at prospect of leveraging such an incredible source of customers, cash and information, the Internet and its billion dollar sales channel is monitored using a free market economics approach, creating numerous opportunities for hackers, thieves, spies and vandals to prey on the unsuspecting.

Information about the company's customers, suppliers and employees are subject to theft, which can lead to claims of invasion of privacy and other legal liabilities. When transmitting email the Internet acts like a giant broadcast system. It's very easy to send a single message to hundreds or even thousands of people at one time. This means messages that contain viruses or scams. It is email recipients themselves who must be aware, block or delete unknown emails dismissing the temptation to be lured by fantastic sounding offers and opportunities that are bogus. As an organization we cannot stop hackers and spammers from sending these emails to our clients with an email address that looks similar to ours.