Programmes being introduced this year include artificial intelligence, software development, internet computing and electronic commerce computing, all with a year in industry.

The secret codes that protect electronic commerce on the internet are secure, thanks to the mathematics of prime numbers.

In a world of electronic commerce, he argues, the physical constraints that stand in the way of limitless supply, notably shelf space in stores, melt away.

Whereas quality management was pursued for well over 10 years, re-engineering was popular for only about five and electronic commerce fell out of the limelight after three.

The non-store distribution channel can be divided into direct selling (off-premises sales) and distance selling, the latter including all forms of electronic commerce.