Journal of Systems and Information Technology

Jones, Paul; BeynonDavies, Paul; Muir, Elizabeth

2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000771

The development of Ecommerce within Small and Medium Enterprises SMEs in Wales is restricted by a number of barriers. Various projects initiated by government and academic bodies exist to assist SMEs overcome these barriers. However, whether these projects represent the needs of SMEs is debatable. The opportunity for SMEs to exploit information communication technology has increased due to the improved affordability and sophistication of computing equipment, along with the development and utilisation of the Internet. This progress has seen the emergence of Ebusiness and Ecommerce, whereby SMEs can operate, communicate and trade in global markets. Recent surveys by academia, government and trade bodies have identified Wales as the worst performing region for Ebusiness in the UK with sceptical attitudes towards its increased adoption. This paper reports on a quantitative study investigating Ebusiness utilisation within SMEs in Wales. Specifically this paper focuses on the key barriers influencing the adoption of Ebusiness within SMEs in Wales. The survey of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce CCC membership was undertaken in 2001. The CCC is a trade body of approximately 1000 SMEs encompassing a geographical area covering Cardiff, Bridgend, Newport and the Valleys areas. The postal survey and telephone follow up achieved a response rate of 100 SME classified enterprises, a response rate of approximately 10. Academic research has identified these barriers as deficiencies in financial resources, time, information and skills concerns over security, legal issues and competition and doubts over the applicability of Ebusiness to their business practices and cultural and infrastructure issues. These barriers are a major influence as to how Ebusiness will develop within SMEs and this paper identifies the significance of each factor in constraining growth. The paper concludes by investigating the assistance for SMEs from academia, government and trade to develop Ebusiness activities and questioning whether these are representative and effective mechanisms for this sector. This paper contributes to knowledge by appraising and contrasting existing barriers to Ebusiness literature and comparing it with the relevant SOGM literature. Secondly it classifies barriers in two ways by type and time of occurrence. Finally the paper recognises that the support mechanisms for Ebusiness within SMEs remain unproven and require further investigation to verify their effectiveness.

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2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000772

A number of recent studies have suggested that many small businesses are opting to become members of strategic alliances with other firms in order to minimise the perceived barriers to adoption of electronic commerce Ecommerce. This study compares the perception of barriers to Ecommerce adoption between a sample of Swedish small to medium enterprises SMEs that have become members of some form of strategic alliance and those that have remained outside such arrangements. The results show that, in general, SMEs that are part of a strategic alliance perceive barriers as less applicable than their counterparts that are not part of a strategic alliance.

Chau, Stephen

2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000773

The use of ecommerce and the Internet is increasing in acceptance for a wide range of businesses from large enterprises to small and micro businesses. While the literature on ebusiness and ecommerce is evolving, there is limited substantive research focused on the theory and practice of ebusiness systems amongst small and medium sized enterprises SMEs. This paper provides an insight into thirtyfour SMEs actively utilising ecommerce. The paper also provides a theoretical contribution by developing a conceptual model of ecommerce utilisation for SMEs within the Australian context, which depicts the relationship between the use of ecommerce by SMEs, the degree of business transformation and the strategic significance of ecommerce. Keywords Case Study, Small Business, Electronic Commerce, Business Transformation

AlQirim, Nabeel A. Y.

2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000774

This research describes the adoption and the usage of Internet commerce technologies EC in a small to mediumsized business SME in New Zealand. The case study is part of the aerial mapping industry. By relying on the technological innovation theories in the context of small business, this research looks at determinants of EC adoption and success in this SME. The findings in this research highlight the importance of the technological factors in general and the relative advantage characteristic specifically in driving the EC phenomenon in the case study. The individual context has further endorsed the central role of the CEO and his characteristics in adopting new technological innovations. However, EC usage in business in the case study was limited and its success expected to happen in the long terms projections only. The research addresses both theoretical as well as professional contributions and highlights implications in EC research in the case study.

OReilly, Philip; Finnegan, Pat

2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000775

Since 1995, Internet banking has allowed consumers to utilise the Internet as a platform to interact with their bank. Initially, the hype surrounding Internet banking was immense. However, more realistic expectations about the value of Internet channels and changes in the financial services sector are affecting opinions of Internet banking systems. This study examines contemporary Internet banking systems in five leading clicks and mortar banks operating in the NorthEastern part of the United States. The findings reveal a move towards viewing Internet banking as an operational rather than a competitive instrument, with consequential changes in how banks evaluate their Internet banking systems. The paper concludes by proposing some changes to expectations on how Internet banking is likely to develop.

Flor, Nick V.

2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000776

Communitybased business models attempt to profit from the value created by individuals interacting in virtual communities. An interesting variant of this model is the programmable autonomous business. A programmable autonomous business is an automated business built entirely in software, that once developed can profitably operate without any human involvement. We know little about how to systematically design such businesses. Existing research on designing virtual communities does not address how to transform them into autonomous businesses, nor is it clear whether all the design principles for virtual communities are relevant to an autonomous business. The research reported in this paper takes an inductive, businesscentered approach to understanding how to design autonomous businesses. The information activity in a successful, yet basic autonomous business is analyzed and its functions compared with those in a conventional business. From this analysis a set of design guidelines for a prototypical autonomous business are inferred. The paper ends with a discussion of various ways researchers can use a programmable autonomous business as a test bed for consumerrelated ebusiness systems.

Young, Leslie W.; Johnston, Robert B.

2003 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260380000777

There are a number of traditional business strategy theories that have been used to discuss businesstobusiness B2B ecommerce strategy Transaction Cost Economics, ResourceBased View, Porters Market Forces Theory, and Channel Theory. However, there currently exists no comprehensive framework linking these theories into a method to rigorously assess value delivery strategies, and in particular to determine how to maximise the impact of the Internet as a value delivery channel. This paper answers this shortcoming by introducing a framework that draws together the main theories of strategic choice in a systematic fashion. In particular, the paper examines how different ways of delivering the same form of value rather than particular products from producer to customer may allow exploitation of the desirable features of the Internet to different degrees. By using a novel distribution business model from a reallife case study to illustrate this framework, the paper uncovers several novel ways the Internet can enhance B2B strategy. The main contribution of the paper is the development of a formal, semiquantitative model of value delivery strategy evaluation, which can be used as a starting point for practical evaluation of strategy choices in particular settings, and also as a theoretical tool for discussing the role of the Internet in B2B ecommerce in a more rigorous way.