JGITM - Q1, 2000 Contents (Volume 3, Number 1)
EDITORIAL PREFACE
Janice Burn, Guest Editor
This special edition of JGITM is devoted to Global e-commerce. Much has been written about e-commerce and the impact that this will have for globalisation in the 21st Century but much that is written is hype rather than practical and informed guidance for the businesses who want to take advantage of the new electronic market. The priorities and activities required to encourage e-business to grow in a global context are: establishing the environment conducive to the widespread adoption of e-commerce, demonstrating the business case to both businesses and consumers worldwide, targeting barriers to the development of global e-commerce, and maximizing the efficiency dividend from e-commerce for the economy at large. To achieve these aims Governments worldwide need to collaborate, legislate and stimulate to raise awareness of online business systems and promote the rapid diffusion of online technologies into all levels of society. This will not, however, be sufficient to ensure effective e-commerce developments on a global scale. There are other issues related to cultural changes, disparate levels of technical maturity and different forms of business and transactions which all impact on the effective take up of this new business environment. This special edition considers some of these issues and in so doing suggests a framework that can be applied to future research in the global e-business arena.
ARTICLES
CONCEPTUALISING THE DYNAMICS OF GLOBALISATION AND CULTURE IN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
AUTHORS: MELISSA COLE and ROBERT M. O’KEEFE of Brunel University, UK.
ABSTRACT: Electronic commerce implies global reach, increased connectivity and interdependence, and technological advancement across cultural boundaries. Development of these aspects, however, has not occurred in an even manner. Online consumers, at different levels of technical maturity and cultural homogeneity, interact to create new cultural forms or "zones". These zones occur simultaneously in different directions, with different densities and at different speeds with largely unpredictable consequences. This paper produces a unique framework based upon this concept. We use this to understand the actions of the online consumer, analyse some previous thinking on EC, and develop some potential business responses to this concept.
EMERGING VIRTUAL MODELS FOR GLOBAL E-COMMERCE - WORLD WIDE RETAILING IN THE E-GROCERY BUSINESS
AUTHORS: Janice Burn and Martin Barnett, School of MIS, Edith Cowan University, Australia
ABSTRACT: This paper looks at emerging models for world wide retailing in an electronic market environment. The authors begin by providing some definitions of virtual cultures and a set of models of virtuality which can describe an electronic market. This is then explored within the context of electronic grocery retailing to describe avenues to global expansion. Available virtual forms are determined both by pre-defined communication links and the extent to which these can be substituted by virtual ones, but also by the intensity of virtual links supporting the virtual form adopted. It is argued that seven models suffice to provide and describe a comprehensive dynamic framework of change. It is suggested that for strategic advantage virtual e-groceries must align their management models and communication processes with their virtual culture.
GLOBAL ELECTRONIC COMMERCE VIRTUAL OFFERS AND VIRTUAL TRANSACTIONS
AUTHORS: Ashok Ranchhod, Southampton Business School, UK; Ray Hackney, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; Calin Gurau, Southampton Business School, UK
ABSTRACT: The paper investigates the influence of how differing factors affecting transactions affect the global dimension of virtual offers. A virtual offer is defined as any commercial proposition designed to conclude in a transaction which can be accepted on-line. The paper attempts to determine the level of globalisation of these offers and to identify and analyse the factors that influence their transnational dimension. Electronic commerce eliminates the limits of space and time as on-line transactions are made between companies located anywhere in the world. However each company has to abide by specific cultural, economic and legal characteristics within the national context. These need to be carefully considered by companies attempting virtual global transactions. The paper considers the principle of the characteristics of the virtual market which determine the high level of globalisation for the virtual offers. A number of hypotheses were formulated and tested through an analysis of 500 company web sites. It is concluded that the specificity of each transaction will impact on the global dimension (explicitly or implicitly) of the offer.
THE EXPERT OPINION
An interview with Ian White: Western Australia Location Manager, Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Limited Perth, Australia. The interview was conducted by Peter Marshall, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. The interview focused on how Oracle can help businesses participate in Global e-commerce.
THE BOOK REVIEW
Written by Peter Marshall of Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.
He reviews DOING BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET: OPPORTUNITIES AND PITFALLS edited by Fay Sudweeks and Celia T. Romm. Publisher of the book: Springer-Verlag London Limited 1999. ISBN 1-85233-030-9 Amid a welter of journalistic exaggeration and over-optimistic hype, it is a welcome thing to open a book of readings on electronic commerce and find a collection of considered and reflective chapters, a good many of which are grounded in empirical fact. The book “Doing Business on the Internet” edited by Fay Sudweeks and Celia Romm is such a book, and while at times this book seems to search for a coherent and unifying theme, it does offer a set of expositions on a variety of aspects of the broad topic of electronic commerce.
JGITM - Q2, 2000 Contents (Volume 3, Number 2)
EDITORIAL PREFACE
THE GLOBAL IT LABOR SHORTAGE : Paul Cheney and Larry West, University of Central Florida
The editors discuss the issues of global IT shortage and suggest some practical solutions to this problem.
ARTICLES
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: IRELAND'S COMING OF AGE WITH LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:
AUTHORS : Paul P. Tallon & Kenneth L. Kraemer, University of California, Irvine, USA
ABSTRACT: The contribution of information technology (IT) to economic growth and development is seen as an important factor underlying the pace of development in many countries. While Asia's tiger economies are often portrayed as models for economic growth, Ireland's recent economic performance has attracted considerable attention, earning it the label, Europe's Celtic Tiger. We adopt a framework of IT-led development to show how, despite having a weak indigenous IT sector, Ireland succeeded in creating a world-class industry in computer hardware, software and services. Behind this success lies a policy of 'industrialization by invitation' through which Ireland selectively targeted foreign investment in high-tech industries using a menu of financial and tax-based incentives. Despite Ireland's success intense competition from regions such as Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia has forced Irish policy makers to question whether this policy can produce sustained economic benefits. Ireland's response to these challenges contributes to the literature on IT-led development, providing valuable lessons for developing countries as they strive for greater economic growth.
STRATEGIC USES OF GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AMONG MANUFACTURING FIRMS:
AUTHORS : John C. Mc Intosh, Bentley College, USA
ABSTRACT: This study examines how American and Korean global manufacturers use IT to support time-based, mass customization, and low cost strategies. Results indicate that different strategic objectives and cultural norms affect how IT is used. America firms, driven by considerations of short-term profitability focused on using IT to support a "first-to-market" philosophy. In addition, while today's firms often network with others to access needed resources and capabilities, American firms did not use IT as intensively as Korean firms to identify appropriate partners and coordinate joint activities. Korean firms, driven by growth considerations instead of profitability, used IT to implement a "fast follower" strategy. The lower time compression demands of this strategy allowed Korean firms to electronically partner with firms possessing needed technologies while focusing on their competence in efficient production.
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN AT A DIFFERENT MEETING : ENACTING CULTURE CLASH IN THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE OF THE FUTURE
AUTHORS : Gert Jan Hofstede, Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands
This article introduces a new concept for exploring the design of IT infrastructure in transnational organizations. This concept is simulation gaming that uses so-called synthetic national culture profiles. The paper describes a game in which telecommunication architecture was designed for a multinational company. It concludes that synthetic cultures are a powerful tool for generating awareness about the profound potential effects of differences in national culture within multinationals.
THE EXPERT OPINION
An interview with Jamilur Reza Chowdhury Ph.D., FIE(B), FICE (UK), Ceng(UK) Bangladesh, University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Bangladesh.
Conducted by Mahesh S. Raisinghani and Mahboob ur Rahman. The interview discusses the statrus of Bangladesh's Informatin Technology Industry.
THE BOOK REVIEW
Written by Edward M. Roche. He reviews The Technologies of Global Customer Support : Review of Cyber Rules: Strategies for Excelling at E-business by Thomas M. Siebel and Pat House. The review finds that the book gives some great insight into the e-Business revolution that is currently sweeping through enterprises.
JGITM - Q3, 2000 Contents (Volume 3, Number 3)
EDITORIAL PREFACE
GLOBAL E-COMMERCE AND GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
AUTHOR: Shailendra C. Jain Palvia, Long Island University. Global E-Commerce and Global Supply Chain. The associate editor discusses the relationship between Global E-Commerce and Global Supply Chain management. He observes that electronic commerce enabled global supply chain management stands to gain from rapid data exchange resulting in faster order processing, elimination of labor-intensive data entry tasks, reduced error in transactions processing, improved billing and order cycles, improved cash flow, and better overall service to the customers.
ARTICLES
A CROSS CULTURAL STUDY ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT OF PROCESS REDESIGN INITIATIVES: U.S. VS. TAIWAN
AUTHOR: James T.C. Teng, Kirk D. Fiedler, and Varun Grover, University of South Carolina, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT : The authors seek to better understand the organizational context of BPR in two different cultures: U.S. and Taiwan. The results showed remarkable consistency between the two countries and the differences may be interpreted by cultural differences. In both cultures, it was found that while factors related to IT competence may facilitate the decision to reengineer, but are not critical to project success. On the other hand, factors having significant relationships beyond the initial decision include variables pertaining to innovative capacity of the organization and Strategy-IS alignment. It appears that, to a large extent, the principles and mechanisms of organizations underlying modern business enterprises transcend cultural differences.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE GREEK BANKING INDUSTRY
AUTHORS: Subhasish Dasgupta, The George Washington University, Anthony Ioannidis, University of La Verne - Athens Campus, Greece, and Devraj Agarwal, KPMG Peat Marwick
ABSTRACT: In a global environment, information systems are influenced by national information technology infrastructure, government policies and cultural differences. The entire process of information technology adoption is different in different countries. Most research on information technology adoption has concentrated on firms in the UK or US. In this paper we attempt to better understand the determinants of information technology adoption in the Greek banking industry. In this empirical study we found that organizational culture, government policies, foreign exchange rates, and computer prices have significant impact on information technology adoption decisions made by banks.
A CROSS CULTURAL COMPARISON OF PROBLEMS IN BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING INITIATIVES
AUTHORS: Vijay Sethi, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Chung Kim, Southwest Missouri State University, USA; Christina Koh, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; and Vikram Sethi, Southwest Missouri State University, USA
ABSTRACT: Reengineering is rooted in the United States and has since spread to many other NICs (newly industrialized countries) like Singapore. The study results show that many of the difficulties encountered in implementing BPR in the U.S. apply equally to Singapore. On the other hand, there are also significant differences between the two countries. While change management and management support problems have been identified as critical problems (which are severe and at the same time have a high impact on BPR success) in the U.S., project management and cultural issues are found to be critical problems in Singapore. It is concluded that culture does affect the types of problems encountered and their impact on reengineering success.
THE EXPERT OPINION
An Interview with Mr. Ed Toben , CIO of Colgate-Palmolive Company. Conducted by Jaak Jurison, Fordham University, New York, USA
The interview discusses the use of SAP technology at the global level by the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Many issues are discussed including: fit of IT into business strategy, initial decision to select SAP, implementation issues, country-wide differences, architecture, and people issues
THE BOOK REVIEW
The Economics of Electronic Commerce by Soon-Young Choi, Dale O. Stahl, and Andrew B. Whinston. Review by Mahesh S. Raisinghani, University of Dallas, Texas, USA
The book provides an insightful analysis of the issues affecting commercial uses of the Internet and the next generation information infrastructure. It is a refreshing read for managers, consultants, economists, entrepreneurs, investors, academicians and business school students due to its application of the fundamental tenets and teachings of economics to the digital economy. It provides an economic analysis of the various aspects and issues of e-commerce. Six major issues are identified are quality and the role of intermediaries, digital copyrights, advertising, consumer searches for product information, product selection and pricing strategies, and electronic financial and payment services.
JGITM - Q4, 2000 Contents (Volume 3, Number 4)
EDITORIAL PREFACE AUTHOR :Barry Shore
With dispersed operations, collaborative alliances and access to integrative software, some of the challenges facing global IT management researchers include identifying the issues of concern to the managers who must develop and implement these applications, addressing the management problems that are technically and procedurally motivated, perhaps using ERP, SCM, and CRM software as the vehicle for these studies, and studying the role that social/cultural systems play in the way applications can be developed, implemented and used. Research into these and other areas associated with linking globally dispersed operations is necessary to better understand and manage the initiatives of the twenty-first century.
ARTICLES
GROUP SUPPORT SYSTEMS THROUGH THE LENS OF ACTION RESEARCH: EXPERIENCES IN ORGANISATIONS.
AUTHORS: Robert Davidson City University of Hong Kong; Sajda Qureshi Erasmus University, The Netherlands; Gert-Jan de Vreede, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; Doug Vogel, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Noel Jones, Capacity Building International, Ireland
ABSTRACT: In recent years, Group Support Systems (GSS) have been increasingly employed in organizational settings and a variety of task environments. In this paper we demonstrate how GSS can be embedded within an action research intervention, with research informing practice and vice-versa. This form of direct intervention in an organisational problem context stimulates participation in group interaction, with all stakeholders contributing, learning and benefiting. Five cases from different geosocial environments on three continents are used to illustrate the challenges and opportunities that arise. Benefits for organisational researchers and practitioners are identified and recommendations made for future work.
ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE: A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISON OF KEY USAGE ASPECTS BETWEEN U.S. AND TAIWANESE FIRMS.
AUTHORS: Mary C. Jones, Mississippi State University, USA, Yi-Fang Ku, National Dong Hwa University, Haulien, Taiwan, and Ronald L. Berry University of Louisiana at Monroe, USA.
ABSTRACT: This study provides a comparison of cross-cultural differences in the use of EDI between 81 firms in the U.S. and 67 firms in Taiwan. Most of these firms were using traditional VAN mediated EDI, and had been influenced by some type of external pressure to use. The motivation for this study was to assess whether the Western model of EDI usage that most research is based on is applicable across cultures. Findings reveal that there are few differences between firms in the two countries with respect to type of benefits realized, compatibility of EDI with existing processes, and degree of integration of EDI in the firm or in the network of trading partners. However, ex post facto analysis provides further insight into the usage of EDI in both cultures.
INSTITUTIONALISING DECENTRALISED INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR LOCAL LEVEL PLANNING: COMPARING APPROACHES ACROSS TWO STATES IN INDIA.
AUTHORS: Shirin Madon, London School of Economics & Political Science, London, U.K, Subhash Bhatnagar, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, INDIA.
ABSTRACT: Since the 1980s, administrative reform in a number of developing countries has been directed at achieving decentralisation of planning through the use of information systems. These experiments have not led to any significant improvement in planning and monitoring of development programmes. In this paper, we argue that a closer look at different approaches to decentralisation is useful in order to draw wider lessons about long-term impact. We trace the process of decentralisation adopted in two states of India, namely Gujarat and Karnataka. While both states are noted for their decentralisation efforts, the degree to which new work practices have become institutionalised has been influenced by differences in the structure of their planning apparatus and different approaches to the implementation of information technology for local-level planning.
THE EXPERT OPINION
An Interview with Al-Wohaibi, Mohammed. A member of the Omani government IT Task Force, head of the Information Security Working Group, and a member of the IEEE, and Hamed Al-Rawahy, A member of Omani government IT Task Force and head of the information sharing working group Mahesh S. Raisinghani, University of Dallas, Texas, USA. The interview was conducted by Mahesh S. Raisinghani, University of Dallas, Texas, USA. The interview discussed IT policy and IT initiatives in the Sultanate of Oman.
THE BOOK REVIEW
Written by Edward M. Roche, New York City.
He reviews The Process Edge: Creating Customer Value and Business Wealth. Peter Keen and Mark McDonald Publisher of the book: Harvard Business School Press (Forthcoming, Fall 2000) The central thesis of eProcess Edge is that many companies have plunged into the eCommerce space, but with inadequate thought given to the back-end business processes needed for support. Keen and McDonald show how this is a major mistake, and suggest ways for a company to make the right decisions. The gap between innovation and execution is a tough one to close. The book provides a tour de force of critical concepts needed to ensure that not only does the interaction with the customer work well, but the back-office processes supporting the business also work harmoniously.
