Exploring sources of competitive advantage in e-business applications: A cross-industries case study in mainland China

A review of existing literature revealed that little theoretical framework exists to capture e-business-enabled value creation through an integrated approach that includes the environmental view and resource-based view (RBV). Furthermore, little empirical research has been conducted to test these theoretical frameworks, in particular in the Chinese business context. The aim of this research is to extend the theoretical and practical understanding of e-business-enabled sources of competitive advantage (SCA) in China. The value chain (VC) concept, virtual value chain (VVC) framework and RBV were identified from the literature as the key constructs to underpin the theoretical basis. The research design used a qualitative research methodology consisting of indepth case studies of nine leading Chinese companies in three industries - housing development, manufacturing, and B2C. The principle finding is the formulation of a theoretical framework for investigating ebusiness value creations which integrates the key constructs of the VVC, online information capabilities (OIC), value system and RVB. This research also proposes a typology of five generic types of key e-business applications which states clearly the relationships between key e-business applications and SCA. Finally, this research demonstrates that e-business value creation features differently between two groups: Internet pragmatist and Internet pioneers. The research offers a number of contributions to the field of e-business value creation. Firstly, it introduces the concepts of OIC and value system to the VVC. It also provides empirical test of the analytical framework. In addition, this research provides an indepth understanding of the relationships between types of e-business applications and key SCA. Finally, this research identifies and explains the key differences and similarities between the three industries, within each industry, and between the two key groups

A Conceptual Framework for E-Commerce Innovation in Chinese SMES Chun-Sheng Yu

As E-Commerce (EC) is rapidly gaining popularity in China, EC innovation becomes a major growth strategy for many SMEs. Meanwhile, problems and challenges are hindering proliferation of EC innovation. The need exits for a theoretical model to forge EC innovation: a dynamic process with progressive stages of both internal and external e-readiness. Derived from theories and evidenced by the case studies from Hangzhou, China, our conceptual framework reveals top management, organizational learning, government support, market forces, and technology readiness as essential in each development stage, but with different emphasis. Implications of the framework are discussed

The influence of national culture on the attitude towards mobile recommender systems

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.This study aimed to identify factors that influence user attitudes towards mobile recommender systems and to examine how these factors interact with cultural values to affect attitudes towards this technology. Based on the theory of reasoned action, belief factors for mobile recommender systems are identified in three dimensions: functional, contextual, and social. Hypotheses explaining different impacts of cultural values on the factors affecting attitudes were also proposed. The research model was tested based on data collected in China, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Findings indicate that functional and social factors have significant impacts on user attitudes towards mobile recommender systems. The relationships between belief factors and attitudes are moderated by two cultural values: collectivism and uncertainty avoidance. The theoretical and practical implications of applying theory of reasoned action and innovation diffusion theory to explain the adoption of new technologies in societies with different cultures are also discussed.National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean governmen

Use of Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in Customer Intention to Reuse Innovative Electronic Payment

The purpose of this study is to create a new research instrument for “Innovative Electronic Payment (e-payment)” to fit with Chinese culture through the “Diffusion of Innovation Theory” using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and to continue the study by testing the impact of four sub factors of innovative e-payment on customers’ intentions to reuse e-payment. Data were collected from 350 respondents, who were working people with experience using e-payment. A survey method was applied via a self-administration technique, to collect the data in Nanning, Guangxi, China, from working people at popular office buildings. In order to test all hypotheses, the Statistical Package of PLS-SEM was applied to test model fit based on convergent and discriminant validity, and to further test all hypotheses. The results showed that trialability, compatibility, complexity, and comfortability of the innovative electronic payment model were found to have a statistically significant impact on customers’ intentions to reuse e-payment

Study of internet usage in the fresh produce supply chain in the UK and China

A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy of the University of BedfordshireFresh produce supply chain management faces a high level of complexity and uncertainty and a number of challenges due to fresh produce's perishable, seasonal and fragile characteristics. It is argued that effective implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (leTs) has great potential for improving efficiency and reducing wastage within the fresh produce (fruit and vegetable) supply chain. While' the Internet is used by many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the fresh produce industry, the extent to which it is applied and further developed after the initial adoption varies widely. Much research has been carried out to investigate Internet adoption and usage, but very limited effort has been focused on the identification of the current level of technology integration and deve!opment and the factors affecting the level of the development after the adoption, especially in the context of SMEs in the fresh produce supply chain. This research attempts to address this issue by developing a theoretical framework to illustrate the evolutionary process of Internet adoption and diffusion and to identify factors affecting the development of Internet-based supply chains by following the Technological/Organisational/Environmental (TOE) framevork. First, five development levels of post-adoption of Internet technologies in the supply chain were defined, and factors from the technological, organisational and environmentalcontexts were identified according to literatures and exploratory interviews. Second, questionnaire surveys were conducted in the UK and China to investigate the current situation of internet technologies used by SMEs in the fresh produce supply chains in the two countries. Finally, factors the proposed framework were validated and discussed. The empirical findings show that the Internet is no longer a new technology for most fresh produce SMEs in the UK and China. However, a large proportion of SMEs surveyed are still using basic functions of the Internet, and there is little difference between the UK and Chinese SMEs when comparing the use of complex applications in the supply chains. The results also show that most of the factors in the organisational and technological contexts are positively related to the current development levels of the Internet-based supply chain, whereas, in the environmental context, pressures from customers in the UK and mutual trust among partners in China have a significant impact on current development levels. Additionally, in both countries, companies in a better development level of Internet-based supply chain would achieve a higher degree of integration in their supply chain in five years. Overall, the research has made a number of important contributions to knowledge, current debate and practice in an under-researched sector. The five-level post-adoption framework can be adapted to identify ICT development levels and key factors in other sectors. The empirical data collected has added value to and sheds lights on the current applications of the Internet in the supply chain in general, and in the fresh produce SMEs in China and the UK in particular. The key factors identified as impeding the further development of the Internet, such as factors related to the business environments in the UK and China, will help government policy-makers, supply chain facilitators and IT service providers to be more focused in their efforts to improve the situation and to stimulate the further diffusion of emerging Internet technologies. The research has certain limitations due to the time constraints and sample selections. These limitations provide a platform for directing future research

An examination of mobile banking and mobile payments: building adoption as experience goods?

This paper examines consumer adoption of mobile banking and mobile payments using the experience goods and learning by doing constructs as a framework to better understand adoption patterns in the United States and how these may differ in other world markets. Consumer experience and familiarity with mobile devices is considered along with three relatively new communication technologies – SMS text messaging, wireless Internet access, and near field communication (NFC) – that are making important contributions to mobile financial services. Online banking and contactless payments — and consumers’ experience with them — are also studied as “building blocks” to mobile financial services. Furthermore, this analysis considers other factors that are affecting adoption patterns, including financial inclusion opportunities, data security problems, and coordination issues. Together, the building blocks and these other factors will influence how markets for mobile financial services develop.

Securities clearing and settlement in China: markets, infrastructures and policy-making

China is taking a more active role on the world stage, even more so since its rapid and strong recovery from the global recession. In the financial realm this expansion is underpinned by a strategy to build strong and competitive capital markets at home. In order to achieve this goal, well-functioning and sound securities infrastructures are an important pre-requisite, and therefore they receive a lot of attention from Chinese policy-makers, as well as from market participants both in China and abroad. This paper evaluates the current market infrastructure, including the legal and regulatory framework, for securities trading, clearing and settlement in mainland China, and analyses the policy-making in this field. The paper finds that, following huge progress in recent years, the post-trading processes are increasingly safe and efficient. It concludes that, given the effectiveness of the policy process, Chinese clearing and settlement are likely to develop into the “modern financial support systems” which the authorities envisage, and which will also be increasingly connected and integrated with other securities markets of global importance. JEL Classification: C21, C43, D12, E31China, Clearing and Settlement, market infrastructure, policymaking, securities market

Key Issues in Expansion of End-User Mobile Communication in China

China’s mobile communications market presents unique market challenges. With a high subscriber growth rate but polarized and stratified consumer adoption trends, an investigation into the current status of this market will improve our understanding on how adoption of mobile communications is evolving. In this descriptive paper we analyze key issues relating to market characteristics of mobile communications with an objective to better comprehend the dynamics of this largest mobile subscribers market. Using secondary data we identify mobile industry and end-user related trends to infer our conclusions for the industry.China;mobile communication;mobile subscribers market

WeChat Shop for Small and Medium Enterprises Establish Presence - Facilitators and Challenges

Every year, more companies and entities see China as an attractive opportunity. Consequently, the number of companies trying to enter the Chinese market keeps increasing every year, and it will certainly keep raising in the future. The main reason is that the Chinese market is extremely attractive for companies of all sizes and from any industry. The market is particularly attractive because Chinese people in fact represent the world’s biggest middle class, and this middle class recently started experimenting an income growth that is providing them with a constantly increasing budget and various resources to access the market and make purchases. This thesis describes my research where I attempted to analyze, and explain what are the facilitators and the barriers for small and medium enterprises to approach the Chinese Market using the WeChat E-Shop option. Specifically, the research focuses on how small and medium enterprises with limited resources and limited international experiences can prepare themselves to join the CBEC dimension and establish a presence there. The research also explains the main steps that companies need to go through when they decide to open a WeChat Shop Account and to start selling their products and services through the most used e-platform in China. My research is based on two main sources: first, the literature review where I researched the main frameworks and models related to CBEC for SMEs, and, second, the findings of my research that I gathered working with two small enterprises that have been going through the whole process and have now successfully opened their shop. The research gap I attempt to cover is how small and medium enterprises can establish their presence in this market through e-commerce. The main practical implication that can be inferred by my research is that the SME needs to understand what e-commerce is, what it can be used for, and what elements characterize cross-border e-commerce; the company has to clearly perceive the benefits coming from new technologies and how these can influence the competitive environment; finally, the third implication is the Step-by-Step Guide to start the WeChat Shop Account that I created while working with the two companies that have now entered CBEC with China. In addition to the Step-by-Step guide, I also researched the main Service Providers that support companies willing to start their CBEC with China using the WeChat Shop option. Considering the findings, companies interested in entering China with WeChat e- commerce may understand better how to prepare and how to move to establish their presence into the Chinese e-commerce market deciding what to ask from third parties as a support and what they need to succeed in their operation