Determinants of the Global Diffusion of B2B E-Commerce

Compared to business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce is larger, growing faster and has less unequal geographical distribution globally. In this paper, we examine the current stage of B2B e-commerce development across four global regions and propose a model to explain the magnitude and global distribution of B2B e-commerce activities. Our analysis indicates that increases in the freedom of the movements of goods, services, capital, technology and people coupled with rapid technological development resulted in an explosion of global B2B e-commerce. The share of the global B2B e-commerce a country is likely to receive, on the other hand, depends upon country level factors such as income and population size, the availability of credit, venture capital, and telecom and logistical infrastructure, tax and other incentives, tariff/non-tariff barriers, government emphasis on the development of human capital, regulations to influence firms’ investment in REED, organizational level politics, language and the activities of international agencies

Environment and policy factors shaping global e-commerce diffusion: A cross-country comparison

This article examines the key global, environmental and policy factors that act as determinants of e-commerce diffusion. It is based on systematic comparison of case studies from 10 countries - Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States. It finds that B2B e-commerce seems to be driven by global forces, whereas B2C seems to be more of a local phenomenon. A preliminary explanation for this difference is that B2B is driven by global competition and MNCs that "push" e-commerce to their global suppliers, customers, and subsidiaries. This in turn creates pressures on local companies to adopt e-commerce to stay competitive. In contrast, B2C is "pulled" by consumer markets, which are mainly local and therefore divergent. While all consumers desire convenience and low prices, consumer preferences and values, national culture, and distribution systems differ markedly across countries and define differences in local consumer markets. These findings support the transformation perspective about globalization and its impacts. In terms of policy, the case studies suggest that enabling policies such as trade and telecommunications liberalization are likely to have the biggest impact on e-commerce, by making ICT and Internet access more affordable to firms and consumers, and increasing pressure on firms to adopt e-commerce to compete. Specific e-commerce legislation appears not to have as big an impact, although inadequate protection for both buyers and sellers in some countries suggests that mechanisms need to be developed to ensure greater confidence in doing business online

The Impact of Investment in IT on Economic Performance: Implications for Developing Countries

This paper reviews quantitative and qualitative evidence on the impact of IT on economic performance in developed and developing countries. Two strands of this literature are considered: the IT-productivity connection and the effects of IT on labor composition and the work environment. Policy implications for developing countries are considered.

UNDERSTANDING THE DETERMINANTS OF ICTS DIFFUSSION IN ECOWAS

The Information and Communication technology(ICT) environment in the economic community of west african states(ECOWAS) has changed sufficiently to warrant re-conceptualization of the earlier initiatives. Notably, many new technologies have emerged, especially in the area of wireless communications. Thus, ECOWAS ability to participate in and enhance its international competitiveness in the new global economy and hence make progress in poverty reduction depends in large part on its ability to use and adapt new information and technological innovations. This project therefore, sets out to enhance understanding and knowledge of the innovative effects of ICT poverty reduction and human development; and to improve ECOWAS capacities to formulate and implement national ICT policies that promote equitable access to ICT and information for socio-economic development.Technological progress, growth, productivity, diffusion, ICTS, AFRICAN ECONOMIES, DYNAMIC PANEL DATA

The Institutional Environment for Global E-Commerce Diffusion: A Cross-Country Investigation

Grounding on institutional theory and e-commerce adoption literatures, the study conducts a cross-country analysis assessing the effects of industrial, governmental and legal factors on global B2B e-commerce diffusion in the years of 2001-02 and 2006-07. The analysis is based on a secondary dataset from the Global Information Technology Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The secondary data analyses cover 75 countries in 2001-02 and 122 countries in 2006-07, reflecting business perceptions of the institutional environments and e-commerce diffusions in those countries. The results of the study indicate that at the infant stage of e-commerce, the supportive government policy was a powerful facilitator for e-commerce diffusion around the world. As e-commerce becomes more prevalent, e-commerce diffusion is more business-driven and the government policy loses its significance. Meanwhile, as companies engage more in e-commerce, the legal environment becomes an important factor in e-commerce diffusion. The study confirms various institutional environments exert influences on countries’ e-commerce diffusion at various stages of e-commerce development. It is one of the first cross-country studies on the institutional environments and the research results have managerial and policy implications for global e-commerce diffusion

Predicting intention to adopt B2B electronic commerce in Jordan: The moderating role of trust and dependency

Business to Business Electronic Commerce (B2B EC) has great potentials to extend firms’ competency and efficiency. As such, Jordan has an objective to increase the diffusion of this technology. Despite extensive government efforts, the adoption of B2B EC is still limited. Consequently, there have been extensive efforts to better understand the phenomena. Yet, documented findings regarding the determinants of the adoption are not altogether consistent. To provide more insight, this study developed a research model utilizing the Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) framework to identify the determinants of the firms’ propensity to adopt B2B EC. Since B2B EC is an inter-organizational phenomenon supporting transactions of partnerships, this study emphasizes the context of partnership characteristics. Grounded on inter-organizational theories, this study hypothesized that partnership characteristics, namely trust and dependency, moderate the role of TOE motivating factors. Moreover, given that B2B EC is used on both sides of the buyer/seller relationship, this study examined the differences and similarities in the perception of the marketing and purchasing departments regarding the determinants of the B2B EC adoption. A total of 798 questionnaires were self administrated to marketing and purchasing managers in 462 firms that have large registered capital in Jordan. In total, 114 marketing and 125 purchasing managers participated in this study. Marketing and purchasing responses were analyzed separately using the Partial Least Squares approach. The result revealed that the marketing and purchasing departments do have different views regarding the determinants of the adoption, specifically in terms of the role of Relative Advantage and Competition Pressure. Moreover, the results showed that the moderating role of trust was less pronounced. Meanwhile, the moderating role of dependency was partially supported particularly in the purchasing perspective. These findings have demonstrated how dependence asymmetries between trading partners may change the adoption motivations. They further explain the importance of considering the views of the business partner for the adoption to be done successfully

E-business and Export Behaviour: Evidence from Indian Firms

E-business, international orientation, India

The moderating role of power exercise in B2B E-commerce adoption decision

B2B E-commerce (B2B EC) is a technology that supports relationship between business partners.In adopting such technology, power exercise plays a crucial role. Misunderstood power exercised within B2B EC may generate unrealistic or inaccurate outcomes. Unfortunately, the role of power exercise is nearly ignored in B2B EC adoption literature.In response, using the Resources-Dependency-Theory (RDT) and Diffusion-Innovation-Theory (DIT), this paper argues on the interaction between the influence of innovation characteristics and power exercise, so as to explain B2B EC adoption.This proposition could improve understanding B2B EC adoption and help to resolve inconsistency of findings in the literature