Web 2.0 and micro-businesses: An exploratory investigation

This is the author's final version of the article. This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.This article was chosen as a Highly Commended Award Winner at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013.Purpose – The paper aims to report on an exploratory study into how small businesses use Web 2.0 information and communication technologies (ICT) to work collaboratively with other small businesses. The study had two aims: to investigate the benefits available from the use of Web 2.0 in small business collaborations, and to characterize the different types of such online collaborations. Design/methodology/approach – The research uses a qualitative case study methodology based on semi-structured interviews with the owner-managers of 12 UK-based small companies in the business services sector who are early adopters of Web 2.0 technologies. Findings – Benefits from the use of Web 2.0 are categorized as lifestyle benefits, internal operational efficiency, enhanced capability, external communications and enhanced service offerings. A 2×2 framework is developed to categorize small business collaborations using the dimensions of the basis for inter-organizational collaboration (control vs cooperation) and the level of Web 2.0 ICT use (simple vs sophisticated). Research limitations/implications – A small number of firms of similar size, sector and location were studied, which limits generalizability. Nonetheless, the results offer a pointer to the likely future use of Web 2.0 tools by other small businesses. Practical implications – The research provides evidence of the attraction and potential of Web 2.0 for collaborations between small businesses. Originality/value – The paper is one of the first to report on use of Web 2.0 ICT in collaborative working between small businesses. It will be of interest to those seeking a better understanding of the potential of Web 2.0 in the small business community.WestFocu

How do fashion retail customers search on the Internet?: Exploring the use of data mining tools to enhance CRM

This paper seeks to determine the usefulness of data mining tools to SMEs in developing customer relationship management (CRM) in the fashion retail sector. Kalakota & Robinson’s (1999, p.114) model of ‘The Three Phases of CRM’ acts as a basis to explore the use of data mining software. This paper reviews the nature and type of data that is available for collection and its relevance to CRM; providing an advisory framework for practitioners for them to examine the scope and limitations of using data analysis to improve CRM. The data mining tool examined was Google Analytics (GA); an online freeware tool that enables businesses to understand how people find their site, how they navigate through it, and, ultimately, how they do or don’t become customers of it (Google Analytics, 2009). Establishing these relationships should lead to retailer development of enhanced web site aesthetics and functionality to coincide with consumer expectations. The paper finds that the competitive nature and homogeneity of the fashion retail sector requires retailers to improve the ‘reach, richness and affiliation’ (Hackney et al) of their sites by using technology to explore CRM

An Exploration of Factors that influence the ability of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to Engage in Electronic Commerce: preliminary findings from 34 Australian case studies

Previous research by Chau and Turner (2001b) proposed a Four Phase Model of E- Commerce Business Transformation. This model adapted the work of Venkatraman (1994) to explore the relationship between the degree of organisational transformation and potential benefits derived from SME e-Commerce. This paper reports in detail on the factors that influence SMEs ability to co-ordinate changes to organisational processes and derive benefit from e-Commerce. Examination of the qualitative data collected indicates factors both internal and external to the organisation influence SMEs’ ability to perform e-Commerce enabled business transformation. The paper discusses the nature of these internal factors (organisational and technological) and external factors (nature of supply chain, level of service provided by third party organisations, industry influence and government assistance)

Diffusion of Internet Technologies in Travel Agencies in Australia

The Internet appears to playing a role in the restructuring of some traditional business sectors in which some organisations profit and some decline. Travel agencies are being subjected to increased competition from virtual on-line travel agencies. These agencies do not possess the traditional retail outlets but exist predominantly on the Web. In addition, airline companies and travel wholesalers are beginning to market their products directly to the consumer. Despite the threat of disintermediation, the Internet has created opportunities for the travel agency as it provides a method of providing service around the clock and of being accessible from home and work. This paper reports on an Australian wide study that has been undertaken to investigate the diffusion and adoption of Internet (Web) technologies in travel agencies. The agencies were randomly selected within each State. A questionnaire was developed and sent to almost 2000 travel agencies. Two hundred and forty seven questionnaires were returned. The findings are examined against traditional IS/IT diffusion models and frameworks. The results highlight that a significant number of travel agencies have adopted the use of the WWW but most only use a fraction of its business potential. It would appear that traditional frameworks for analysing technology diffusion do not help explain the reasons behind either the lack of Internet adoption or the simplicity with which these systems have been implemented. Sophisticated Internet technologies involve the adoption of a new business model which may compete with the business model currently used by travel agencies. These aspects of conflict create a barrier for the small businesses to adopt Internet technology. Whilst the pessimists forecast a very bleak outlook for travel agencies, those that do re-engineer with a new vision and strategy have the opportunity to be amongst the leaders in the sector. Focusing on becoming information service providers is one option that travel agents can take. However, given the rapid rate of change in electronic commerce and the varying patterns of adoption and strategies used, it is still not clear how severe the shake out of this important industry sector will be

Internet and Electronic Commerce in Developing Countries of the South Pacific: an exploratory study of SMES in Samoa

The purpose of the paper is to report the findings of a recent research conducted in Samoa. Case studies were conducted in 12 Samoan small and medium enterprises (SMEs). All participants had access to the Internet and ten of them had websites. Participants verified the interview transcriptions while senior government officials including the Prime Minister validated the findings. Recent e-Commerce studies in SMEs concentrate in developed countries and highly populated developing countries. There are no existing studies of E- commerce in SMEs of the developing countries of the South Pacific. This paper aims to remedy this gap in IS literature

Electronic commerce adoption:a study of business-to-business practice in Saudi Arabia

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has become an increasingly important initiative among organisations. The factors affecting adoption decisions have been well-documented, but there is a paucity of empirical studies that examine the adoption of e-commerce in developing economies in the Arab world. The aim of this study is to provide insights into the salient e-commerce adoption issues by focusing on Saudi Arabian businesses. Based on the Technology-Organisational-Environmental framework, an integrated research model was developed that explains the relative influence of 19 known determinants. A measurement scale was developed from prior empirical studies and revised based on feedback from the pilot study. Non-interactive adoption, interactive adoption and stabilisation of e-commerce adoption were empirically investigated using survey data collected from Saudi manufacturing and service companies. Multiple discriminant function analysis (MDFA) was used to analyse the data and research hypotheses. The analysis demonstrates that (1) regarding the non-interactive adoption of e-commerce, IT readiness, management team support, learning orientation, strategic orientation, pressure from business partner, regulatory and legal environment, technology consultants‘ participation and economic downturn are the most important factors, (2) when e-commerce interactive adoption is investigated, IT readiness, management team support, regulatory environment and technology consultants‘ participation emerge as the strongest drivers, (3) pressure from customers may not have much effect on the non-interactive adoption of e-commerce by companies, but does significantly influence the stabilisation of e-commerce use by firms, and (4) Saudi Arabia has a strong ICT infrastructure for supporting e-commerce practices. Taken together, these findings on the multi-dimensionality of e-commerce adoption show that non-interactive adoption, interactive adoption and stabilisation of e-commerce are not only different measures of e-commerce adoption, but also have different determinants. Findings from this study may be valuable for both policy and practice as it can offer a substantial understanding of the factors that enhance the widespread use of B2B e-commerce. Also, the integrated model provides a more comprehensive explanation of e-commerce adoption in organisations and could serve as a foundation for future research on information systems