The Emergence of Electronic Market Intermediaries

In this paper, we provide preliminary findings of an empirical study which supports the hypothesis that electronic markets do not become “disintermediated” as they become facilitated by information technologies. We explore thirteen case studies of companies participating in electronic commerce and find evidence across markets which indicate necessary roles for electronic market intermediaries including matching suppliers and customers, providing trust, and providing interorganizational market information. Two specific examples are explored in greater detail to show the unsuccessful (Bargain Finder) and successful (Agents Inc.) identification of electronic market intermediary roles

Intermediation on electronic markets: The case of Java software elements

This paper provides an introduction to the Java Repository - an intermediary for Java software elements. First, basic concepts for electronic intermediaries are derived from economic theory. Furthermore, the theoretic considerations are applied to the Java Repository and current and future developments of this special intermediary are presented, especially the use and implementation ofEcash to support financial transactions on the Java market

The Structural Impact of Information Technology on the Air Travel Distribution Industry

Rapid advances in technology profoundly affect the way businesses are conducted and the way industry structures evolved. The air travel distribution industry experienced two major technology waves in its evolution, the Computer Reservations System (CRS) and electronic commerce. This paper considers various frameworks used to explain structural features of the US air travel distribution industry and the competitive forces within it. We then describe the historical context within which the structural changes occurred as a result of IT innovations. The current and relative strengths of the industry forces are examined to explain an IT-induced power shift in the industry. We then consider the impact of IT on the air travel distribution industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on a comparison with the US experience, we forecast that variances in geography, culture and psychology will limit the extent to which IT can be used to manipulate the balance of power in the industry in the short- to medium-term. We expect, however, that a uniform industry structure will prevail in the long-run

Vom Wissenschafts- zum Kommerznetz: zur Entwicklung neuer IuK-Systeme: Berichte aus den Verbundprojekten

Das Heft will mit drei Beiträgen aus laufenden bzw. bereits abgeschlossenen Projekten des Verbundes Teilbereiche der aktuellen sozialwissenschaftlichen Forschung im Bereich Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien beleuchten. Der Blick richtet sich dabei auf die Entstehung und Entwicklung des Internet als Wissenschaftsnetz bis hin zu seiner kommerziellen Nutzung für 'Electronic Commerce' und geht weiter bis zum Einsatz neuer IuK-Technologien als 'Elektronische Beifahrer'. Inhaltsverzeichnis: Raymund Werle, Volker Leib: Die Bedeutung der Wissenschaftsorganisationen für die Entstehung und die Entwicklung des Internet (9-36); Kurt Monse, Moonika Gatzke: Von "Elektronischen Märkten" zu "Electronic Commerce". Theoretische Anhaltspunkte und empirische Belege für die aktuelle Entwicklung (37-106); Weert Canzler: Telematik und Auto: Renn-Reiselimousine mit integrierter Satellitenschüssel (107-127); Übersicht über die Projekte im Verbund (128-132)

Disintermediation and re-intermediation in the music business: the effect of multimedia technologies and E-commerce

Advances in e-commerce and multimedia technologies are becoming inextricably more closer related to society and business. Theoretical insight into these new areas is scarce and that is the gap that this thesis aims to cover. The study uses the music industry as a test-bed for the propositions developed. The literature review summarises and criticises the theories on E-commerce which centre around the "transaction cost economics" branch of management literature. Other theories used to develop the frameworks include "network externalities" and "increasing returns" from economics, "value chain" from industrial organisation and theories on "search costs" and "quality uncertainty" from the economics of information. Special mention is given to the literature on the music industry dealing with the production and commercialisation of music, the resulting and changing structure of the industry, as well as various research approaches to understanding consumer involvement in the industry (cultural/subcultural analyses of user behaviour). The methodology followed is qualitative in nature and concentrates on the case study method. Besides the secondary data, primary data is collected via interviews with key informants in the music industry. Executives in other relevant to e-commerce/multimedia industry firms such as telcos and software firms are also interviewed to give a broader perspective to the study. The data are analysed using the pattern matching method. The data analysis process can be summarised as follows: A primer is offered on the recording and music industry which serves to develop the research questions and propositions. This stemmed from the pilot research and coupled with the theory allows the formation of patterns that are expected to match the data if the theory stands. Three patterns emerged from the literature review: Pattern 1: Labels sell music content directly to the consumer Pattern 2: Artists sell content directly to the consumer. Pattern 3: E-commerce between content owners and consumers will be facilitated by intermediaries. A case study is then built detailing the events in the music industry concerning Music on Demand during the period 1995-1998. The case study is "partitioned" in chapters detailing each of the technological players examined. Other significant events relevant to the study, are included in vignettes in the main body of the analysis. The analysis matches the data in the case studies with the relevant patterns and incorporates interview quotes. Concluding the thesis offers some explanations for the failure of matching theory with data. It also goes one step further by developing a new value system and patterns that can be used to guide further academic research on the subject. The chapter ends with the development and analysis of four scenarios, proposing their value for practitioners such as managers and investors seeking insight into the future of the music industry in a multimedia environment, as well as policy makers interested in the relationship between creativity and economic technological factors. The main conclusion is that concentration of copyright in the hands of the few is hindering rather than promoting new multimedia and e-commerce industries

The impact of tecchnological advancements on intermediaries in the motion picture industry.

The main research objective of the dissertation is to systematically capture and explain those changes in a particular sector of the media industry that are triggered through technological advancements and have an impact on intermediation. Intermediation is an economic concept, which has proven its usefulness in the analysis of certain industries such as the trade or the financial service sector. However, the microeconomic-based concept of intermediation is typically not used for the analysis of technology-driven changes. In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, a new approach, namely, the Intermediation Analysis Approach is developed over the course of the dissertation and applied to a sample sector. The motion picture industry has been selected for this as intermediaries such as sales agencies and distributors traditionally play an important role. In addition, the motion picture sector has witnessed numerous technological advancements in the past and is thus perfectly suited for an ex-post analysis of the last fifteen years. In addition, intermediaries in the motion picture industry received little attention so far in literature. The theoretical foundation established at the beginning of the dissertation is from paramount importance for the development of the Intermediation Analysis Approach. Industrial Economics is used as the theoretical frame of reference. Industrial Economics provides a suitable frame of reference for the research objectives and questions of this dissertation, as it is characterized by a high degree of reality. In this context, the theory of the firm is particularly important and is therefore discussed in detail from different viewpoints. In addition to the theory of the firm, the large volume of literature on intermediaries is also highly relevant for establishing the theoretical foundation. This includes findings from various research strands on intermediation, including, but not limited to, the trade and marketing literature as well as the literature on financial intermediation In the course of the analysis, the activities of intermediaries, the value provided by intermediaries and the incentives to cooperate with intermediaries are identified as the key factors that have to be examined. All these facets are incorporated into the Intermediation Analysis Approach and tools are developed for each facet. The analysis approach itself thus consists of four steps: (1) the analysis of industry characteristics (incl. the value added structure in order to identify intermediaries), (2) the analysis of the activities performed by intermediaries, (3) the analysis of the value provided by intermediaries and (4) the incentives to cooperate with intermediaries. The tools of the analysis approach employ comparative statics analysis to examine the impact of technological advancements at two distinct points in time. By examining each facet in detail, the impact of technological advancements on intermediaries can be determined and explained. While the Intermediation Analysis Approach can be employed in a variety of use cases. It is used ex-post for the analysis of the motion picture industry where the status quo of intermediaries in 1999 is compared to their status in 2014. The objective of the application of the analysis approach is to answer a variety of practical research questions for the motion picture industry. Even more importantly, the applicability of the Intermediation Analysis Approach is demonstrated. The results of the analysis show that some interesting developments have occurred. Many of which received little attention or are contrary to what some researchers predicted in the past. The analysis results show, that the activities of most intermediaries have not been directly influenced by technological advancements. Particularly the activities on the informational level still require a high degree of specialization and experience. In regards to the value that intermediaries in the motion picture sector provide and its change in the last fifteen years, the results of the analysis reveal a variety of value sources, which enable intermediaries to add value. The contact reduction based on the Baligh-Richartz-Effect, standardization, scale effects and specialization are the most prominent value sources that enable the intermediaries in the motion picture industry to increase the transaction efficiency. Technological advancement did not reduce the strength of most value sources. In regards to the incentives and disincentives of up- and downstream market participants to cooperate with intermediaries, the analysis results show that a variety of incentives and disincentives can be identified. However, in most cases the cooperation is not optional, often for both of the intermediary’s transaction partners. Nevertheless, the analysis still reveals noteworthy incentives and disincentives. The most prominent one is the observation that the decrease in transaction costs and increase in transaction efficiency is in the interest of the involved transaction partners as well. Since most intermediaries’ ability to increase efficiency improved in the examined timeframe, the incentives to cooperate with them grew stronger as well.Administración y Dirección de Empresa