An e-business design and evaluation framework based on entrepreneurial, technical and operational considerations

Abstract

The development of business models for e-business has become increasing popular within both the academic and business arenas. However, it can be argued that many of the business models for e-business are static in nature and only provide a historical view. Such models are helpful in helping researchers and practitioners organise their thoughts about different e-business options, but are of limited value in providing guidance as to how to link the broad strategic concept with the detail of the required business processes in the operating e-business. This paper draws upon the emergent knowledge of e-business models together with traditional strategy theory to provide a simple integrating framework for the evaluation and assessment of business models for e-business. The framework reflects concurrent top-down and bottom-up perspectives, with an entrepreneurial view based on the identification of a market need or business opportunity triggering the search for appropriate delivery mechanisms, and a technical view which builds up from an internal review of business process and ICT resources and capabilities which could suggest new electronically-based business options. The framework points to a set of design and evaluation sequences for the development of a new business starting with either perspective.