Global Transfer of EDI Technology: A Multi-Level Approach

Abstract

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a technology which has shown significant impact not only at the individual organization level, but at industry-sector and even at the country-level. As the issues to be addressed at these levels are different, a systemic study of EDI technology transfer incorporating multiple levels is necessary for developing a holistic understanding of the transfer process. This chapter provides such a framework of global EDI technology transfer which can be used for analyzing and planning EDI implementation within a country, an industry-sector, or an organization. The chapter explores EDI implementation across two dimensions: breadth and depth. The breadth dimension focuses on the scope of EDI technology transfer — a country, an industry-sector, or an organization. The depth dimension focuses on the maturity of EDI usage, which is differentiated into three levels roughly corresponding to 'learner', 'practitioner11 and 'expert11 levels. The chapter then identifies critical success factors across these two dimensions. These factors are grouped into 'critical success areas' which are used to define a conceptual framework of EDI technology transfer, and to apply this framework to some countries and industry-sectors as example. Finally, the chapter uses the framework for proposing an approach for planning the EDI technology transfer process.