Abstract
The aim of this research was to understand the strategic uses of e-business systems and technologies by classifying companies and particularly small and medium businesses according to demographics as well as e-business behavior variables.The study was based on data from a large quantitative survey of European E-business W@tch for the period 2007 using questionnaire interviews (N=409). We employed two-step cluster analysis, multinomial logistic regression and stepwise descriminant analysis as the most appropriate methods for our analysis. The findings revealed six clusters associated to e-business adoption. The six groups differ in terms of demographic characteristics as well as e-business applications they use. We found that the following clusters exist: (a) Leaders: large companies that extensively use ebusiness in a strategic manner (b) innovators: use e-business in an way that allows them to innovate and differentiate from other companies (c Beginners: small and medium companies across all sectors that only recently start to use e-business (d) Unready Adopters: micro and small companies that lag behind (e) Late Adopters: small-size companies but larger that the Unready Adopters, that appear not to be interest in the advances of ICTs and (f) Laggards: micro companies with little use of e-business.The results of our survey can positively contribute to managers aiming to take advantage of technological advances in electronic business as well as to any researcher who study e-business management and applications.
Highlights
In many cases, e-business is a truly innovative means to manage and compete in the global business settings
The aim of this research was to understand the strategic uses of e-business systems and technologies by classifying companies and small and medium businesses according to demographics as well as e-business behavior variables.The study was based on data from a large quantitative survey of European E-business W@tch for the period 2007 using questionnaire interviews (N=409)
We aimed to investigate Greek entrepreneurship related to e-business adoption and to present the current trends of all Greek sectors
Summary
E-business is a truly innovative means to manage and compete in the global business settings. According to a recent survey of Sectored e-Business Watch (Selhofer et al 2007), which was supported by the European Commission, in 29 European countries; 64.2% of companies has already adopted e-business applications, while 54.5% of these businesses have mentioned positive changes to their operation, managing to increase their competitive attitude almost by 47.2%. The technological differentiation and the extent of e-business diffusion can provoke creation of business groups of common characteristics within comparable sectors. Xirogiannis and Glykas (2007) affirmed that e-business could provide superior value to business customers, while Phan (2003) suggested e-business as an appropriate managerial tool that each company needs to adopt in order to differentiate its operations from competitors Ozer (2002) highlighted the combination of managerial tasks and ebusiness applicability and tried to emphasize that the growing customers’ demands is one of the managerial aspects that each firm needs to seriously consider in order for e-business strategy to be more effective. Pavic et al (2007) measured the diverse challenges which e-business provoke and found that demographic factors, such as business explain to a large extend e-business success on internal process. Xirogiannis and Glykas (2007) affirmed that e-business could provide superior value to business customers, while Phan (2003) suggested e-business as an appropriate managerial tool that each company needs to adopt in order to differentiate its operations from competitors
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