Commerce Practices Research Articles

Social commerce: Looking back and forward

Social commerce can be briefly described as commerce activities mediated by social media. In social commerce, people do commerce or intentionally explore commerce opportunities by participating and/or engaging in a collaborative online environment. As a relatively new phenomenon first widely acknowledged in 2005, social commerce presents new opportunities to examine issues related to information/content, business strategies, management, technologies, and people's behavior. This article presents a qualitative longitudinal study which systematically examines technological features and tools in social commerce websites to illustrate their evolution and impacts on the formation of social commerce practice today and its potential future. Using captures crawled by the Wayback Machine, fifteen websites are analyzed from the year they were “born” to the year of 2010. The analyses are guided by a semi-structured checklist of expected and desired tools and features based on a literature review in social commerce. The study finds that social commerce activities appeared as early as the late 90s and that there are different approaches to incorporating social channels and social networks. In addition, the findings support a preliminary classification of social commerce websites, a realignment of the term's conceptualization and the anticipation of possible new directions for this market segment.

A One-Two Punch on Zeroing: US–Zeroing (EC) and US–Zeroing (Japan)

AbstractThis paper examines issues that came before the Appellate Body in two disputes, US–Zeroing (EC) and the US–Zeroing (Japan). The core issue in both the disputes involves the US Department of Commerce's practice of zeroing. The scope of the claims in both cases was considerably broader than in the previous WTO disputes involving zeroing. The two arguments in support of the practice were that (a) the practice of zeroing has been a standard administrative practice for many years and (b) the Antidumping Agreement does not clearly prohibit it and hence deference must be given to national authorities. While, the Appellate Body was arguably correct in prohibiting the use of zeroing under the main methods of Article 2.4.2 AD Agreement as well as in various reviews, we consider that it overreached in considering zeroing to be in violation of Article 2.4 AD Agreement and possibly as inconsistent with Article 2.4.2, exceptional method. Finally, while the AB found zeroing in reviews violated Article 2.4.2 AD Agreement, we believe it would have been preferable for the AB to have limited its findings of inconsistency to Article 9.3 AD Agreement.

Do Privacy Statements Really Work? The Effect of Privacy Statements and Fair Information Practices on Trust and Perceived Risk in E-Commerce

Companies today collect, store and process enormous amounts of information in order to identify, gain, and maintain customers. Electronic commerce and advances in database and communication technology allow business to collect and analyze more personal information with greater ease and efficiency than ever before. This has resulted in increased privacy concerns and a lack of trust among consumers. These concerns have prompted the FCC to call for the use of Fair Information Practices in electronic commerce. Many firms have added privacy statements, formal declarations of privacy and security policy, to their e-commerce web sites in an attempt to reduce privacy concerns by increasing consumer trust in the firm and reducing the perceived risk associated with e-commerce transactions. This article describes an experiment designed to determine the efficacy of that strategy.

Globalisation, Networks and Translation: A Chinese Perspective

Globalisation is often interpreted as a state of interconnectedness descriptive of global networks of capital, commodities, information, knowledge, migrants, financial transactions and so on. On the global level, the process of globalisation and intensified international contacts or cooperation in various fields have facilitated the growth of the translation sector. Being a part of this global market, China has experienced translation-facilitated transformations in various aspects of social life, such as commerce, education, fashion and social practices. Aiming to interpret the new implications of translation and translation studies in the network society of this age of globalisation from a Chinese perspective, this paper examines the changing demands of the enlarged domestic translation market, the new requirements and working environments for translators, and the commercialisation and industrialisation of the local translation sector. The present article presents the latest developments in the translation sector in the mainland of China and reveals major challenges in the professionalisation and industrialisation process.

Financial governance and policy learning in Korea: analysing the post-crisis experience

The purpose of this project is to explore the response of the Korean authorities to the fallout from the financial crisis that began in the fall of 1997. The project is situated in the domestic and international political economy and examines how the Korean government adjusted to practices in global finance and commerce. What is being examined at a practical level is to what extent has there been policy learning about financial policy governance within the Korean state since the 1997 financial collapse. The article concludes that there has not been enough political, social and institutional development in financial governance to accompany the purely economic advances.

Conceptualizing, Analyzing and Measuring Political Risk: The Evolution of Theory and Method

This paper analyses the concept of political risk, its evolution and conceptualisation, and explores its utility as a means of understanding political events and processes that can threaten order, stability and continuity in International Relations and disrupt the normal practices of inter-state investment, trade and commerce. More particularly, the article organises the disparate literature that surrounds the concept of political risk such that it might be more rigorously applied as a social science method for understanding political events and their effects upon commercial and strategic activities.

APLICAÇÃO DE MEDIDAS ANTIDUMPING PELOS ESTADOS UNIDOS NA IMPORTAÇÃO DE SUCO DE LARANJA BRASILEIRO

As medidas de defesa comercial são impostas com a finalidade de proteger a indústria nacional de práticas desleais do comércio, como é o caso do dumping. Houve uma significativa importação de suco de laranja brasileiro por parte dos Estados Unidos, o que ensejou a aplicação de medidas antidumping para proteção da indústria doméstica norte-americana. As medidas foram impostas através de decisão do Departamento do Comércio dos Estados Unidos, no entanto, gerou preocupações, levando o Brasil ao Órgão de Solução de Controvérsias da OMC para dirimir tais questões.

Nola and the historiography of Greek vases

Cemeteries that encircled the Campanian town of Nola furnished many of the ancient vases most highly sought after by eighteenth-century collectors. Attracted by the exceptional quality of the glazes on what was later recognized as Attic pottery, antiquaries looked to the figured scenes for reflections of lost masterpieces of ancient Greek painting. Enmeshed practices of connoisseurship, scholarship and commerce were already firmly in place by the 1740s. Comparing vases to Old Master drawings and adopting modes of display popular for Continental porzellan-kabinetten, collectors relocated Greek vase painting from the realm of curiosity to that of fine art.

Innovative Technological Paradigms for Corporate Offshoring

Internet technology has impelled us to develop faith in the modern practices of business, commerce, and trade. Offshoring has been viewed as a global phenomenon on the economic frontier. While new technologies need to be framed, stopgap arrangements in the form of transient solutions to upgrade the current systems are also desired. Newer regulations and multi-jurisdictional compliance have profound impacts on the growth of outsourcing projects. The development of new technological solutions must challenge the myth that legislation and statutory practices are the only possible mechanisms to counter the unscrupulous activities in the context of outsourcing. A change in the outlook toward such methodologies is essential to shed away the technological inertia and latency. This article opens up discussion issues in the perspective of hardware and software requirements for efficient offshoring. The aim is to achieve higher precision, protection, and throughput by applying core-computing techniques to the existing practices of outsourcing.

Case study analysis of the impacts of electronic commerce on the strategic management of container shipping companies

Despite the prevalence of its use, very little is understood about the role of electronic commerce (EC) practice on the strategic management of container shipping companies. Four case studies were undertaken to assess the main uses, motivations, barriers and strategic relevance of EC in the container shipping industry between 1992 and 2002. The cases studies included one large, one medium and one small deep-sea container line, and one medium-sized feeder line. The research found that despite pressing technical and managerial barriers, the need to improve internal economies provided the most fertile grounds for EC use in 1992 and EC was seen as a tactical tool to achieve these goals. By 2002, customer-oriented motivations became critical to the increased relevance of EC and to its perception as a business necessity.

Learning to Fly: The Evolution of Political Risk Analysis

This article analyses the concept of political risk, its evolution and conceptualisation, and explores its utility as a means of understanding political events and processes that can threaten order, stability and continuity in International Relations and disrupt the normal practices of inter-state investment, trade and commerce. More particularly, the article organises the disparate literature that surrounds the concept of political risk such that it might be more rigorously applied as a social science method for understanding political events and their effects upon commercial and strategic activities.

O Princípio da Autonomia da Vontade nos Contratos Internacionais – LICC X Convenção do México de 1994 (CIDIP V)

Com a freqüente prática do Comércio Internacional, e utilização dos contratos internacionais, mister se faz a aplicação do princípio da autonomia da vontade no que tange a escolha da lei aplicável aos contratos. A norma de direito internacional privado do ordenamento jurídico brasileiro – LICC – não acolhe este princípio. No entanto, este já foi acolhido pela LICC de 1.917, não de forma expressa, mas facultava as partes a escolha da lei aplicável aos contratos. A discussão da aplicação deste princípio gira em torno da ordem pública, esta não podendo ser violada sob pena da não validade do princípio no ordenamento jurídico em questão. Da mesma forma, a boa fé é um limite ao princípio da autonomia da vontade. A normativa brasileira, isto é, a Lei de Arbitragem, acolhe em seu bojo o princípio da autonomia da vontade, pois explicita a escolha da lei pelas partes. O princípio da autonomia pode ingressar na ordem jurídica brasileira desde que a Convenção do México de 1994 sobre a lei aplicável aos contratos – CIDIP V – seja ratificada pelo Congresso Nacional. Desta forma, a LICC sofreria alteração, vez que o princípio se encaixaria em seu texto normativo.

Adopting virtual private network for electronic commerce

PurposeTo identify the content of virtual private network, the suitability of virtual private network for e‐commerce transactions, and the economics issue of virtual private network.Design/methodology/approachA range of virtual private network concepts and technologies are identified and compared. The capability, suitability, and pros and cons of adopting virtual private network for electronic commerce are discussed. An economic analysis is used to compare the cost and benefit of adopting virtual private network in organizations.FindingsThis paper provides information about virtual private network technology. It also indicates the advantages and disadvantages of adopting virtual private network for electronic commerce practices. The economic analysis provides a real example of technology adoption decision making. Strategic implications of adopting virtual private network are detected.Practical implicationsThe economic analysis on adopting virtual private network provides an example of information technology selection decision for the electronic commerce community.Originality/valueThis paper provides an economic approach to analyzing the decision process for information technology adoption. It suggests that the integration of virtual private network into electronic commerce architecture would perform secure and inexpensive online transactions for adopters of this new technology.

Economic appraisal and evaluation of UK waste minimisation clubs: proposals to inform the design of sustainable clubs

Waste minimisation clubs have been established for some 12 years in the UK. During that time, they have been significant driving forces in disseminating sustainable waste management practices in industry and commerce. Clubs have also demonstrated that they can achieve significant reductions in levels of waste. However, data on the economic benefits of these clubs remain scanty and disparate. In addition, no standard methodology has developed to assess whether the investment costs of clubs can be justified on grounds of either economic welfare or sustainable development, despite the theoretical advantages from doing so. Against this background, the paper considers the need for economic appraisal and evaluation of waste minimisation clubs and discusses how these methods could be applied to the creation of clubs that will be sustainable over time.

Adapting to changing expectations: Post-graduate students’ experience of an e-learning tax program

In response to the impact of information and communication technology on traditional business and commerce practices, and the empowerment of individuals by the growth of information available on the Internet, educators are challenged to adapt the curricula and delivery modes of educational programs for knowledge workers, such as tax accountants. Today’s tax accountants are expected to be computer and information literate, and are valued for their critical thinking skills based on subject knowledge. This article evaluates the implementation of an e-learning Masters Program in Taxation in South Africa based on the feedback from students. Three criteria are used: the use of technology, the learning design, and flexibility of the tax program. Students reacted positively to the use of technology, but expressed concern about the lack of interaction between students, and between students and teachers. The author argues that the choice of technologies, the outsourcing of teaching services, and the program facilitator’s teaching approach emulate the face-to-face tax program and therefore still support a teacher-centered teaching and learning approach. Students and teachers who are used to a traditional teacher-centered teaching and learning approach often measure the quality of a learning experience by the amount of information transmitted by a subject expert. Getting students to take responsibility for their own learning poses a bigger challenge than improving students’ computer and information skills. Several recommendations are made to improve e-learning programs that will produce self-directed, lifelong learners who can be productive in an information-based economy.

Online support for commerce processes and survivability of web retailers

Understanding the significance of various online processes in establishing and sustaining electronic commerce (EC) is a key concern for retailers and business in general. This paper replicates and extends the Basu and Muylle [Decision Support Systems 34 (2003)] study examining the extent to which companies in various industries are supporting online processes through their retail Web sites. Using the framework of an Electronic Commerce Architecture (ECA), the same set of commercial Web sites is analyzed in order to determine how the online support for commerce processes in each industry and each type of industry has evolved. In addition, the impact of Web retailers' extent of Web technology adoption and electronic commerce practices on survivability is investigated.

Electronic Commerce Law and Practice, 2nd edn

Electronic Commerce Law and Practice, 2nd edn

Online support for commerce processes by web retailers

This paper examines the extent to which companies in various industries are using the World Wide Web and its associated technologies to conduct retail business. Using the framework of an Electronic Commerce Architecture (ECA), a variety of commercial Web sites are analyzed to determine which commerce processes are being supported online in each industry and each type of industry. The results of this study provide useful insight not only for researchers on the state of Web technology adoption and electronic commerce practices in industry, but also for companies seeking to derive competitive advantage through electronic commerce.

Documentary Credits in the UAE

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A Comparative Study of Business to Consumer Electronic Commerce within the Australian Insurance Sector

Electronic commerce is causing fundamental changes in the insurance sector. Inherent opportunities of this innovative sales channel are driving the development of a new customer relationship paradigm, development of new products, pursuit of low cost ‘self service’ strategies, and emergence of ‘virtual brokers’. The Australian insurance sector is well positioned to take advantage of electronic commerce due to the high level of PC penetration, high Internet usage, and extensive broadband infrastructure. The perception is that the Australian insurance sector is meeting these challenges. Surprisingly, despite the emergence of electronic commerce as a ‘hot topic’ in the information technology and insurance sector literature, little empirical research has been reported. Much of the extant literature can be criticized as being too generic and superficial. It is argued that until research is focused on specific aspects of electronic commerce, we will fail to capture meaningful insights. The aim of this research project is to develop a research framework appropriate for electronic commerce, research and to apply it to a specific sector (insurance), in a specific geographical region (Australia), using a specific electronic commerce, medium (Internet), for a specific purpose (business to consumer sale of risk products). The research objective is to discover which Australian insurance companies are using electronic commerce for what. The survey found that of the 21 largest Australian insurance companies only 18 have web sites. These sites are mainly used for promotional purposes and not for directly generating sales. Only six companies offer customer-specific pricing of their products. And of these, only four companies sell any of their products over the Internet. Paradoxically, despite pressing business drivers in the insurance sector and a favourable electronic commerce environment in Australia, these findings demonstrate a significant gap between appreciation of the importance of electronic commerce and realization of commercial potential. Whilst most Australian insurance companies are well aware of the special importance of electronic commerce, many fail to take full advantage. Although further qualitative research is recommended to understand why this is so, it is clear that a significant gap remains between the technical capabilities of electronic commerce and actual practice in the Australian insurance sector.