The Dynamics of Competitiveness in Electronic Commerce

Abstract

The internet is rapidly transforming the nature of business and the global economy.
This new medium can propel electronic commerce on a global scale with no barriers
or borders. Consequently, organizations have begun to develop comprehensive
electronic commerce strategies. The great potential rewards, including lower
operating costs, a new distribution channel, and the potential to enhance
productivity, are driving the development of innovative electronic commerce
applications, particularly on the World Wide Web. New business alliances are forming
as organizations race to participate in the immense revenue opportunities that the
web offers. These electronic commerce opportunities have developed rapidly,
seemingly overnight, and have changed the face of the way many businesses are
running. However, managers are faced with having to make difficult and strategic
business decisions based on their lesser knowledge of this new terrain. These
decisions involve the transformation of the value chain to gain a sustainable
competitive advantage in a global marketplace. Our goal is to investigate the
dynamics of this new age of electronic commerce, driven by the influence of the
internet.