E-Business Adoption

Taherdoost, Hamed

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-39626-7_12

Hamed Taherdoost^3,4

Part of the book series: EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing ((EAISICC))

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Abstract

The digital age has revolutionized organizational operations, making e-business practices indispensable for maintaining a competitive edge in today’s marketplace. Incorporating technology into daily operations enhances efficiency and productivity. This chapter provides a brief introduction to e-business adoption, highlighting its significance for modern businesses and the factors that influence its spread. Various factors shape the implementation of e-business, including technical, organizational, and environmental aspects. This chapter explores their impact on adopting e-business and offers insights on overcoming associated challenges. The adoption process itself plays a crucial role, starting with awareness and curiosity, followed by evaluation, trial, and adoption. The subsequent chapter discusses effective adoption procedures for each phase. Although e-business brings numerous benefits, businesses encounter obstacles and challenges during its implementation. This chapter identifies and analyzes these hurdles, providing strategies for overcoming them. Additionally, it concludes by examining the pros and cons of embracing an e-business model and offers a glimpse into the future of e-business adoption. By the end of this chapter, readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of e-business adoption and its potential to benefit contemporary businesses.

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References

Rowley, J., E-Business: Principles and Practice. 2002: Palgrave Global Publishing
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Rogers, E.M., Diffusion of Innovations. 2010: Simon and Schuster
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Chen, L. and C.W. Holsapple, E-business adoption research: State of the art. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 2013. 14(3): p. 261
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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Arts, Communications and Social Sciences, University Canada West, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Hamed Taherdoost
Hamta Business Corporation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Hamed Taherdoost

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Hamed Taherdoost
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Appendices

Summary

Definition of E-Business Adoption

E-business adoption refers to the process by which organizations integrate electronic technologies and digital platforms into their business operations and strategies.

Factors Influencing E-Business Adoption

Internal factors: These include organizational culture, management support, resources, and capabilities.
External factors: These involve market forces, competitive pressures, technological advancements, and customer demands.

The Adoption Process

Awareness: Organizations become aware of the potential benefits of e-business and its relevance to their operations.
Evaluation: Organizations assess the feasibility, costs, and benefits of adopting e-business practices.
Decision: Organizations decide to adopt e-business based on the evaluation.
Implementation: Organizations implement the necessary changes to integrate e-business into their operations.
Monitoring: Organizations continuously monitor the performance and effectiveness of their e-business adoption.

Barriers and Challenges to E-Business Adoption

Technological barriers include concerns about infrastructure, security, and compatibility with existing systems.
Organizational barriers involve resistance to change, lack of digital skills, and a rigid organizational structure.
Regulatory and legal barriers: These pertain to compliance with laws and regulations related to e-business activities.
Market barriers include market saturation, intense competition, and changing customer preferences.

Evaluation of E-Business Adoption

Organizations need to evaluate the effectiveness of their e-business adoption to determine if it aligns with their goals and objectives.
Evaluation can involve measuring key performance indicators (KPIs), such as increased revenue, improved customer satisfaction, and enhanced operational efficiency.
Various evaluation methods, including surveys, analytics, and benchmarking, can be employed to assess the impact of e-business adoption.

Case Study

The XYZ Corporation is a medium-sized manufacturing company that has been in operation for over 30 years. The company specializes in manufacturing industrial equipment and has a solid reputation in the market. To remain competitive and expand its customer base, XYZ Corporation is considering implementing e-business techniques due to rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences.

1.
The business operations of XYZ Corporation have been conducted using conventional paper-based methods. How can e-business technologies such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and customer relationship management (CRM) software help an organization’s operations become more efficient and effective?
2.
XYZ Corporation’s organizational structure is hierarchical, and its culture resists change. How can the organization surmount internal opposition to e-business adoption and foster a culture that embraces innovation and technology?
3.
The XYZ Corporation is a well-established competitor in a highly competitive industry. How can the organization use e-business adoption to gain a competitive edge, acquire new customers, and differentiate itself from rivals?
4.
XYZ Corporation has just begun to investigate e-business adoption. What steps should the organization take to increase employee awareness of the benefits of e-business, generate enthusiasm, and facilitate the evaluation and testing of e-business solutions?
5.
XYZ Corporation is concerned about the potential risks and complications associated with adopting e-business, such as data security and privacy issues. How can the organization surmount these obstacles and ensure the secure and seamless implementation of e-business procedures?

Discussion

1.
What is e-business adoption, and why is it important for modern businesses?
2.
What are the technological factors that influence e-business adoption?
3.
How do organizational factors impact the adoption of e-business?
4.
What environmental factors can affect e-business adoption?
5.
What are the stages of the adoption process for e-business?
6.
How can organizations increase awareness of e-business to facilitate adoption?
7.
What are some best practices for generating interest in e-business?
8.
How can organizations evaluate the effectiveness of their e-business adoption efforts?
9.
What are some common barriers to e-business adoption?
10.
How can organizations overcome resistance to e-business adoption from employees or stakeholders?
11.
How can organizations address security concerns related to e-business adoption?
12.
How can organizations ensure that their e-business initiatives align with their overall business strategy?
13.
What are some potential drawbacks of e-business adoption?
14.
How can organizations measure the return on investment of their e-business initiatives?
15.
What are some emerging trends in e-business adoption that organizations should be aware of?
16.
How can organizations stay up to date with advancements in e-business technology?

Multiple-Choice Question

1.
What is the definition of e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  The use of electronic communication for internal business operations
2. (b)
  The implementation of online marketing strategies
3. (c)
  The process of integrating electronic technologies into business processes
4. (d)
  The utilization of social media platforms for customer engagement

2.
Why is e-business adoption important for modern businesses?
1. (a)
  It reduces operational costs and improves efficiency.
2. (b)
  It increases brand visibility and expands market reach.
3. (c)
  It enables real-time data analysis and personalized customer experiences.
4. (d)
  All of the above.

3.
Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  Technological factors
2. (b)
  Organizational factors
3. (c)
  Financial factors
4. (d)
  Environmental factors

4.
How do technological factors influence e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  They determine the availability and effectiveness of e-commerce platforms.
2. (b)
  They influence the speed and reliability of Internet connections.
3. (c)
  They impact the security and privacy of online transactions.
4. (d)
  All of the above.

5.
Which stage of the adoption process involves creating awareness about the benefits of e-business?
1. (a)
  Interest
2. (b)
  Evaluation
3. (c)
  Trial
4. (d)
  Awareness

6.
What is a best practice for the evaluation stage of the adoption process?
1. (a)
  Conducting a cost-benefit analysis of implementing e-business
2. (b)
  Developing a detailed implementation plan
3. (c)
  Establishing a pilot project to test the effectiveness of e-business
4. (d)
  Communicating the benefits of e-business to employees and stakeholders

7.
What are some common barriers to e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  Resistance to change from employees
2. (b)
  Limited technological infrastructure
3. (c)
  Security concerns regarding online transactions
4. (d)
  All of the above

8.
Which strategy can help overcome the barrier of resistance to change?
1. (a)
  Providing comprehensive training and support to employees
2. (b)
  Investing in robust cybersecurity measures
3. (c)
  Upgrading technological infrastructure
4. (d)
  Offering financial incentives to employees for adopting e-business

9.
What are some benefits of e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  Increased customer reach and market expansion
2. (b)
  Improved operational efficiency and cost reduction
3. (c)
  Enhanced customer engagement and personalized experiences
4. (d)
  All of the above

10.
What is a drawback of e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  Increased competition from online competitors
2. (b)
  Potential security risks and data breaches
3. (c)
  Dependency on Internet connectivity and technology
4. (d)
  All of the above

11.
What is the future outlook for e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  It is expected to decline due to privacy concerns.
2. (b)
  It will become the primary mode of business operations.
3. (c)
  It will remain stagnant without significant advancements.
4. (d)
  It will be replaced by traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

12.
How do organizational factors influence e-business adoption?
1. (a)
  They determine the willingness of employees to embrace new technologies.
2. (b)
  They impact the decision-making process and resource allocation.
3. (c)
  They influence the company culture and hierarchy.
4. (d)
  All of the above.

13.
Which stage of the adoption process involves testing the effectiveness of e-business on a smaller scale?
1. (a)
  Evaluation
2. (b)
  Trial
3. (c)
  Interest
4. (d)
  Adoption

14.
Which strategy can help overcome the barrier of limited technological infrastructure?
1. (a)
  Partnering with technology providers or outsourcing IT services
2. (b)
  Ignoring the infrastructure limitations and proceeding with e-business
3. (c)
  Reducing the reliance on technology and focusing on traditional methods
4. (d)
  None of the above

15.
What is a best practice for the awareness stage of the adoption process?
1. (a)
  Conducting market research to identify customer needs and preferences
2. (b)
  Creating informative and engaging content about e-business benefits
3. (c)
  Establishing partnerships with industry leaders to promote e-business
4. (d)
  Developing a detailed implementation plan

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Taherdoost, H. (2023). E-Business Adoption. In: E-Business Essentials. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39626-7_12

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39626-7_12
Published: 05 September 2023
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-39625-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-39626-7
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)

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