|
Quick Links:
Join the Ebusiness Network list! Joe Peterson: Second Life Blog |
What is Ebusiness?To order the book please visit: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/1405125586 An order form is also available: Order Form
Reviews What is e-Business? How the Internet Transforms Organizations This book is a welcome addition to the existing body of e-business literature, being very well written and correspondingly, extremely readable, and at 14 chapters over 244 pages, is not excessively voluminous. Set against the background of the networked society and economy, and the replacement of the frenetic dot.com boom and bust period with the cool-headed rational thinking and coordinated actions of modern-day e-business, the book focuses upon the opportunities and challenges resulting from the emergence of the Internet and related technologies as a potent tool of modern business. Li is undoubtedly able to write both clearly and succinctly about this important and topical aspect of the business landscape, and it is refreshing to read material written by someone that not only knows their way around the items of literature comprising the e-business domain, but also understands the various connections between them. The result is a coherent text that makes what can be a complicated and fragmented body of literature extremely accessible to those wishing to obtain a considered introduction to the e-business domain, but it will also be of interest to those who might view themselves as being relatively familiar with the e-business literature. It is therefore suitable both for students at various levels of study, and for practitioners wishing to gain an overview of e-business from an unashamedly business (organizational) perspective. Unlike many authors writing on this subject, Li shuns the need to devote large sections of the text to detailed discussions of the various technical components that make up the e-business infrastructure, preferring instead to focus upon the salient theories and conceptual frameworks relevant to modern-day organizational issues. The resulting book is all the better for this confident and lucid approach, as it is never in danger of becoming confused (or confusing) by attempting to provide coverage of both technical and business aspects of the subject area. Following two introductory chapters (in which Li introduces the various concepts surrounding the issue of e-business), the main body of the book consists of three sections. The first section focuses on providing the reader with a grounding in the changes taking place in the e-business environment, and includes chapters on the information economy and how the Internet can redefine organizational boundaries. The second section discusses emerging strategies and business models for the digital economy, and comprises four chapters addressing topics such as virtual organizations, managing disruptive innovations, and strategic re-orientation. Finally, the third section focuses upon specific organizational innovations facilitated by ICT, and includes chapters on emerging forms of organization, new forms of work organization (including virtual teams), and inter-organizational innovations and systems. The book concludes with a chapter examining a series of topical and/or emerging issues. Each of the chapters closes with a series of discussion questions, suggested assignments, and ideas for further reading. Although the discussion points at end of each chapter are clearly aimed primarily at students and the teaching environment, they may also be of use for professionals wishing to reflect upon their comprehension of the subject matter. The book also includes three larger suggested assignments as appendices. In conclusion, this is a very good, readable book on an extremely relevant topic, and the author is to be congratulated on producing a text which is both timely and accessible. Professor Michael D. Williams What is E-business? How the Internet Transforms Organizations In 1994 the Internet came to the general public's attention with the advent of the Mosaic Web browser and the World Wide Web. Since then, many companies started the e-business initiative. According to dot-com theory, an Internet company's survival depended on expanding its customer base as rapidly as possible, even if it produced large annual losses. However, a large number of companies all had the same e-business model of monopolizing their respective sectors through network effects, and it was clear that even if the plan was sound, there could only be at most one network-effects winner in each sector, and therefore that most companies with this business plan would fail. During the dot.com bust in the early 2000s many dot.com companies lacking a viable business model went out of business. However, the dot.com bust did not make the end of the Internet and e-business. Because of the underlying growth of the digital society and economy, the consumer has pushed e-commerce forward during the economic downturn. Today, various e-business models and conceptual frameworks are based on more cool-headed and rational thinking than ever before. As the technology sector recovers rapidly from the dot.com bust, e-commerce has provided many new opportunities and challenges for some organizations to expand and prosper, while other organizations have not benefited from the opportunities at the same time. In many cases, e-commerce organizations will survive and thrive not only based on its product, but by having a competent management team, good customer-oriented sales services, well-organized business structure, network infrastructure and a secured, well-designed website. These organizational, managerial, and technological aspects of e-commerce mandate that e-commerce organizations find new ways of doing business by exploiting new capabilities form the existing and emerging e-commerce technologies. What is E-business? How the Internet Transforms Organizations, written by Prof. Feng Li of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne Business School, UK, uses a robust, tested, and widely acceptable theoretical framework to underpin e-business related topics. The book is divided into three closely intertwined parts with fourteen chapters dealing with a diverse range of issues in a coherent manner. Part I focuses on examining the nature and characteristics of the new business environment as the context for e-business. Part I begins with a discussion of comprehensive evidence on the changing business environment, and the reason some basic rules of the economy are redefined, and therefore the importance of strategic and organizational innovations supported by ICTs. The following two chapters discuss some of the changing rules, the implications for organizations and individuals, and the impacts of the Internet technologies on the organizational boundaries and structures. At the end of each chapter, some discussion questions and assignments are provided, together with suggestions for further reading. In addition, three appendices are included that provide a useful complimentary resource for readers. Part II focuses on some emerging strategies and business models in the new business environment. Chapter 6 explores the web strategy which is profoundly influential in the network economy, including new trends identified in several industries such as virtual communities and outsourcing. Chapter 7 examines disruptive innovations and possible responses to them. The author did a good job of explaining why many successful companies have failed to sustain their success over time. Chapter 8 investigates two recent strategic reorientations in the new business environment and their underlying reasons: the changing strategic focus from products and services to integrated business solutions and more recently to the co-creation of unique experience with customers. The critical role of the Internet and related technologies in enabling these strategic reorientations are highlighted. Chapter 9 discusses emerging e-business models in different sectors. A comprehensive taxonomy and an ontological framework for e-business models are also included. Part III builds upon the strategies and business models discussed in Part II. It focuses on some of the most significant organizational innovations. Each of four chapters in Part III provides guidelines for (1) changes in the structure of organizations, (2) organizational transformation from the perspective of business process, (3) organizational innovations at a more micro level, and (4) changes in inter-organizational relations. The author argues that through these organizational innovations, many organizations have been transformed into new forms that are more suited for the new business environment. The author concludes with some emerging issues in e-business. He stresses that although we have all benefited from the digital revolution, perhaps we have only scratched the surface of the phenomenon and more changes are yet to come. Strategic and organizational innovations through ICTs will continue to dominate business thinking for the foreseeable future, and it will form the basis for a new generation of organization and management theory for the new economy. He also suggests that we should be aware of the potential downsides of various strategic and organizational innovations with honorable intentions. Good ideas need to be implemented and executed properly to ensure success. This book is intended for teachers and students as well as practitioners. It provides readers with a coherent conceptual framework to integrate the vast range of topics and issues surrounding e-business with their existing knowledge and experience. This book will help readers interpret conflicting and rapidly changing business phenomena and make coherent and consistent business decisions. What is E-business? How the Internet Transforms Organizations is an excellent book that should be read by those who search for a thorough and reflective introduction to business strategies in the digital economy. In Lee, Ph.D. |
ebusiness-newcastle.com © 2004-2008 All rights reserved • Legal |