A Country-Level Decision Support Framework for Self-Assessment of E-Commerce Maturity

Abstract

Countries need to be aware of the stage of their current e-Commerce maturity for choosing the right strategy to move forward. For this purpose, we develop a country-level decision support framework to determine maturation stage of e-Commerce in a country. At first, e-Commerce maturity scores of local e-Markets in each regional e-Market are calculated using a fuzzy bi-level Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. Then, e-Commerce maturity scores of regional e-Markets in the country are determined based on a fuzzy bi-level fishbone diagram. After that, national e-Commerce maturity level is assessed using a three-level decision making model. The contribution of the proposed decision support framework is four folds: 1) it develops a fishbone diagram to a fuzzy bi-level environment; 2) it presents a country-level decision making model with three levels of local, regional, international e-Markets to assess country’s e-Commerce maturity level; 3) it considers interdependencies between local, regional and international e-Markets; and 4) it synthesizes qualitative judgments and quantitative data of maturity criteria and sub-criteria. The results of this self-assessment can be used to analyze national e-Commerce strengths, weaknesses in e-Commerce development and move to the next level of e-Commerce maturity. Furthermore, it can be used as a device to transfer knowledge to developing countries. We present a case study to determine US e-Commerce maturity level.

Share and Cite:

F. Zandi, "A Country-Level Decision Support Framework for Self-Assessment of E-Commerce Maturity," iBusiness, Vol. 5 No. 2, 2013, pp. 43-54. doi: 10.4236/ib.2013.52005.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] G. C. Ariguzo, E. G. Mallach and D. S. White, “The First Decade of E-Commerce,” International Journal of Business Information Systems, Vol. 1, No. 3, 2006, pp. 239-255.
[2] H. Barry and B. Milner, “SME’s and Electronic Commerce: A Departure from the Traditional Prioritization of Training?” Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 26, No. 7, 2002, pp. 316-326. doi:10.1108/03090590210432660
[3] P. Barnes-Vieyra and C. Claycomb, “Business-To-Business E-Commerce: Models and Managerial Decisions,” Business Horizons, Vol. 44, No. 3, 2001, pp. 13-20. doi:10.1016/S0007-6813(01)80030-6
[4] J. L. Gibbs and K. L. Kraemer, “A Cross-Country Investigation of the Determinants of Scope of E-Commerce Use: An Institutional Approach,” Electronic Markets, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2004, pp. 124-137. doi:10.1080/10196780410001675077
[5] J. Jeffcoate, C. Chappell and S. Feindt, “Best Practice in SME Adoption of E-Commerce,” Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2002, pp. 122-132.
[6] N. Karagozoglu and M. Lindell, “Electronic Commerce Strategy, Operations, and Performance in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises,” Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 11, No. 3, 2004, pp. 290-301. doi:10.1108/14626000410551555
[7] C. S. Lee, “An Analytical Framework for Evaluating E-Commerce Business Models and Strategies,” Internet Research: Electronic Network Applications and Policy, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2001, pp. 349-359. doi:10.1108/10662240110402803
[8] A. Molla and P. S. Licker, “Perceived E-Readiness Factors in E-Commerce Adoption: An Empirical Investigation in a Developing Country,” International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2005, pp. 83-110.
[9] M. Garcia-Murillo, “Institutions and the Adoption of Electronic Commerce in Mexico,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2004, pp. 201-219. doi:10.1023/B:ELEC.0000027980.16492.af
[10] S. Hawk, “A Comparison of B2C E-Commerce in Developing Countries,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2004, pp. 181-199. doi:10.1023/B:ELEC.0000027979.91972.36
[11] R. Javalgi and R. Ramsey, “Strategic Issues of E-Commerce as an Alternative Global Distribution System,” International Marketing Review, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2001, pp. 376-391. doi:10.1108/02651330110398387
[12] J. E. Oxley and B. Yeung, “E-Commerce Readiness: Institutional Environment and International Competitiveness,” Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 32, No. 4, 2001, pp. 705-723.
[13] P. A. Pavlou, “Consumer Acceptance of Electronic Commerce: Integrating Trust and Risk with the Technological Acceptance Model,” International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2003, pp. 101-134.
[14] S. Solaymani, K. Sohaili and E. A. Yazdinejad, “Adoption and Use of E-Commerce in SMEs: A Case Study,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2012, pp. 249-263. doi:10.1007/s10660-012-9096-6
[15] S. A. Wymer and E. A. Regan, “Factors Influencing E-Commerce Adoption and Use by Small and Medium Businesses,” Electronic Markets, Vol. 15, No. 4, 2005, pp. 438-453. doi:10.1080/10196780500303151
[16] KPMJ, “Electronic Commerce Research Report,” London, 1997.
[17] S. Grant, “E-Commerce for Small Businesses, Innovation through Electronic Commerce,” Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference, Manchester, 1999.
[18] J. McKay, “E-Business Maturity: The SOG-E Model,” Proceedings of the 11th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Brisbane, 6-8 December 2000, pp. 1-3.
[19] M. J. Earl, “Evolving the E-Business,” Business Strategy Review, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2000, pp. 33-38. doi:10.1111/1467-8616.00135
[20] A. Prananto, et al. “Frameworks to Support E-Business Growth Strategy,” The 9th European Conference on Information Systems, Bled, 27-29 June 2001, pp. 1254-1263.
[21] J. F. Rayport and B. J. Jaworski, “Introduction to E-Commerce,” McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002.
[22] S. Rao, “Electronic Commerce Developmentt in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: A Stage Model and Its Implications,” Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2003, pp. 11-32. doi:10.1108/14637150310461378
[23] C. Chan and P. Swatman, “B2B E-Commerce Stages of Growth: The Strategic Imperatives,” Proceedings of the 37th Hawaii International Conference on Systems Science, Hawaii, 5-8 January 2004, pp. 1-10.
[24] F. Balbastre, M. Moreno-Luzón, “Self-Assessment Application and Learning in Organizations: A Special Reference to the Ontological Dimension,” Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2003, pp. 367-388. doi:10.1080/1478336032000046661
[25] K. S. Chin, K. F. Pun and H. Lau, “Development of a Knowledge-Based Self-Assessment System for Measuring Organizational Performance,” Expert Systems with Applications, Vol. 24, No. 4, 2003, pp. 443-455. doi:10.1016/S0957-4174(02)00192-6
[26] T. Conti, “Optimizing Self-Assessment,” Total Quality Management, Vol. 8, No. 2-3, 1997, pp. 5-15. doi:10.1080/0954412979640
[27] Y. Politis and Y. Siskos, “Self-Assessment for Measuring Business Excellence: The MUSABE Method,” Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, Vol. 21, No. 11, 2010, pp. 1063-1083.
[28] L. Ritchie and B. G. Dale, “Self-assessment Using the Business Excellence Model: A Study of Practice and Process,” International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 66, No. 3, 2000, pp. 241-254. doi:10.1016/S0925-5273(99)00130-9
[29] J. Sturkenboom, T. Wiele and A. Brown, “An Action-Oriented Approach to Quality Management Self-Assessment in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises,” Total Quality Management, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2001, pp. 231-246. doi:10.1080/09544120120011451
[30] C. G. Reddick, “Government E-Commerce Adoption: A Study of Texas Counties,” Journal of E-Government, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2006, pp. 45-73. doi:10.1300/J399v02n02_04
[31] M. Quayle, “E-commerce: The Challenge for UK SMEs in the 21st Century,” International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Vol. 22, No. 10, 2002, pp. 1148-1161. doi:10.1108/01443570210446351
[32] P. B. Tigre and J. Dedrick, “E-Commerce in Brazil: Local Adaptation of a Global Technology,” Electronic Markets, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2004, pp. 36-47. doi:10.1080/1019678042000175289
[33] P. Hadaya, “Determinants of the Future Level of Use of Electronic Marketplaces: The Case of Canadian Firms,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2006, pp. 173-185. doi:10.1007/s10660-006-6956-y
[34] D. Buhalis and O. Deimezi, “Information Technology Penetration and E-Commerce Developments in Greece, with a Focus on Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises,” Electronic Markets, Vol. 13, No. 4, 2003, pp. 309-324. doi:10.1080/1019678032000135563
[35] H. Lee, R. M. O’Keefe and K. Yun, “The Growth of Broadband and Electronic Commerce in South Korea: Contributing Factors,” The Information Society, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2003, pp. 81-93. doi:10.1080/01972240309470
[36] C. B. Kheng and S. Al-Hawamdeh, “The Adoption of Electronic Procurement in Singapore,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 2, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 61-73. doi:10.1023/A:1013388018056
[37] T. Teo and C. Ranganathan, “Adopters and Non-Adopters of Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce in Singapore,” Information and Management, Vol. 42, No. 1, 2004, pp. 89-102. doi:10.1016/j.im.2003.12.005
[38] P. Wong, “Global and National Factors Affecting E-Commerce Diffusion in Singapore,” The Information Society, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2003, pp. 19-32. doi:10.1080/01972240309471
[39] J. Ure, “Modeling Critical Mass for E-Commerce: The Case of Hong Kong,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 2, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 87-111. doi:10.1023/A:1013344219873
[40] S. Chen and J. Ning, “Constraints on E-Commerce in Less Developed Countries: The Case of China,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 2, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 31-42. doi:10.1023/A:1013331817147
[41] J. Lu, L. -Z. Wang, C. -S. Yu and J. -Y. Wu, “E-Auction Web Assessment Model in China,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 9, No. 3, 2009, pp. 149-172. doi:10.1007/s10660-009-9033-5
[42] K. Reimers and G. Chen, “A Multi-Level Approach for Devising Effective B2B E-Commerce Development Strategies with an Application to the Case of China,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2004, pp. 287-305. doi:10.1023/B:ELEC.0000027984.15737.cb
[43] C. V. Trappey and A. J. Trappey, “Electronic Commerce in Greater China,” Industrial Management and Data Systems, Vol. 101, No. 5, 2001, pp. 201-209. doi:10.1108/02635570110394617
[44] P. Dasgupta and K. Sengupta, “E-Commerce in the Indian Insurance Industry: Prospects and Future,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 2, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 43-60.
[45] T. T. Le and A. C. Koh, “A Managerial Perspective on Electronic Commerce Development in Malaysia,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 2, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 7-29. doi:10.1023/A:1013318016239
[46] K. Narayanasamy, D. Rasiah and T. M. Tan, “The Adoption and Concerns of E-Finance in Malaysia,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2011, pp. 383-400. doi:10.1007/s10660-011-9081-5
[47] J. Fisher, A. Craig and J. Bentley, “Moving from a Web Presence to E-Commerce: The Importance of a Business-Web Strategy for Small-Business Owners,” Electronic Markets, Vol. 17, No. 4, 2007, pp. 253-262. doi:10.1080/10196780701635864
[48] R. Boatenga, R. Hinson, R. Heeks and A. Molla, “E-Commerce in Least Developing Countries: Summary Evidence and Implications,” Journal of African Business, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2008, pp. 257-285. doi:10.1080/15228910802479919
[49] J. L. Gibbs, K. L. Kraemer and J. Dedrick, “Environment and Policy Factors Shaping Global E-Commerce Diffusion: A Cross-Country Comparison,” The Information Society: An International Journal, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2003, pp. 5-18.
[50] M. E. Jennex, D. Amoroso and O. Adelakun, “E-Commerce Infrastructure Success Factors for Small Companies in Developing Economies,” Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2004, 263-286. doi:10.1023/B:ELEC.0000027983.36409.d4
[51] D. Kao and J. Decou, “A Strategy-Based Model for E-Commerce Planning,” Industrial Management and Data Systems, Vol. 103, No. 4, 2003, pp. 238-252. doi:10.1108/02635570310470638
[52] N. B. Kshetri, “Determinants of the Locus of Global E-Commerce,” Electronic Markets, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2001, pp. 250-257.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.