A Firm-Level Framework for Planning Electronic Commerce Information Systems Infrastructure

Abstract:

Many firms fail to properly plan their electronic commerce information systems (ECIS) infrastructure before embarking on electronic commerce. Poor planning is often attributed to lack of a framework. Most of the frameworks used for information systems planning were developed before the recent surge of electronic commerce. Each of these frameworks emphasizes one aspect or theme of the business. In the context of Ecommerce, a firm-level framework is needed that integrates several themes and recent concepts from the discipline of information systems (IS). The six components are organizational E-commerce strategy, business processes transformation, information technology management, information management, customer management, and organizational knowledge management. The framework emphasizes the significance of framework components and their interrelationships to planning an ECIS infrastructure. The main objective of the framework is to draw management attention to issues and opportunities associated with the six components of the framework. An illustrative approach is outlined to develop a method based on the framework. Firms can use the framework to develop a customized method for their ECIS infrastructure planning.

Key Words and Phrases::

• Electronic commerce information systems
• information system
• infrastructure
• infrastructure planning

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Madhavarao Raghunathan

MADHAVARAO RAGHUNATHAN ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of management information systems at Bowling Green State University. His dissertation on a firm-level framework for electronic commerce information systems planning is expected to be completed at Kent State University in December 1999. He has published articles in refereed conference proceedings. His current research interests include electronic commerce, information systems strategy, and data warehousing.

Gregory R. Madey

GREGORY R. MADEY ([email protected]) is currently an associate professor in the Management and Wormation Systems Department at Kent State University. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He worked in ~erospace engineering and management for Gould Ocean Systems (now Westinghouse), Goodyear Aerospace, and the Loral Corporation (now Lockheed-Martin). Before he joined Kent State University, his last position at Loral was as director of advanced programs and strategic business analysis. His research interests include the Internet, electronic commerce, distributed expert systems, Web-based training, chaos theory; complex adaptive systems, knowledge management, and neural computing. He has published in various journals including the Communications of the ACM, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Journal of Management Information Systems, Decision Sciences, European Journal of OR, Omega, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Computers in Personnel, Journal of Systems Management, and Journal of Expert Systems.