Collaborative business frameworks comparison, analysis and selection: an analytic perspective

Abstract

Several e-business frameworks are currently available, which are aimed at modelling e-business. The aim of this article is to analyse and compare relevant industry-neutral and industry-specific e-business frameworks currently in use, emphasising their strengths and weaknesses towards seamless interoperability in a collaborative networked environment. Their main differences and similarities are underlined based on an analytical model for e-business frameworks comparison. The applicability of the Analytic Hierarchy Process multi-criteria method in e-business frameworks selection is discussed. These analytical approaches are then illustrated with two real cases from industry.

Keywords:

• e-business framework
• collaborative networks
• analytical comparison
• footwear and textile/clothing industry
• analytic hierarchy process

Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges FCT for PhD grant BD/SFRH/19751/2004. The first author was previously with the Department of Electrical and Computers Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP/DEEC) and INESC Porto and acknowledges both institutions for the facilities offered to complete the PhD. The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions which have enhanced the quality of this article.

Notes

Notes

1. The concept of seamless interoperability in a collaborative networked environment–as presented by Chituc et al. (2008b, 2009)–refers to the use of computer-based tools to assure information exchange and the use of this meaningful information exchanged or shared between heterogeneous and geographically distributed organisations. The aim is to achieve added value by attaining a set of objectives, while the systems are added and/or removed without requiring reconfiguration, and an organisation, CN or sub-CN's decision to join, leave or remain in a CN or community is based on an economic analysis. Thus, seamless interoperability in a CNE addresses technical, knowledge and business/economic aspects.

2. These initiatives and e-business frameworks presented in the following subsections have been selected because they are potentially the most relevant towards seamless interoperability in a CNE and cover industry-specific and industry-neutral frameworks.

3. Where i is from 1 to 22.

4. In case max(Ci(F_j )) = 0, criterion Ci will not be considered.

5. These e-business frameworks have been selected for comparison because they are potentially the most relevant towards seamless interoperability in a CNE, and cover industry-specific and industry-neutral frameworks.

6. The mean value represents the arithmetic mean. It is often used to report central tendency.

7. The standard deviation is a measure of how widely values are dispersed from the mean value.

8. The coefficient of variation (CV) has been calculated by using the formula: CV = (σ/μ)∗100%, where σ is the standard deviation, and μ is the mean value of a population. If CV < [30%, 35%], the data is considered homogeneous or uniform. If CV >35%, the data is heterogeneous.

9. A detailed analysis of the applicability of the AHP multi-criteria method for e-business frameworks selection is available in Chituc (2008).

10. A complete description of the Business Enabler entity, its role and responsibilities and the tasks performed by the Business Enabler's system are available in Chituc (2008).

11. The values associated to the weights are between 0 and 5, as follows: 0–it does not apply; 1–very little importance; 2–little importance; 3–important; 4–very important; 5–essential.