On e-business strategy planning and performance: a comparative study of the UK and Greece

ABSTRACT

In this research study the effect of Financial and Non-Financial performance of organisations on e-business strategy planning is investigated. The strategic planning parameters of Phillips model are examined when applied to e-business strategy planning. The relationships between these parameters, that is, Formality, Participation, Sophistication and Thoroughness, and Financial and Non-Financial Performance, are examined and the directions of these relationships are investigated. A conceptual model has been constructed and quantitative research methods are used to test four hypotheses. The proposed e-business model was tested in two EU countries, the UK and Greece. A synoptic statistical analysis and comparative numerical results are given showing that in both countries Participation has a positive relationship with Financial Performance and Formality has a positive relationship with Non-Financial Performance. The proposed model is extendable and valid in countries other than the UK and Greece, thus being able to be adapted to and used in other national environments.

KEYWORDS:

• E-business management
• e-business performance
• strategy management methodologies
• strategy planning
• quantitative methods

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their thanks to referees for their constructive criticisms and remarks.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Alexandra Lipitakis is a Postdoctoral Researcher in E-Business Performance and Strategy Management. She has published more than 20 research papers on these and related subjects. She is member of SMS (Strategic Management Society), IEEE and Editor of LEA Publishers, Athens, Hellas.

Paul Phillips is Professor of Strategic Management in Kent Business School (KBS), University of Kent and Head of Strategy and International Business Group in KBS. He was Director of KBS, has held academic appointments at Cardiff Business School and University of Surrey, and was visiting Professor in International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China.