CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Information services and products today constitute one of the world’s largest economic sectors. Computers and the networks that connect them have become a dominant force in virtually all aspects of society throughout the industrialized world. Institutions and individuals alike are flocking to the Internet - particularly to the World Wide Web - in record numbers, making it the fastest-growing medium in human history (Baptista, 2000). First made available to the public in 1992, the Web is used today by 205 countries and regions and its user number is expanding at approximately 30 percent per year (OECD, 2002).
Technological improvement as well as the declining prices for the access of this technology has led to the explosive growth of Internet during the last few years. The electronic commerce (e-commerce), as one of the most important applications of the Internet technology, is undoubtedly bringing countries together to create a global network economy with expectation of reducing transition costs, increasing market transparency and making business more efficient.
However, e-commerce is unevenly diffused in different countries. New growth theory (Ohmae (1996); Solomon & Bamossy (2002) insists that national characteristics such as industry structure, information infrastructure, financial systems and national policies, influence technology diffusion and innovation outcomes unevenly. E-commerce via Internet is said to have no national borders, however, individuals and companies in different countries response differently to it. Hence, understanding adoption drivers and inhibitors of e-commerce diffusion is becoming increasingly important. [...]
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction
Importance of the Study
Research Objectives
Limitations of the Study
Organisation of the Study
Chapter 2. Literature Review
2.1 A Framework for Review
2.2 Justification of Framework
2.2.1 Research Rationales
2.2.2 National Environments
2.2.2.1 Driving factors for Diffusion of Electronic Commerce
2.2.2.2 Inhibitors for Diffusion of Electronic Commerce.
2.2.3 National Policies
2.3 Key Lessons from the Literature Review
Chapter 3. Research Methodology
3.1 Research Philosophy
3.2 Research Approach
3.3 Research Strategy
3.4 Research Methods
3.5 Research Conduct
3.6 Data Analysis
3.7 Validity and Reliability of the Study
Chapter 4. Presentation of Results
4.1 Practical Implications of Electronic Commerce in Germany
4.1.1 National Environment
Demographics and Human Resource
Information Infrastructure and Technologies
Economy
4.2 National Policies
4.3 Questionnaires
Purpose of the Research and Firms Classification
Selection of Variables
Design of the Questionnaires
SPSS Commandos
General Formulas
Data Analysis
Research Analysis
Chapter 5. Discussion
Chapter 6. Findings
Chapter 7. Personal Reflections
Research Objectives and Themes
This report aims to analyze the diffusion of e-commerce in Germany by identifying the specific drivers and inhibitors within the national context. It seeks to bridge the gap between neoclassical and new growth theories and empirical evidence, providing a comprehensive assessment for business leaders and policy makers to better understand the success factors in virtual markets.
- Theoretical frameworks regarding neoclassical and new growth theory in e-commerce environments.
- Influence of environmental driving factors such as demographics, IT infrastructure, and economic development.
- Identification of key barriers and inhibitors for e-commerce adoption.
- Comparative analysis of Germany's position within the global framework.
- Development of factual foundations for future Internet marketing strategies and public policy initiatives.
Excerpt from the Book
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
Electronic commerce over the Internet is a new way of conducting business. The promise of significant economic growth places e-commerce high on many public and private sectors. The key reason of this growth is its significant impact on business costs and efficiency (Martin, 2000). With the rapid improvements of communication technologies, the application of e-commerce is becoming simpler, which implies a wide and fast adoption of e-commerce in the near future. With the expansion of e-commerce, subtle impacts are observed in almost all the countries.
Because of its geographical hub position and diversified service sector in Europe, e-commerce development is of strategic importance for Germany. Based on my business management studying at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and life in Germany for more than four years, I have noticed the rapid changing from the traditional trading channels to e commerce by German companies and enormous impacts of the newest trading way in the B2B and B2C area. The success story of Germany in e commerce also demonstrates a good way for other countries to survive and succeed in the electronic century. Therefore, there is interest in understanding the factors that drive e-commerce diffusion in Germany. This research will try to advance study outcomes and identify exactly the influential factors that impact the diffusion of e-commerce, one of the newest trading tools in Germany. The audience will gain a good understanding, what factors are essential, how these factors function, and what should be taken into consideration by developing e-commerce services in this country.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1. Introduction: Introduces the economic significance of e-commerce and outlines the dissertation's objective to identify drivers and inhibitors within the German national context.
Chapter 2. Literature Review: Examines theoretical frameworks, including neoclassical and new growth theories, and identifies factors influencing technology diffusion at the national level.
Chapter 3. Research Methodology: Describes the descriptive research design, data collection sources (secondary and primary), and the use of SPSS for variance analysis to evaluate influential factors.
Chapter 4. Presentation of Results: Analyzes the practical implications of e-commerce in Germany, detailing demographic patterns, infrastructure, national policies, and firm-level data from 150 companies.
Chapter 5. Discussion: Synthesizes the research findings, contextualizing them within global market trends and national frameworks to provide actionable evidence for businesses.
Chapter 6. Findings: Summarizes the key success factors and challenges for e-commerce diffusion in Germany, highlighting the importance of skilled human resources and geographic positioning.
Chapter 7. Personal Reflections: Evaluates the research process, addressing the strengths and limitations of the data, and identifies five key areas for future work regarding e-commerce development.
Keywords
E-commerce, Germany, Diffusion, Drivers, Inhibitors, National Environment, Digital Economy, B2B, B2C, Information Infrastructure, Technological Innovation, Human Capital, Economic Growth, Policy Initiatives, Internet Usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on identifying the specific drivers and inhibitors of electronic commerce diffusion within the German national environment.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the report?
Key themes include the impact of national characteristics (demographics, IT infrastructure, economic structure), theoretical frameworks of technological growth, and the role of government policy.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The goal is to determine the exact success factors for e-commerce adoption in Germany to provide a factual foundation for business strategy and public policy development.
Which methodology is employed in this dissertation?
The author employs a descriptive research approach using primary questionnaire data from 150 German firms, analyzed with SPSS variance analysis, combined with extensive secondary literature review.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the national environment, technological infrastructure, policy frameworks, and empirical results regarding the adoption levels in both B2B and B2C sectors.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords include e-commerce, Germany, diffusion, technological innovation, economic growth, and digital infrastructure.
How is the German Mittelstand relevant to this study?
The Mittelstand is highlighted as a flexible and innovative sector of the German economy that plays a critical role in IT technology and e-commerce diffusion.
Why did the author conduct an additional questionnaire analysis?
The author found a limited number of existing studies on firm-level e-commerce, necessitating a direct survey of 150 companies to gather specific statistical data.
- Citation du texte
- Yanhui Zhang (Auteur), 2004, Drivers and Inhibitors for Diffusion of Electronic Commerce with Reference to Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/38691
