Abstract
The transaction of business via the Web is becoming an imperative for organizations aiming at improving their competitiveness. The Web-based commerce applications allow organizations to access potential customers and suppliers via the Internet. Expected benefits include: expanded marketplaces, potential cost reductions, productivity improvements, customization of products and services, 24-hour trading and information exchange, and management (McIvor & Humphreys, 2004; Raisinghani et al., 2005). This expansion of Web based commerce has led to growing research into the impact of investments made by organisations in this field (Raisinghani et al., 2005).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Electronic Commerce: A business model that is conducted over the Internet in which clients are able to participate in all phases of a purchase decision. Electronic commerce can be between two businesses transmitting funds, goods, or services or between a business and a customer.
IT Investment Evaluation: The weighing up process to rationally assess the value of any in-house IT assets and acquisition of software or hardware which are expected to improve business value of an organization’s information systems.
Benefits Management: A managed and controlled process of checking, implementing, and adjusting expected results and continuously adjusting the path leading from investments to expected business benefits.
Web-Based Commerce Applications: Web-based commerce applications provide an organization with a mechanism to access potential customers and suppliers via the Internet.
Methodology: An organized, documented set of guidelines and procedures for one or more phases of the systems development life cycle, such as analysis or design.
SMEs (Small-to-medium enterprises): The European Commission has defined SMEs as organizations which employ less than 250 people.
IT Benefits Realization Methodologies: Approaches that are used to ensure that benefits expected in the IT investments by organizations are eventually delivered.