Key Indicators for Successful Internet Commerce: A South African Study

Abstract

The advent of e-commerce has brought about new implications on research directions in the business arena. Is it not sufficient to just study the formation of electronic markets in e-commerce. It is also necessary to have insight into the electronic markets’ innermost workings. This chapter, therefore, highlights the factors that give these new organizational forms (e-commerce enterprises) sustainable competitive advantages. The chapter is present in three main sections: A study of variety of reports of practitioners and researchers from the international arena, provide a background of prior knowledge in the filed. The analysis of this knowledge base is conceptualized into a framework of key factors affecting e-commerce success. Finally, the results of an empirical study of South African e-businesses are reported on. The authors provide some insight on the application of the conceptual framework as applied in the South African situation.