Abstract
The literature review shows two main research groups using various models making it possible to explore this impact. The first falls under the economic production theory and the information and decision theory, often referring to econometric models (Alpar & Kim, 1990; Due, 1994; Brynjolofson & Hitt, 1993). It raises the question of ICT contribution in terms of efficiency and tries to show the existence of a relation between the investments made in this technology and the operational and financial performance of companies. The second group can be divided into three subgroups. The first subgroup examines performance as a dependent variable centered on ICT success perception (DeLone & McLean, 1992, 2002, 2003; Seddon, 1997). The second considers ICT effects on operational and managerial processes (Crowston & Treacy, 1986; Bakos 1987; Mooney, Gurbaxani, & Kraemer, 1995). Finally, the third bases its research works on contingency models (Henderson & Venkatraman, 1993; Iivari 1992).
Key Terms in this Chapter
E-Business Module: Is an e-business unit resulting from a continuous process of interactions between information technology, strategy, and organizational structure. For example, e-management, e-purchasing, e-commerce, e-marketing, e-CRM, e-SCM, and so forth.
E-Collaboration Module-to-Module: Is e-collaboration between modules such as e-commerce, e-CRM, e-SCM, and so on.
E-Business: is a new way of doing business in an economy where information and communication technology is increasingly ubiquitous and new phenomena like e-collaboration are emerging.
E-Collaboration Intercomponents: Is an e-collaboration due to interactions between the three principal components of the e-model, namely, information and communication technology, strategy, and organization.
E-Collaboration Intramodule: Is collaboration between various stakeholders and between processes using information and communication technology, and this within the same e-business module. For example, the collaboration between various stakeholders and e-SCM processes using Internet/Intranet/Extranet.
E-Collaboration Intralevel: Is inter-component e-collaboration, module-to-module e-collaboration (e-commerce, e-CRM, e-SCM, etc.) or intra-module e-collaboration.
E-Model: defines the representation model of e-business. It is made up of three fundamental variables: information and communication technology, company strategy, and organizational structure.
E-Collaboration: collaboration, based on information and communication technology, between individuals and/or organizations engaged in a common business strategy and/or business processes.