- PREFACE
iii
Chapter 1: OVERVIEW OF ELECTRONIC BUSINESS 1
INTRODUCTION 1
THE BENEFITS 2
A key issue 3
Reducing time and costs 3
THE MARKETPLACE CONTEXT 4
Niche marketing 4
E-BUSINESS AND SMALLER FIRMS 6
DIFFERENT WAYS OF APPLYING E-BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES 6
IMPLEMENTATION AND APPLICATION ROAD MAP 7
Understanding application potential 7
Appreciating the barriers to adoption 8
Investigating the strategic dimension 8
Developing knowledge of the costs involved 8
Adopting an assessment and implementation approach 8
Developing a business case 8
Chapter 2: THE INTERNET 9
INTRODUCTION 9
TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING 11
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNET 13
LOOKING BEYOND THE INTERNET 15
Embedded Microprocessor Systems 15
Smart Cards 16
Multimedia and User Friendly Computing 16
Digital Broadcasting 17
THE INTERNET IS DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME! 17
IS THERE LIFE BEYOND THE DOTCOM BUBBLE? 18
AND SOME DEFINITIONS 20
Chapter 3: THE INTERNET NOW
AND IN THE FUTURE 21
INTRODUCTION 21
WHAT COMPANIES ARE DOING TODAY 22
Agilent Technologies 22
British Airways 23
Clyde Blowers 23
Dell Computers 24
Electrolux 24
Ford 24
Frigomechanica 25
General Electric 25
GKN 26
Intel 26
Rolls-Royce 26
Rover Group 26
J. Sainsbury plc 27
Styles Precision Components Limited 28
Unipart 28
United Technologies 28
BEYOND THE INTERNET AND THE WEB - THE GRID 29
PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING 30
SEVEN FUTURE SCENARIOS 32
Picture this #1 33
Picture this #2 33
Picture this #3 34
Picture this #4 34
Picture this #5 35
Picture this #6 35
Picture this #7 36
Chapter 4: ON-LINE EXPERIENCES
39
INTRODUCTION 39
SOME SPECIFIC USER EXPERIENCES OF THE ON-LINE WORLD 40
Action Computer Supplies 41
Amazon 42
Argos 42
Barclays On-line Banking 42
Equitable Life Assurance 44
First-e 44
La Redoute 45
Nationwide Building Society 45
W.H. Smiths 46
Tesco 46
ToysRus 46
UK Customs & Excise VAT Return Electronic Submission Pilot
47
Value Direct 47
WHAT THE SURVEYS ARE SAYING 48
- Chapter 5: SURVEY OF SURVEYS
51
INTRODUCTION 51
GROWTH 51
INDUSTRY TAKE-UP AND AWARENESS OF BENEFITS 55
SECURITY 58
Chapter 6: THE NEED FOR AGILITY 61
INTRODUCTION 61
WHAT IS AGILITY? 62
APPENDIX 65 |