Title: The impact of e-procurement on the structure of the buying centre

Authors: M. Jose Garrido, Ana M. Gutierrez, Rebeca San Jose

Addresses: Department of Business Administration and Marketing, University of Valladolid, Avda. Valle de Esgueva, 6, 47011 Valladolid, Spain. ' Department of Business Administration and Marketing, University of Valladolid, Avda. Valle de Esgueva, 6, 47011 Valladolid, Spain. ' Department of Business Administration and Marketing, University of Valladolid, Avda. Valle de Esgueva, 6, 47011 Valladolid, Spain

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to analyse empirically how the use of the internet in procurement affects the organisational structure of the buying centre in terms of size, participation, number of hierarchical levels and functional areas. The survey was performed using a questionnaire sent to a selection of Spanish industrial firms from different sectors. The final sample group consisted of 103 firms. Results show that internet use leads to an increase in the number of individuals involved in the buying centre and the functional areas (purchase, engineering, production and marketing) that intervene in the buying centre.

Keywords: industrial purchasing; e-commerce; electronic procurement; buying centres; electronic business; e-business; e-procurement; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2006.011696

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2006 Vol.4 No.6, pp.463 - 482

Published online: 15 Dec 2006 *

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