Title: The sequential effects of e-business activity on business performance: a study of manufacturing organisations

Authors: In-Kuk Song, Theresa Jefferson, John R. Harrald

Addresses: MIS Department, School of Business and Economics, Dankook University, Jookjeon-Dong, Yong-In, 448-701, South Korea. ' Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, The George Washington University, 1776 G Street, Washington, DC 22051, USA. ' Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, The George Washington University, 1776 G Street, Washington, DC 22051, USA

Abstract: Despite the proliferation of e-business success stories, many executives feel that they have not realised the return expected from the investments in expensive cutting-edge e-business components. Businesses tend to focus on immediate financial payoffs and overlook the improvements in information capabilities and business performance. This article presents the results of a research effort designed to determine the effects of e-business activity on manufacturing organisations| information capabilities, business performance and financial performance. Findings of this study show that a manufacturing organisation|s e-business activity can lead to better information capabilities. When an organisation|s information capabilities are enhanced via e-business activity, business performance tends to improve. In addition, the results indicate that financial performance improvements may not be an immediate, but a long-term effect of e-business activity.

Keywords: business performance; e-business; electronic business; financial performance; information capabilities; manufacturing performance; agile systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2007.015793

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2007 Vol.2 No.3, pp.263 - 277

Published online: 18 Nov 2007 *

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