Title: Profiling EC internet presence: implications for e-commerce practice and research

Authors: Irene Kwan, James T.C. Teng

Addresses: Department of Computing and Decisions Science, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. ' Department of Information Systems and Operations Management, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA

Abstract: With the recent re-vitalisation of E-Commerce (EC), we collected a sample of 363 EC sites in order to better understand current EC practice. We examined two dimensions of EC internet presence: e-business models and website functional features. The emerging profile reveals the more dominant e-business models and the extent that various types of website functions are actually practiced. These profiles of practice are then discussed in conjunction with the evolution of EC research, which is analysed through a review of 315 EC research papers. We found not only a general match between EC practice and research, but also identified certain areas that demand more attention from researchers. The findings should help to leverage the EC management and foster the decision making in EC resources allocation.

Keywords: e-commerce; electronic commerce; internet presence; e-business models; electronic business; website features; resource allocation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2008.016040

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2008 Vol.9 No.1, pp.31 - 42

Published online: 03 Dec 2007 *

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