Factores condicionantes en la adopción del negocio electrónico en la empresa europea

Abstract

For several years a set of truly significant changes in organizations are taking place, with the incorporation and development of Information and Communications Technology (hereafter ICTs). Such changes give rise to great interest, both academically and in business, leading to numerous studies and collaborations between both worlds. ICTs are significantly altering the operating mode of certain companies and industries, not only by significantly reducing the time and cost of processing all kinds of information, but changing the way in which businesses and markets manage the flow of goods and services across their value chains (Porter & Millar, 1986, Malone et al., 1987). ICTs are being introduced throughout the business process (Lal, 2005) from office automation to the management of the supply chain. Within the business world, the incorporation of ICTs is not an option but a necessity arising from its evolution into a market, more and more technologically advanced. In the enterprise, the impact is embodied among others in the digitization of information, reduced costs, increased investment in staff training in ICTs, the incorporation of integrated management systems and guidance towards e-business. E-business represents a new way of integrating ICTs, especially Internet-based technologies, with the main business of the company, which can affect the entire business (Zhu, 2004). Therefore, the successful spreading of e-business is considered one of the most important innovations in Information Technology (IT) in contemporary organizations. This new way of doing business is related to the redefinition of business models in order to maximize the value, making possible a new way to manage efficiency, innovation and value creation in a company. Electronic businesses take place in "virtual environments" in which transactions are executed across platforms and open networks based mostly on the Internet infrastructure (Amit & Zott, 2001) and what is true is that this network has changed the way in which companies and consumers communicate, as well as the way of sharing information with business partners and how to buy and to sell...