The internet as a small business e-commerce ecosystem

Michael Buxton, Nigel Walton

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to analyse how the ecosystem concept can be applied to small businesses and how the Internet and e-commerce can help SMEs harness the required resources to enhance their competitive performance in the marketplace. The chapter will investigate the wide variety of e-commerce applications that are available to small businesses to help address the issue of limited resources. It will provide an ecosystem map illustrating how each functional area of a small business can utilise Internet e-commerce applications to enhance their resource base. The chapter also explores the opportunities and threats that the e-commerce ecosystem model poses for small, medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is based upon empirical research consisting of three focus group interviews undertaken with small and medium-sized retail service firms located in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire regions of the United Kingdom in January–February 2014.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationE-commerce Platform Acceptance
Subtitle of host publicationSuppliers, Retailers, and Consumers
EditorsEwelina Lacka, Hing Kai Chan, Nick Yip
PublisherSpringer
Pages79-100
Number of pages22
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9783319061214
ISBN (Print)9783319061207
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jun 2014

Keywords

  • ecosystem
  • platforms
  • internet
  • resources
  • e-commerce
  • applications

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