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The Microstructure of Collaborative E-business Capability

Gibe, John LU (2007)
Abstract
IT has direct and observable positive effects for consumers. For firms, the situation is somewhat different, because efficiencies generated by publicly available technology tend to be competed away. Therefore, researchers from the strategy field and students of information systems have concluded that for firms, the opportunity lies in using IT better than competitors rather than in the technology itself. The thesis takes this conclusion as its premise and introduces the capability perspective to the study of collaborative B2B, a practice in which firms use IT to gain efficiencies and other benefits across organisational boundaries.



Based on a literature review and an in-depth longitudinal case study of e-business at SCA... (More)
IT has direct and observable positive effects for consumers. For firms, the situation is somewhat different, because efficiencies generated by publicly available technology tend to be competed away. Therefore, researchers from the strategy field and students of information systems have concluded that for firms, the opportunity lies in using IT better than competitors rather than in the technology itself. The thesis takes this conclusion as its premise and introduces the capability perspective to the study of collaborative B2B, a practice in which firms use IT to gain efficiencies and other benefits across organisational boundaries.



Based on a literature review and an in-depth longitudinal case study of e-business at SCA Packaging, including three projects with customers, the thesis proposes a framework for the microstructure of collaborative e-business capability ? the CEBCAP-MS framework. The key categories in this framework are desired ends (the firm's motives for engaging in collaborative B2B), elements (the factors that enable attainment of desired ends) and flows to these elements (what management can do to develop collaborative e-business capability).



The study supports the relevance of desired ends for e-business proposed in previous literature. Both efficiencies and lock-in effects are included among the motives that managers cite for engaging in collaborative B2B. The CEBCAP-MS framework points to six main elements that collectively influence the extent to which firms reach this potential: e-business applications, value system understanding, implementation, a collaborative foundation of the focal customer relationship, project evaluation and e-business organisation. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Popular Abstract in Swedish

John Gibes avhandling indikerar att såväl 1990-talets evangelistiska analys av informationsteknologins strategiska betydelse som senare skeptiska analyser är bristfälliga. En alternativ ståndpunkt läggs fram. På basis av strategiforskningens kapabilitetsperspektiv adresserar avhandlingen särskilt e-handel i nära relationer mellan företag, en viktig praktik i vilken IT används i syfte att effektivisera affärsprocesser mellan och inom företagen samt för att binda upp kunder.



Läsaren ges möjlighet att följa hur SCA Packaging - ett branschledande multinationellt förpackningsföretag som omsätter cirka 3.5 miljarder Euro - utvecklade förmågan att genomföra e-handel i nära relationer... (More)
Popular Abstract in Swedish

John Gibes avhandling indikerar att såväl 1990-talets evangelistiska analys av informationsteknologins strategiska betydelse som senare skeptiska analyser är bristfälliga. En alternativ ståndpunkt läggs fram. På basis av strategiforskningens kapabilitetsperspektiv adresserar avhandlingen särskilt e-handel i nära relationer mellan företag, en viktig praktik i vilken IT används i syfte att effektivisera affärsprocesser mellan och inom företagen samt för att binda upp kunder.



Läsaren ges möjlighet att följa hur SCA Packaging - ett branschledande multinationellt förpackningsföretag som omsätter cirka 3.5 miljarder Euro - utvecklade förmågan att genomföra e-handel i nära relationer med strategiskt viktiga kunder. Studien av SCA Packaging visar på komplexiteten i denna slags e-handel och ger flera exempel på den beslutsamhet som krävs för att åstadkomma väl fungerande lösningar. Bland annat krävs tillgång till särskild mjukvara, djup förståelse för affärsprocesserna mellan företaget och kunderna, anpassade rutiner för utvärdering och goda förutsättningar för samarbete med den enskilda kunden. Givet dessa utmaningar är det sannolikt att företagens förmågor att genomföra e-handel i nära köpar-säljarrelationer kommer att skilja sig markant åt inom en överskådlig framtid. Avhandlingen argumenterar för att det är dessa förmågor som är strategiskt betydelsefulla och föreslår ett ramverk som gör det möjligt att förstå och utveckla dem. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Fjeldstad, Øystein, D., BI-Norwegian School of Management
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Management of enterprises, Organisationsteori, Organizational science, Strategic management, RBV, Resource-based view, Capability microstructures, Capabilities, B2B, Collaboration, Electronic commerce, E-business, E-commerce, Företagsledning, management
pages
316 pages
publisher
Lund Business Press
defense location
ECC Crafoordsalen Holger Crafoords Ekonomicentrum Tycho Brahes väg 1 Lund Sweden
defense date
2007-03-16 14:15:00
ISBN
91-85113-14-X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d6eab749-1993-4a7c-b2ac-bea45e5d3bf6 (old id 26991)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:38:14
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:59:55
@phdthesis{d6eab749-1993-4a7c-b2ac-bea45e5d3bf6,
  abstract     = {{IT has direct and observable positive effects for consumers. For firms, the situation is somewhat different, because efficiencies generated by publicly available technology tend to be competed away. Therefore, researchers from the strategy field and students of information systems have concluded that for firms, the opportunity lies in using IT better than competitors rather than in the technology itself. The thesis takes this conclusion as its premise and introduces the capability perspective to the study of collaborative B2B, a practice in which firms use IT to gain efficiencies and other benefits across organisational boundaries.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Based on a literature review and an in-depth longitudinal case study of e-business at SCA Packaging, including three projects with customers, the thesis proposes a framework for the microstructure of collaborative e-business capability ? the CEBCAP-MS framework. The key categories in this framework are desired ends (the firm's motives for engaging in collaborative B2B), elements (the factors that enable attainment of desired ends) and flows to these elements (what management can do to develop collaborative e-business capability).<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The study supports the relevance of desired ends for e-business proposed in previous literature. Both efficiencies and lock-in effects are included among the motives that managers cite for engaging in collaborative B2B. The CEBCAP-MS framework points to six main elements that collectively influence the extent to which firms reach this potential: e-business applications, value system understanding, implementation, a collaborative foundation of the focal customer relationship, project evaluation and e-business organisation.}},
  author       = {{Gibe, John}},
  isbn         = {{91-85113-14-X}},
  keywords     = {{Management of enterprises; Organisationsteori; Organizational science; Strategic management; RBV; Resource-based view; Capability microstructures; Capabilities; B2B; Collaboration; Electronic commerce; E-business; E-commerce; Företagsledning; management}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund Business Press}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{The Microstructure of Collaborative E-business Capability}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}