ORGANISATION E-READINESS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR E-COMMERCE ADOPTION IN OHMSRAZOR NIGERIA LTD (MANAGEMENT PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
ABSTRACT
Organisations recognise the advantages of e-commerce adoption. But the increased failure rate in e-commerce adoption in developing countries SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) is a constant problem which has led to efforts to investigate the cause. Evidence from various researches indicates that organisations in developing countries tend not to assess the e- readiness level of the organisation before attempting to adopt e-commerce. Also less attention is given to developing a strategy for e-commerce implementation which contributes to the failure rate. Most researches on developing countries are more interested in the e-readiness level of the external environment of the country. Issues such as the government readiness and public e-commerce policies and infrastructures tend to get more attention.
This project conducted an e-readiness assessment of the client organisation using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Critical literature review on success factors was discussed and questionnaires were used to collect information. The collected data was used to develop an e- readiness strategy for the organisation and recommendations for e-commerce implementation.
Findings from the research indicate that the management factor is the least e-ready and various aspects of other factors needs improvements. Also e-readiness assessment is important for organisation willing to adopt e-commerce and a strategy is necessary to successful adopt and implement the technology.
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW
The search for a more suitable and effective way to be a step ahead in the business world has necessitated various organisations to make efforts to adopt e-commerce. This has served has an increase advantage to be above competition and at the same time reduce cost and increase profit (Hong and Zhu, 2006). The e-commerce environment has not only opened a new market channel for organisations to help promote and sell their products but also create an avenue to interact with their customers including a better customer support. Although organisations are able to recognise the unlimited advantage this form of business has introduced, many have faced different obstacles in adopting and implementing e-commerce. This has made it necessary for organisations willing to adopt e-commerce especially in developing counties to determine the right conditions to adopt e-commerce and to understand the necessary factors needed for the process.
The success or failure of e-commerce adoption in an organisation is fundamentally inclined to the organisation e-readiness (Molla and Linker, 2005a). That is the degree or extent the organisation is able to adopt electronic services (e-commerce). There are various advancing literature and research on e-commerce adoption and implementation, most are focused on either adopting a specific technology such has a specific e-commerce application while others are focused on the factors affecting the organisation externally such has the environmental constraints, government policy etc. (Ruikar et al,2006). This research is mainly focused on the key organisational components such as critical factors required within an organisation for successful ecommerce adoption and implementation.
This field is very different compared to the traditional ways of conducting business. This makes it crucial and important for managers to plan e-commerce adoption and implementation properly (Daniel and Grimshaw, 2002). And a step towards achieving this is by making an e-readiness assessment of the organisation. The assessment is used to evaluate the business to develop a strategy for e-commerce adoption.
