A strategy for the implementation of e-business and e-commerce to achieve a competitive advantage in the textile industry
- Authors: Futcher, Shane Henry
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Competition , Textile industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10886 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/140 , Electronic commerce , Competition , Textile industry
- Description: The research problem addressed in this study was to determine what is required for e-business and e-commerce to have an impact on the Textile Industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan. To achieve this objective, a literature study was done to identify what strategies were needed and how e-business and e-commerce would enhance the relationships between the organisations, suppliers and customers. An empirical study was conducted to ascertain what the managers within the Textile Industry know about e-commerce and e-business and the role they have or could play within their industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Futcher, Shane Henry
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Competition , Textile industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10886 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/140 , Electronic commerce , Competition , Textile industry
- Description: The research problem addressed in this study was to determine what is required for e-business and e-commerce to have an impact on the Textile Industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan. To achieve this objective, a literature study was done to identify what strategies were needed and how e-business and e-commerce would enhance the relationships between the organisations, suppliers and customers. An empirical study was conducted to ascertain what the managers within the Textile Industry know about e-commerce and e-business and the role they have or could play within their industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
The determination of critical success factors that impact on the performance of SMEs in e-commerce
- Authors: Zeelie, Eben Johannes
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Small business -- Management , New business enterprises -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10905 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/118 , Electronic commerce , Small business -- Management , New business enterprises -- Management
- Description: The research problem addressed in this study is the determination of the critical success factors for SMEs in e-commerce. To achieve the objective, an integrated list of critical success factors, gathered from practitioner- and academic literature, had to be identified. The integrated list was developed through the following sub-processes: · The first consisted of a literature survey of the sources and the identification of critical success factors, which lead to insights into the role of critical success factors in strategic management and the objectivity of the CSF identification process. The second comprised surveying the literature dealing specifically with the unique characteristics of SMEs, to identify factors that are critical to the survival and growth of SMEs. · The third consisted of a survey of the academic and practitioner literature dealing with critical success factors in e-commerce, in order to develop an integrated list of critical success factors for SMEs in ecommerce. The integrated list that emerged from the literature study consisted of the following seventeen critical success factors: 1. Target the right customers 2. Involve all stakeholders 3. Provide access to all customer information 4. User-friendly web design 5. Let customers help themselves 6. Offer online and offline assistance to customer enquiries 7. Deliver personalized service 8. Foster online community 9. Top management support 10. Technical infrastructure 11. Security and control of the e-commerce system 12. Promotion of site 13. Financial planning and control of project 14. Loyalty 15. Development of a business plan 16. Branding of the site 17. Shipping and fulfilment The integrated list was used as the basis for the compilation of a survey questionnaire to identify the eight most critical success factors for SMEs in ecommerce. The survey questionnaire was sent to SMEs that are members of the Port Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have a website and comply with the criteria for SMEs. The empirical study identified the eight most critical success factors for SMEs in e-commerce and indicated strong concurrence with the unique characteristics of SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
- Authors: Zeelie, Eben Johannes
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Small business -- Management , New business enterprises -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10905 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/118 , Electronic commerce , Small business -- Management , New business enterprises -- Management
- Description: The research problem addressed in this study is the determination of the critical success factors for SMEs in e-commerce. To achieve the objective, an integrated list of critical success factors, gathered from practitioner- and academic literature, had to be identified. The integrated list was developed through the following sub-processes: · The first consisted of a literature survey of the sources and the identification of critical success factors, which lead to insights into the role of critical success factors in strategic management and the objectivity of the CSF identification process. The second comprised surveying the literature dealing specifically with the unique characteristics of SMEs, to identify factors that are critical to the survival and growth of SMEs. · The third consisted of a survey of the academic and practitioner literature dealing with critical success factors in e-commerce, in order to develop an integrated list of critical success factors for SMEs in ecommerce. The integrated list that emerged from the literature study consisted of the following seventeen critical success factors: 1. Target the right customers 2. Involve all stakeholders 3. Provide access to all customer information 4. User-friendly web design 5. Let customers help themselves 6. Offer online and offline assistance to customer enquiries 7. Deliver personalized service 8. Foster online community 9. Top management support 10. Technical infrastructure 11. Security and control of the e-commerce system 12. Promotion of site 13. Financial planning and control of project 14. Loyalty 15. Development of a business plan 16. Branding of the site 17. Shipping and fulfilment The integrated list was used as the basis for the compilation of a survey questionnaire to identify the eight most critical success factors for SMEs in ecommerce. The survey questionnaire was sent to SMEs that are members of the Port Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have a website and comply with the criteria for SMEs. The empirical study identified the eight most critical success factors for SMEs in e-commerce and indicated strong concurrence with the unique characteristics of SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
The impact of electronic service quality dimension on customer satisfaction
- Van der Merwe, Samatha Michelle
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Samatha Michelle
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Consumer satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1367 , Electronic commerce , Consumer satisfaction
- Description: Online purchasing is becoming increasingly common as a purchasing mode. At the onset of e-commerce it was thought that success was guaranteed merely by being present on the internet and offering low prices. Currently customer service has proved itself to be a key element for achieving good results in a website (Zeithaml, Parasuraman & Malhotra, 2002b). In this context, the study of commercial website quality has emerged as an area of strategic importance. As in traditional stores, service quality and customer satisfaction seem to play vital roles in the success and survival of Internet sites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Samatha Michelle
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Consumer satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1367 , Electronic commerce , Consumer satisfaction
- Description: Online purchasing is becoming increasingly common as a purchasing mode. At the onset of e-commerce it was thought that success was guaranteed merely by being present on the internet and offering low prices. Currently customer service has proved itself to be a key element for achieving good results in a website (Zeithaml, Parasuraman & Malhotra, 2002b). In this context, the study of commercial website quality has emerged as an area of strategic importance. As in traditional stores, service quality and customer satisfaction seem to play vital roles in the success and survival of Internet sites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
A guide for using online social media and social networking activities for SMME's
- Authors: Morley, Charmaine Joan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Social media -- Economic aspects , Customer relations , Online social networks
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8873 , http://hdl/handle.net/10948/d1020350
- Description: Social media is playing an increasingly important role in people’s lives and is becoming a part of most organisations’ business models. Businesses cannot ignore this phenomenon due to the increasing influx of Generation Y employees in their businesses and the Generation Y consumers who are going to buy their products and services in the future. Social media is changing the way that marketing is being conducted, in a positive way. It is changing from businesses focusing on selling products or services to customers, to businesses building relationships with customers and adding value to their lives through their products and services. This phenomenon was the base for this study. The research problem was identified as follows: SMME business owners do not understand the importance and impact of social media on their businesses. Sub-problems were identified as: defining social media and networking, describing the importance of this, which strategies are currently being used in business, how it compares to traditional networking, how this is used in recruitment strategies and what are the disadvantages of social media and networking. The research problem and sub-problems were addressed in a literature study and an empirical study. The literature study included information on SMME businesses, their importance in our economy and how social media can help them. The empirical study was done using SMME’s registered with the George Business Chamber. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to the owners of the businesses by email. The answers were analysed and collated on a spreadsheet which were presented in graph and diagram format. Social media and networking are becoming an integral part of businesses especially small businesses. They specifically have an important role to play in creating economic wealth and creating employment. SMME’s are faced with a lot of challenges which make it difficult for them to become successful and sustainable. Social media can play a role in overcoming a lot of these challenges by helping SMME’s with marketing, customer engagement, relationship building, recruitment, and finding valuable information, experience and partners. Social media also has disadvantages which include: virus attacks, risk of confidential information leaking and so forth, but these can easily be managed by social media polices and rules. A bigger risk lies in the fact that if a business owner ignores the existence of social media, this can lead to conversations by consumers about this business being ignored and not responded to. Another big risk for SMME’s is the fact they are at a competitive disadvantage by ignoring this new technology. This was clear from the empirical results in this study which stated that 53 percent of the businesses surveyed, were aware their competitors are using social media. The empirical results indicated a very low use of social media activities among the SMME’s surveyed but showed potential as the SMME’s understood the importance of social media and were eager to implement strategies in their businesses. The reasons offered for not using social media included the fact that it was difficult to measure its worth in time and money, advice is needed from experts and so forth. Social media and networking are not quick or cheap methods for businesses to advertise and sell their products or services. They are tools to be used over time, in order to engage with customers and build relationships. Consumers and customers expect value for their money and if they find this from a business, they will gladly share it with others. On the other hand, if they do not find value for money it could have a negative impact on the business. SMME’s must not try to replace their current marketing strategy with social networking activities. They should integrate it slowly into their current business models and search for unique ways in which it could improve the relationship with their current customers and find new customers. It should help them to either showcase their existing value added products or services, or improve it if it is not worth selling. Small businesses now have the platform to compete.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Morley, Charmaine Joan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Social media -- Economic aspects , Customer relations , Online social networks
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8873 , http://hdl/handle.net/10948/d1020350
- Description: Social media is playing an increasingly important role in people’s lives and is becoming a part of most organisations’ business models. Businesses cannot ignore this phenomenon due to the increasing influx of Generation Y employees in their businesses and the Generation Y consumers who are going to buy their products and services in the future. Social media is changing the way that marketing is being conducted, in a positive way. It is changing from businesses focusing on selling products or services to customers, to businesses building relationships with customers and adding value to their lives through their products and services. This phenomenon was the base for this study. The research problem was identified as follows: SMME business owners do not understand the importance and impact of social media on their businesses. Sub-problems were identified as: defining social media and networking, describing the importance of this, which strategies are currently being used in business, how it compares to traditional networking, how this is used in recruitment strategies and what are the disadvantages of social media and networking. The research problem and sub-problems were addressed in a literature study and an empirical study. The literature study included information on SMME businesses, their importance in our economy and how social media can help them. The empirical study was done using SMME’s registered with the George Business Chamber. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to the owners of the businesses by email. The answers were analysed and collated on a spreadsheet which were presented in graph and diagram format. Social media and networking are becoming an integral part of businesses especially small businesses. They specifically have an important role to play in creating economic wealth and creating employment. SMME’s are faced with a lot of challenges which make it difficult for them to become successful and sustainable. Social media can play a role in overcoming a lot of these challenges by helping SMME’s with marketing, customer engagement, relationship building, recruitment, and finding valuable information, experience and partners. Social media also has disadvantages which include: virus attacks, risk of confidential information leaking and so forth, but these can easily be managed by social media polices and rules. A bigger risk lies in the fact that if a business owner ignores the existence of social media, this can lead to conversations by consumers about this business being ignored and not responded to. Another big risk for SMME’s is the fact they are at a competitive disadvantage by ignoring this new technology. This was clear from the empirical results in this study which stated that 53 percent of the businesses surveyed, were aware their competitors are using social media. The empirical results indicated a very low use of social media activities among the SMME’s surveyed but showed potential as the SMME’s understood the importance of social media and were eager to implement strategies in their businesses. The reasons offered for not using social media included the fact that it was difficult to measure its worth in time and money, advice is needed from experts and so forth. Social media and networking are not quick or cheap methods for businesses to advertise and sell their products or services. They are tools to be used over time, in order to engage with customers and build relationships. Consumers and customers expect value for their money and if they find this from a business, they will gladly share it with others. On the other hand, if they do not find value for money it could have a negative impact on the business. SMME’s must not try to replace their current marketing strategy with social networking activities. They should integrate it slowly into their current business models and search for unique ways in which it could improve the relationship with their current customers and find new customers. It should help them to either showcase their existing value added products or services, or improve it if it is not worth selling. Small businesses now have the platform to compete.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »