Abstract
D.Com. (Business Management)
In this study the impact of Electronic Commerce (EC) on the management of an
organisation is researched, with the emphasis on Strategic Management. EC is the
process whereby the exchange of business data is moved from the paper environment
to the use of electronic media, and in particular, communications networks. EC is
analysed, and special attention is given to one of its major components, Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI). The impact of EDI on the organisation is researched, and the
possible benefits and dangers are discussed.
As EC is such a new field, and one that depends very much on electronics, the danger
does exist that management may look upon EC as a purely technical issue. In this study
emphasis is therefore placed on the wide impact that EC has on the management
function, and it is shown that the technical aspects are relatively of minor importance.
The main argument of the thesis is that EC is not a technical issue, but a strategic
business one.