H. Joseph Wen

Web Services: An Analysis of the Technology, its Benefits, and Implementation Difficulties

Abstract Software reuse and systems interoperability have been primary goals of many IT organizations, especially those that rely heavily on computer networks. Object-oriented (OO) technology has been utilized to accomplish these goals with relative success over the years; but there are many hurdles that OO technology could not overcome. One of them is due to lack of standards. An object developed in one vendors technology cannot easily communicate with anothers. Another difficulty is that the majority of software applications reside behind firewalls – security barriers that restrict communication between networks. Web services, self-describing services that can easily be consumed over the Web, is the latest trend in the industry to address the problems identified above. Web services enable a group of related applications to be programmatically invoked over the Internet. They are rapidly emerging as important building blocks for business integration. Companies are finding important Web service applications in B2B, B2C, and enterprise application integration solutions. This article reviews the technical underpinnings of Web services and discusses their business opportunities and potential benefits. It also assesses the challenges and implementation difficulties of the technology.

Evaluation of information technology investment

Traditional accounting methods used for evaluating new information technology (IT) projects such as Net present value (NPV) and Internal rate of return (IRR) have been criticized in the academic and practitioners’ literature as being grossly inadequate. This is because these methods do not quantify benefits that are considered to be intangible. Similarly, they do not incorporate many “hidden” costs associated with new IT projects. Thus, traditional methods have been stated to be only appropriate for simple “cost saving” projects and not for evaluating complicated IT investments. New methods suggested in the academic literature have been criticized as being too esoteric for practitioners. Presents the results of a case study and shows how many intangible benefits previously ignored can actually be quantified and incorporated in traditional NPV models by holding discussions with personnel of all departments affected by the new IT. Also demonstrates how many of the costs considered hidden (and thus ignored) ...

Measuring e‐commerce efficiency: a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach

As a result of the dot‐com collapse and the slowdown in the economy, the flood of venture capital dollars for e‐commerce has evaporated. E‐commerce companies have been enforced to review their business performance. E‐commerce efficiency has been touted to be a critical component that can assist a company in its strategies to become successful. This study proposes a model for evaluating e‐commerce efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. The model includes not only financial and operational measures, but also e‐commerce specific measures. An illustrative example demonstrates that the DEA model can not only effectively reflect the relative efficiency of e‐commerce firms but also identify their potential efficiency problems. Management can, therefore, take the right remedial actions.

Customer relationship management (CRM) in business‐to‐business (B2B) e‐commerce

Customer relationship management (CRM) and business‐to‐business (B2B) are essential to the success of modern business. Although they are two different modules, they share many similarities. The integration of CRM and B2B will benefit all related parties in business processes, including sales, marketing, customer service, and information support. This article discusses the characteristics, similarities, and differences of B2B and CRM. It also explores the CRM‐B2B integration strategies, the current issues and their future development trends.

E‐fulfillment: the strategy and operational requirements

An e‐fulfillment system is designed to meet the high order volume and stringent customer service requirements of global business‐to‐consumer e‐commerce. The system converts the traditional warehouse into a multi‐channel e‐fulfillment center. In the e‐commerce environment, some of the toughest decisions must be made on little or no hard information. In this study, the nature of e‐business and the typical fulfillment process are discussed. The authors further examine the strategy and operational requirements for e‐fulfillment. This article is concluded with the implication of a successful e‐fulfillment system, a suggested design of an e‐fulfillment center, and the future research focuses.

Extranets: a tool for cost control in a value chain framework

The purpose of this research is to show through a case study how the extranet has been used by one specific company to significantly reduce operating costs. The activities of the company are analyzed within the framework of the value chain concept developed by Porter. This, it is felt, will provide a greater insight into how the extranet can be used to improve profit margins. Prior research in this area has either been of a conceptual nature (explaining theoretically how the extranet should be employed) or of a survey nature (examining, by means of a survey instrument, the benefits accruing to companies that have adopted the extranet). This study is different in that it examines in detail, by means of a case study, how the extranet influences a retail company’s chain of activities and reduces the attendant costs thereon.

M-commerce operation modes and applications

Since mobile phone users have already shown they are ready to pay premiums for wireless voice over fixed line calls, the possibility of location-centric services, accessing m-commerce via the mobile phone sounds like an irresistible proposition. This paper examines the driving forces behind m-commerce and discusses its operation modes and applications for consumers and industries. Results provide company executives with useful insights into m-commerce applications and their commercial potentials.

A viable solution to enterprise development and systems integration: a case study of web services implementation

Web services technology provides small/medium enterprises (SMEs) with a new solution for systems integration. Large enterprises have realised the importance of interoperability through cost effective integration applications with their SME partners. These standardised applications provide interoperable and universal products and services for inter and intra-organisation e-business transactions. The article discusses issues and problems pertaining to enterprise systems integration and how web services can provide a universal framework that supports all distributed e-commerce solutions in the near future. A case study of how web services offer interoperable solutions to an insurance company is discussed.

Groupware: a strategic analysis and implementation

The term groupware is widely used but not clearly defined. Owing to ongoing rapid developments, a consistent definition of the term has proved elusive. However, there is a good reason to view groupware as a technology that addresses the vast areas of collaboration, human‐computer interaction, and human‐human interaction through digital media to bring substantial improvement and transformation to organizations. This paper analyzes the definitions, implementation, and management of groupware. The focus is on the strategic considerations rather than technical solutions. Factors that contribute to the future development of groupware are also discussed.

Internet and employee productivity

With the explosion of interest in the Internet, deploying desktop Internet access for corporations is becoming common place. Corporate managers are dealing with issues of blocking objectionable material and limiting the viewing of leisure sites that can impede employee productivity. The concerns are two‐fold: corporations need to block and monitor any elements deemed unfit for employees on the Internet, which can include references to issues such as sex, violence, nudity, racism and pornography, just to mention a few; curb the amount of time employees spend on the Web surfing sports and personal leisure sites when they should be working. Useful guidelines do exist for managers looking to evaluate employee productivity in the Internet‐based world. It largely consists of taking a systematic approach to the exploration of broad‐gauged questions about Internet access issues, blocking and monitoring, and the nature of your corporate culture or policies.