Philip Joyce

Exploring the dynamics of building, and losing, consumer trust in B2C eBusiness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamic nature in building and losing trust in business to consumer (B2C) eBusiness in an effort to better understand the casual nature of trust.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses system dynamics as a lens to interpret and understand the dynamic nature of building and losing trust in B2C eBusiness and reflect the structure of the trust building systems.Findings – This paper provides a four element model and then suggests the cycle of management actions the company must consider if potential customers progressing to purchases is unsatisfactory.Research limitations/implications – This paper provides a new insight into the dynamic nature trust in a B2C eBusiness. However, the intention of this paper is not to present yet another model, but to suggest how to move from the information and knowledge those models provide into a better understanding of the problem of trust in B2C. Future work will involve the validating of this model in practical sit...

Evaluating Application Service Provisioning Using System Dynamics Methodology

Despite the hype surrounding the value-added potential of e-business for contemporary firms, the recent technology downturn was marked by poor customer satisfaction from investment in e-business initiatives. An apparent mismatch between customer expectations and vendor offerings suggested a lack of appropriate methods and techniques for evaluating e-business. This article draws from a longitudinal research study on the deployment, hosting and integration of application service provisioning (ASP), an e-business model targeted mainly at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Using system dynamics as a methodology that addresses the inherent complexity of the ASP model, the article demonstrates how a series of complex inter-relationships between key performance indicators (KPIs) will impact the business value for customers from ASP vendor products and services. The lessons from this research will be particularly relevant for existing and future ASP vendors and customers.

A framework for codifying business models and process models in e-Business design

The development of business models for e-Business has become increasingly popular within both the academic and business arena. We believe that many of the business models for e-Business are static in nature and only provide a historical view. In this chapter we draw upon the emergent knowledge of e-Business together with the traditional strategy theory and provide a simple framework for the evaluation of business models for e-Business. Central to this chapter we use dynamic modelling techniques of systems dynamics to evaluate an e-Business model using the triple pair approach in an effort to capture the casual relationships and rationalize the complexity of organizational resources and the environment in which they compete.

An e-business design and evaluation framework based on entrepreneurial, technical and operational considerations

The development of business models for e-business has become increasing popular within both the academic and business arenas. However, it can be argued that many of the business models for e-business are static in nature and only provide a historical view. Such models are helpful in helping researchers and practitioners organise their thoughts about different e-business options, but are of limited value in providing guidance as to how to link the broad strategic concept with the detail of the required business processes in the operating e-business. This paper draws upon the emergent knowledge of e-business models together with traditional strategy theory to provide a simple integrating framework for the evaluation and assessment of business models for e-business. The framework reflects concurrent top-down and bottom-up perspectives, with an entrepreneurial view based on the identification of a market need or business opportunity triggering the search for appropriate delivery mechanisms, and a technical view which builds up from an internal review of business process and ICT resources and capabilities which could suggest new electronically-based business options. The framework points to a set of design and evaluation sequences for the development of a new business starting with either perspective.

Curriculum development in educating undergraduate software engineers - are students being prepared for the profession?

The growing importance of software and its role in society places greater emphasis on developing suitably skilled software engineering graduates. In developing suitable curricula, it is vital that we understand standard models of software education, the educational processes and outcomes for the students. This is important not only for students completing a software engineering degree, but also once they have graduated and used their skills as practitioners. Here, we report on a survey of past students who have completed an undergraduate degree in software engineering and compare their perceptions with current efforts to standardise undergraduate software engineering curricula.