E-commerce implications

for UK businesses

SECTION1 - INTRODUCTION

1. Does/will your company have a web presence now

3 year time

yes

no

If the answer is "NO" for the current period please fill only section 6 and 7

2 What is the primary reason for your company web presence

please choose one
cost savings

marketing

customer service

follow our competitors

revenue generation

other - please specify
3. What is your company's attitude towards doing business on the Internet

please choose one
gaining competitive edge through e-commerce

e-commerce is vital to global competitiveness

keep up without understanding

very little importance

no importance at all

4 Listed below are some requirements for successful implementation of e-commerce. Please indicate how far you agree or disagree with them by choosing the appropriate response

Please choose one option from each row
1 2 3 4 5
to have board level support for Internet activities
to have integrated e-commerce into value chain
to be conducting successful Internet transactions
to have significant marketing budget devoted to Internet marketing

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly disagree
5. Are your company's Internet activities - Internet sales, marketing, support, operations - a critical component of the company's success? yes no

SECTION2 - E-COMMERCE FEATURES

6. Does/will your company provide the following services today 3 years time

please tick any of the following

arrange credit and payment options
link with distribution and logistic
integrate with financial ledgers
settle and clear transactions
others - please specify
7. What is/will be the most important features of your company's e-commerce solution? today 3 years time
please choose one
customer management
real-time payment processing
inventory control
integrate value chain with customers and suppliers
dynamic on-line product catalogue
promotion/marketing
others - please specify
8. Are your company's business and Internet strategies well integrated?                  yes no
9. Are your company's Internet applications driven by customer needs?                  yes no
10. Are your company's Internet solutions versatile enough to accommodate future changes?               yes no
11.Does your company's Internet strategy eliminate geographical boundaries?           yes no

SECTION3 - INTERNET BENEFITS

12. Does your company have an established Internet activity analysis system that prioritizes and drives Internet activities?         yes no
13. How do/will you earn revenue on the e-commerce solutions? today 3 years time
please choose any if appropriate
marketing fees including advertising or slotting fees
revenue from other sites
custom storefront for suppliers
buyer transaction fees
the most significant revenue is "cost cutting"
other - please specify
14. Listed below are the most important benefits of e-commerce solutions. Related to your company please indicate how far you agree or disagree with them by choosing the appropriate response?

Please choose one option from each row
1 2 3 4 5
access to new markets/customers
cost effective
economies of scale and scope
integration of the value chain
speed of doing business
flexibility/adaptability
perceived as new /exciting
simplification of tasks
extremely low entry and exit barriers for the firms
other -  please specify

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly disagree
15. Internet as means of making purchases compared to more traditional methods is/will be: current 3 years time

please choose one
more cost effective
less cost effective
no difference

SECTION4 - COMPANY'S CREDIBILITY & SECURITY ISSUES

16. Does/will your company have a formal security policy? current 3 years time
yes
no
17. Do you feel that your company's security policy is adequate?                            yes no

 

18. Listed below are the main things that hinder the implementation of security policies. Relating the issues to your company please indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with them by choosing the appropriate answer Please chose one of each row
1 2 3 4 5
limited budget
senior managers do not place enough importance on security issues
not enough staff
can not find the appropriate software/hardware solutions

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly disagree

 

19. What does/will your company do in order to enhance its credibility? current 3 years time
please chose any of the following
enhance basic commerce solutions
sprint to critical mass
tack on services
invent unique offerings
do nothing
others - please specify

SECTION5 - OVERCOMING PROBLEMS

20. What do you think is the biggest factor that is keeping customers from making more transactions over the Internet?
lack of products offered
web sites too poorly designed to be useful
the reputation of the company offering the product
fear of being robbed by hackers and Internet pirates
not being able to see and touch the product
fear of money and merchandise getting lost
concern about revealing too much personal information
transactions are to complicated over the Net
the trade-off cost-benefits are not significant
others - please specify

 

21. Listed below are some fallacies of Web Commerce fulfillment. Related to your company please state the degree to which you agree or disagree with them by choosing the appropriate response
1 2 3 4 5 we are selling over the web so we must be making money over the web
our logistics operation can handle web commerce fulfillment
our existing suppliers relationship will support e-commerce
we can now sell effectively to anyone around the globe
we can always integrate e-commerce solutions with our existing activities

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly disagree

 

22. Listed below are some barriers in implementing e-commerce. Please indicate how far you agree or disagree relating the answers to the place you work.
1 2 3 4 5 security is an over hyped problem
lack of potential customers connected
resistance to new technology
difficulty of implementation
cost
lack of skills

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly dis agree

SECTION6 ( to be completed only if your answer is "NO" for the question number 1)

23. Listed below are some reasons which have been expressed about  not doing business on the Internet. Related to your company please state the degree to which you agree or disagree with the following answers.
1 2 3 4 5 fear of cannibalization
firm moving on the Net risks "channel conflict"
we can not see any advantages
selling over the Web requires a restructure of our distribution system
the information we hold already about our customers turns out to be of the wrong sort and doesn't offer us the experience required
e-commerce is still so young that teething troubles are only to be expected
the economics of the Web seems to offer a powerful first-mover advantage
lack of appropriate resources

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly dis agree

 

24. Listed below are some barriers in implementing e-commerce. Please indicate how far you agree or disagree relating the answers to the place you work.
1 2 3 4 5 security is an over hyped problem
lack of potential customers connected
resistance to new technology
difficulty of implementation
cost
lack of skills

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly dis agree

SECTION 7 - GENERAL QUESTIONS

25. What is/will be the Internet's impact on the global marketplace
current 3 years time
please choose one
major impact
will transform
some impact
no impact

 

26. Listed below are some way the Government can help in implementing e-commerce. Please state how far you agree or disagree with them by choosing the appropriate answer.
1 2 3 4 5 removing unnecessary barriers
ensuring wherever possible neutrality of treatment between electronic and conventional businesses
establishing, in conjunction with business, a safe and reliable environment for consumers
leading by example both as a consumer of goods and as a supplier of services
effective taxation
promoting international cooperation so as to ensure free access between consumers and suppliers across national boundaries

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly dis agree

 

27. Listed below are a number of attitudes regarding the importance of Internet. Please indicate how far you agree or disagree with them by choosing the appropriate answer.
1 2 3 4 5 its dramatic growth and potential
the major impact on market entry barriers
it enables transformation of existing business model
other people are doing it... so we don't want to be left out

1=strongly agree 2=agree 3=not sure/don't know 4=disagree 5=strongly disagree

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Company

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This research is now closed. Please contact Aurel Voiculescu if you require further information: mba@aurelvoiculescu.com