Skip to content

Sophia Tao

Photo of Sophia Tao

Research student

You can email Sophia Tao directly; but for media enquiries please contact a member of The Open University's Media Relations team.

Current research

Exploring sources of competitive advantages in e-business applications: a cross-industries case study in mainland China

A review of existing literature revealed some research gaps. Little theoretical framework has been proposed to capture e-business-enabled value creation through an integrated approach that includes the environmental view and resource-based view (RBV). And little empirical research has been conducted to test these theoretical frameworks, in particular in the Chinese business context. The aim of this research is to extend theoretical and practical understanding of e-business-enabled sources of competitive advantage (SCA) in China.

The research design consists of a qualitative research methodology and in-depth case studies of nine leading Chinese companies in three industries—housing development, manufacturing, and B2C.

The principle finding is the formulation of a theoretical framework for investigating e-business value creations which integrates the key constructs of the virtual value chain, online information capabilities, value system and RVB. This research also proposes a typology of five generic types of key e-business applications which states clearly the relationships between key e-business applications and SCA. This research demonstrates that e-business value creation features differently between two groups: Internet pragmatist and Internet pioneers. This research also identifies and explains the key differences and similarities between the three industries, within each industry, and between the two key groups.

Supervisors

Publications

Journal papers
Hinton, MC, Tao, SY  (2006)  'Exploring sources of competitive advantage: e-business applications within the Chinese real estate industry', Journal of Technology Management in China, vol. 1, issue 1, pp. 92-106. Abstract
Conference papers
Tao, SY, Hinton, MC, Little, SE  (2006)  'The challenge of e-business in China: exploring competitive advantages within the electrical appliance industry', Information Resources Management Association Conference, Washington DC, 21-24 May.
Tao, SY, Hinton, MC, Little, SE  (2005)  'Exploring sources of competitive advantage: e-business applications within Chinese home appliance industry', IADIS International Conference: E-commerce, Porto, Portugal. Abstract
Tao, SY, Hinton, MC  (2004)  'Exploring sources of competitive advantage in e-business application in mainland Chinese real estate industry', 4th International Conference on Electronic Business, Beijing, China, 5-9 December.