The strategic management of operations in e-business

Abstract

New ways of managing operations are emerging as businesses embrace the internet-based ICTs of e-commerce within their business processes. Yet progress in many e-businesses is hampered because of an apparent mismatch between their business and operations strategies. This paper examines the strategic management of operations in e-businesses using the well-known Hayes and Wheelwright four-stage model of the strategic role and contribution of the operations function. The research uses a case study methodology based on interviews with senior managers in twelve e-businesses in the UK, which encompass organizations of differing size, using different e-commerce models, operating in a variety of industries. The paper closes by discussing the generalizability of the findings and recommends what future work might be conducted to advance understanding of what is an under-researched aspect of e-business.