E-Commerce Development in China: An Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes

It is widely recognized that e-commerce represents a critical resource for most business organizations. With over 1.3 billion people and double-digit economic growth, China could potentially emerge as the largest Internet and telecommunications market in the world if certain economic, environmental, and organizational barriers are effectively addressed. This chapter develops a descriptive profile of Chinese business managers with respect to their awareness of the technological infrastructure as well as their perceptions and attitudes regarding e-commerce. Management’s viewpoint on a variety of environmental, organizational, and personal factors provides insight into the future of e-commerce in China within the framework of organizational commitment to e-commerce driven innovation. Findings indicate that firms interested in engaging in e-commerce in China will find a knowledgeable and supportive business climate; however, e-commerce initiatives may be hindered by constraints imposed by the current infrastructure as well as the political environment. Antonis C. Stylianou University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA Stephanie S. Robbins University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA Pamela Jackson Fayetteville State University, USA E-Commerce Development in China: An Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-587-2.ch417