Chapter 16. the Emergence of Electronic Commerce: I Mplications for Corporate Strategies and for Innovation. 16.1 Introduction: the Context of E-commerce for Innovation E-commerce and Business Business Models and Business Functions Impact in Industries Research Approach and Methodology

Electronic commerce refers to business activities involving consumers, manufacturers , service providers, and intermediaries using computer networks such as Internet [38, 39]. The goals of electronic commerce are to reduce product and service costs and improve customer response time and quality. Hence implementing initiatives in electronic commerce has emerged as significant business strategy in the Information Age. Technological developments made possible by the convergence of the telecommunications and computing industries have opened the door to a world of new and exciting applications that are changing the way business is conducted. A large number of businesses of all sizes have either begun to implement E-Commerce strategies and initiatives, or have plans to do so in the immediate future.