A Framework for Analyzing Virtual Enterprise Infrastructure

We propose that virtual enterprises can be enabled by extending the existing, and evolving, electronic commerce (EC) infrastructure. This incremental approach to virtual enterprises, based on fairly mature technology and standard services, has the obvious advantage over entirely ad hoc solutions of reducing risks and investment costs. To support this view, we present a general multidimensional view of EC that is not restricted to conducting secure transactions over the Internet – instead, it encompasses the partner types, supply chain lengths, organizational boundaries crossed, and value as well as volume of EC transactions. We then propose a platform for virtual enterprises, highlight its key enabling technologies, and analyze how existing commercial integrated platforms for EC can be extended to support virtual business.