This work aims to explain firms’ decisions to adopt Internet-based e-commerce, and the extent to which the adopters subsequently implement e-commerce to commercialize their products and services. We examine various types of factors previously considered by the literature (competitive environment, organizational characteristics, strategic orientation, innovative capacity, managers’ characteristics, IT equipment possessed and the use made of it). The analytical model developed here on the basis of a sample of 2,038 firms suggests that the factors influencing the adoption decision are different from those that eventually influence the results of firms’ commercial operations on the Internet. Likewise, we discuss the contribution of each type of determinant and the implications. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2007Internet based e-commerce, firms, IT diffusion, M00, 032,

This paper tries to explain the temporal evolution of electronic commerce in a developed country. For this purpose, we evaluate the contribution of the size of the potential market represented by the community of Internet users to the development of electronic commerce, as well as of other determinant factors. The validation carried out, for the whole Spanish market and over a period of seven years, reveals the existence of a critical threshold of online consumers that, once surpassed, supposes a change in the growth trend of electronic commerce. Likewise, we verify that broadband technology diffusion, the definition of a legal framework of consumer protection, and the design of a value proposition perceived as "secure", also influence the development of electronic commerce. We also confirm the contribution of firms' differentiation strategies to the development of electronic commerce, to the detriment of those based on price leadership. Finally, it seems that possession of a computer is no longer an indicator of access barriers.

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the role that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) plays in the processes of product innovation and marketing – as an element that strengthens the cooperation and communication among agents within the innovation project, reducing the obstacles to innovation and enhancing the development of differentiated products as well.Design/methodology/approachThe study of a sample of 2,038 companies from all sectors of economic activity in Catalonia allows the contrast of initial hypotheses and establishes a profile of an innovative company based on the significant relationships that exist between innovation and ICT use in marketing and cooperation.FindingsTwo ideas stand out from the analysis. First, intensive ICT use in marketing makes the company more innovative, as it perceives that its usage breaks down barriers to innovation and speeds up processes that in turn become more efficient. Second, increasing ICT use in marketing encourages company predisposition to collaborate with and integrate particular agents within the business environment in the development of the innovation process, improving the degree of adaptation of the new product to market demands.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of dichotomic scales to measure variables, or restricting the study sample to any type of new product regardless of its degree of novelty or intangibility in company and market terms perhaps limits the usefulness of the paper.Practical implicationsThe study shows the relationship between ICT use, cooperation and the innovation process.Originality/valueThis study offers important contributions, and draws conclusions for those directors involved in the development of new products. A new framework is presented for identifying the role that intensive ICT use in marketing plays as an element that strengthens the cooperation and communication relationships in new product development processes. On the other hand, the application of the CHAID analysis allows us to identify the principal traits that define an innovation company.

This paper uses a large data set of Catalan firms in all the economic branches to analyse the effects of size, sector and the degree of ICT uses on financial constraints for innovative firms. We have conducted a micro econometric analysis following Henry et al. (1999) investment model to empirically contrast the relationship between investment expansion over time and financial variable, and we have used von Kalckreuth ( 2004) methodology, based on data with information on financial constraints. Our preliminary results indicate that it exits a positive and significant relation between the investment variation and firms' financial structure, emerging financial constraints for more innovative firms. These limitations are also higher for micro companies and firms within the services' industry. Finally, we have also found that advanced ICT uses by more innovative firms allow them to reduce the constraints related to the access to sources of finance.

No abstract