Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1. Formulating an Internet Strategy in a Networked World. The Internet as a Business Solution or Pandora's Box. The Way Forward. New Organizations: Born on the Net. Existing Organizations: Move to the Net. Move to the Net: Pillars of Success. Infomediaries and Business-to-Business Consortia. B2C, B2B, B2G, and G2B. Business-to-Government E-commerce. Government-to-Business E-commerce. Interorganizational Systems: B2C, Consortia, B2B, B2G, G2B. 2. Creating an Integrated E-commerce Strategy. Seven Dimensions of an E-commerce Strategy. The Bonds of an E-commerce Strategy. Four Positional E-strategic Directions. Summary. 3. Ownership Issues. The E-centric Management Structure. Senior Strategic Management Group. Content Owners. Content. Content May Be King, But it is Value Chain that is the Power Behind the Throne. Summary. 4. E-strategy Leadership Through a Technology Focus. The Role of the Executive Technology Champion. Internal Technology Leadership: The Seven S Framework. Strategy: The Alignment of Technology and Corporate Planning. Structure: Characteristics of a Flexible, Agile E-organization. Systems: The Nervous System Through Which the Organization Reacts to Its Environment. Staffing. Skills: Running Up a Down Escalator. Style and Shared Values: The Magic That Raises the Ordinary .com to Become a Great.com. Summary. The Seven S Framework: Issues and Actions. 5. Developing a Market Focus: Sector Strategies in Segmenting Markets. Manufacturing. Mixed Goods and Service Organizations. Service Organizations. Summary. 6. Service Leadership - Adding Value to the Customer at Every Point of Contact. Bricks-and-Mortar to Clicks-and-Mortar Transition. OfficeDepot.com. The Internet Service Value Chain - Where the Rubber of E-commerce Meets the Road. Customer Acquisition. Customer Purchase Support - A Helping Hand to Smooth the Transaction Process. Customer Fulfillment -

This is the first book about the formulation, development and execution of e-strategy written entirely for senior executives in the language of the boardroom. Leading eCommerce expert Robert Plant cuts through the consultantese and technobabble to present a comprehensive, balanced, integrated strategy for ECommerce leadership. Drawn from research and interviews with senior executives at more than 40 of the world's largest organizations, Plant's strategy addresses all four key drivers of eCommerce success: brand, technology, service, and market. Plant introduces detailed models for the creation of a high-level eCommerce strategy and each dimension of that strategy. He demystifies the technical issues, explaining the functions and roles of each key element of eCommerce infrastructure. Along the way, Plant answers questions such as: Where does your ERP system fit in? What is the role of knowledge management and data warehousing? Should you outsource, develop internally, or partner? How will eCommerce change your supplier and customer relationships? Using a scorecard methodology, Plant helps executives understand their eCommerce objectives, and define metrics and processes that help every team member stay on track. From start to finish, eCommerce: Formulation of Strategy gives executives the intellectual tools to compete effectively in the new e-conomy.