[AISWorld] Electronic Markets Vol. 23, Number 2 - Table of Contens

[Heyden, Karen]

We are pleased to announce the table of contents for Volume 23, Number 2 (June 2013) of Electronic Markets - The International Journal on Networked Business. All articles are available on SpringerLink at http://rd.springer.com/journal/12525/23/2/page/1.    


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TOC Electronic Markets Vol. 23, No. 2 
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(1) Editorial 23/2
Rainer Alt, Karen Heyden, Hubert Österle
http://rd.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs12525-013-0135-5.pdf 

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(2) Preface 
Special Issue on Electronic markets and the future internet: from clouds to semantics
Ricardo Colomo-Palacios, Pedro Soto-Acosta, T. Ramayah, Meir Russ 

http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-013-0134-6 

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(3) New business client acquisition using social networking sites
Przemyslaw Kazienko, Natalia Szozda, Tomasz Filipowski, Wieslaw Blysz 

http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-013-0123-9 

Abstract:
The rapid development and expansion of the social services and social networking sites (SNSs) on the Internet has boosted interdisciplinary research on online communities as a part of social network analysis. Social networking creates a unique opportunity to establish new business contacts with people from unexplored markets to gain new customers or contractors. The goal of the paper is to present a new idea for acquisition of new customers in the business-to-business market using individual human relationships existing SNSs. In order to find an appropriate solution, the SCAN method (System for Client Acquisition via Social Network) has been proposed. This method is a B2B application to support new markets gaining process. It makes use of paths over human relationships that lead in the shortest and steadfast way from the searching company members to the potential clients represented by their selected employees.

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(4) Cloud computing in industrial SMEs: identification of the barriers to its adoption and effects of its application
Sara Trigueros-Preciado, Daniel Pérez-González, Pedro Solana-González 
http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-012-0120-4 

Abstract:
Cloud computing is a new technological paradigm that may revolutionize how organizations use IT by facilitating delivery of all technology as a service. In the literature, the Cloud is treated mainly through a technological approach focused on the concept definition, service models, infrastructures for its development and security problems. However, there is an important lack of works which analyze this paradigm adoption in SMEs and its results, with a gap between the technological development and its adoption by organizations. This paper uses a qualitative technique methodology -group meetings with managers- and a quantitative one-survey- and identifies which factors act as barriers to Cloud adoption and which positive effects its application generates in 94 industrial SMEs. The conclusion is that the main barriers are of a cultural type and that the positive effects go well beyond reducing costs.

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(5) Cloud computing adoption: an empirical study of customer preferences among start-up companies
Jonas Repschlaeger, Koray Erek, Ruediger Zarnekow 
http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-012-0119-x 

Abstract:
Cloud computing represents a paradigm shift to utmost scalable and flexible IT services. However, research related to preferences of certain customers concerning cloud services is scarce. Especially start-up companies with their limited capacities to implement and operate IT infrastructure and their great demand for scalable and affordable IT resources are predestined as customers of cloud based services. In this study, we apply a multi-method approach to investigate customer preferences among start-up companies. Based on a literature review and a market analysis of cloud service models, we propose a set of cloud provider characteristics. These properties were examined among 108 start-up companies and analyzed in three steps using factor analysis to define customer preferences, cluster analysis to identify customer segments and discriminant analysis to validate the identified clusters. The results show that start-ups can be basically divided in five clusters each with certain requirements on cloud provider characteristics.

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(6) Towards a typology of structural arrangements for shared services: evidence from the higher education sector
Suraya Miskon, Erwin Fielt, Wasana Bandara, Guy Gable 
http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-012-0116-0 

Abstract:
Shared services are increasingly prevalent in practice, their introduction potentially entailing substantive and highly consequential organizational redesign. Yet, attention to the structural arrangements of shared services has been limited. This study explores types of structural arrangements for shared services that are observed in practice, and the salient dimensions along which those types can be usefully differentiated. Through inductive attention to the shared services literature, and content analysis of 36 secondary case studies of shared services in the higher education sector, three salient dimensions emerged: (1) the existence or not of a separate organizational entity, (2) an intra- or inter-organizational sharing boundary, and (3) involvement or not of a third party. Each dimension being dichotomous yields 23 combinations, or eight shared services structural arrangement types. Each of the eight structural arrangement types is defined and demonstrated through case examples. The typology offers clarity around shared services structural arrangements. It can serve as a useful analytical tool for researchers investigating the phenomenon further, and for practitioners considering the introduction or further development of shared services arrangements. Important follow on research is suggested too.

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(7) An examination of the determinants of service quality in the Chinese express industry
Jun Zhuo, June Wei, Lai C. Liu, Kai S. Koong, Shengtao Miao 
http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-013-0133-7 

Abstract:
Service quality is extremely important in the Chinese express industry as it affects customer loyalty and satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants that influence the quality of services provided by using mobile devices (mobile services quality) in the Chinese express industry. A survey was used to collect data from customers in China. Analysis of the collected data resulted in six determinants (M1 to M6). M1 addresses empathy, M5 tangibility, and M4 and M6 assurance. M2 covers responsiveness and assurance, and M3 reliability and responsiveness. The findings showed that the Chinese express industry should take these six determinants as a unified set when assessing mobile services quality which will guide businesses wishing to enhance their services. Neglect of any determinant will lead to a drop of quality, and in turn will be detrimental to the overall improvement of service quality in the Chinese express industry.


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Karen Heyden
Executive Editor
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Electronic Markets - The International Journal on Networked Business 
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Editors-in-Chief: Rainer Alt, University of Leipzig and Hubert Oesterle, University of St. Gallen 
Executive Editor: Karen Heyden, University of Leipzig

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Electronic Markets is a SSCI-listed academic journal and published quarterly by Springer. ISSN: 1019-6781 (Paper) 1422-8890 (Online).