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Evaluating the Benefits of Regional Electronic Marketplaces: Assessing the
Quality of the REM Success Model
Denise E Gengatharen and Craig Standing, School of Management
Information Systems, Edith Cowan University, Australia, pp 11-20,
d.gengatharen@ecu.edu.au,
c.standing@ecu.edu.au |
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Abstract:
Regional Internet electronic marketplaces (REMs) have been introduced by
some governments to promote e-commerce uptake by small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to regional economic development.
However, a number have failed or are floundering, partly due to a lack
of proper evaluation of their costs and benefits. This is a result of
the nascent nature of the REM concept and lack of suitable evaluation
models. To some extent, the wider socio-economic reasons of SME
e-inclusion and regional development underlying REM creation have led to
difficulties in creating evaluation tools for such initiatives. This
paper uses a longitudinal embedded case study to show that a REM Success
Model derived from an extension of the Updated DeLone & McClean IS
Success Model can be successfully used to examine REM success. The costs
and benefits in the REM Success Model were derived from the following
sources: the extant literature on e-marketplaces, IT/e-Commerce
evaluation and SME uptake of e-Commerce; our on-going involvement with a
REM in Western Australia and the success metrics in the Updated DeLone &
McClean IS Success Model. The REM Success Model introduces context by
including SME-profile, motivation of the market maker and a multi
stakeholder view, which help to identify up-front costs and benefits to
all stakeholders. A longitudinal aspect is included in the model as some
REM benefits may be realised only in the longer term. The findings from
the case study indicate that the REM Success Model is both descriptive
and prescriptive. While describing how to measure success and indicating
the baseline data needed for evaluation, it shows that market makers’
motivation and SME profile determine REM structure and inter alia the
costs and benefits of the REM. Future research will include cross-case
analysis using the REM Success Model.
Keywords:
E-Commerce, Regional Electronic Marketplaces, Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs), Evaluation of Benefits, REM Success Model |
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