eTransformation – are we ready for the challenge?

Citation

Al-Mashari, M. (2001), "eTransformation – are we ready for the challenge?", Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 7 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bpmj.2001.15707daa.001

eTransformation – are we ready for the challenge?

eTransformation – are we ready for the challenge?

We are witnessing a significant development in information, tele-communication and networking technologies such as EDI, Internet, mobile networking, enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management. This development has opened up innovatory possibilities for many organizations to re-evaluate their networkability and coordination mechanisms within and across their business boundaries.

Though the terms "networking" and "integration" have been strongly shaped by the focus on information and communication technologies, their application is rapidly evolving to cover broader aspects relating to managing relationships, processes and transactions along the organizational supply chain. This has been coupled with a real departure from a functionally-based modus operandi to one which is based on agility, flexibility, responsiveness and mass customization. However, this total shift cannot be effectively achieved unless other modern management tools such as business process reengineering and management, supply chain management, knowledge management, and change management are embraced in a complementary and integrative manner.

Clearly, for an organization to operate with a truly networked and integrated infrastructure, a holistic, process-oriented business transformation has to take place. This transformation involves the challenging task of reconciling both technological and organizational imperatives in one unified strategy, and the changing of business architecture to reflect the new roles, responsibilities and relationships that would serve the new fabric of the transformed organization. It is becoming more evident that the winners in the current and future digitally-based, globally-oriented competitive market will be those who excel in such an integrated transformation. However, not many organizations will find it easy to achieve a mature and comprehensive experience with their transformational efforts. Some of the challenges that they will likely face include:

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  Defining integrated business models that can align all business components, while keeping business flexible enough for future innovations.

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  Setting appropriate and dynamic change management strategies and mechanisms.

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  Dealing with standardization-related problems in terms of technologies and working practices.

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  Developing comprehensive performance management systems.

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  Identifying boundaries and areas where business networking should be implemented at intra, inter and global business process levels.

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  Building adequate knowledge-based systems and mechanisms to improve organizational learning capacity.

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  Defining strategies for analyzing, measuring and managing risk.

As is the case with any new research field, there is a scarcity of properly investigated research studies that address the critical issue of eTransformation from a broad and global perspective. We would like to encourage research articles that focus on one or more of the following areas:

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  Enterprise networking and business process management.

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  Business networking at intra, inter and global business process levels.

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  Innovatory models for networked and digital-based business.

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  Customer relationships and knowledge management in networked business.

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  Business networking and ERP systems.

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  Tools and techniques of e-change management.

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  Supply chain management and re-engineering.

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  Value and benefits management in networked enterprise.

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  Standardization in the context of enterprise networking.

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  Success and failure in enterprise networking and integration.

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  Electronic commerce-induced BPR.

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  Evolutionary vs revolutionary approaches to e-business transformation.

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  Critical success factors in e-business transformation.

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  E-project management.

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  E-knowledge management.

Majed Al-MashariKing Saud University