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The purpose of this paper is, firstly, an analysis of the behavior of entities operating in the virtual space (termed in the paper “e‐space”) which has emerged and has been continuously developing around the internet (understood in a purely technical way as a global network infrastructure) and, secondly, to create a framework of the impact of these entities on an organization, especially in the context of emerging new ethical challenges. The motivation for undertaking this research was a lack of literature on such a holistic approach to this important problem facing contemporary organizations and the systematization of these issues.

The framework proposed in the paper was developed based on analyses of case studies of organizations from various industries which use the internet and the inter‐related mobile infrastructure. To create this framework the stakeholder theory and the cost‐benefit analysis approach were used.

The basic findings of the paper include a classification of the entities operating in e‐space and a taxonomy of the possible influences they may have on an organization. It is intended that the proposed framework be tested in selected industries.

It seems that the holistic approach presented in this paper has significant practical implications for the increasing number of organizations utilizing the on‐line environment in their business practices, offering them a far better understanding of the whole complexity of problems and challenges connected with the e‐economy phenomena.

The new and original aspects of the paper are the introduction and defining of the term e‐space; a classification of the elements operating there and the proposal of a taxonomy of the possible types of influence of these entities on an organization.

The aim of this paper is to present the main results of a research project finished in 2008 which concerned the selective laser melted (SLM) prototype of a new kind of minimally invasive resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA) endoprosthesis with the original multi‐spiked connecting scaffold (MSC‐Scaffold). Previous attempts performed in pre‐Direct Metal Manufacturing (DMM) era demonstrated that it was impossible to manufacture suitable prototypes of this RHA endoprosthesis (especially of the MSC‐Scaffold) using traditional machining technologies. Owing to an extensive development of DMM technologies observed in recent years the manufacturing of such prototypes has become possible.

Computer aided design models of pre‐prototypes and the prototype of the RHA endoprosthesis with MSC‐Scaffold were designed and initially optimized within the claims and the general assumptions of international patents by Rogala. Prototyping in SLM technology was subcontracted to SLM Tech Center (Paderborn, Germany). Macroscopic and SEM microscopic evaluation of the MSC‐Scaffold was performed using SLM manufactured prototypes and paying special attention to the quality and precision of manufacturing.

It was found that SLM can be successfully applied to manufacturing of prototypes of the original minimally invasive RHA endoprosthesis. The manufacturing quality of the 3D spikes system of the MSC‐Scaffold, which mimics the interdigitations of articular subchondral bone, has been proved to be geometrically corresponding to the biological original. Nevertheless, some pores and non‐melted zones were found in SLM prototyped RHA endoprosthesis cross‐sections which need to be eliminated to minimize the potential risk of clinical failure.

The presented case study was performed with a limited number of samples. More research needs to be performed on the rapid prototyped samples including microstructural and mechanical tests. The results may enable the optimization of the SLM manufacturing process of the prototypes of the minimally invasive RHA endoprosthesis with MSC‐Scaffold.

The SLM can be considered as potentially suitable for the fabrication of patient‐fitted minimally invasive RHA endoprostheses with MSC‐Scaffold.

For the first time, largely owing to SLM technology, it was possible to manufacture the prototype of the original minimally invasive RHA endoprosthesis with MSC‐Scaffold suitable for further research.