TO EXPAND OPERATIONS HARDWARE STORE TO A MULTINATIONAL OPERATION
Much attention in academic literature has been paid to the potential use of the Internet Technology available today, and its ability to help managers who understand the possibilities and the limitations of that technology adapt it to their unique business situations (Rheingold, 1994, 14; Barford, 1997, 55). This analysis has two parts. The first part will provide an overview of Internet Technology paying particular attention to: (a) special resource requirements, (b) exploitation potential, (c) specific relation to MasonACE hardware stores, and (d) the special implementation problems adopting this technology has had for the owners of MasonACE. The second part of the analysis will look at the operation of MasonACE, paying particular attention to the operational and management steps it took to put its business online.
In 1997, more than 2 million businesses -- ranging from mom and pop stores to multi-national corporations -- "set up shop on the World Wide Web" (Becket, 1997, 29). The term "set up shop" is an apt expression and one attributed to Harvey Seegers, the Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Information Services. Mr. Seegers is an avid believer in the limitless possibilities of global computer to computer connectivity within and among businesses. Going on the Web, he said in a speech, is "a future tremendously appealing to many chief executive officers" (Seegers, 1997, 14). Seegers notes that while these executives are quick to praise electronic commerce and the Internet, they have been quite cautious and even reluctant to adopt it. To underscore his point, he quotes James Baldwin who noted: "the future is like heaven. Everyone exalts it, but no one wants to go there just right now" (Seegers, 1997, 14).
The business revolution created by the Internet crosses state, regional, national and international boundaries (Oliver, 1997, 168). An...