The impact of industry structure on e-commerce initiatives in the developing world: Two case studies from Trinidad and Tobago

Authors

  • Alexander Vuylsteke Bain & Company
  • Simon Fraser University of the West Indies

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i9.3377

Keywords:

E-commerce, Developing countries, Caribbean, Case study, Strategy, Industry structure, Profitability

Abstract

E-commerce promises benefits for businesses in developed and developing countries, such as the ability to reach new international markets. However, merely adopting e-commerce will not produce these benefits. Industry structure plays a powerful role in determining success or failure of e-commerce efforts. This paper investigates the impact of industry structure on two small companies in Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island republic in the southern Caribbean.

Author Biographies

Alexander Vuylsteke, Bain & Company

Alexander Vuylsteke is consultant at Bain & Company. He has a Master?s degree in Commercial Engineering in Management Informatics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. As a student, he has participated in exchange programs at Uppsala University (Sweden), ESSEC Business School (France), and Tsinghua University (China). His academic interests include business strategy, e-business and ICT management. He can be reached at alexander.vuylsteke@gmail.com.

Simon Fraser, University of the West Indies

Simon Fraser is a lecturer in management information systems at The University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad. He graduated from UWI with a bachelor?s in management (Honors) in 1985. He then attended Columbia University in New York and completed his MBA in 1988. Prior to rejoining the academic community Mr. Fraser held several senior positions in the IS field, including three years as MIS manager at Trinidad?s tourism promotion agency where her launched the first domestically hosted website in 1995. He also spent two years as general manager of a group of Internet service providers before returning to UWI in 2000. He can be reached at simon.fraser@sta.uwi.edu.

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Published

2011-08-22

How to Cite

Vuylsteke, A., & Fraser, S. (2011). The impact of industry structure on e-commerce initiatives in the developing world: Two case studies from Trinidad and Tobago. First Monday, 16(9). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i9.3377