Report Methodology
This report summarises the key findings of the literature review and gives some initial direction to where a national electronic commerce benchmarking and performance measurement exercise should concentrate. Further, it scopes out some potential future directions for research that will both improve the quality of electronic commerce performance indicators, and provide greater understanding of the issues underpinning the changing uses of information in both business and society. Thus, this research supports greater understanding of what is already occurring, and provides additional foundation for the development and evaluation of policies for a "modern economy".
Section 1 provides some background material about the social and economic consequences of the emergent "knowledge" or "modern" economy. This puts a context around the wider social and economic changes which are resulting from the new and growing uses of information generating, transmitting and processing technologies, both mechanised and human. This context is fundamental to the intent of any measurement and benchmarking exercise, as performance must be measured not just in terms of "what is being done in New Zealand", but "what is being done in New Zealand relative to the wider societal changes which new technologies are engendering".
Section 2 develops a framework for this scoping study. Frameworks adopted in previous studies are examined and analysed. By posing key questions about the dimensions of Electronic Commerce and its place in a modern, information-based economy, four categories building upon research already undertaken, and relevant for measurement in the New Zealand context, are developed:
- Connectivity
- Capability
- Uptake
- Performance Measurement.
Section 3 takes each of these categories and surveys the international literature for benchmarking and comparative measurement precedents. These are compared with the information available from studies conducted in New Zealand. It is noted that the purpose of this section is not to undertake a comparative performance measurement exercise: parameters for such an exercise will be the focus of recommendations of the final report. Rather, it is to identify what types of measurement are currently considered feasible and relevant, and whether any measurement exercises of these types are currently being undertaken in New Zealand, either routinely or episodically. Further, New Zealand-specific measurement exercises are identified.
Section 3 also critically reviews the methodologies of the literature-based "state of the art" measurement exercises identified against the "modern economy" context outlined in Section 1. The purpose of this analysis is to test the relevance of the measurement methodologies currently employed to the wider business and societal trends they seek to document. Where shortfalls are identified, suggestions are made as to how these might be addressed in both New Zealand-specific and international measurement exercises.
Section 4 identifies the areas where New Zealand's points of commercial and social difference might require an approach not considered by the literature reviewed for this study. This section provides a New Zealand-relevant context against which performance measures must be benchmarked. This section also highlights key issues that must be addressed in all New Zealand-relevant economic performance indicators, to ensure that meaningful comparisons can be made in the international context.
Section 5 concludes the report with some indicative recommendations for performance measurement exercises in the New Zealand context. Further, it provides some guidelines for future research that will lead to greater understanding of the dynamics of an information-based economy, and the system interactions that characterise it. It is envisaged that the understandings gained from this research will provide a basis for future New Zealand policy development and more meaningful economic performance monitoring of all sectors of the New Zealand economy.
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