TABLE OF CONTENTS An Internet-based information infrastructure may be described as a three-tier model of technologies, systems and business applications (Tapscott et al. 1998), namely:
Level 1: Base technologies these include the underlying open-systems network platforms and devices supporting multi-environment integration and interoperability of systems across groups, organizations, industries, and regions. Examples are Internet-based network equipment and connections, network printers and scanners, and domain server computers.
Level 2: Network systems, server technologies, and applications development utilities these are the building blocks for electronic business applications and facilities. Generally, components at this level deal with network and process management, digital imaging and security management aspects of the infrastructure. Process management tools at this level form the basis of developing collaborative features into supply chain manage applications for e-business.
Level 3: e-business applications and solutions These include routine enterprise system management and web authoring programs (e.g. Microsoft FrontPage); client interactive communication and information management applications (e.g. Netscape Communicator and Microsoft Explorer Browsers); applications for online shopping and ordering (e.g. CART 32); secured payment facilities (e.g. Digicash) product delivery tracking programs. There is a growing market for complete e-business solutions, which provide a flexible and scalable environment for developing an Internet-based infrastructure to support e-business. Examples of these are Inte-Pay and IBM Net.commerce.
Competitive advantage is associated with the third level of infrastructure deployment. This is because as the underlying technologies and systems mature, relatively cheap and effective resources in...
