A strategic case for e-adoption in healthcare supply chains

• Published in: International journal of information management Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 290 - 301
• Main Authors: Zheng, Jurong, Bakker, Elmer, Knight, Louise, Gilhespy, Heather, Harland, Christine, Walker, Helen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2006; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Applications (e.g. Digitizing,...); Business; Computer applications; E-business; E-commerce; Electronic commerce; Electronic money; Electronic trade; Exact sciences and technology; Health care industry; Healthcare; Information and communication sciences; Information and communication technologies; Information science. Documentation; Information technologies: storage media, equipment; Integration; National Health Service; National health services; Online payment; Sciences and techniques of general use; Studies; Supply chain; Supply chain management; Supply chains; Transactions; United Kingdom > UK; Supply chain; Healthcare; E-commerce; E-business; Evaluation; Supply; Firm management; Electronic trade; Public health; Firm strategy
• ISSN: 0268-4012; 1873-4707
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2006.03.010

A growing body of literature suggests that greater benefits of e-business will be obtained when e-business is integrated throughout a supply chain. However, organizations are still cautious in adopting e-business technologies. This paper examines whether a strategic case for e-commerce can be recognised and the factors that influence e-adoption, using e-business development models, a contingency approach and a stakeholder approach. The paper explores the link of e-commerce with strategy and the potential strategic benefits, risks and problems. This paper analysed e-adoption in four diverse healthcare supply chains in the context of the English National Health Service (NHS). The fieldwork showed there is of limited use of e- in supply chains; there are key problems associated with perceived benefits and costs by different actors both within organisations and within the chain. The paper proposes a framework to link the case for e-commerce with the achievement of strategic objectives across three inter-related domains—health, supply and business.