International cross-border study on the potential strategic opportunities for Irish and French nlanufacturing SMEs to use E-procurement
Authors
Jaunie, Charles
Issue Date
2007
Degree
MSc in International Business
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The Internet phenomenon has brought considerable opportunities for industrial firms to maximise their existing purchasing processes. Initially, this paper explores the strategic business opportunities that "eprocurement" provides to manufacturing small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) with a review of the theoretical background of the subject. It then uses empirical research from a sample of 23 Irish and French manufacturing SMEs to analyse if this category of firms are currently grasping the opportunities that e-procurement provides. The research also identifies which exactly are the benefits as well as the inherent issues associated with e-procurement for both current users and non users of these "new" web-based business processes. Finally, the paper suggests some recommendations to achieve further progress in e-procurement adoption and exploitation by manufacturing SMEs according to the results previously found.