E-commerce practices in the Arabian Gulf GCC business culture: utilisation and outcomes patterns

  • Authors:

  • Rafi Ashrafi;Mahmoud M. Yasin;Andrew J. Czuchry;Yousuf AlHinai

  • Affiliations:

  • Sultan Qaboos University, College of Commerce and Economics, Information Systems Department, P.O. Box 20, Al-Khod, PC 123, Oman.;East Tennessee State University, Department of Management and Marketing, P.O. Box 70625, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, USA.;East Tennessee State University, AFG Chair of Excellence in Business and Technology, P.O. Box 70619, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, USA.;Sultan Qaboos University, College of Commerce and Economics, Information Systems Department, P.O. Box 20, Al-Khod, PC 123, Oman

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Business Information Systems
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

With the growth of e-commerce related activities and practices in recent years, the role of culture in promoting such growth has been brought to question. Cultures that tend to foster e-commerce practices have been labelled as e-cultures. In contrast, cultures that hinder e-commerce growth have been labelled as traditional cultures. Most of our knowledge related to e-commerce applications and frameworks for implementation is based on studies from e-cultures. The study, at hand, examines e-commerce activities and practices in the traditional Arab culture. The results obtained from this study tended to be similar to the results obtained from the US e-culture. Thus, the growth of, or lack of, e-commerce may not be explained solely based on cultural factors. Perhaps, other factors such as informational infrastructure may be more relevant in explaining the acceptability and growth of e-commerce than the cultural context. Research examining the impact of these factors on e-commerce growth is needed towards establishing frameworks for the implementation of e-commerce and guidelines for managers in a global context.