Business Networking Systems: Characteristics and Lessons Learned
International Journal of Electronic Commerce
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Air cargo parties are getting increasingly aware of the importance of Information Technology and they are more and more understanding the value Information Technology could provide for the total value chain performance. However, whereas in other sectors Information Technology scores big successes, there are no real signs of successful global community systems in the air cargo community. This paper describes the failure of global systems in the air cargo community. It draws on extensive fieldwork in the air cargo community in Europe, in addition to reviews of relevant trade and academic literature. The paper provides interesting data on the IT-related dynamics in this community. The objective of this research study is to describe the situation in the air cargo community in such a manner that from this the underlying causes for Information Technology systems 'failures' can be extracted. By providing insight in the existing information systems and the evolving dynamics in the air cargo community we present a set of determinants of the failure of IT initiatives in the global air cargo industry. The paper will explore the determinants of such failures from a theoretical perspective as well as from insights from exploratory fieldwork that was conducted in the European Air cargo community. After the most important business dynamics in this network are outlined, the paper describes a set of determinants that might account for the failing of systems in the global air cargo market. It concludes with suggestions for further research.