The E-business (R)evolution
A book review by Richard Dance, President of SoftResources LLC
January 2001
This book is meant to cover all the topics Daniel Amor believes are required for a complete and secure e-business solution. The major question for all the technologies that he introduces in the book is "why should I use it?" His book therefore gives a historical explanation of terms and concepts.
A. Introduction
This book is meant to cover all the topics Daniel Amor believes are required
for a complete and secure e-business solution. The major question for all the
technologies that he introduces in the book is "why should I use it?"
His book therefore gives a historical explanation of terms and concepts.
E-business verses E-commerce is the distinct flavor of Daniel's book which really talks about the many aspects of E-business beyond the typical definition that others earlier had confined to transactions over the internet that result in the order/sale being placed for the purchase or sale of goods or services.
B. Mind Map of the Book's
Contents.
This table charts out the approach the book takes and the format used.
| The Foundation | 1) Introduction to
Internet Business 2) Preparing the online business 3) Selecting the technology 4) Avoiding legal issues 5) Marketing strategies |
| E-business Applications | 6) Search engines and
portals 7) Shopping and ORM solutions 8) Interactive Communications experiences |
| Internet Technologies |
9) Comparing Web technologies 10) Security 11) Dealing with Java 12) Imaging 13) Paying Via the Net |
| The Present Future | 14) Open Source Community 15) Pervasive Computing |
C. Definitions
Definition of e-Business
One of the first to use the term e-business was IBM in 1997. At that time they
launched their first thematic campaign built around the term. Until then e-commerce
was the buzzword used. The shift in terms also means a shift in paradigm. Until
then selling was the only experience that people could reproduce on the web.
Broadening the approach to allow more types of business on the web created the
new term e-business. E-commerce is just one aspect of e-business like e-franchising,
e-mailing, e-marketing. E-Business is about using the convenience, availability
and worldwide reach to enhance existing businesses or creating new virtual business.
IBM defines e-business as "a secure, flexible and integrated approach to
delivering differentiated business value by combining the systems and processes
that run core business operations with the simplicity and reach made possible
by Internet technology.
I don't consider his definition to be a particularly illuminating one, or one
that is easily remembered so you'll have to read elsewhere for a better definition.
D. The Main Message
Because the book is meant to cover all the topics Daniel believes are required
for a complete and secure e-business solution, he spends a lot of time giving
a historical explanation of terms and concepts. There are several items included
that we feel should be deleted and several items not included that we believe
are necessary for a complete solution.
For example, from a historical perspective he uses a number of pages to discuss such topics as:
- Web design rules
- How to announce your website
- Marketing strategies
- Managing your image
- Banners
- On-line measurement
We believe that such items as managing your image are generic PR business issues that are not unique to e-business and could probably be omitted.
We would recommend that these items be cut back, and unique items such as B2B exchanges be added. There is a death of information on exchanges, perhaps more due to the date the book was written than an oversight on Daniel's part.
In version 2.0 he will probably have an excellent historical perspective on that subject, but for now it is missing.
The E-business revolution, according to Daniel is divided into four parts: 1) The Foundation, 2) E-business Applications, 3) Internet Technologies, and 4) The Present Future.
E. Pleasant Surprises
found in the Book
This table shows the page number and idea presented that represented an expected
and pleasant surprise of information:
|
Page
#
|
Pleasant
Surprises
|
| xxix to xxx | 6 phases, updated book, website |
| 64-74 | The Internet Architecture. This is a great description where Amor displays his knowledge and ability to write in an understandable manner. |
| 128 | The idea about developing a dark site could be worth the cost of the book. |
| 153 | Localization; this would be a place of expertise for Amor. |
| 160-162 | Correct usage of URL's. |
| 204 | Tracking search result positions just might be worth the price of the book alone. |
| 234 | Features of an online shopping solution is an excellent summarization. |
| 255-258 | Configuration products, explanation on page 254 followed by 7 short illustrations. |
| 261-266 | ORM systems and solutions is a clear discussion of operational resources such as computer equipment, office supplies, travel and entertainment. |
| 330-344 | Section 9.6 in its entirety takes you through HTML to XML and beyond showing you logically and chronologically why XML is necessary and what the advantages of XML over HTML are. Hard to beat the information he imparts here. The same with his explanation of the 3 flavors of HTML 4.0 on pages 313 to 314. |
| 357, 336 | Threats and challenges on the Internet. |
| 379 | False Authority syndrome helps explain some of the confusion today. |
| 516-517 | Format for properties of OBI; acronym, footnoted website, explanation, illustration all are excellent. |
| 527 | Project Gutenberg is a good description. |
F. Disappointments Found
in the Book
There are a few places in the book where Daniel wasn't as articulate and convincing.
|
Page
#
|
Disappointments
|
| Intro xxix | The 6 phases of Internet presence was a great analogy but should have been expanded. I'm going to write a section of a new book just on this page. |
| 24 | The categories of e- business are good, but not useful. There is a whole lot more to be said about some such as e-auctioning vs. e=franchising. Besides these e-words Daniel chose are just are not used much in e-business discussions. |
| 105 | His 7 points of ERP Evaluation comes from his technical background. There is much more to be done in ERP Evaluations. Being President of a software evaluation search firm makes it easy for me to point out what is missing from Daniel's points. He has not considered such things as the stability of the software vendor, the total cost of ownership of the software package, that a quick impulse decision usually isn't the best course to take, or that different companies are able to take on different software packages due to their IT staff and infrastructure, not just based upon requirements. |
| 186 | Emoticons, part of the internet. Do you really need emoticons for e-business is my question. I don't think so. |
| 194 | Search engines are changing rapidly enough that more can be said here. Not mentioning the major players is an oversight. |
| 280-285 | Daniel gets lost a bit with what to include or not include. An example would be Internet chat solutions. While a part of the Internet, how much would an executive want to wade through this discussion of IRC, Java chat rooms, etc. Virtual worlds would be useful to know about but where do you draw the line? In Daniel's attempt to be comprehensive, he has included more than is necessary. |
| 503 | The debit model illustration is in German. |
| 586-589 | The societal impact seemed a bit more utopian then necessary. |
G. Who the Book is Best Intended For?.
The E-Business (R)evolution is intended for those that like a European and technical slant to the Internet. For example the radio stations Daniel listens to, as listed on page 576 are all European. The word processor he used was a LATEX and TEX version 3.14159, which was intended in 1982 to be for the creation of beautiful books that contain a lot of mathematics. The thrust of his book is intended for an electronic entrepreneur, a hands-on person as the book covers all the topics required for a complete and secure e-business solution.
H. Where to Obtain the Book
It can be purchased directly from the following sources:
http://www.hp.com/hpbooks
Amazon.com's web site for $ 39.99.
Booksamillion web site for $ 31.99.
Barnes and Noble web site for $39.99.
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