Cranfield poll finds directors guilty of damaging ecommerce

Inexperience and lack of understanding at board level are damaging the development of ecommerce, according to a poll by Cranfield School of Management (CSM).

Business and IT managers in large to medium-sized UK companies feel coherent ebusiness plans are being held back by managing directors and CEOs. Instead, most companies are taking a reactive and piecemeal approach.

Dr Elizabeth Daniel of the Information Systems Research Centre at CSM, said the findings are part of a preliminary study for a one-year collaborative project on ecommerce.

The project will explore effective strategies for ebusiness with some of the UK's largest companies. "It isn't just about IT, it's about business issues and IT," explained Daniel. British Energy, Cadbury Schweppes, Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham have already signed up.

With the launch scheduled for 1 October, CSM is still looking for companies to take part in the project. Anyone interested in participating should email e.m.daniel@cranfield.ac.uk.