Systems Planning in Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce Environments

Past research demonstrates that inter-organisational systems' (IOS) planning lacks appropriate methodological guidelines, and it tends to be practised in an insular manner. To understand IOS planning better, this paper examines the planning and implementation undertaken in three business-to-business electronic commerce networks. Analysis reveals that systems planning processes are heavily influenced by the planning environments within which they take place. Based on these environments, recommendations for IOS planning guidelines are developed. These relate to the planning process, planning roles, the incorporation of business strategy, changes in organisational activity, as well as systems and technology planning.