Managing Web‐enabled Technologies in Organizations: A Global Perspective

Citation

Fourie, I. (2001), "Managing Web‐enabled Technologies in Organizations: A Global Perspective", Online Information Review, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 271-279. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2001.25.4.271.3

This is an excellent contribution to the existing literature and knowledge on Web‐enabled technologies. Both research and practical findings are thoroughly covered by a team of international researchers and practitioners. From the authors’ bibliography it is clear that the editor as well as the authors are well qualified for sharing their ideas on the latest research findings and writings related to Web‐enabled technologies, and how these are utilised and managed in organisations throughout the world. It is also replete with innovative ideas on how to use and strategically manage the Web.

A wide spectrum of key issues, ranging from e‐commerce, to education, training and even distance learning are covered in the 11 well‐researched chapters. Each chapter includes an extensive bibliography. There are a few chapters, however, where I felt that the sources could be more up to date, especially since the topics are so dynamic.

Although the overall quality of the chapters is very high, I would like to highlight Chapter 4 for its contribution to the theory of Web‐based technologies. The chapter is entitled “Managing Web technologies acquisition, utilization and organization change: understanding sociocognitive processual dynamics”. In the Preface it is rightly explained that “this chapter’s paradigm affords a substantive analytical tool to the practitioner for understanding and managing not only web‐based IT acquisition, utilization and organization change, but all IT‐based recursive, organisation changes and transformations.” The chapter is theoretically well grounded with a very extensive bibliography.

Managing Web‐enabled Technologies consists of a preface, 11 chapters, an author biography and an all‐too‐brief index. Each chapter includes its own bibliography. The chapters cover the following themes: the critical issues in the assessment and management of Web‐enabled technologies; the differences between traditional and World Wide Web application development, and how this affects the development and evolution of applications for the Web; the planning for effective Web‐based commerce application development; the five stages of customising Web‐based mass information systems; viability through Web‐enabled technologies; the slow response time of the World Wide Web, which sometimes causes it to be referred to as the World Wide Wait; the implementation of Web‐based subject administration; Web‐based competency and training and the management of distance learning; e‐commerce in Egypt; and the management of Web‐enabled training.

Many organisations are looking into Web‐enabled technologies to make their operations more competitive, and to maintain greater control over their resources. This makes Khosrowpour a timely publication for researchers, practitioners and even undergraduate students. Managing Web‐enabled Technologies is highly recommended to information technology managers and researchers. It should help them to obtain a greater understanding of the issues surrounding Web‐enabled technologies, to manage these technologies more effectively, and to discover innovative ways of utilising and managing Web‐enabled technologies. It is suitable for practitioners and researchers, and can easily become a standard textbook for undergraduates.