Most forward thinking companies have numerous Internet, intranet and extranet applications in development, even while they question how these efforts integrate with their corporate strategy. Consequently, the modern organization has historically been internally focused, usually on its own hierarchy, processes and activity. Communication with the marketplace was limited through controlled access points. Electronic communications are rapidly changing this state of affairs. Companies that understand and take advantage of the potential of e-business are growing at unprecedented rates.
Initiatives often involve customers, suppliers, alliances and even competitors.
It is not surprising to me that investors value at unprecedented levels companies that understand e-business, a fact that is communicated through the financial markets. Intuitively, investors understand the tremendous potential of the e-business model. Due to the ease and ubiquity of communications, time frames required for change are sharply compressed, which leads to tremendous opportunities and threats. Understanding what this means in terms of the organization is another area of focus of e-business. It is my view that knowledge is nothing less than the currency of e-business itself.