Becoming a 100 per cent e-corporation: Benefits of pursuing an e-supply chain strategy

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to present a case study of an organisation in pursuit of becoming a 100 per cent e-corporation. Design/methodology/approach - This exploratory research case study documents the deployment of two e-supply chain initiatives undertaken by the organisation, highlighting the benefits of these initiatives to the organisation. Findings - The findings of this study suggest that, while benefits can be realised from creating an e-supply chain, an organisation needs to ensure a common understanding and definition of what it is striving to achieve in undertaking an e-supply chain initiative in an effort to become a 100 per cent e-corporation. Research limitations/implications - A limitation of this study relates to the fact that Intel's suppliers were not interviewed as part of this research, although available supplier-related documentation was analysed. Practical implications - Intel is identified as being quite a distance from achieving its ultimate goal of becoming a "100 per cent e-corporation". This paper highlights the fact that a shared understanding throughout the entire organisation of what a "100 per cent e-corporation" means is a key requirement for any organisation undertaking such an initiative. Originality/value - The principal contribution of this paper is the fact that it refers to a previously unused term - "100 per cent e-corporation". The exact meaning of this term has many interpretations within the case studied in this paper, and indeed this will also be true in all organisations pursuing such an e-supply chain strategy.