Electronic Commerce Resource Centers

Abstract

This paper provides a description and an analysis of the effectiveness of the Electronic Commerce Resource Center (ECRC) concept, as implemented in the USA. Following the general presentation, a specific discussion of the industry-education partnership at a Center in Fairfax, Virginia is provided. The mission of the ECRC network is to transfer process improving and enabling electronic commerce technologies to small and medium-sized businesses and government agencies. Each ECRC is a virtual organization, comprised of industry and university partners. In order to achieve its mission, the ECRC focuses on demonstrating emerging technologies, and then rapidly transferring the technologies to small and medium-size businesses. The ECRC mission also requires the provision of training on process improving methods, legacy data management, and enabling technologies. Finally the effectiveness of the Fairfax ECRC is analysed within the context of our internally established performance measurement system. The authors argue that the ECRC concept could be successfully transferred to other countries, given the intense worldwide interest in electronic commerce.