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SLIDE 2
SOME OF THE LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED What is clear, from discussions with other small firms who have embraced the technology, is that there really are some very fundamental shifts in the way business is being conducted. E.commerce can become the integrator, the co-ordinator of all a firms departments and provides the tactical links of all activities to marketing strategy. But even more so, it seems that there can no longer be rigid departmental structures or hierarchies. There is specialisation, such as we have a printing department. But every action by someone, say in the printing department, can be electronically recorded and provides an immediate knock on parcel of information to another part of the company or even directly to a customer or supplier. Everyone, staff, customers and suppliers are better and better informed. Decisions can be made almost immediately. It is, however, important to note that with the integration of e.commerce there is bound to be some internal ruffling of feathers. Employees actually doing the jobs are in better positions to absorb the detail of day to day activities and customer perceptions of the firm than management. This is especially where the managers are not as instinctively able as many of their employees to go with the flow and be flexible. Feedback is becoming King of communications and those that are living the organisation are the growers of the organisation. It's their E.tentacles that are feeling the way, instinctively and often spontaneously responding to make their products and services better and better. Those that are passionate about the challenges and see themselves as pioneers hold the key to rapid progress.
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