A Reality Check to Defining E-commerce - ARCHIVED

This study provides background information towards developing working definitions of e-commerce. In addition, through selected case studies it examines whether respondents could provide information for such measurements. The study distinguishes between e-commerce and e-business, the former being a sub-set of the latter and emphasizes computer-mediation as an important feature of this phenomenon. A definition of e-commerce is then proposed: "Transactions carried over computer-mediated channels that comprise the transfer of ownership or the entitlement to use tangible or intangible assets".