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Open Access Dissertation

Keywords

Electronic commerce--Saudi Arabia; Business enterprises--Computer networks--Saudi Arabia;

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is undergoing tremendous change in both infrastructure and economics, which is helping the Internet to flourish in the region. Although growth of electronic commerce (EC) is slow, it is becoming increasingly global. Businesses worldwide are engaging in this commercial evolution.

The purpose of this study was to provide consumers and commercial organizations in Saudi Arabia with practical information regarding electronic commerce. It attempted to explore the perspectives of Internet users, information technology (IT) professionals, business owners, and managers of online businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Two survey instruments were used to gather data for this study. The first survey instrument consisted of 37 questions and was sent to 80 randomly selected Internet users in Saudi Arabia. A total of 45 (56.25%) questionnaires were returned. The second survey consisted of 21 questions and was sent to 80 randomly selected IT professionals, managers, and business owners. A total of 49 (61.22%) questionnaires were returned.

The questionnaire was posted on the Web, http://www. geocities.com/ksaecommerce/ Surveys/default.htm, and e-mails were sent to the study group after the review of the pilot study. Consistent with the statistical analyses discussed in chapter III, analysis of the data was undertaken using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program.

The results of the study indicated that, the awareness, perceptions, and attitudes of the consumers, IT professionals, managers, and business owners' toward shopping on-line depended on such factors as level of security and fraud. There appears to be a positive relationship between the level of security and attitude toward using the Internet for shopping. In addition, the research revealed some barriers related to electronic commerce from the consumer's point of view: Although online transactions are convenient, timely delivery in Saudi Arabia is costly and inefficient. Improvements in Internet and EC technologies will continue to increase productivity, providing that commercial organizations in Saudi Arabia are willing to adapt new business models to capture advances in technology.

The major recommendations of this study are as follows: (a) The private sector and universities should take a roles in educating people to benefit from the Internet; (b) financial sector must coordinate with information technology companies to increase customers confidence in electronic commerce; (c) an updated telecommunication infrastructure is needed in Saudi Arabia; and (d) the Saudi government, represented by the Ministry of Commerce and other competent bodies, should be committed to introducing and widely using electronic commerce. At the same time, the government should take necessary procedures to prevent the misuse of electronic commerce.

Year of Submission

2000

Degree Name

Doctor of Industrial Technology

Department

Department of Industrial Technology

First Advisor

Mohammad F. Fahmy, Chair

Second Advisor

Shahram Varzavand, Co-Chair

Date Original

12-2000

Object Description

1 PDF file (ix, 168 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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E-Commerce Commons

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