Staffing and management of e-commerce programs and projects

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) personnel are instrumental in developing and maintaining electronic commerce programs and projects within firms. In spite of the dot-com bust, the number of firms developing and using e-commerce for interactions with customers and suppliers is growing. Personnel competence as individuals and as a group can be a decisive force in determining the level of success of e-commerce projects. This paper used in-depth interviews toward creating a better understanding of broad concepts and values in this area. More specifically, it examines the management and staffing of e-commerce projects in terms of how work is organized, which organizational unit governs e-commerce programs and management, how staff are assigned to projects and what skills are critical, and how outcomes are measured. Significant variance was identified in each of these areas.