Organisational Factors of Success in Using EDIS: A Survey of Tradenet Participants

Tradenet processed about 75% of the total volume of trade documents in Singapore. Among these trade documents , 95% were processed in 15 minutes. More importantly, Tradenet participants have reported an improvement in productivity of about 20% to 30%. Being a successful EDIS, Tradenet is a good candidate for research. Research Model and Methodology This research study examines the impact of Tradenet on the effectiveness and efficiency of its participants (see Figure 2). Organizational effectiveness was measured in terms of international competitiveness , inventory control, and customer quantity. Organizational efficiency was gauged using document preparation cost, document exchange cost, and document flow. Organizational factors such as organizational size (large versus small organizations), organizational maturity (mature versus young organizations), impetus for participation (initiators versus reactors), duration of participation (pioneers versus followers), and systems integration (integrators versus segregra-tors) are treated as independent variables. A questionnaire was administered to all 1145 participants listed in the EDIS directory, published by Sing-apore Network Services Pte. Ltd. The questionnaire was addressed to the managing directors of the organizations as they were more likely to be cognizant of many aspects of their organizations and thus more able to provide accurate and correct information. The postal service returned 35 questionnaires because they could not be delivered to the organizations and addresses specified. Of the remaining 1110 organizations, a total of 328 responses were received, yielding a response rate of 30%. However, 118 out of the 328 responses could not be used in this study as they were not Tradenet participants (these organizations participated in other EDIS such as Lawnet, Medinet, and Biznet). The responses of 210 Tradenet participants were used in this study. Electronic Data Interchange systems (EDIS) facilitate direct computer-to-computer exchange of business documents between organizations, thereby permitting these organizations to perform some business functions more effectively and efficiently. These systems are emerging as a key tool in reshaping the method in which organizations interact in response to environmental factors such as global competition, risk, service, and cost. In January 1989, the Trade Development Board of Singapore implemented Tradenet, the first ever nationwide EDIS in the world to link organizations in the val for their import and export declarations. Through Tradenet, participants can exchange trade documents with the relevant government agencies, local and overseas trading partners. Besides providing exchange capabilities for trade documents , Tradenet also provides information services on country profiles and regulations , trade directories, …