The Framework and the Big Ideas of e-Business

In order to gain an integrated view of e-business (considered synonymous with e-commerce) and the opportunities it offers in the development of organizational strategies, a comprehensive framework of the activities in the field is presented. The 5Cs framework consists of 5 domains. The top three of them, the superstructure, represent the economic and social activities of commerce, collaboration, and communication. The two supporting domains are those of the technological infrastructure: connection and computation. Analyzing the activities within these domains, we identify the ten big ideas that have influenced the development of e-business in a decisive way and that exert continuing influence on the way information systems are used strategically. The identified activities and ideas will serve to innovate in the future development of e-business as a growing component of economic and societal development.