Classification

Classification of Applications

The value chain as a model of business processes is depicted in the figure below. The model classifies business processes into primary and secondary activities.

Adapted from: (Porter and Millar, "How information Gives you Competitive Advantage," Harvard Business Review, 1985, Jul/Aug p.149-160)

EC Applications can be classified into the following eight categories, adapted from the value chain model.

Operations: this includes activities necessary to create the product/service.
Marketing and Sales: involves activities aimed at promoting and selling the product/service.
Outbound Logistics: is concerned with activities that related to processing orders and delivering the product/service to the customer.
Customer Service: refers to activities that support the product/service after the sale.
Technology Development: includes research and development activities concerned with improving products/services and organizational processes.
Human Resources Management: encompasses activities aimed at managing the forms human resources.
Public Relations: focuses on activities aimed at presenting the organization and it's products/services in the best light to those outside the organization.
Firm Infrastructure: includes activities that are required to manage and administer the organization's internal activities.