THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN SUPPORTING THE EXTENDED SUPPLY CHAIN

The emergence of the Internet and new software applications has provided an opportunity for some companies to move towards an extended enterprise business model–one that enhances value across the total supply chain. The prime driver of this trend has been the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. The research investigates whether traditional technology infrastructures, including information systems, have failed to deliver the level of support required to enable organizations to take advantage of the new extended business model. The research identifies a series of new and distinctive capabilities that influence the adoption of an extended business model. Supported by innovative technologies, leading companies are exploiting these distinctive capabilities to meet the challenge of the New Economy.     

The new multinationals: Developing-country firms in international markets

Driven by a variety of factors, including deficiencies in domestic demand, developing-country firms are increasing their direct foreign investment in, and sales of technology to, other developing countries. The recipients usually gain various benefits that they would not in similar deals with OECD multinationals. But any increase in such international flows depends heavily on the strategic choices of OECD corporations (ie which markets they move out of) and on the pattern of government incentives and controls in the countries of origin and destination.     

Pigou, Tiebout, property taxation, and the underprovision of local public goods

Pigou's proposition that the use of distorting taxes rather than neutral head taxes reduces public service levels is examined in this paper. A simple model with a national system of competing local governments is utilized to demonstrate that the use of a distorting property tax on mobile capital decreases the level of residential public services. The case where public services are an intermediate producer good is also considered.     

Shakespeare plc

Does the Royal Shakespeare Company require subsidies from the taxpayer? Robert Whelan, a former actor with the RSC, argues that the RSC could survive without subsidy by putting on popular plays and not indulging the vanity of directors.