Electronic commerce research: A taxonomy and synthesis

Electronic commerce (EC) can be defined as an online exchange of value. This article presents an analysis of 172 published research articles and synthesizes their content by theoretical perspective (organizational, economic, and technical) and dominant research methods. We use this analysis to identify specific research themes within a framework that have the potential to become cumulative streams of research. One conclusion is that EC research to date has been widely scattered in a variety of journals and is often not self-referencing. This analysis provides a step toward remedying this problem by specifically synthesizing what is known to date from EC research and by proposing directions for future efforts. A second conclusion is that the field of information systems (IS) has a window of opportunity to become a primary producer and conveyer of EC research knowledge if cumulative streams of research can be nurtured and published in top-tier journals. The analysis presents a context for examining IS opportunity and the necessary antecedents.