Report

September 2000

• Executives see XML as the standard for eBusiness.
• Interviewees plan to deploy XML standards within a year, despite uncertainty about which standards they will use.

• Firms need more than generic XML to do Internet business.
• eBusiness contracts will evolve in three phases to support the negotiation of forms, terms, and processes.

• Enlist corporate know-it-alls in eBusiness process redesign.
• Pilot simple contracts like HR-XML with a partner.

• White-collar workers unionize to stall automated eBusiness.
• Standardized ERP installations reap integration rewards.

• Figure 1.  The B2B Standards That Matter To Global 2,500 Firms
• Figure 2.  Global 2,500 Firms' Expectations For Standards Development
• Figure 3.  Executives Underestimate XML Implementation Challenges
• Figure 4.  Foundation Technologies For Building XML Standards Aren't Ready
• Figure 5.  Firms Need eBusiness Contracts To Implement XML
• Figure 6.  eBusiness Contracts Become Automated In Three Phases

 

• Companies Interviewed For This Report
• Related Research

• Even the consultants find XML standards confusing.
• You can tell the newbies when they get it backward.
• I like to watch . . .
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