beyond pt 0 23/1

Section One
Introduction
This Part sets out case studies that discuss the impacts e-commerce might
have on a number of key sectors.
1.1 Approach
Of the wide range of possible impacts e-commerce may have, this study
has sought to concentrate on those impacts that are viewed as being most
probable. Of these probable impacts, the analysis has aimed to capture
insight from two subsets:
• impacts that can be picked up in qualitative case studies; and
• quantitative impacts that are analysed in the modelling.
This part concerns itself primarily with discussing the qualitative impacts.
Where possible, the conclusions drawn from the following sections have
been used to guide the rationale behind the impacts included in the
quantitative modelling.
Each of the following sections looks at an industry sector. These differ
from the separate MONASH industries and commodities discussed in
Part 1. Sectors are often broader than the industry/commodity split in the
MONASH model, often incorporating many MONASH sectors. Some
sectors are also amalgams of commodity groups identified in the
MONASH model (and national accounts). The analysis in each section
follows the following format:
• a description of the sector and the way in which e-commerce is
affecting it;
• cost savings that might be made as a result of e-commerce activity;
• new costs that might be incurred in order to facilitate e-commerce;
• new business models or industry structures that may become possible
due to the changes that e-commerce will bring to the nature of
businesses in the industry;
• jobs and skills issues that arise out of the changing nature of work in
the sector; and
• external dimensions that may result from the impact of e-commerce
technologies on the sector.
1.2 Identifying sectors
This Part discusses the impact of e-commerce on broad industry sectors.
These sectors were chosen for two reasons:
• the need to capture the areas of greatest impact due to
e-commerce; and
• the need to represent the major areas of activity in the
Australian economy.
In addition, the choice of sectors was also influenced by the wish to
make maximum use of the experience and interests of the Industry
Reference Group (IRG).
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