Effect of E-Commerce on Organization Sustainability

Abstract

This paper establishes the relationship between e-commerce and sustainability factors in the business organizations. The author has also shown the medium to the high positive effect of e-commerce on a clear majority of twenty sustainability factors belonging to environmental, economic, social and general domains as per the opinion survey. Given the effect of e-commerce on sustainability factors, with an overall mean score of 3.61 out of the maximum rating of 5 in an opinion survey, consequently the respondent generally believes that the e-commerce does have a positive effect on the overall sustainability of an organization. The author suggests e-commerce as one the sustainability development measures that can be implemented by business organizations. The sustainability factors are arranged in the metrics, that can be adopted by a business manager for measuring the extent of the e-commerce effect on the sustainability of a business organization. E-commerce managers may also use the findings of this study to gain further insight into sustainability aspects of e-commerce activities. The author urges businesses to leverage e-commerce to create sustainable solutions that address customer, environmental and societal value expectations. The author has shown in the statistical analysis, that overwhelming majority of the sustainability factors (economic, environmental, social) is positively correlated with each other. Therefore, business practice shall be congruent and compatible with the business initiatives for environmental and social responsibility. Furthermore, the author urges businesses to leverage e-commerce not only for economic reasons, but these activities will also help meet environmental compliance.

Keywords: E-commerce, Digital Commerce, Sustainability, Sustainability Metrics, Organizational Sustainability, India

JEL Classification: m14, l80, l20, d20