Determinants of the future level of use of electronic marketplaces: The case of Canadian firms

Based on the literature dealing with the diffusion of innovation and with information systems, and building on the emerging concepts in electronic commerce (e-commerce), this paper aims at assessing the influence of various factors on firms’ future level of use of electronic marketplaces (e-marketplaces). This theoretical model is tested on data collected from 1,200 senior managers in Canadian firms. Findings indicate that a firm’s past experience in e-commerce, as well as the factors relating to its business relationships ultimately affect its future use of e-marketplaces. Results of TOBIT regressions also show that the complexity of sophisticated e-commerce implementations is negatively correlated with the future level of use of e-marketplaces, and that consultants and other experts play an essential role in encouraging and facilitating the use of this new type of electronic platform. Finally, our survey data demonstrate that the relative influence of some determinants differs according to the firms’ size. Pierre Hadaya is an assistant professor of MIS at the Faculté d’administration of the Université de Sherbrooke (Canada). He holds a Ph.D. in Management of Technology from the école Polytechnique de Montréal. His research interests lie at the intersection of information technology management, business strategy and interorganizational design.