A model for analysing the success of adopting new technologies focusing on electronic commerce

Purpose – To provide an organisation or supply chain with the means to analyse their current business foundations prior to the adoption of a new technology for the assessment of successful adoption. Design/methodology/approach – The objectives were to analyse and aid the successful adoption of new technology. This was achieved by the construction of three models from previously conducted research focusing on electronic commerce for application research. Findings – The research clearly identified a link between an organisation's structure and ease of new technology adoption. This link is the bind between the categories developed for the models and reflects “best fit” for generic organisational analysis. Research limitations/implications – A questionnaire was used to fuel the models. It included evenly weighted questions. This led to the category results being based on mid‐point scaling. Both the weighing and model scaling are to be addressed in further research assisted by the results from the application of the questionnaire, models, results and organisation follow‐up analysis. Practical implications – The models provide a pre‐adoption analysis that can produce a general view towards success, with relatively no expenditure. Originality/value – The three models are new. The target model is the main construction that has been developed over a number of years. The construction comprises of human resources, processes, organisational culture, and management styles, these elements have not been brought together in this way before to analyse the adoption of new technology in an organisation or supply chain. The models are generic and can be applied to all industries and types of business.