FIRM C Firm C is a large company with one thousand employees and is a MUB situated in Mombasa. It produces a variety of products including shirts, shorts, trousers, and tops. All the firms’ products are exported to a single intermediary in the US and it sources its inputs from Hong Kong and India. The firm is connected to networks for international trading using B2B e-commerce through modem-based analogue links and has a direct connection to the public Internet. The firm frequently uses e-mail to maintain contact with buyers and suppliers, but makes no use the web, an Extranet or Electronic Data Interchange. The firm does not need to use B2B e-commerce applications because its market consists of only one buyer in US and its products are in demand to the extent that the firm cannot meet this demand. The firm does not need to use a network to purchase products because its buyer provides inputs or recommends input suppliers. It was also not using the Internet for supply chain management. It started using B2B e-commerce to keep up with buyers and suppliers and it was indicated that the applications were developed or promoted by suppliers or customers. The firm normally communicates with buyers through e-mail. The use of B2B e-commerce had not led to a change in its suppliers or buyers or to an increase in the numbers of international suppliers or customers and the firm had not engaged in business on line that was not pursued off-line. In a previous interview, the owner had said that the poor state of telecommunications was his most serious problem. He could not give the percentage of inputs supported by B2B e-commerce because the buyer provides its own supplies such as buttons and brings samples to the firm. He noted the importance of B2B e-commerce but also it has had no impact on Kenyan firms. FIRM D Firm D was founded in 1989 and engages in the production of industrial uniforms and security apparel, the former constituting its most significant source of revenue. The firm employs 40 workers and has a turnover of Kshs 40 million, selling most of its products to Uganda and Tanzania. Inputs are obtained from South Africa. The firm is connected via modem-based analogue technology and access the public Internet directly. It is a frequent user of e-mail to maintain contact with buyers/suppliers and to place or accept product orders. It is a regular user of the web which it uses to obtain general information about input markets, to obtain information about product markets, to obtain information about specific suppliers, to accept orders from international business customer and to place orders with international suppliers. The firm does not use an Extranet or Electronic Data Interchange. The respondent had used the Internet to purchase or sell products internationally and the Internet had been used to obtain e-mail contacts. The firm had never registered with an e-marketplace and the respondent indicated that this was because the firm’s customers did not require B2B e-commerce applications. FIRM E Firm E has 2,500 workers. It is mainly involved in garment production and was founded in 1997. It is a business unit of a multinational company, which produces for export only. The main destination of the products is the US, though it had tried to move into the European market. It sources its inputs locally and internationally with fabric obtained from China, India, Mauritius, and Swaziland. Other inputs such as buttons, polythene bags, and corrugated paper cartons are purchased locally and the firm had been trying to work with local thread manufacturers. The firm is connected using modem-based analogue links and has direct access to the Public Internet. It is a frequent user of e-mail to maintain contact with buyers and suppliers and frequently uses it to place or accept product orders. The firm is a frequent user of the web. 37