• Yingli Wang

Recent advances in inter-enterprise software and communication technologies, along with the trends towards globalization, networking, mass customization, and digitization in the context of the supply chain, have led to the development of ‘e-collaboration’ concept. E-collaboration has been seen as a new way doing business and a strategic weapon which could fundamentally change the traditional business relationships. However emerging in the late-1990s, it is still relatively embryonic. There is a confusing assortment in both academic and practical areas of what ecollaboration really implies and how it differs from traditional collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basic appreciation of the current literature. It examines alternatives of definitions & practices, the evolution of ecollaboration, and the supporting systems and tools. By looking at different well-documented case studies, it investigates how e-collaboration alters the way of doing business and its impact on business relationships. The paper concludes by summarizing the evolution of e-collaboration and highlighting future research opportunities.