Electronic negotiation support systems and their role in business communication : an exploratory evaluation of auction use

Electronic communication media and electronic commerce have become substantial components of economic interaction. Buyers and consumers are increasingly integrated in processes of product and service specification. More and more coordination processes are conducted digitally or partly automated. Buyer-supplier relationships change. In the post-hype phase regarding online-auctions long term relationships prevail – however, the electronic communication via e-mail as well as the different types of reverse auction have been established as business processes.The dissertation contributes to an understanding of the appropriation and use processes of electronic procurement auctions, i.e. the only form of electronic negotiation with sufficient market-penetration for a field study. Consequently, it explicates the effects of the technology in its application context. The focus of the study is on an aspect, which is hardly suitable for experimental analysis: the identification and contextualisation of organisational communication effects. It shows how auction systems can generate efficiencies as well as relational threats and communicative barriers. The latter is mainly achvied through references to the theory of Habermas. Based on the field study, conclusions for the adequate design and choice of negotiation support technology are drawn.