MATRIX OF SELECTED COMMUNICATION METHODS FOR DOING BUSINESS IN VIETNAM AND POSSIBLE FACTORS AFFECTING THEM

(RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS OF 14 COMPANY MANAGERS AND KEY INFORMANTS IN VIETNAM)

Methods/ Present methods Electronic E-mail services Corporate Intranet Fully Internet connection Wide Area Networks (WANs)
factors (face-to-face Bulletin Board facilities for business for trade, through Trade & Electronic Data
affecting the meeting, fax, System (BBS) with limited access to Points and Electronic Interchange (EDI)
adoption phone) the Internet Trading Opportunity
Political, legal No special impact Govt. presently Govt. presently Govt. approved Under the Govt. Under the Govt.
satisfied that satisfied that appointment of the consideration for consideration for connection;
approved approved information Internet service connection; substantial legal regulations on Internet
information is is disseminated & provider meets its change Govt. attitude use; standardisation of
disseminated & exchanged needs, legal regulations toward information business documents etc.
exchanged required exchange; legal regulations required.
on Internet use required
Economic Existing Present Present infrastructure Requires major Requires further investment Large investment from both
Technological technology suitable infrastructure can be used in the investment by Govt. & and training by Govt. companies & the Govt. in IT
can be used in short term. Requires commercial companies in infrastructure infrastructure; synergy of
the short term larger additional organisations in IT software & training. participants (customs,
requires some investment & training infrastructure, Security needs of the insurance, transport, banks)
additional hardware, software & organisation
investment training. Security needs
of the organisation
Social-cultural Asian society in Serious concerns Corporate cultural Corporate cultural Corporate culture; “team Corporate culture; “team
transaction from as to the ultimate changes to reflect a changes to reflect a work” concept; business work” concept; business skill;
centrally planned security of more cooperative more cooperative team skill; self-confidence; self- system confidence; business
market based information team work concept of work concept of discipline; language barrier, professionalism; short vs long
economy business business, language short vs long term term orientation; collectivism
barrier orientation vs individualism
Organisational Suited to a Minor changes Minor changes in IT human resource Further change required in Business process re-
(human centralised system, required to departmental required; substantial organisation; engineering; IT
resource, little innovation & organisational structure need change in organisation decentralisation control; decentralisation required.
structure) motivation structure specialised IT structure; centralised IT operational integration
apparent department management; through IT.