Electronic B2B markets as an e-business model.: Empirical study in the Spanish construction sector

In this work we analyze the development of electronic markets, or virtual vertical markets on Internet (VVMs), and whether these markets are becoming catalysts for networked inter-organizational relations. These VVMs allow for cooperation in e-commerce platforms, the virtual B2B platforms. We study the inter-organizational relations brought about by B2B VVMs, and to apply this study to a particular sector of activity in Spain: the construction sector. We intend to define, analyse, describe the characteristics, and explain, the VVM platforms, stressing the strategic and organizational role of each of the principal participating actors, with the aim of learning more about what are the sources of competitive advantage in on-line markets compared to off-line markets. We analyze the specific characteristics of the construction industry, by looking at the results obtained in the empirical study. Finally we discuss the results and conclude with their implications for theory and for this line of research.