Forces Shaping the Electronic Publishing Industry of the 1990s

Abstract

Results of an in‐depth study of the electronic publishing (EP) industry, with particular emphasis on the consumer marketplace, are presented. EP was defined as the use of electronic media to deliver information to users in electronic form or from electronic sources. EP is contrasted to electronic‐aided publishing, which is the use of electronic means to format and produce a conventional information product. An “information chain” model of the information flows between publishers (or producers) and users was helpful in understanding the boundaries of EP and defining its markets. Following a review of the conventional publishing industry, a model of the forces driving the EP industry was derived. Although technology is the strongest driving force, it is by no means the only one; the others are economics, demographics, social trends, government policies, applications growth, and industry trends. Each of these forces is described in detail in a “cause and effect” scenario, from which keys to success in the EP marketplace are derived. Although there is some turmoil in the industry, with new services continuing to appear and disappear, the overall picture is one of optimism. EP should be a significant part of consumers' lives by the end of the decade.

Citation

Hawkins, D.T., Smith, F.J., Dietlein, B.C., Joseph, E.J. and Rindfuss, R.D. (1992), "Forces Shaping the Electronic Publishing Industry of the 1990s", Internet Research, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 38-60. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047269