Each of our companies has a significant interest in the success of global electronic commerce as a driving economic force for the 21st century. Each of our companies also knows first-hand the benefits information technology can bring, not only in streamlining operations, but also in speeding and improving service, and reducing costs. As global companies with worldwide customers and global suppliers, we also understand the unique role technology can play in bridging distances, creating communities and increasing efficiencies.

In November 1997, we published material on global electronic commerce to help define what it is, explain its potential and highlight its benefits. The material, which is posted on our website at www.cspp.org, received a great deal of attention and has provided a solid foundation for dialogue. Nevertheless, we remain committed to do more to promote global electronic commerce. To that end, we have developed the enclosed Guide to Global Electronic Commerce Readiness.

Recognizing Opportunity
The exciting opportunities made possible through global electronic commerce extend beyond large information technology companies like ours to every business, city and town, citizen, government agency, educational institution and public sector organization. Those willing to embrace technology and make the commitment needed to ensure that the integration of technology is both effective and productive will reap the benefits.

Global electronic commerce is happening. We see it in many forms - from small, individual purchases over the Internet to complex supply chain management by multi-national corporations to paying municipal parking fines online. As global electronic commerce continues to grow, one of the most significant questions at hand is whether the infrastructure and related technologies and policies are in place to meet the growing demand.

Taking Action
The first step toward ensuring that global electronic commerce is being effectively integrated into your business, your school, your government department or your community is to understand the broad range of technology and policy elements involved. Many attempts have been made to define what it means to be "wired," or which regions of the country are 3Internet-friendly." These lists and assessments are interesting and informative, but have, for the most part, been based on fairly narrow criteria.

The Guide to Global Electronic Commerce Readiness takes a different approach.

With help from our company chief technologists and information technology leaders at the state and local levels, we have created a self-evaluation tool communities can use to determine their level of readiness for engaging fully in global electronic commerce. The Guide is not a measurement, but rather a series of indicators to help guide economic growth and development, as well as technology and policy decisions. No matter where a community falls on the readiness spectrum, the Guide provides useful information - information that can inform discussions, drive decisions and produce results.

Richard E. Belluzzo Silicon Graphics Michael Dell Dell Computer Corporation Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. IBM Corporation Andrew S. Grove Intel Corporation Dave House Bay Networks Scott G. McNealy Sun Microsystems

Lars Nyberg NCR Corporation Eckhard Pfeiffer Compaq Computer Corporation Lewis E. Platt Hewlett-Packard Company Ronald L. Skates Data General Corporation Lawrence A. Weinbach Unisys Corporation Apple Computer Kenneth R. Kay Executive Director