Management of the Electronic Space as an Essential Element of the Activity of Contemporary Organizations

This paper is composed of four parts. In the first, a short introduction concerning the development of the electronic space is given and the consequences, from the organizations' point of view, are presented. The next two parts form the core of this paper. They relate to the holistic approach to the management of the electronic space. First, an analysis of the preventive and protecting activities which, from the perspective of the organization, are necessary for the management of the electronic space, is provided. Next, the possibilities for active influence on the electronic space are presented and discussed. Finally, the most significant conclusions and suggestions are offered. The problem of the impact of the Internet on the functioning of business organizations becomes an increasingly greater issue both from the perspective of individual organizations as well as the contemporary economy as a whole. The internet's rapidly growing role and influence on almost every sector of the economy necessitates a better understanding of it by the entities operating in it. In order to compete effectively in the new post-industrial business reality, where the Internet, as the global network infrastructure, plays an increasingly crucial role, organizations have to be well acquainted with it. On the one hand, the Internet is vital for them in order to utilize new chances and often previously unobtainable opportunities; on the other hand, organizations need to fully understand it in order to minimize new and previously unknown threats. In this situation, the increasingly significant element of an organization's skill, is the ability to manage the electronic space, particularly as even routine operations take place there. Hence every company should undertake appropriate and comprehensive actions connected with the planning and organizing of their on-line business activity, directing people working in the electronic space, and controlling every element, including their own operations conducted in this space. In this context there are two key aspects which should be carefully considered: • The securing and protecting of on-line operations (preventive and protecting activities). • The utilization of opportunities of active influence on the electronic space (proactive activities).