The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on developing a managerial framework for replacing paper based contracts with e-contracts in the agriculture environment in the North-West Province. Every business should adapt to the current economic environment, especially new technology, and need to consider the risk and reward within the industry. Businesses should analyse any new processes and investigate its impact and whether a competitive advantage is created. An extensive literature study has been conducted on the factors that could assist to develop a managerial framework. Firstly, CRM - a good CRM system will improve customer service and increase customer satisfaction, which will yield more loyalty. Secondly, improved technology will shorten the value chain by adding more value to each product or service. Thirdly, new technology, such as e-contracting, will reduce the time it takes to contract with customers and reduce the overall processing costs. Fourthly, training is crucial for any business to be successful. Fifthly, Business Process Management (BPM) system will assist a business to implement a new process. Lastly, it is important to investigate what resistance to change a business can expect. An empirical research has been conducted to investigate the effect what e-contracting has on the agriculture environment in the North-West Province in order to enable the author to develop a managerial framework to assist an agriculture business to improve customer service. It could be concluded that there is a good linkage between the results of this study and the literature. A managerial framework that can be used for the purpose of replacing paper based contracts with e-contracts in the agriculture environment in the North-West Province, has been proposed. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on developing a managerial framework for replacing paper based contracts with e-contracts in the agriculture environment in the North-West Province. Every business should adapt to the current economic environment, especially new technology, and need to consider the risk and reward within the industry. Businesses should analyse any new processes and investigate its impact and whether a competitive advantage is created. An extensive literature study has been conducted on the factors that could assist to develop a managerial framework. Firstly, CRM - a good CRM system will improve customer service and increase customer satisfaction, which will yield more loyalty. Secondly, improved technology will shorten the value chain by adding more value to each product or service. Thirdly, new technology, such as e-contracting, will reduce the time it takes to contract with customers and reduce the overall processing costs. Fourthly, training is crucial for any business to be successful. Fifthly, Business Process Management (BPM) system will assist a business to implement a new process. Lastly, it is important to investigate what resistance to change a business can expect. An empirical research has been conducted to investigate the effect what e-contracting has on the agriculture environment in the North-West Province in order to enable the author to develop a managerial framework to assist an agriculture business to improve customer service. It could be concluded that there is a good linkage between the results of this study and the literature. A managerial framework that can be used for the purpose of replacing paper based contracts with e-contracts in the agriculture environment in the North-West Province, has been proposed. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014