Showing papers in "International Journal of Electronic Business in 2008"
TL;DR: This paper conceptualise the sponsored search process as an aspect of information searching, and provides a brief history of sponsored search and an extensive examination of the technology making sponsored search possible.
Abstract: The success of sponsored search has radically affected how people interact with the information, websites, and services on the web. Sponsored search provides the necessary revenue streams to web search engines and is critical to the success of many online businesses. However, there has been limited academic examination of sponsored search, with the exception of online auctions. In this paper, we conceptualise the sponsored search process as an aspect of information searching. We provide a brief history of sponsored search and an extensive examination of the technology making sponsored search possible. We critique this technology, highlighting possible implications for the future of the sponsored search process.
242 citations
TL;DR: This work analyzes symmetric pure strategy equilibria in dynamic sponsored search auction games using simulations, restricting the strategies to several in a class of greedy bidding strategies introduced by Cary et al.
Abstract: We analyse symmetric pure strategy equilibria in dynamic sponsored search auction games using simulations, restricting the strategies to several in a class of greedy bidding strategies introduced by Cary et al. We show that a particular convergent strategy, 'balanced bidding', also exhibits high stability to deviations in the dynamic setting. On the other hand, a cooperative strategy which yields high payoffs to all players is not sustainable in equilibrium play. Additionally, we analyse a repeated game in which each stage is a static complete information sponsored search game. In this setting, we demonstrate a collusion strategy which yields high payoffs to all players and empirically show it to be sustainable over a range of settings. Finally, we show how a collusive strategy profile can arise even in the case of incomplete information.
31 citations
TL;DR: This paper surveyes e-participation projects financially supported by the European Commission under relevant calls for proposals, i.e., within FP5, FP6, eTen, Interreg and the Preparatory Actions 2006.
Abstract: The introduction of Information and Communication Technologies in the field of public participation has led to the emergence of electronic participation (e-participation). The field of e-participation is rapidly evolving and is characterised by an increasing number of related projects and tools. In this paper we survey e-participation projects financially supported by the European Commission under relevant calls for proposals, i.e., within FP5, FP6, eTen, Interreg and the Preparatory Actions 2006. Our results reveal the total investment in e-participation, the main areas of research, as well as the primary technologies and tools in use within these projects.
21 citations
TL;DR: The empirical model highlights that Perceived Utility, context, credibility and Perceived Social Utility are the main contributors to consumers' intentions to participate in mobile-marketing initiatives.
Abstract: The study examines factors that affect consumers' intentions to participate in mobile marketing and explores the relationship between consumers' intentions to participate in mobile marketing and their experience with mobile marketing. The authors develop and test a research model with a sample of 4062 mobile phone users. The empirical model highlights that Perceived Utility (PU), context, credibility and Perceived Social Utility (PSU) are the main contributors to consumers' intentions to participate in mobile-marketing initiatives. The paper provides several contributions to both theory and practice.
20 citations
TL;DR: The study found little overlap between traditional, commerce-oriented online advertising methods and a general awareness campaign, as evidenced by a low click-through rate to the targeted site.
Abstract: An exploratory study conducted in late autumn and early winter 2006-2007 investigates the purchasing of sponsored search advertising for a major US university's academic department. The ad campaign used Google's AdWord service with the goal of increasing awareness of the academic department and encouraging potential graduate admissions or admissions inquiries. A behavioural model of information seeking is suggested that could be applied for selecting appropriate types of online advertising for awareness and other advertising goals. The study found little overlap between traditional, commerce-oriented online advertising methods and a general awareness campaign, as evidenced by a low click-through rate to the targeted site. Insights for future studies include increased integration with server logs, targeted site query terms and alternative awareness strategies.
18 citations
TL;DR: A framework illustrating important factors that shape users' intentions to pay online and results show that factors that generate benefits for users and factors that create trust have a significant influence on users' attitudes towards online payments.
Abstract: The internet has shaped the way companies are conducting business. When it comes to paying online, many users still shy away from transferring their money electronically. In this paper, we first introduce a framework illustrating important factors that shape users' intentions to pay online. Subsequently, we present data from an empirical survey among Austrian internet users to illustrate which online payment methods are actually used and then test our model. The results show that factors that generate benefits for users and factors that create trust have a significant influence on users' attitudes towards online payments.
16 citations
TL;DR: Key findings indicate that the most important advantages of EC are increased productivity, increased quality of products and services, competitive advantage, and to a lesser extent, sales growth and increased revenues.
Abstract: This study aims at contributing to a better understanding of business-to-business Electronic Commerce (EC) advantages and determinants of these advantages. A research model was empirically tested on a sample of 143 Canadian companies. Key findings indicate that the most important advantages of EC are increased productivity, increased quality of products and services, competitive advantage, and to a lesser extent, sales growth and increased revenues. Cost reductions were marginal. The main determinants of EC advantages include the type of EC use, and the internal and external integrations of EC applications. The strategic orientation of the firm and the organisational context exert only an indirect effect on EC advantages.
14 citations
TL;DR: The paper first examines the unique characteristics of this market, followed by an elaboration, from a cultural perspective, on what inspires the youth and drives their mobile behaviour, and suggestions are offered on how MNCs can best capitalise on the potential this market has to offer.
Abstract: China's youth mobile market is to become the single largest one by subscribers and third largest by spending power in the world by 2007. As such, more and more Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are setting their eyes on this huge lucrative market. To help MNCs form effective marketing strategies to win in this battlefield, the paper first examines the unique characteristics of this market, followed by an elaboration, from a cultural perspective, on what inspires the youth and drives their mobile behaviour. Lastly, suggestions are offered on how MNCs can best capitalise on the potential this market has to offer.
14 citations
TL;DR: Results of this study show that female and male internet users do not differ in their concern about information privacy online, however, they differ in the way privacy concerns influence their purchasing behaviour online.
Abstract: Privacy of personal information disclosed during e-commerce transactions continues to be an important issue for internet users. Previous research indicates the existence of gender differences in privacy concerns online. However, little has been done to explore these differences in the context of various dimensions of privacy and their influence on purchasing behaviour. This study focuses on gender differences from two perspectives. First, it explores gender differences along three specific dimensions of privacy. Second, it considers the moderating role of gender in the relationships between dimensions of privacy and purchasing behaviour. Results of this study show that female and male internet users do not differ in their concern about information privacy online. However, they differ in the way privacy concerns influence their purchasing behaviour online.
12 citations
TL;DR: The Delphi method is applied to the formulation of the Customer Value Model (CVM) which is implemented by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the result is a model for understanding customer value preferences in performance analysis of the case systems.
Abstract: Communication services are currently confronted with large changes due to the price erosion of services and the entry of new service providers. The gap has been filled with different services that are anticipated to be successful in the near future. The problem, however, is that firms do not necessarily know what their customers' value is. This paper applies the Delphi method to the formulation of the Customer Value Model (CVM) which is implemented by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The result is a model for understanding customer value preferences in performance analysis of the case systems.
12 citations
TL;DR: Based on an online survey of American consumers, the author found that mobile internet adopters tended to be younger, non-Caucasian, lower income, single male with higher career mobility.
Abstract: Based on an online survey of American consumers, the author found that mobile internet adopters tended to be younger, non-Caucasian, lower income, single male with higher career mobility. Surprisingly, contrary to fixed internet adoption, education played no significant role in predicting mobile internet adoption. Heavy mobile phone users were more likely to adopt mobile internet. On the opposite, heavy fixed internet users were less likely to adopt mobile internet. Interestingly, the demographics and usage patterns of consumers who perceived higher importance of having mobile internet capabilities did not match those of who indicated higher likelihood of adopting mobile internet.
TL;DR: The results indicate that the gender of respondents, the frequency of use and the length of use significantly influence the sender-specific saturation level, creating potential segmentation variables for mobile phone users.
Abstract: This paper's aim is to explore consumers' attitudes towards SMS marketing messages. An exploratory study has been conducted with 136 phone users. Specifically, the study tries to assess whether a saturation point is reached above which SMS marketing would be non-efficient and even counter-productive. The results indicate that the gender of respondents, the frequency of use and the length of use significantly influence the sender-specific saturation level, creating potential segmentation variables for mobile phone users.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a mediation architecture to address the semantic heterogeneity problem, and demonstrate its feasibility with a prototype that enables global price comparison using web sources in several countries.
Abstract: "Sell and shop globally" has been seen as a potential benefit of electronic business. A step toward realising this benefit is to know how things are selling worldwide. Global price comparison services would address this need. But there have not been many such services. We use a global price dispersion case study to illustrate the value of such services. Then we identify technology challenges, including semantic heterogeneity, in providing such services. We propose a mediation architecture to address the semantic heterogeneity problem, and demonstrate its feasibility with a prototype that enables global price comparison using web sources in several countries.
TL;DR: Three different types of e-participation design activities are characterised: conceptualisation, development, and dissemination, and it is shown how design science principles are used to improve rigour and relevance in this kind of research.
Abstract: When e-participation is considered in the context of applied research, researchers support government institutions by enabling technology for citizens who participate in policy-making. Governments' e-participation agendas involve a variety of different design activities; for example, designing new administrative procedures, computer literacy programs, or creating new laws. Design science aids the creation and evaluation of artefacts that are intended to find solutions to identified problems in a rigorous way. We therefore characterise three different types of e-participation design activities: conceptualisation, development, and dissemination, and show how design science principles are used to improve rigour and relevance in this kind of research.
TL;DR: The authors identify and discuss the post-adoption decision dilemmas – or Balancing Acts – faced by managers, and outline a set of managerial aspects of e-commerce development that point out the contextual and resource dependence of SME management.
Abstract: By applying a resource-based view on SME development and analysing empirical data collected from qualitative and longitudinal research on e-commerce development among 20 Swedish SMEs, the authors identify and discuss the post-adoption decision dilemmas – or Balancing Acts – faced by managers. The study contributes to the existing literature on SME e-commerce development by suggesting that SME management faces three major decision dilemmas: e-commerce capacity and competence development, e-commerce scope and e-commerce development drive. By outlining a set of managerial aspects of e-commerce development, we point out the contextual and resource dependence of SME management.
TL;DR: The results indicate that the impact of ICT environment, institutional properties, and human factors on the effectiveness of EGIS is fully mediated by how the public employees use EGIS.
Abstract: This paper is based on Giddens' structuration theory to discover what constitutes the effective use of Electronic Government Information System (EGIS) through empirical method. It investigates how to enable EGIS effeteness among people, technology, and organisation within a public organisational context. Usable 152 respondents data are chosen from the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and the Department of Commerce (DoC) within the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan. Causal analysis was conducted to explore the relationships among the research variables. The results indicate that the impact of ICT environment, institutional properties, and human factors on the effectiveness of EGIS is fully mediated by how the public employees use EGIS.
TL;DR: An agent-based model of the online electronics market is constructed and it is found that preferential searching, where the probability of searching any seller is its market share, leads to higher consumer surplus and significantly lower levels of price dispersion.
Abstract: We construct an agent-based model of the online electronics market, consisting of 10,000 buyers and 50 sellers. Buyers repeatedly interact with sellers, searching for high quality and low price, but only some buyers know seller quality prior to purchase. Buyers may learn seller quality directly or from information obtained from other buyers or else estimate quality through market share heuristics. We examine the efficacy of these learning and estimation methods and find that preferential searching, where the probability of searching any seller is its market share, leads to higher consumer surplus and significantly lower levels of price dispersion.
TL;DR: This work presents a rule specification language and an event-triggered knowledge sharing system for the specification and processing of distributed events, triggers, heterogeneous business rules and rule structures in an enhanced web service infrastructure.
Abstract: In recent years, business organisations have perceived a growing need to collaborate with one another to solve common problems and to stay competitive. An important form of collaboration is sharing of human/ organisational knowledge. In this work, we use different types of business rules and structures of these rules to capture multi-faceted business policies, strategies, regulations, constraints, processes and operating procedures. The occurrence of any event of interest to these organisations can initiate the processing of multiple rules and rule structures. We present a rule specification language and an event-triggered knowledge sharing system for the specification and processing of distributed events, triggers, heterogeneous business rules and rule structures in an enhanced web service infrastructure.
TL;DR: A prototype that supports collecting, analysing, and visualising stakeholder Web pages and relationships is developed and results show that the prototype significantly outperformed a traditional method of stakeholder analysis in terms of user satisfaction and effectiveness on certain task types.
Abstract: Competition among e-businesses has become ever more fierce as electronic commerce is gaining wide acceptance. Meanwhile, effectively collecting and analysing competitive intelligence has challenged researchers and practitioners. This research proposed and validated a new methodology for developing competitive intelligence tools to support e-business stakeholder analysis. We developed a prototype that supports collecting, analysing, and visualising stakeholder Web pages and relationships. Experimental results show that the prototype significantly outperformed a traditional method of stakeholder analysis in terms of user satisfaction and effectiveness on certain task types. This research thus provides a useful methodology and new empirical findings for e-business stakeholder analysis.
TL;DR: An e- business strategy model from long-standing traditional economic, accounting, and other related theories is offered that can provide quantitative support for strategic decision making in an e-business.
Abstract: The growth of e-business presents companies with both opportunities and challenges. In this environment organisations need timely and sound e-business strategies. This paper, as a part of a research project, offers an e-business strategy model from long-standing traditional economic, accounting, and other related theories. This model can provide quantitative support for strategic decision making in an e-business. A short example of an empirical study is also given to show the potential use of the strategy model.
TL;DR: Based on a study of two industrial brick and mortar companies, possible avenues for companies to extend their offerings and market by using e-business are explored.
Abstract: For brick and mortar companies, e-business has primarily been used to lower transaction costs. Reasons for this are the relatively low risks involved, the rather unsophisticated understanding of the technology among top management, and that cost reductions provide an easy and measurable return on investment. Today, however, there is a clear trend that shows that brick and mortar companies are using e-business not only to enable growth through extended and refined offerings but also to expand their markets. Based on a study of two industrial brick and mortar companies this paper explores possible avenues for companies to extend their offerings and market by using e-business.
TL;DR: The east-timor newsgroup is evaluated on its ability to reveal a highly differentiated world of resistance, conflict, and uncertainty in the social formations of late capitalism and for its proclivity to open new fields of play where the dynamics have not yet rigidified and new kinds of socio-political movements are still possible.
Abstract: This case study of the east-timor newsgroup traces an alternative trajectory for participation on the internet Through the appropriation of the technologies and spaces opened up by the processes of globalisation, political groups can rework globally mediated resources for specific local contexts An assessment of the internal dynamics of the newsgroup models the genre as an adaptable communications tool for radical global democratic movements, to foment the development of strategies and tactics that are relevant for social change The newsgroup is conceived as a discursive reproduction of 'real life' society, an extension of the social activist's space, contesting real opinions and real decisions The east-timor newsgroup is evaluated on its ability to reveal a highly differentiated world of resistance, conflict, and uncertainty in the social formations of late capitalism and for its proclivity to open new fields of play where the dynamics have not yet rigidified and new kinds of socio-political movements are still possible
TL;DR: Research investigating navigational characteristics found in sponsored search click log data looks at sponsored search clicks resulting from brand name searches, URL searches and repeat visit activity.
Abstract: Navigational use of search engines has been identified as behaviour distinct from information seeking and is apparently on the rise. Navigational behaviour is of particular interest to search engine marketers, since navigational activity indicates prior intent to visit a website, possibly influenced by other advertising investments. In this paper, we describe research investigating navigational characteristics found in sponsored search click log data. In particular, we look at sponsored search clicks resulting from brand name searches, URL searches and repeat visit activity. We further discuss the implications of navigational behaviour for sponsored search advertisers and outline the need for improved methods of tracking the performance of online advertising investments.
TL;DR: It is found that the number and the volume of orders are influenced by the transaction fee schedule, and the initial endowment of participants has an impact on the price elasticity of the demand for transaction services.
Abstract: A key element of the business structure for electronic markets is the design of price schedules for transaction services. Stock exchanges and transaction service providers around the world regard transaction fees not only as a major source of income but also as an incentive mechanism for investors. In this paper, we discuss the principles of nonlinear transaction fee schedules and present the results of a field experiment on investor order behaviour. We find that the number and the volume of orders are influenced by the transaction fee schedule. Furthermore, the initial endowment of participants has an impact on the price elasticity of the demand for transaction services. The discussion highlights the need for a structured approach for price schedule design in the context of market engineering.
TL;DR: The Delta strategic model is extended with a novel usage for aligning marketing and firm competitiveness strategies and results imply greater success if each category is inclusively targeted across a marketing campaign.
Abstract: We extend the Delta strategic model with a novel usage for aligning marketing and firm competitiveness strategies. We employ exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on a large US data set to confirm that the aligned features in our study are significant to informing mobile marketing tasks. Results present two practical guidelines for mobile marketers. They can: • assume most mobile household customers are using cheaper key technologies/services vs. early adopter technologies/services on their mobile devices • treat product, customer solution, and customer profile features as distinct. Results imply greater success if each category is inclusively targeted across a marketing campaign.
TL;DR: It is argued that, in addition to access, skills and motivation are important components for new internet users, and a new index measure is developed.
Abstract: In developed countries, access to the internet has become, at least hypothetically, possible for everybody. Although access is a precondition for usage, it does not automatically lead to usage. More sophisticated measures are needed to explain the persistent number of non-users. In our paper a new index measure is developed. Based on a representative survey in Austria (N = 529), we reconstruct the DDIX of Selhofer and Husing (2002). Our critique of this index is then used to develop a new index. We argue that, in addition to access, skills and motivation are important components for new internet users.
TL;DR: A model that explicitly incorporates the probability of finding identical goods elsewhere is presented, and it is shown that when this probability is close to zero or to one, an increasing number of bidders does not improve revenue as much as when it is in the middle range.
Abstract: Recently, 'practicals' such as computers and clothes account for a substantial amount of the total volume in online auction marketplaces. However, as bidders for practicals may easily find the same goods elsewhere, it is likely that they bid less aggressively than bidders for rare items such as collectibles. We present a model that explicitly incorporates the probability of finding identical goods elsewhere. Using the model and relevant actual auction data, we show that when this probability is close either to zero or to one, an increasing number of bidders does not improve revenue as much as when it is in the middle range. We also comment on strategic implications for online auction sellers and for competing online auction marketplaces.
TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of ICT enabled political participation by Social Movement Organisations (SMOs) is analyzed through the use of indicators that measure their ability to disseminate information, their potential for bilateral/multilateral communication, and their website connectivity.
Abstract: The widespread diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has had a significant impact on European society. This study analyses the impact of ICT enabled political participation by Social Movement Organisations (SMOs). A sample of European protest networks and pressure groups' websites are analysed through the use of indicators that measure their ability to disseminate information, their potential for bilateral/multilateral communication, and their website connectivity. We found no significant differences in communication patterns between SMOs that have different sizes with regards to the information dissemination and communication patterns, and found that larger SMOs have more website connectivity.
TL;DR: A research framework that tackles a promising area of e-Business largely neglected before, namely the lateral cooperation of firms from two different industries that interconnect their business processes by means of electronic integration is presented.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a research framework that tackles a promising area of e-Business largely neglected before, namely the lateral cooperation of firms from two different industries that interconnect their business processes by means of electronic integration. We refer to this kind of e-Business cooperation as 'Value Chain Crossing' (VCC) and explore, as an exemplary application domain, the integration of financial processes in non-banks and financial service providers. To support our research proposal, we provide exploratory findings from an empirical survey accompanied by a series of case studies, which indicate that research in this area of e-Business is worthwhile to be conducted. We not only identified empirical evidence for a large potential of VCC but also found substantial inhibitors for the adoption of this idea.
TL;DR: This approach incorporates software tools and operational workflows that give citizens a holistic view of how public funds are collected and used and combines both taxation and fund allocation in a unified e-participation scheme.
Abstract: This paper is positioned at the intersection of two important fields: e-taxation services and Participatory Budgeting (PB). E-taxation has traditionally been considered to be a solution to the bureaucracy and non-transparency of tax filing and payment; however, it does not account for the way in which taxes are used. In addition to evaluating the availability of public funds, PB includes decisions on fund allocation. Our approach combines these two important aspects of taxation and fund allocation in a unified e-participation scheme, where the entire life cycle of public funds collection and spending is transparent. This approach incorporates software tools and operational workflows that give citizens a holistic view of how public funds are collected and used.