Showing papers in "International Journal of Electronic Business in 2010"
TL;DR: The moderating effect of the individual's culture in e-commerce is demonstrated and insights are offered into the relative importance of website design factors contributing to trust for customers of different cultural values.
Abstract: Lack of trust in online transactions has been cited as the main reason for the abhorrence of online shopping. We have tested the mediating role of trust in online transactions to provide empirical evidence that trust in the online store represents the generic mechanism through which the focal independent variables of website design are able to positively influence purchase intention and reduce the perceived risk. We have further demonstrated the moderating effect of the individual's culture in e-commerce and thereby offered insights into the relative importance of website design factors contributing to trust for customers of different cultural values.
259 citations
TL;DR: The results supported the hypotheses that technology readiness and competition intensity have positive impact, and firm size has negative effect on e-business value, however, it was found that SMEs' financial resource appropriation for IT and regulatory environment had no impact on e.business value.
Abstract: This research intended to identify the factors of and their impacts on e-business value creation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). We followed the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) theory of innovation diffusion and drew heavily upon Zhu et al. (2004) in developing a causal model for SMEs. The model was validated using data obtained from a survey of SMEs in an upper Midwestern metropolitan area. Our results supported the hypotheses that technology readiness and competition intensity have positive impact, and firm size has negative effect on e-business value. However, we also found that SMEs' financial resource appropriation for IT and regulatory environment had no impact on e-business value.
69 citations
TL;DR: The findings suggest that the proposed integrated model is significantly better in explaining the variance in internet banking acceptance than either the DOI or the TAM alone.
Abstract: Technology acceptance has been widely researched in the past two decades, resulting in the development of a cumulative tradition in the Information Systems (ISs) discipline. Two theories commonly applied to investigate technology acceptance are the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These two models/theories may complement and supplement each other in their theoretical capacity and capability. This paper integrates DOI with TAM and evaluates their capacity in the context of internet banking acceptance. Our findings suggest that the proposed integrated model is significantly better in explaining the variance in internet banking acceptance than either the DOI or the TAM alone.
28 citations
TL;DR: It is found that a high proportion of SME wineries utilise websites to provide information to consumers; a range of purchase facilitation models exist; and the proportion of wineries that utilise their websites to develop customer relationships varies across countries.
Abstract: This paper reports on empirical research focused on how small and medium size wineries utilise their websites to provide information, facilitate online purchase and develop customer relationships. Based on a content analysis of a randomly selected sample of Canadian, American, French, Australian and Chilean winery websites, we found that a high proportion of SME wineries utilise websites to provide information to consumers; a range of purchase facilitation models exist; and the proportion of wineries that utilise their websites to develop customer relationships varies across countries. Implications for wineries are discussed; avenues for future research are explored.
24 citations
TL;DR: The study provides insights into experiential marketing in a predominantly goal-directed service like internet banking by examining the relationships between consumer motivation, service quality, satisfaction, flow experiences and behavioural variables.
Abstract: The study provides insights into experiential marketing in a predominantly goal-directed service like internet banking. A model is proposed that combines two complementary approaches in the analysis of experience: a cognitive approach based on quality and an affective approach based on emotions. 754 valid observations have been collected through an online survey among heavy users of internet banking. Latent scores were used to compare consumers' perceptions, differences in demographics and usage variables. The results show that both perceived quality and flow state are major determinants of satisfaction and positive emotions. The paper contributes to electronic business by examining the relationships between consumer motivation, service quality, satisfaction, flow experiences and behavioural variables.
24 citations
TL;DR: An aspect-oriented framework based on a set of process redesign patterns that allows the selection of the best applicable patterns according to their impact on the process models and on contextual views such as goals, performance, and validation is proposed.
Abstract: Many organisations have invested in Business Process Management Systems (BPMSs) and methodologies in order to monitor and improve their processes, with limited practicality when evaluating potential improvements. This paper tackles this issue by proposing an aspect-oriented framework based on a set of process redesign patterns. This framework allows the selection of the best applicable patterns according to their impact on the process models and on contextual views such as goals, performance, and validation. This promotes informed decision making while keeping these views aligned. A healthcare case study presented as a proof of concept supports the feasibility of this novel approach.
17 citations
TL;DR: The capabilities of the Goal-oriented Requirement Language (GRL) in supporting assessments of organisations and software developers' ability to meet requirements while complying with applicable laws and regulations are analyzed.
Abstract: Goal-oriented requirements engineering uses modelling to improve domain understanding and requirements quality. Regulations and laws impose additional context and constraints on goals and can limit the satisfaction of stakeholder needs. Organisations and software developers need modelling tools to assess the degree to which business strategies are effective in ensuring that business goals are met while complying with applicable laws and regulations. In this paper, we analyse the capabilities of the Goal-oriented Requirement Language (GRL) in supporting such assessments. Our analysis is based on four scenarios involving healthcare business processes and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
17 citations
TL;DR: This project test the temporal stability of the functionality and performance of e-commerce shopping bots investigated in a previous project two years later and concur that no 'best' shopping bot exists, and all bots often present inaccurate product price and availability information.
Abstract: Shopping bots are automated software applications that allow consumers to easily search for and compare product prices from online retailers. In a previous project, researchers investigated the functionality and performance of e-commerce shopping bots. The purpose of this project is to test the temporal stability of their findings two years later. Both studies concur that no 'best' shopping bot exists, and all bots often present inaccurate product price and availability information. A positive relationship between the amount of incorrect product information and the number of online vendors was confirmed. Supplemental information provided to users still remains deficient. Differences in product prices were observed.
16 citations
TL;DR: The study draws on Tornatzky and Fleischer's (1990) adoption model to explore motivations and barriers to e-marketplace adoption that agricultural micro-enterprises experience.
Abstract: Electronic marketplaces (e-marketplaces) present a business-tobusiness (B2B) trading environment where firms can benefit from increased choice among trading partners, and other efficiencies gained through electronic exchange. B2B e-marketplaces have only recently emerged in New Zealand; however, there is already doubt whether predicted benefits are being realised. The study draws on Tornatzky and Fleischer's (1990) adoption model to explore motivations and barriers to e-marketplace adoption that agricultural micro-enterprises experience. Key barriers include conflict with pre-existing relationships, risk perceptions, ease of use and infrastructure problems. Dominant motivations include the ability to exclude agent middlemen, a reduction in transaction costs, and market reach.
16 citations
TL;DR: Using the data from 172 sample high-tech manufacturers, the effects of IT adoption and design customisation on NPD success are investigated and support the idea that IT adopters and designers have positive impacts on N PD success are supported.
Abstract: The advancement of Internet technology and customisation capability has set off research into their impacts on all business operations including New Product Development (NPD). Despite the heavy investment in research and development, few studies have examined how Information Technology (IT) is adopted; how design customisation capability is built, and whether they reveal close associations with NPD success. This paper aims to investigate into these issues. Using the data from 172 sample high-tech manufacturers, the effects of IT adoption and design customisation on NPD success are investigated. The results support the idea that IT adoption and design customisation have positive impacts on NPD success. Discussions and managerial implications for practitioners are also provided.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a large sample of Apple iPhone auctions from eBay was analyzed to determine whether seller reputation, auction timing, and auction aesthetics influence closing prices, and they found that closing prices are influenced by the level of seller reputation and sellers with no reputation at stake suffer a substantial loss in closing prices.
Abstract: We analyse auctions from eBay to determine whether seller reputation, auction timing, and auction aesthetics influence closing prices. Using a large sample of Apple iPhone auctions, we find that closing prices are influenced by the level of seller reputation, and sellers with no reputation at stake suffer a substantial loss in closing prices. Moreover, during the sample period investigated there were small arbitrage opportunities in deciding when the auction would end, and in certain aesthetics of the auction, such as using bold fonts and including pictures of the product for sale. These arbitrage opportunities were somewhat reduced when e-bay increased the prices it charged for these aesthetic upgrades six months after the sample period investigated.
TL;DR: The results show that person interactivity and social telepresence were two distinctive constructs and indicates that person interactionivity involves not only a two-way interaction between buyer and seller, but also an interaction between seller and buyer via online communication.
Abstract: This paper continues investigations into the meaning of person interactivity in online shopping A survey was conducted to validate an initial scale of person interactivity obtained from two focus group studies and to ensure that the scale was separate and distinct from that used to measure social telepresence The results show that person interactivity and social telepresence were two distinctive constructs It also indicates that person interactivity involves not only a two-way interaction between buyer and seller, but also an interaction between buyer and buyer via online communication
TL;DR: The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is extended with two additional constructs: an online shopper's tendency to social comparison, and trust in information privacy and data security.
Abstract: With many businesses seeking to seize the momentum of the online social networking phenomenon, social shopping sites have emerged among the latest developments to leverage the power of social networking with online shopping. While the adoption of information technology in general is well studied, new theoretical development can provide a better understanding of the specific characteristics associated with online social shopping applications. This paper extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with two additional constructs: an online shopper's tendency to social comparison, and trust in information privacy and data security. Results support the proposed model. Directions for future research are discussed.
TL;DR: Findings from the study provide insights into the role of national culture in explaining differences in the adoption rates and will help global marketers formulate more effective marketing and communication strategies by accommodating for cultural influences during the adoption/diffusion process.
Abstract: The study investigates the effects of national culture on the five-year adoption growth rates of mobile telephones using both Hall's cultural classifications and Hofstede's multicultural framework. Results indicate that polychronic cultures are more conducive to the adoption of mobile telephones, as hypothesised. Individualism and uncertainty avoidance were also found to be negatively related to mobile adoption growth rates. Findings from the study provide insights into the role of national culture in explaining differences in the adoption rates and will help global marketers formulate more effective marketing and communication strategies by accommodating for cultural influences during the adoption/diffusion process.
TL;DR: This identifies the determinants and performance outcome of internet-based Interorganisational Information Systems (IOISs) to share inventory information with their key customers and indicates that both determinants related to the technology and those related to business relationships affect SME's use of IOISs.
Abstract: This identifies the determinants and performance outcome of internet-based Interorganisational Information Systems (IOISs) to share inventory information with their key customers. The proposed model is tested on data collected from 240 senior managers of Canadian SMEs. Results indicate that: both determinants related to the technology and those related to business relationships affect SME's use of internet-based IOISs; the use of IOISs to share inventory information positively impacts manufacturing SMEs' operational performance; under greater use of internet-based IOISs to support transactions, an increase in the use of internet-based IOISs to share inventory information does not lead to an increase in performance.
TL;DR: This paper proposes a conceptual framework and discusses the possibility of adapting the traditional 2D e-commerce architecture to the 3D virtual world to analyse the Second Life as a 3d e-business environment.
Abstract: Avatar-based 3D virtual worlds provide an unprecedented environment for e-commerce that potentially allows online shoppers to have similar shopping experience as they have in physical stores. However, existing 3D virtual worlds are lack of critical components for successful e-commerce. Second Life is the only 3D platform that currently enables a user to operate a virtual business with real earnings. In this paper, we analyse the Second Life as a 3D e-business environment. We propose a conceptual framework and discuss the possibility of adapting the traditional 2D e-commerce architecture to the 3D virtual world.
TL;DR: A Collaboration-Role-Based Semantic Integration Mechanism (CRB-SIM) is proposed, which promotes collaboration as a key means of resolving semantic conflicts in concepts creation and editing, via a set of service-oriented collaboration roles.
Abstract: Semantic integration is important in constructing electronic marketplaces (e-marketplaces). Although many previous researches have been done, the task of semantic integration and the mechanism of maintaining semantic consistency are still not well known. This paper proposes a Collaboration-Role-Based Semantic Integration Mechanism (CRB-SIM). It promotes collaboration as a key means of resolving semantic conflicts in concepts creation and editing, via a set of service-oriented collaboration roles. This proposal has contributed to the semantic integration research a novel approach with the features of the role-based and service-oriented semantic consistency maintenance of heterogeneous concepts. The applicability of proposed mechanism is exemplified by two application prototypes.
TL;DR: An adaptive tutoring system for students of multiple domains with a web-based interface for flexibility and a weighted approach to evaluate the student's capability, and frames are generated based on a beta distribution.
Abstract: In this paper, we present an adaptive tutoring system for students of multiple domains with a web-based interface for flexibility. The displayed media is adapted according to the student's capability and aptitude by evaluating the student according to historical data and quizzes. The media is divided into dynamic frames and the content of each frame is displayed adaptively. A weighted approach is used to evaluate the student's capability, and frames are generated based on a beta distribution. The initial evaluation of the system based on a paper simulation showed encouraging results.
TL;DR: This study analyses 30,509 citations of over 1600 papers on e-commerce published between 1997 and 2006, resulting in an intellectual structure of e- commerce studies, and identifies the invisible knowledge network that traces the evolution of E-commerce research.
Abstract: The past decades have seen extensive research on electronic commerce (e-commerce). The broad-based organisational and technological development in e-commerce research requires categorisation to be understood in its entirety. To profile the intellectual structure of e-commerce research, this study uses bibliometric and social network analysis techniques to investigate the intellectual pillars of the e-commerce literature. This study analyses 30,509 citations of over 1600 papers on e-commerce published between 1997 and 2006, resulting in an intellectual structure of e-commerce studies. The mapping of ten years of e-commerce studies presents a solid foundation for knowledge management in e-commerce area and helps identify the invisible knowledge network that traces the evolution of e-commerce research.
TL;DR: The results show that there is an association between the Webometrics data and the company's business information as well as traffic ranking, which suggests that Webometric data could be used as an indicator for evaluating the business performance of the company as well the visibility of its website to a target audience.
Abstract: Hyperlink analysis, an emerging research area in web structure mining, extracts hidden information from hyperlink data. This study analyses the websites of USA's best 50 small companies to determine the association between the Webometrics data and business performance measures as well as traffic ranking. The results show that there is an association between the Webometrics data and the company's business information as well as traffic ranking. This suggests that Webometrics data could be used as an indicator for evaluating the business performance of the company as well as the visibility of its website to a target audience.
TL;DR: A dual channel (direct and retailer-intermediated) supply chain model is constructed that captures key attributes of the relationship between a manufacturer and a retailer, and thorough analysis is presented to understand how different channel characteristics influence the supply chain equilibrium behaviours.
Abstract: We construct a dual channel (direct and retailer-intermediated) supply chain model in this paper that captures key attributes of the relationship between a manufacturer and a retailer, and present thorough analysis to understand how different channel characteristics influence the supply chain equilibrium behaviours. Our analysis shows the specific conditions that each party is better off or worse off in a dual-channel system, and when channel conflicts exist, if they do, when they are solvable and when they are not. The managerial insights gained from this study can serve as practical guidelines for supply chain firms utilising the dual channel strategy.
TL;DR: An example of DE-specific modelling is indicated in terms of evolution/devolution (growth/decay) dynamics of competitive IT-centric business structures specified in dichotomous prey-predator ecology.
Abstract: Digital Ecosystems (DEs) are conceived in 'the image of' complex biological ecology and expressed in terms of unique 'digital environment' ontology. It is populated by 'digital species' that interactively mediate massive information exchange. It is a neoteric terminology of ecosystems mostly applied to the evolution of digital world commensurate with modern information technology (IT) perspectives. Addressed in this paper are concepts of DE with the associated ontology and applications. An example of DE-specific modelling is indicated in terms of evolution/devolution (growth/decay) dynamics of competitive IT-centric business structures specified in dichotomous prey-predator ecology.
TL;DR: A simulation tool is presented to aid in the design of coordination mechanisms using multi-behaviour agents in an agent-based planning system where agents act as partners to coordinate their production planning.
Abstract: In today's industrial context, competitiveness is closely associated with supply chain performance. The ongoing development of integrated supply chains has increased the importance of supply chain management. This paper focuses on the design of coordination mechanisms that determine how partners interact to coordinate their production planning. We present a simulation tool to aid in the design of coordination mechanisms using multi-behaviour agents in an agent-based planning system where agents act as partners. The implementation of this solution is realised through the FORAC agent-based planning platform, which is dedicated to supply chain production planning and simulation for the lumber industry.
TL;DR: The mashup web applications of the proposed framework assure the needs of travellers and enhance their ability on managing their web applications at each purchase stage, and thus to manage better their needs.
Abstract: Tremendous potential for remote integration and collaboration in travel-related processes is provided by mashup web applications. Using various web applications, travellers have specific needs and experiences during the pre-purchase, purchase and post-purchase stages of various travel products. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that integrates travel-related web applications taking into account the three purchase stages. The proposed framework is generic as it can be applied to other sales domains on the web. The mashup web applications of the proposed framework assure the needs of travellers and enhance their ability on managing their web applications at each purchase stage, and thus to manage better their needs.
TL;DR: A single framework is presented that combines the three approaches to federated identity management with healthcare data integration into a single, more comprehensive approach to protect patient identity and ensure compliance with privacy legislation.
Abstract: Healthcare data should be linked and aggregated across data sources from different organisations to manage performance and provide integrated services. The internet offers the possibility of providing near real-time integration, but the central issue is how to integrate federated identity management with healthcare data integration to protect patient identity and ensure compliance with privacy legislation. In this paper, we use a healthcare scenario to analyse three proposed approaches. Each approach addresses some aspects of the problem while failing to address others. We then present a single framework that combines the three approaches into a single, more comprehensive approach.
TL;DR: The nature of the problem and the use of formative assessment to provide useful learner feedback are described and a tool, DVReport, that was specifically developed for Moodle to enhance the learning is discussed.
Abstract: Professional Issues in Software Engineering (PISE) is a final year computer science module taught at the University of Limerick. PISE focuses on the ethical, legal and social consequences of the design, implementation and use of information systems. A central pedagogy to the module is the group-based approach to teaching and assessment. A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle, has been used to facilitate this approach. However, the sheer volume of data created by student interaction with the VLE caused a problem of information overload for the lecturer. This paper describes the nature of the problem and the use of formative assessment to provide useful learner feedback. The paper finally discusses the use of Data Visualisation and a tool, DVReport, that was specifically developed for Moodle to enhance the learning.
TL;DR: A satisfaction process model for measuring online shopping customer satisfaction in China from the perspective of total online shopping experience suggests that the degree of satisfaction at each stage is subject to the shopping experience of that stage as well as the degreeof satisfaction at previous stages, and they combine to lead to overall satisfaction.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to develop a satisfaction process model for measuring online shopping customer satisfaction in China from the perspective of total online shopping experience. The authors test the hypotheses through structural equation model analysis based on a survey of 488 online customers. The regression results suggest that the degree of satisfaction at each stage is subject to the shopping experience of that stage as well as the degree of satisfaction at previous stages, and they combine to lead to overall satisfaction.