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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2015

Gajendra Sharma and Wang Lijuan

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate service quality of e-commerce Websites in online platform and their contribution on e-business promotion.

12403

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate service quality of e-commerce Websites in online platform and their contribution on e-business promotion.

Design/methodology/approach

The online survey was performed on a survey portal provided by Nepal Telecom in Nepal.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that information quality and online service quality were the key determinants for user satisfaction and sustainability of e-commerce technology.

Research limitations/implications

Research opportunities of web services and e-commerce area are fruitful and important for both academics and practitioners.

Practical implications

The findings on online service quality of e-commerce technology will be useful for current management practice such as making business policies and strategies and sharing information to managers and organization leaders. This study can be used for e-commerce Website operators wishing to enhance the competitiveness of their Websites in the highly competitive online market.

Originality/value

E-commerce is considered an excellent alternative for individuals and companies to reach new customers. Service quality delivery through Internet is an essential strategy to success, more important than price and web presence. The e-commerce Website has been identified as having a significant impact on business activities in solving the geographical problem. A number of performance problems have been observed for e-commerce Websites, and much work has gone into characterizing the performance of web-servers and Internet applications.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 July 2021

Phil Longstreet, Stoney Brooks, Mauricio Featherman and Eleanor Loiacono

The purpose of this paper is to determine which design and operational attributes of e-commerce websites consumers use to assess website quality. Cue utilization theory is used to…

2304

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine which design and operational attributes of e-commerce websites consumers use to assess website quality. Cue utilization theory is used to examine the explanatory power, robustness and relevance of the WebQual model. Results indicate which WebQual dimensions are the most relevant and salient to website users. These dimensions are categorized by their perceived and confidence values. A second study is conducted about how website users evaluate and utilize the WebQual dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey methodology was utilized to provide insight into the nomological validity of the WebQual model by examining it through a cue utilization lens.

Findings

The first study categorizes the WebQual dimensions on their ability to provide a diagnostic measure of website quality, and consumer confidence in their ability to use these cues when judging the website's overall quality. The second study presents results of each dimension in relation to the quality evaluation of an actual e-commerce website. Additional analysis also revealed gender differences in cue utilization.

Originality/value

This study provided insight into WebQual-based research and identified original differences in cue utilization across genders. Results suggest that it may be beneficial for brand managers to focus on a subset of quality dimensions, rather than assume that consumers are comfortable using all website attributes to formulate quality judgments. These, results contribute to multiple literatures by providing a model that developers can utilize to focus on the deterministic characteristics of overall website quality. Further, the cue utilization perspective provides additional avenues for fruitful further research into consumer decision-making in the e-commerce context.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 35 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 March 2023

Alessandro Silva de Oliveira, Gustavo Quiroga Souki, Dirceu da Silva, Matheus Alberto Rodrigues Silva and Francisco de Assis da Silva Medeiros

E-commerce platforms offer service guarantees (SGs) to improve consumers’ perceived quality and satisfaction. This survey aimed to test the direct and indirect effects of SGs on…

1160

Abstract

Purpose

E-commerce platforms offer service guarantees (SGs) to improve consumers’ perceived quality and satisfaction. This survey aimed to test the direct and indirect effects of SGs on consumers’ perceived quality and satisfaction concerning the services of an international e-commerce platform.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey sample consisted of 378 consumers of an international e-commerce platform. Structural equation modelling (SEM) tested two structural models.

Findings

The first hypothetical model demonstrated that SGs positively and directly affects perceived quality and consumers' satisfaction on an e-commerce platform. This model also revealed that the perceived quality directly and positively impacted consumer satisfaction. The second hypothetical model confirmed that perceived quality mediates the relationship between SGs and satisfaction. Moreover, SGs positively and indirectly impacts consumer satisfaction.

Practical implications

This study suggests that e-commerce platforms use SGs as a marketing strategy in their business models to increase perceived quality and consumer satisfaction. However, to positively impact the perception of quality and consumer satisfaction, such SGs must have the following characteristics: unconditional, easy to understand and communicate, meaningful, easy and painless to invoke, and easy and quick to collect.

Originality/value

This research demonstrated the direct effects of SGs on perceived quality and consumer satisfaction on an international e-commerce platform. SGs directly impacts consumer satisfaction with the platform, even if they have not experienced its quality attributes (reliability, customisation, security and design). The indirect effects of SGs on consumer satisfaction were also proven, mediated by perceived quality. No previous study demonstrated such relationships simultaneously on e-commerce platforms.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 40 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 October 2014

Chao Wen, Victor R. Prybutok, Charles Blankson and Jiaming Fang

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an empirically grounded comprehensive framework of e-quality that is the composite of the relationship between e-satisfaction and…

8836

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an empirically grounded comprehensive framework of e-quality that is the composite of the relationship between e-satisfaction and e-loyalty. This study’s objectives were: first, to develop a comprehensive measurement scale of perceived quality from an operations perspective, based on the classic Engel-Kollat-Blackwell (EKB) decision-making process; second, to develop a framework that integrates dimensions of quality and measures perceptions of e-quality during the customer’s decision-making process; and third, to examine the predictive capability of quality attributes in relation to service operations that rely on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Following review of the related literature, focus group protocols were developed and interviews conducted. Based on the focus group input, surveys were developed and administered. Survey data from 717 online customers allowed testing the research hypotheses, and structural equation modeling allowed validation of the research framework.

Findings

The study determined that “e-channel quality”, “e-service quality” (including “web site quality” and “transaction quality”), and “product quality” positively influence customer e-satisfaction within an online operation. These constructs, in turn, influence customer e-loyalty in the e-commerce domain. The findings contribute valuable theoretical and managerial implications that can improve e-service operations.

Originality/value

The paper fills a relevant gap in the e-commerce and services operations literature by empirically developing and validating a new and robust quality measurement scale based on the EKB consumer decision-making process. The study also makes an important research contribution by providing empirical evidence that quality is pivotal in gaining customer loyalty and a competitive e-commerce edge.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 34 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 August 2017

Fei Liu, Bo Xiao, Eric T.K. Lim and Chee-Wee Tan

The purpose of this paper is to advance product appeal and website appeal as focal psychological mechanisms that can be invoked by business-to-consumer e-commerce sites to…

4797

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance product appeal and website appeal as focal psychological mechanisms that can be invoked by business-to-consumer e-commerce sites to mitigate problems of information asymmetry via signaling to bolster consumers’ purchase intention under the influence of trust.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey approach was employed to validate the research model.

Findings

Website appeal partially mediates the positive effect of product appeal on consumers’ purchase intention. Trust in e-commerce sites not only increases purchase intention directly, but it also reinforces the positive relationship between website appeal and purchase intention while attenuating the positive relationship between product appeal and purchase intention. Service content quality, search delivery quality, and enjoyment are confirmed as positive antecedents of website appeal whereas diagnosticity and justifiability are established as positive antecedents of product appeal.

Research limitations/implications

This study not only delineates product and website appeal as complementary drivers of consumer purchase on e-commerce sites, but it also derives five signals that aid in bolstering both product and website appeal. Trust is revealed to exert a moderating influence on the impact of product and website appeal on purchase intention.

Practical implications

Practitioners should prioritize their resource allocation to enhance qualities most pertinent to product and website appeal. E-commerce sites should offer product-oriented functionalities to facilitate product diagnosticity and reassure consumers of their purchase decisions.

Originality/value

This study distinguishes between product and website appeal as well as between their respective antecedents. It also uncovers how trust can alter the effects of both website and product appeal on consumers’ purchase intention.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 27 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 2006

Nikos Manouselis and Constantina Costopoulou

An issue of increased interest in metadata research concerns finding ways to store, in the metadata of an information resource, data regarding the resource's quality. The purpose…

1862

Abstract

Purpose

An issue of increased interest in metadata research concerns finding ways to store, in the metadata of an information resource, data regarding the resource's quality. The purpose of this paper is to present a metadata schema that facilitates representation and storage of data related to the quality of an e‐commerce resource, the e‐commerce evaluation metadata (ECEM) schema.

Design/methodology/approach

A study of quality approaches that can be applied for the evaluation of e‐commerce resources is provided. The ECEM schema structure and elements are described. To demonstrate how ECEM can be used, two indicative examples are given: describing an e‐commerce quality approach, and storing quality evaluation results. A discussion about the validation and implementation of ECEM is also provided.

Findings

It has been demonstrated that ECEM can be effectively used to describe e‐commerce quality approaches. ECEM also facilitates the structured representation and storage of quality evaluation results. It is recommended that ECEM metadata be encoded using the eXtensible markup language (XML); thus, a corresponding XML schema has been produced.

Originality/value

Metadata about resources' quality has been developed ad hoc, according to the needs of each particular application domain, and cannot be applied in other contexts. E‐commerce is one application domain where no such contributions currently exist. ECEM is a step towards the reusable and interoperable storage of quality information in metadata. It is expected to facilitate a large number of potential applications, such as quality‐oriented search of e‐commerce resources and reusable storage of evaluation results.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 March 2023

Sunil Nandankar, Amit Sachan, Arnab Adhikari and Arindam Mukherjee

The research aims to qualitatively explore e-marketplace service quality (EMSQ) from the perspective of an industrial buyer as a sole decision-maker. It further intends to…

1085

Abstract

Purpose

The research aims to qualitatively explore e-marketplace service quality (EMSQ) from the perspective of an industrial buyer as a sole decision-maker. It further intends to quantitatively examine its impact on the industrial buyer's perceived value (PV), overall satisfaction (SAT), and e-loyalty (ELOY) in the context of business-to-government (B2G) e-commerce.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used an exploratory sequential mixed-method design. A qualitative exploratory study of EMSQ was conducted using a Straussian grounded theory (GT) technique, followed by an explanatory quantitative study using PLS-SEM to evaluate causal links between various research variables.

Findings

In the area of e-services, the investigation found that the hierarchical structure of EMSQ encompasses six broadly applicable dimensions and one B2G context-specific dimension of the e-governance process quality. The study also reinforced previous research findings in the B2C and B2B e-commerce domains, highlighting that e-service quality positively impacts online buyer's PV, SAT and ELOY.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributed to the area of e-service operations by developing and validating the EMSQ model in the B2G e-commerce settings. Further, it has opened up new research avenues in B2G e-commerce.

Practical implications

The findings from this research highlighted that e-service operations managers should focus on usability, technological concerns, product/vendor quality concerns, customer support reliability, along with effective e-governance, ordering and logistics processes for e-business success. It also provides policymakers with guidelines for making B2G e-marketplaces sustainable.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study employing the GT and PLS-SEM techniques to explore EMSQ from the viewpoint of industrial buyers in B2G e-commerce. The study contributed to prior literature by proposing and validating the hierarchical EMSQ model.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 43 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2013

Jengchung Victor Chen, Yawen Chen and Erik Paolo S. Capistrano

The purpose of this study is to propose two additions to the existing IS success model to influence usefulness and satisfaction, and ultimately customer loyalty. This study posits…

6062

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose two additions to the existing IS success model to influence usefulness and satisfaction, and ultimately customer loyalty. This study posits that process quality and collaboration quality will significantly influence perceptions on satisfaction, since both considerations are expected to improve interactions between the organization and its customers.

Design/methodology/approach

The developed research model was tested in the context of B2B e‐commerce users, employing structural equation modelling‐partial least square to analyze and test the research hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that adding process and collaboration quality to the model affects the way system, information, and service quality influences usefulness and satisfaction, suggesting a shift in perspectives and priorities when it comes to B2B e‐commerce transactions. Furthermore, results show that process and collaboration quality have significant effects on usefulness and satisfaction, reinforcing the objective of using B2B e‐commerce systems across supply chain members.

Practical implications

This highlights the importance of improving business processes and enhancing collaboration activities, implying that managers should focus their efforts into enhancing customer service on top of system functionalities and features via B2B to better work with their supply chain partners. However, this study is limited in the context of a Taiwanese supply chain, suggesting that further research consider its applicability in different contexts, culturally and geographically, especially given the fact that B2B e‐commerce enables cross‐border business operations.

Originality/value

This study also extends the IS success model, especially in the context of B2B e‐commerce, by emphasizing behavioural considerations on top of the functional issues present in any information systems.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 113 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 December 2019

Teresa Gajewska, Dominik Zimon, Grzegorz Kaczor and Peter Madzík

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of surveys conducted in the field of level of e-commerce services quality. The criteria of quality of e-commerce services were…

6268

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of surveys conducted in the field of level of e-commerce services quality. The criteria of quality of e-commerce services were identified. On this basis the hierarchy of importance of the adopted criteria for e-commerce service quality were proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

The level of customer satisfaction was measured using the Servqual method. In order to compare two groups: the quality of e-commerce services before purchase and the quality of e-commerce services after the purchase, a student’s t-test was used. To check if the relations between variables are sufficient to carry out the factor analysis (sampling adequacy), the Keizer–Meyer–Olkin test was used. The scope of the research included 23 selected criteria of customers satisfaction.

Findings

A comparison of the Servqual weighted and unweighted results shows that customers valued the guarantee/safety dimension the most. It can therefore be expected that customers perceive e-commerce services with increasing trust and consider them increasingly reliable which is also confirmed by the growing tendencies in the forecasts of e-commerce services in Poland.

Originality/value

Research allows to know the opinion and expectations related to the quality of services provided in the analysed area and to develop the strategy of company. The most important indicator of the quality of e-commerce services remains reliability (weighting = 0.34). However, the noticeable difference in opinions concerns the tangible elements index compared to the results of the Berry and Parasuraman team and amounted to 0.20.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 69 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 April 2008

Qin Su, Zhao Li, Yong‐tao Song and Ting Chen

The purpose of this paper is to explore the structure of the concept of customer‐perceived quality (CPQ) in electronic commerce (e‐commerce).

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the structure of the concept of customer‐perceived quality (CPQ) in electronic commerce (e‐commerce).

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies the methodology of concept mapping to data obtained from online and offline focus groups. Following a series of structured conceptualization tasks, the data were analyzed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis to establish a conceptual construct of e‐commerce CPQ.

Findings

The proposed conceptual construct consists of six dimensions: outcome quality; consumer service; process controllability; ease of use; information quality; and web site design. The study finds that online consumers attach more importance to quality attributes associated with outcome quality and consumer service than to attributes associated with web transactions.

Research limitations/implications

The sample should be extended to facilitate the generalization of the findings from this research.

Originality/value

This paper identifies a three‐level structure for e‐commerce quality as perceived by consumers. The study offers practical insights to online retailers in providing superior service.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 36 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 16000