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Article
Publication date: 17 August 2012

Jihyeong Son, Amrut Sadachar, Srikant Manchiraju, Ann Marie Fiore and Linda S. Niehm

“Collaborative customer co‐design websites” (CCCWs), reflect a combination of co‐design and social networking. While this technology is presently emerging, little research has…

1802

Abstract

Purpose

“Collaborative customer co‐design websites” (CCCWs), reflect a combination of co‐design and social networking. While this technology is presently emerging, little research has explored consumer perception of the underlying benefits and impediments of CCCW features. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceived benefits and impediments offered by a CCCW and its influence on consumer acceptance of this technology.

Design/methodology/approach

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with additional variables (perceived playfulness, perceived social risk, and mass confusion) was employed to examine the effects of CCCW features on consumers' beliefs about the CCCW and their consequent intention to use a CCCW. An online, scenario‐based survey was used to collect responses from college students (n=223). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results of structural model testing indicated that perceived playfulness had the largest influence on intentions to use the CCCW. Additionally, perceived social risk associated with the CCCW negatively influenced consumers' intention to use the website. Contrary to expectations, mass confusion positively influenced consumers' intentions to use the CCCW.

Originality/value

Successful online co‐design retailers have begun to utilize social networking features for customer collaboration. Yet, there is scant research that explores the features leading to consumer acceptance of this technology during the collaborative customer co‐design process. Focusing on this problem, the present paper empirically tested perceived benefits and impediments regarding acceptance of a CCCW. The findings suggest that online retailers who adopt a CCCW as a business strategy may relay the value added benefits to consumers by: promoting how this technology relieves customers' perceived social risk; and underscoring the fun and enjoyment aspects of CCCWs to encourage website use and patronage.

Article
Publication date: 11 November 2013

Gajendra Sharma and Li Baoku

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the individual and organizations best use Web 2.0 social networking technologies to improve its relationships with customers.

4057

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the individual and organizations best use Web 2.0 social networking technologies to improve its relationships with customers.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical background used in the paper was the familiarity-liking theory and prospect theory to understand the extent of user satisfaction with the services. Online survey from Second Life users was conducted to investigate customer satisfaction in Web 2.0 social networks and recent development on information technologies.

Findings

The findings suggested that IT development is the inseparable part of Web 2.0 and enables to understand customer satisfaction as well as their perception on online technology. Both customer satisfaction and IT development has positive influence on consumer's service enjoyment and experience.

Research limitations/implications

The generalizability of the paper is limited. The survey data in this study have some common method bias. The possibility of the existence of the common method bias cannot be completely eliminated.

Practical implications

The paper provides the significance of customer satisfaction for organizations, researchers, managers, and policy makers. The paper provides validated measurements to facilitate evaluation of several major user satisfaction constructs.

Originality/value

The recent development of information and communication technology (ICT), especially the internet and its related technologies has become the main force of the development of online social network. The number of Web 2.0 users has been growing so rapidly that it has become an important channel for marketers to reach their customers.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 26 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 September 2011

Nandy Millan and Adrian Bromage

The paper comprises an extended discussion of the possibilities that Web 2.0 applications offer to doctoral researchers, and where such applications fit in the early twenty‐first…

622

Abstract

Purpose

The paper comprises an extended discussion of the possibilities that Web 2.0 applications offer to doctoral researchers, and where such applications fit in the early twenty‐first century in the research environment. It explores the main issues associated with their use by doctoral researchers, and how these factors have influenced the design of a series of four information and communication technologies (ICT) development courses.

Design/methodology/approach

Over 29 Web 2.0 applications were reviewed and grouped into 13 subject categories in terms of how they might support the activities of doctoral researchers. The resulting categories were then themed into four different groups to facilitate the delivery in order to address where and how Web 2.0 applications can enhance doctoral researchers' activities.

Findings

Four groups of applications emerged: social networking, online project collaboration, online virtual desks and reusable multi‐media. The four groups were developed into four courses that together comprise a new ICT skills development module intended for doctoral researchers.

Social implications

In terms of portability, the 13 categories of web‐based applications identified could, when taken together, comprise the infrastructure for a complete research environment that can be accessed anywhere in the world on an internet‐connected PC or laptop. The aim of the module is to enhance the research experience of doctoral researchers by raising awareness of the potential and possibilities associated with using Web 2.0 applications in the research environment.

Originality/value

The paper offers both ICT developers and doctoral researchers insights into the possibilities and problems of using Web 2.0 applications in the process of academic research.

Details

Interactive Technology and Smart Education, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-5659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 August 2011

Anandan Pillai and Jaydeep Mukherjee

The technology acceptance model (TAM) was developed by Davies et al. to understand the utilitarian benefits of web sites. In recent times, scholars have extended TAM as…

1605

Abstract

Purpose

The technology acceptance model (TAM) was developed by Davies et al. to understand the utilitarian benefits of web sites. In recent times, scholars have extended TAM as theoretical underpinning to understand user acceptance of social networking web sites (SNWs) that were hedonic in nature, which seemed inappropriate. The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences in the user acceptance phenomenon of hedonic versus utilitarian SNWs, and highlight that it is essential to provide justice to varying value propositions offered by SNWs.

Design/methodology/approach

As the research study was variance based and followed a positivistic paradigm, the authors used survey methodology and collected data through online and offline questionnaires. In total, 181 usable responses were subjected to mediation analysis using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The perceived usefulness emerged as a significant mediator in the case of utilitarian SNWs and perceived enjoyment emerged as a significant mediator in the case of hedonic SNWs user acceptance phenomenon.

Research limitations/implications

One web site each from hedonic and utilitarian SNWs was considered for the study. Future studies may be conducted by incorporating multiple web sites in each category to further emphasize the findings. Also, future studies might study the user acceptance phenomenon on the theoretical underpinning of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, which is much comprehensive than TAM.

Practical implications

There seems to be a notion that SNWs need to be hedonic and offer entertainment value proposition to attract large number of users. However, SNWs with valuable utilitarian value propositions built around appreciable ideas would also be accepted by users as an efficient networking tool.

Originality/value

Research on user acceptance of SNWs has been focused mostly on hedonic SNWs like Facebook and MySpace, while user acceptance of utilitarian SNWs like LinkedIn and Ryze has remained an unexplored domain.

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2014

Alexei Nikitkov and Barbara Sainty

The purpose of this paper is to help us better understand if it is beneficial for individuals to use social networking sites (SNSs) to expand their networking opportunities…

3226

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help us better understand if it is beneficial for individuals to use social networking sites (SNSs) to expand their networking opportunities, translating into greater career success. A significant key to career success is networking. SNSs are changing the way employees develop their networks with businesses and with other individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses archival data including academic records for 1,182 accounting alumni from a large Canadian public institution. This dataset was expanded by obtaining social network information (presence and use) for each individual’s record.

Findings

After controlling for a number of indicators of career success, the study found that presence on SNSs such as LinkedIn and the amount of activity therein has a strong and consistent association with metrics of professional success not found with non-professional sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical support for the value of social networking as a proxy for the development of social capital. Support is in establishing the link between a group of social network profile characteristics and metrics of one’s career success. Distinguishing LinkedIn as chiefly connecting to alumni successes may be reflected in the weights attached to the profile characteristics as opposed to information coming from other sources.

Details

International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, vol. 22 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1834-7649

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 March 2013

Woojin Lee, Timothy Tyrrell and Mehmet Erdem

The purpose of this study is three fold: to provide a preliminary exploration of meeting planners' use and perceived usefulness of the different types of social media; to examine…

3994

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is three fold: to provide a preliminary exploration of meeting planners' use and perceived usefulness of the different types of social media; to examine why meeting planners use social media and; to investigate the perception of adopting the social media, especially as perceived critical mass impacts the adoption of social networking media.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from the members of a professional association for meeting professionals in the Southwest US using an online self‐administered questionnaire. A total of 510 members received an invitation to take the survey and 120 responses were received, representing a 23.5 percent response rate. Descriptive analysis, discriminant validity, reliability and path analysis were used to estimate the relationships between the five constructs: perceived critical mass, usefulness, ease of use, attitudes and intention to use social network media in the future.

Findings

The most commonly preferred social network sites were Facebook (29 percent), LinkedIn (15 percent), YouTube (13 percent), Twitters (11 percent) and My Space (11 percent) and the social networking media rated most useful were Facebook (mean=3.7), LinkedIn (mean=3.1), YouTube (mean=3.0), Blogs (mean=2.7), Webinars (mean=2.6) and Twitter (mean=2.5), The top three reasons for using social media were: to communicate with other planners easily and quickly through chat or discussion boards (80.4 percent), to share queries, problems, solutions and opinions with other meeting planners (70.1 percent) and to get feedback from attendees after meeting/event/convention (69.9 percent). Additionally, the path model used in the analysis indicated that perceived critical mass not only directly influences intention to use social network media but also indirectly affects attitude toward using social media and intention to use social media simultaneously through perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness.

Originality/value

Even though the social networking media has previously been used by many meeting planners to find information, few research studies have explored the meeting planners' perception of social networking media and what factors may have an effect on meeting planners' adoption of using social network media. This study provides a preliminary empirical analysis of meeting planners' perception of these tools and the factors that influence their utilization.

Article
Publication date: 6 June 2016

Yean-Fu Wen, Ko-Yu Hung, Yi-Ting Hwang and Yeong-Sung Frank Lin

The purpose of this paper is to establish a social-network sp.orts lottery system to support users in predicting and simulating sports lottery betting. The community data were…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a social-network sp.orts lottery system to support users in predicting and simulating sports lottery betting. The community data were generated to support user decision and featured instant game records and odds data synchronisation. Furthermore, the next development cycle were evaluated through a questionnaire.

Design/methodology/approach

An extended prototype website development methodology was applied to develop the system. An online sample was collected to evaluate the function, interface, operation, and prediction designs. The χ2 test and variance analysis were used to determine the association between facets and basic demographics. Finally, the regression model was used to identify the potentially essential predictors that influence the measurement facets.

Findings

The high frequency of Facebook users, sports lottery purchases, and sports game viewers prefer the ability to predict the results of future sports games as advanced decision-making functions. However, the agent-based virtual gift presentation function was the least preferred function.

Research limitations/implications

The study sample was limited only to users: who used PTT and Facebook; were of uneven age, education, and gender; and none segment groups. The study sample primarily comprised Taiwanese respondents. These differences might influence the practicality and prediction bias of the designed website and related models.

Practical implications

The proposed method integrates social-network messages with real-time data access by using APIs, crawler schemes, and prediction mechanisms that enable developers to devise strategies for obtaining high system satisfaction. The system can be improved by adding the results of future sports games and excluding authorised Facebook message posts.

Originality/value

A social-network-based sports lottery and prediction prototyping website was evaluated through a user-preference survey regarding design functions. The measurement results indicated that users share their opinions, predictions, and personal betting results and interact with their friends.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 May 2012

Joel Indrupati and Tara Henari

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of online social networking by entrepreneurs in the Arabian Gulf.

5024

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of online social networking by entrepreneurs in the Arabian Gulf.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive research is conducted by interviewing a number of entrepreneurs in the Arabian Gulf who use online social networks as a method of promoting their products.

Findings

It is found that social networking is a cheap and easy method of advertising and gives all entrepreneurs a better chance of reaching their target market and, thereby, in succeeding in their ventures.

Social implications

With the rise in the use of social networking, entrepreneurs can now target their markets using online social networks. Social networking web sites allow businesses to introduce their products to specific market segments, with low expense, and with a low chance of failure. This rising phenomenon of web‐based social interaction can change the way businesses operate in future.

Originality/value

The paper explores the possibilities of entrepreneurial success with this new element, in electronic media, within integrated marketing communications.

Details

Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, vol. 5 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-7983

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2012

Jennifer Allyson Dooley, Sandra C. Jones and Don Iverson

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of social marketing principles in Web 2.0 commercial and social marketing campaigns.

3764

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of social marketing principles in Web 2.0 commercial and social marketing campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review and online search were conducted to document the types of products and behavior change initiatives being marketed on Web 2.0 platforms. Case studies from commercial and social marketing were critically reviewed to determine whether they exhibited one or more of the principles of social marketing.

Findings

Results demonstrated that social marketers can employ the following social marketing principles to successfully design and implement a Web 2.0 campaign: consumer orientation, behavior change, market segmentation and targeting, mixed methods, exchange and competition.

Originality/value

The findings present originality and value to social marketers who want to effectively integrate, expand and apply Web 2.0 channels to meet their behavior change goals.

Details

Journal of Social Marketing, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-6763

Keywords

Content available
Book part
Publication date: 18 November 2016

Abstract

Details

Social Recruitment in HRM
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78635-695-6

21 – 30 of over 31000