Functional characteristics of commercial web sites : a longitudinal study in Hong Kong

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Information & Management

Publication Date

3-1-2004

Volume

41

Issue

4

First Page

483

Last Page

495

Keywords

Cluster analysis, Commercial web sites, Functional characteristics, Longitudinal study, Quantitative attributes

Abstract

A set of quantitative web site attributes and their corresponding metrics are proposed for better understanding of the evolution of functional characteristics of commercial web sites. This set of metrics can facilitate an objective comparison of commercial web sites developed over time and in different regions of the world. Their use would also help studies on functional classification of web sites. The result of a longitudinal study using the proposed metrics is then presented. This involves a stratified systematic sample of 98 Hong Kong-based commercial web sites measured on three separate occasions during a period of 2.5 years. The results show that, while the sampled web sites generally grew larger in content, their functions were only marginally enhanced over time, in contrast to the general impression of fast growing e-commerce activities. Cluster analysis revealed that the sample was dominated by web sites with low information intensity. The results obtained in Hong Kong were compared with those of related studies in the US and Europe.

DOI

10.1016/S0378-7206(03)00086-7

Print ISSN

03787206

E-ISSN

18727530

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2003 Elsevier B.V.

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Yeung, W. L., & Lu, M.-t. (2004). Functional characteristics of commercial web sites: A longitudinal study in Hong Kong. Information & Management, 41(4), 483-495. doi: 10.1016/S0378-7206(03)00086-7

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