The Effect of Cultural Values on the Perceptions of Architectural Quality of Websites in E-Commerce

This research-in-progress extends studies in online commerce adoption by proposing a behavioral model that suggests that the buyer’s willingness to purchase online depends on the perceptions of the architectural quality of a website and influenced by cultural values. Building on the existing studies in e-commerce and cross-cultural research, this paper addresses the influence of cultural values at the individual level of analysis. These values include uncertainty avoidance and high- and low-context of information communication

Perceptions and Use of Anonymous Communication across Cultures

We use social networks to communicate, keep in touch and express our opinions in a manner that has become completely ubiquitous. However, this very ubiquity and ease of expression have exposed another, contentious side – one where nobody can remain completely anonymous for long and where every conversation is stored in perpetuity. Some fear that the ephemeral quality of a social interaction has been lost, which threatens our right to be forgotten and freedom of expression. In this paper, we look at why people engage in anonymous communication, and if there is a perceived need for legal protection of anonymous communication. Moreover, this paper attempts to identify cultural stratifications, if any, in the ways in which people of various cultures perceive the importance of anonymous communications. The primary cultural clusters we studied are Anglo (e.g. Australia, Canada, England, USA) and Eastern European (e.g. Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia). Our data set consists of 374 responses to our survey from people belonging to these cultures. We found that perceived freedom afforded by anonymous communication and propensity to trust are both positively related to use of anonymous communication, which in turn is positively related to perceived need for legal protection of anonymous communication. Moreover, we found that the relationship between propensity to trust and use of anonymous communication is stronger for respondents in the Eastern Europe cultural cluster than for respondents in non-Eastern Europe cultural clusters

The Effect of Product Presentation and Website Trust Features on the Perception of Counterfeit Deception

The Internet has provided a new advantage for counterfeiters - the opportunity to sell goods without prior consumer inspection. Leveraging this opportunity, deceitful purveyors of imitation goods use product presentation and website trust features to sell counterfeit goods as genuine. Based on trust and deception theories we propose that there are two categories of counterfeit deception mechanisms online: product level information and seller level information. Counterfeiters conceal the signals that identify the product as a fake using product presentation, and present themselves as legitimate business entities using website trust features. We find that advanced product presentation has a positive influence on consumers’ perception of the authenticity of products. The results of this study are informative and might be effective in further exploration of deception mechanisms in online counterfeit markets

How do You Choose What to Use? Technology Choice When You Have So Much

This research-in-progress provides a fresh insight into technology choice in our daily activities. As opposed to prior studies that focus on technology in the work environment, this research is centered on individual technology choice while performing daily tasks: searching for information, executing transactions, consuming entertainment, and communicating. As hardware has become more affordable, more varied in size, and more diverse in features, individuals have access to a plethora of different devices - smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Individuals also have a choice of software: apps versus web browsers. Our research focuses on understanding why individuals choose specific combinations of hardware and software to perform their tasks. By studying this phenomenon, our proposed research program can contribute to understanding individuals\u27 technology choices and inform organizations providing applications to consumers

Website Signal Perceptions and Seller Quality Identification

This study extends the understanding of signaling in online shopping environments by evaluating website signal perceptionsof online buyers. Drawing from signaling theory, this study proposes and empirically tests a model for conceptualizing theinfluence of website signal perceptions on perceived trust, perceived deception and purchase intentions. Experimental resultssupport the assertions of the model and indicate that the online buyers’ perceptions and purchase intentions are mainlyinfluenced by website content and website physical presence, whereas human presence and website policy credibility are lesssignificant. In addition, there is evidence that signal perceptions change depending on the quality of online sellers. Whendealing with low-quality online sellers, online buyers are concerned with physical and human presence. When evaluatinghigh-quality sellers, online buyers are concerned with website amateurism

Deception Tactics and Counterfeit Deception in Online Environments

With widespread globalization happening at an alarming speed, the manufacturing and copying of goods has become a matter of routine for counterfeiters. The Internet has provided a new advantage for counterfeiters - the opportunity to sell goods without prior consumer inspection. Leveraging this opportunity, deceitful purveyors of imitation goods engage in unethical practices such as selling counterfeit goods presenting them as genuine. We propose that there are two categories of counterfeit deception mechanisms online: product level information and seller level information. In order to successfully deceive prospective buyers, sellers conceal the signals that identify the offering as a fake, and present themselves as legitimate business entities. In this research-in-progress paper, we outline several propositions to guide future research in this area. We are currently conducting an empirical study to test these propositions

To Gamify or Not? The Development of a Gamified Data Collection Instrument for User Self-Reported Data

In this paper we discuss a gamified data collection instrument that is designed to indirectly collect user personality traits data. Specifically, we provide an integrated view of how the individual’s personality data can be obtained via gamified systems and discuss the influence of gamified systems on user enjoyment and data quality. With a sample of 226 individuals, we examined two research questions. First, we explored how personality characteristics can be obtained via gamified survey systems. Second, we investigated how gamified systems affect user enjoyment and focused attention as opposed to traditional online surveys. Our results suggest that gamified systems have the potential to capture user data and at the same time provide a higher level of enjoyment for users. This study paves the way for future research investigating whether gamification is an appropriate tool to improve the quality of user self-reported data

The Strategic Role of Data Resources: Two Case Studies from SMB Financing and Advertising Industries

In this paper we examine the strategic role of data resources. We contrast the resource- based view and the relational view theories to examine how data resources can help organizations create and capture value. We use two case studies from two different industries to understand how different types of data resources can provide a competitive advantage. We also examine the role of strategic partnerships in capturing value created through the exploitation of data resources. We conclude that while data often serve as a required resource for entry into new markets, strategic partnerships play a critical role in capturing value created through exploitation of data resources. We also find that the emergent partnership structures can be remarkably similar in different industries. The emergent structures target rapid market expansion through the use of standardized legal contracts and encapsulation of data resources within highly scalable web services

The Role of Data Assets in the Organizational Success

In this paper we examine the role of data resources in the organizational success. We contrast the resource-based view and the relational view theories to examine how data resources can help organizations create and capture value. We use two case studies from two different industries to understand how different types of data resources can contribute to the organizational success. We conclude that while data often serve as a required resource for entry into new markets, strategic partnerships play a critical role in capturing value created through exploitation of data resources

The Strategic Value of Data Resources in Emergent Industries

In this paper we examine the strategic role of data resources in emergent industries. We contrast the resource-based view and the relational view theories to examine how data resources can help organizations create and capture value. We compare two organizations from two different industries to understand how different types of data resources can provide a competitive advantage. We also examine the role of strategic partnerships in capturing value created through the exploitation of data resources. We conclude that while data often serve as a required resource for entry into new markets, strategic partnerships play a critical role in capturing value created through the exploitation of data resources. The emergent partnership structures are remarkably similar across the two organizations. They target rapid market expansion through encapsulation of data resources within highly scalable web services and the use of standardized legal contracts. We also find that temporal decoupling between value creation and value capture can expose firms to the erosion of the competitive advantage gained through investment in data resources