Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research

22 pages, 615 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Makes Consumers Purchase Mobile Apps: Evidence from Jordan

by Ahmad Samed Al-Adwan and George Sammour

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 562-583; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030034 - 16 Dec 2020

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 9036

Mobile applications (mobile Apps) have changed the ecosystem of the business world. The rapid progression in the market for smart devices and mobile Apps has brought about a revolution with regard to the mobile Apps’ economy. The major revenue stream of this economy [...] Read more.

Mobile applications (mobile Apps) have changed the ecosystem of the business world. The rapid progression in the market for smart devices and mobile Apps has brought about a revolution with regard to the mobile Apps’ economy. The major revenue stream of this economy is the sale of mobile Apps, with such sales being expected to increase dramatically every year. However, in spite of this, a considerable number of mobile Apps fail to capture consumers’ attention. Additionally, in developing countries such as Jordan, there is lack of research into understanding and determining the major factors that influence consumers’ decisions to purchase mobile Apps. Accordingly, the main objective of this study is to identify the key factors that Jordanian consumers consider in determining whether or not to purchase mobile Apps for their smartphones. To achieve this objective, a mixed-methods approach is adopted. An exploratory study involving a qualitative methods approach (interviews with consumers) is first conducted in order to determine the factors that influence consumers’ purchase behavior decisions. Then, a confirmatory study that employs a quantitative approach (a survey questionnaire) is undertaken to test the proposed model, the building of which is based on the findings of the exploratory study. The results indicate that seven factors are recognized as being pre-eminent when it comes to decisions to purchase mobile Apps. These factors include the price value of the App, App performance, App enjoyment, App trialability, electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) about the App, App technical reliability and App usefulness. While this study advances our understanding of the main factors that influence mobile Apps purchase, it also reveals useful implications for mobile Apps publishers and developers, in order to promote and increase the sales of Apps. Full article

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20 pages, 962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of Website Marketing Strategies in Sports Tourism: Analysis of the Online Presence and E-Commerce of Golf Courses

by Natalia Daries, Eduard Cristobal-Fransi and Berta Ferrer-Rosell

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 542-561; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030033 - 9 Dec 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7972

Abstract

As a sports activity with immense tradition, current offerings and future prospects, golfing represents a first-rate tourist resource. In choosing golfing destinations, tourists rely upon information that is available online, just as consumers do in making decisions about any resource. Thus, in our [...] Read more.

As a sports activity with immense tradition, current offerings and future prospects, golfing represents a first-rate tourist resource. In choosing golfing destinations, tourists rely upon information that is available online, just as consumers do in making decisions about any resource. Thus, in our study, we sought to profile the internet presence of golf courses in Catalonia, as well as the maturity of their e-commerce. To that end, we developed an integrated model for analysing the websites of golf courses: one based on web content analysis and structured with four dimensions (i.e., information, communication, e-commerce and additional functions) and the phases of the extended model of internet commerce adoption (eMICA). Applied to all golf courses in Catalonia that operate websites, the model revealed that, despite the sport’s great importance to the local economy and tourism, the golf courses do not have an adequate online presence or sufficient platforms for communication. The present work includes information on its theoretical contribution, implications for management, limitations and future lines of research. Full article

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17 pages, 15386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Addition of Images to eWOM in the Travel Industry: An Examination of Hotels, Cruise Ships and Fast Food Reviews

by Robert Zinko, Christopher P. Furner, Helene de Burgh-Woodman, Patricia Johnson and Anne Sluhan

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 525-541; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030032 - 7 Dec 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5343

Abstract

Extensive research has examined the influence of online product reviews on consumer behavior. However, few have investigated the influence of reviewer submitted images on consumer attitudes. This research examines consumer perceptions of trust, information quality and valence disparity using three simulated online reviews [...] Read more.

Extensive research has examined the influence of online product reviews on consumer behavior. However, few have investigated the influence of reviewer submitted images on consumer attitudes. This research examines consumer perceptions of trust, information quality and valence disparity using three simulated online reviews appearing on TripAdvisor.com: one for a hotel, one for a cruise ship and one for a fast food restaurant. Findings reveal that reviews with images are seen as more trustworthy, and that consumers perceive reviews with images as possessing higher information quality than reviews containing text only. Likewise, the findings showed that effective images should be consistent with review text (e.g., reviewers do not respond positively to negative reviews linked with positive images, or vice versa). Full article

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12 pages, 636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Brand-Generated Content Interaction of Instagram Stories and Publications: A Comparison between Retailers and Manufacturers

by Paloma de H. Sánchez-Cobarro, Francisco-Jose Molina-Castillo and Cristina Alcazar-Caceres

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 513-524; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030031 - 27 Nov 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 8355

Abstract

The last decade has seen a considerable increase in entertainment-oriented communication techniques. Likewise, the rise of social networks has evolved, offering different formats such as publication and stories. Hence, there has been a growing interest in knowing which strategies have the greatest social [...] Read more.

The last decade has seen a considerable increase in entertainment-oriented communication techniques. Likewise, the rise of social networks has evolved, offering different formats such as publication and stories. Hence, there has been a growing interest in knowing which strategies have the greatest social impact to help position organizations in the mind of the consumer. This research aims to analyze the different impact that stories and publications can have on the Instagram social network as a tool for generating branded content. To this end, it analyses the impact of the different Instagram stories and publications in various sectors using a methodology of structural equations with composite constructs. The results obtained, based on 800 stories and publications in four different companies (retailers and manufacturers), show that the reach of the story generally explains the interaction with Instagram stories. In contrast, in the case of publications, impressions are of greater importance in explaining the interaction with the publication. Among the main contributions of the work, we find that traditional pull communication techniques have been losing effectiveness in front of new formats of brand content generation that have been occupying the time in the relationship between users and brands. Full article

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22 pages, 665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of the Intention to Adopt Mobile Augmented Reality Apps in Shopping Malls among University Students

by Vaggelis Saprikis, Giorgos Avlogiaris and Androniki Katarachia

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 491-512; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030030 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 10669

Abstract

Augmented Reality (AR) technology adoption has been growing worldwide in recent years. The potential of AR to blend digital information into the physical world has been a challenge for both academia and industry, who attempt to realize and anticipate its impact on users’ [...] Read more.

Augmented Reality (AR) technology adoption has been growing worldwide in recent years. The potential of AR to blend digital information into the physical world has been a challenge for both academia and industry, who attempt to realize and anticipate its impact on users’ perceptions, adoption intention and use. The present paper is an empirical study aimed at making substantial suggestions and investigating an integrative theoretical paradigm which attempts to establish the significance of specific factors which allow using mobile augmented reality apps in shopping malls. The study employs information from the extant literature with a view to extending the Unified Theory on Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The results show that performance expectancy, enjoyment and reward are direct determining factors of adopting the specific technology in shopping malls, whereas facilitating conditions, social influence, innovativeness and trust exert an indirect effect on behavioral intention adoption. The research findings have far-reaching theoretical and practical implications for the development, marketing and application of mobile AR apps in the context of the specific contemporary form of shopping. Full article

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25 pages, 5864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Makes an Online Review More Helpful: An Interpretation Framework Using XGBoost and SHAP Values

by Yuan Meng, Nianhua Yang, Zhilin Qian and Gaoyu Zhang

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 466-490; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030029 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 122 | Viewed by 11606

Abstract

Online product reviews play important roles in the word-of-mouth marketing of e-commerce enterprises, but only helpful reviews actually influence customers’ purchase decisions. Current research focuses on how to predict the helpfulness of a review but lacks a thorough analysis of why it is [...] Read more.

Online product reviews play important roles in the word-of-mouth marketing of e-commerce enterprises, but only helpful reviews actually influence customers’ purchase decisions. Current research focuses on how to predict the helpfulness of a review but lacks a thorough analysis of why it is helpful. In this paper, feature sets covering review text and context cues are firstly proposed to represent review helpfulness. Then, a set of gradient boosted trees (GBT) models is introduced, and the optimal one, which as implemented in eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), is chosen to predict and explain review helpfulness. Specially, by including the SHAP (Shapley) values method to quantify feature contribution, this paper presents an integrated framework to better interpret why a review is helpful at both the macro and micro levels. Based on real data from Amazon.cn, this paper reveals that the number of words contributes the most to the helpfulness of reviews on headsets and is interactively influenced by features like the number of sentences or feature frequency, while feature frequency contributes the most to the helpfulness of facial cleanser reviews and is interactively influenced by the number of adjectives used in the review or the review’s entropy. Both datasets show that individual feature contributions vary from review to review, and individual joint contributions gradually decrease with the increase of feature values. Full article

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21 pages, 2159 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution Contract Analysis on e-Platform by Considering Channel Role and Good Complementarity

by Jie Wei, Jinghui Lu, Weiyu Chen and Zeling Xu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 445-465; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030028 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2789

Abstract

Although suppliers can sell their goods on e-retailers’ e-platforms through either a wholesale or agency contract, suppliers that produce complementary goods and have different channel roles have been confused as to how to choose an optimal distribution contract. This paper aims to study [...] Read more.

Although suppliers can sell their goods on e-retailers’ e-platforms through either a wholesale or agency contract, suppliers that produce complementary goods and have different channel roles have been confused as to how to choose an optimal distribution contract. This paper aims to study this problem by considering the combined impacts of suppliers’ channel roles, e-retailer’s referral fees, goods’ differences in the level of complementarity and goods’ differences in potential demand. Our results show that, regardless of one supplier’s distribution contract choice, the other supplier always prefers agency contract, which is independent of two suppliers’ channel roles, the e-retailer’s referral fees, two goods’ differences in the level of complementarity and two goods’ differences in the potential demand. Moreover, when two suppliers use different distribution contracts to sell goods with different levels of complementarity on the same e-retailer’s e-platform, low-complementarity goods have a larger optimal retail price only if the two goods’ differences in the level of complementarity are sufficiently high, and the supplier can obtain more profits by producing low-complementarity goods regardless of the supplier’s distribution contract and channel role. Full article

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13 pages, 547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Value Cocreation on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty of Online Car-Hailing Services

by Rui Jin and Kai Chen

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 432-444; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030027 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6778

Abstract

The theory of value cocreation has been applied widely in the research of a lot of fields, including the field of travelling. At present, online shared cars have become one of the main modes of travel for urban residents, which have caused people [...] Read more.

The theory of value cocreation has been applied widely in the research of a lot of fields, including the field of travelling. At present, online shared cars have become one of the main modes of travel for urban residents, which have caused people to think about the quality of its service and its customer satisfaction. The objective of this research is to explore the impact of value cocreation by both the platform and drivers on customer satisfaction and user loyalty using Didi as an example. We propose five factors that can measure value cocreation behaviors, among which system availability and privacy count for value cocreation by online platform and perceived usability, consistency and competence are indicators of value cocreation by drivers. In total, 338 questionnaires were distributed to retrieve data and further investigate the users’ willingness of taking shared-cars, their satisfaction and loyalty towards Didi in order to help the corporate progress. This study provides suggestions for service-oriented corporations related to the sharing economy in order to enhance their user loyalty as well as improve their management ability. Full article

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23 pages, 5964 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Customer Equity in Noncontractual Settings Using a Diffusion Model: An Empirical Study of Mobile Payments Aggregator

by Wei Xue, Yinglu Sun, Subir Bandyopadhyay and Dong Cheng

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 409-431; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030026 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3428

Abstract

Customers are important intangible assets of firms. Customer equity (CE) and customer equity sustainability ratio (CESR) cannot only provide a crucial basis for measuring the growth potential of firms but also provide managers a reference standard to allocate the marketing resource. This empirical [...] Read more.

Customers are important intangible assets of firms. Customer equity (CE) and customer equity sustainability ratio (CESR) cannot only provide a crucial basis for measuring the growth potential of firms but also provide managers a reference standard to allocate the marketing resource. This empirical study discussed the CE measurement of a mobile payments aggregator. With the rapid development of mobile payment in China, it is very meaningful to calculate the CE of these aggregators as an emerging business pattern because calculating CE cannot only help the mobile payments aggregator evaluate its future business development but also help it to provide value-added services and generate service fee from its clients, i.e., the retailers. The main purpose of this paper is to calculate CE of a mobile payments aggregator generated from a specific retailer from the perspective of technology diffusion. Based on the Bass model and Rogers’ theory of innovation diffusion, we calculated CE and CESR for five segments, namely innovators, early adopters, early majorities, late majorities, and laggards. The results show that it is the early adopters and the early majorities who generate most of the profit and it is also these two segments that have the greatest growth potential in the future. Full article

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14 pages, 903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Social Ties Influence Customers’ Involvement and Online Purchase Intentions

by Liang Ma, Xin Zhang, Xiaoyan Ding and Gaoshan Wang

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 395-408; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030025 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 10142

Abstract

A major challenge confronting online retailers is that of stimulating consumer online purchase intention. Many studies have explored the factors that affect consumer purchase behavior; however, few have described the underlying mechanism that links the online shopping experience to social ties and the [...] Read more.

A major challenge confronting online retailers is that of stimulating consumer online purchase intention. Many studies have explored the factors that affect consumer purchase behavior; however, few have described the underlying mechanism that links the online shopping experience to social ties and the effect of their strength on purchase intentions. This study adapted the stimuli–organism–response (S–O–R) model to analyze the effects of the online shopping experience on customer involvement and online purchase intention under conditions of weak and strong social ties. Two quasi-experiments were conducted to test the research model and hypotheses. The results showed that online shopping experience had a positive effect on customer involvement, and this involvement in turn had a positive effect on online purchase intention in the strong-tie group and the weak-tie group. Cognitive and affective involvement played partial mediating roles between the online shopping experience and online purchase intention in the weak-ties group and full mediating roles in the strong-ties group. The effects of online shopping experience on customer involvement and online purchase intention differed between the two tie strength groups. The implications of these findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed. Full article

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18 pages, 769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Traditional Guanxi Still Matter in Social Commerce: An Empirical Study in Taiwan

by Wen-Kuei Wu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 377-394; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030024 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4207

Abstract

This study aims to explore if traditional guanxi facets (i.e., ganqing, renqing and mianzi) between buyer and seller affect buyer’s trust in seller, recommendation and purchase intention in social commerce. It also investigates the mediating effects of recommendation intention and trust [...] Read more.

This study aims to explore if traditional guanxi facets (i.e., ganqing, renqing and mianzi) between buyer and seller affect buyer’s trust in seller, recommendation and purchase intention in social commerce. It also investigates the mediating effects of recommendation intention and trust in seller on the relationship between guanxi facets and purchase intention. This study used an online survey in Taiwan and the partial least squares (PLS) model to test the hypotheses. Drawing on a sample of 323 respondents in Taiwan, the results show that (a) ganqing, renqing and trust in seller have positive effects on recommendation intention, (b) all guanxi facets exert positive effects on trust in seller, (c) ganqing and mianzi contribute to recommendation intention via trust in seller, (d) renqing benefits directly purchase intention but also via recommendation intention, and (e) trust in seller facilitates purchase intention via recommendation intention. This study might be the first to investigate the vital roles of traditional guanxi facets, rather than swift guanxi, in social commerce. This study also clarifies the mediating effects of buyer’s recommendation intention and trust in seller on transferring traditional guanxi facets into purchase intention. Full article

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21 pages, 1696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Cloud-Based Bookstore Continuance from a Deconstructed Task–Technology Fit Perspective

by Ming-Chien Hung, Paul C. Talley, Kuang-Ming Kuo and Mai-Lun Chiu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 356-376; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030023 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4479

Abstract

In an effort to help organizations understand consumers, our study deconstructs task–technology fit into two segments: ideal task–technology fit and individual use context–technology fit. Users’ continuous use of cloud-based bookstores is studied through survey methodology to collect consumer experience data related to the [...] Read more.

In an effort to help organizations understand consumers, our study deconstructs task–technology fit into two segments: ideal task–technology fit and individual use context–technology fit. Users’ continuous use of cloud-based bookstores is studied through survey methodology to collect consumer experience data related to the use of such cloud-based bookstores. In total, 185 samples were collected. Analytical results demonstrated that both ideal task–technology fit and individual use context–technology fit were significantly associated with the confirmation of users’ expectations as related to cloud-based bookstores. Expectation confirmation and ideal task–technology fit also have a significant link to users’ perceived usefulness and satisfaction, respectively. Furthermore, perceived usefulness significantly predicts satisfaction. Finally, perceived usefulness and satisfaction are also significantly associated with a users’ continuous use of cloud-based bookstores. As a result of this study’s findings, system administrators may foster suitable strategies for an improvement of users’ continuous use of cloud-based bookstores. Full article

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36 pages, 1449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Perceived Risk Dimensions on e-Shopping Behavioural Intention among Women—A Family Life Cycle Stage Perspective

by Raman Amirtha, V. J. Sivakumar and Yujong Hwang

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 320-355; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030022 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 11762

Abstract

The relationship between perceived risk and behavioral intention (BI) in e-shopping, based on family life cycle (FLC) stages, has been analyzed in this work. Although FLC stages are considered to have a better predictive ability than age, few e-shopping studies have concentrated on [...] Read more.

The relationship between perceived risk and behavioral intention (BI) in e-shopping, based on family life cycle (FLC) stages, has been analyzed in this work. Although FLC stages are considered to have a better predictive ability than age, few e-shopping studies have concentrated on understanding its effects. This study, as a pioneering effort, has divided Indian women based on nine FLC stages and has studied the role of ten dimensions of perceived risk on BI to shop online across each life cycle stage. Results show that different facets of risks had distinct effects on purchase behavior among women belonging to different FLC stages. In effect, this study shows the importance of splitting people based on FLC stages in e-marketing and its value in making marketing decisions. Full article

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22 pages, 493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Effectiveness of Anti-Piracy Educational Deterrence Efforts: The Role of Message Frame, Issue Involvement, Risk Perception, and Message Evidence on Perceived Message Effectiveness

by Bong Keun Jeong, Tom Yoon and Sarah S. Khan

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 298-319; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030021 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5590

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore methods to improve the effectiveness of anti-piracy educational deterrence efforts. We studied the effects of message framing (positive vs. negative), issue involvement (high vs. low), risk perception (high vs. low), and message evidence (anecdotal vs. [...] Read more.

The objective of this study is to explore methods to improve the effectiveness of anti-piracy educational deterrence efforts. We studied the effects of message framing (positive vs. negative), issue involvement (high vs. low), risk perception (high vs. low), and message evidence (anecdotal vs. statistical) on the perceived effectiveness of an anti-piracy campaign message. Our experimental results suggest that message frame alone does not have an impact on perceived message effectiveness. However, the effect of message framing is moderated by issue involvement, risk perception, and message evidence. Specifically, a positively framed message is more effective for individuals with low issue involvement, high perceived piracy risk, and who are exposed to anecdotal evidence. In contrast, a negatively framed message is more effective for individuals with high involvement, low risk, and who are exposed to statistical evidence. Full article

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2 pages, 190 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Publisher’s Note: Continued Publication of Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research by MDPI

by Unai Vicario

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(3), 296-297; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16030020 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3264

Abstract

The Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research (JTAER) was launched in 2006 and published over the past fourteen years by the University of Talca [...] Full article

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J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res., Volume 16, Issue 3 (June 2021) – 15 articles

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