E-commerce Website Evaluation Research Articles

The Application of K-means Clustering Algorithm in the Evaluation of E-Commerce Websites

When dealing with large amounts of high-dimensional transaction data, clustering approaches often struggle with challenges including elasticity, weak processing capabilities of high-dimensional data, sensitivity to data sequence across time, independence of parameters, and ability to manage noise. These problems may prevent the methods from providing accurate predictions. Experiments conducted with data samples collected from 300 different mobile phones purchased on Taobao yielded the following results. K-means beats Single-pass in evaluating e-commerce transactions because of its higher intra-class dissimilarity and inter-class similarity. K-means clustering is an approach to the organization of massive datasets that is both effective and flexible. The outcome of the clustering algorithm is sensitive not only to the total number of clusters but also to how they were initially arranged. Because of this, it is simple to demonstrate that the results of clustering are best optimized locally. For this reason, continuing research into the elements that influence the number of clusters produced by this method as well as the starting locations of the clustering center is a crucial endeavor.

An AHP-IFT Integrated Model for Performance Evaluation of E-Commerce Web Sites

This study presents a hybrid framework of Analytic hierarchy process and Intuitionistic Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution for the assessment and evaluation of E-commerce web site (EWS) performance. The proposed hybrid model enables decision makers to assess and efficiently use intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. In addition, human judgment can effectively be incorporated in the evaluation process. The present model provides an accurate classification of EWS’ performance. A numerical case study is provided to demonstrate the proposed analytic methodology to validate the efficiency and effectiveness of the hybrid model.

A FOA-Optimized RBF Algorithm-Based Evaluation Research on E-commerce Websites

By applying the Expert Grading Method and considering the features of e-commerce websites and properties of the indicators, this paper constructs a multi-indicator hierarchical structure for the competitiveness index evaluation of e-commerce website as well as built an indicator system for the evaluation. This system can be used to measure the competitiveness index of such a website and quantify its competitiveness. Then Radial Basis Function (RBF) Neural Network Algorithm (NNA) is adopted to evaluate and research the competitiveness indexes of e-commerce websites. Against the problems therein, this paper tries to improve the RBF NNA with Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA). Through the simulation and contrast of examples, FOA–RBF algorithm obviously works better than RBF NNA in measuring and evaluating the competitiveness indexes of such websites. Therefore, it is verified that the algorithm proposed by this paper is both effective and reliable.

A Quantitative Approach in Heuristic Evaluation of E-Commerce Websites

This paper presents a pilot study on developing an instrument to predict the quality of e-commerce websites. The 8C model was adopted as the reference model of the heuristic evaluation. Each dimension of the 8C was mapped into a set of quantitative website elements, selected websites were scraped to get the quantitative website elements, and the score of each dimension was calculated. A software was developed in PHP for the experiments. In the training process, 10 experiments were conducted and quantitative analyses were regressively conducted between the experiments. The conversion rate was used to verify the heuristic evaluation of an e-commerce website after each experiment. The results showed that the mapping revisions between the experiments improved the performance of the evaluation instrument, therefore the experiment process and the quantitative mapping revision guideline proposed was on the right track. The software resulted from the experiment 10 can serve as the aimed e-commerce website evaluation instrument. The experiment results and the future work have been discussed.

Evaluation of e-commerce websites: An integrated approach under a single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic environment

E-commerce website evaluation is recognized as a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem involving vast amounts of imprecise and inconsistent evaluation data. Single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic numbers (SVTNNs), which are elements in single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic sets (SVTNSs), have a strong capacity to model such complex evaluation information. However, only few studies simultaneously consider the imprecise and inconsistent information inherent in the evaluation data. Moreover, much literature overlooks the different priority levels and interrelationships among criteria. To bridge this gap, this paper outlines a novel integrated decision system consisting of the following three modules: (1) information acquisition; (2) the single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (SVTN-DEMATEL) module; and (3) the integration module. In this study, we used the information acquisition module to gather the SVTNN information provided by experts, applied the SVTN-DEMATEL module to analyze the causal relationships among criteria, and proposed the integration module for information fusion with consideration of interdependencies and different priority levels of criteria. Furthermore, we conducted a case study to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposal along with the sensitivity and comparison analyses to verify its stability and superiority. Finally, conclusions and future research directions were drawn.

Compatibility measurement-based group decision making with interval fuzzy preference relations

In this paper, we put forward a ratio-based compatibility degree between any two ]0,1[-valued interval numbers to measure how proximate they approach to each other. A compatibility measurement is presented to evaluate the compatibility degree between a pair of ]0,1[-valued interval fuzzy preference relations (IFPRs). By employing the geometric mean, a measurement formula is proposed to calculate how close one interval fuzzy preference relation is to all the other interval fuzzy preference relations in a group. We devise an induced interval fuzzy ordered weighted geometric (IIFOWG) operator to aggregate ]0,1[-valued interval numbers, and apply the induced interval fuzzy ordered weighted geometric operator to fuse interval fuzzy preference relations into a collective one. Based on the compatibility measurement between two interval fuzzy preference relations, a notion of acceptable consensus of interval fuzzy preference relations is introduced to check the consensus level between an individual interval fuzzy preference relation and a collective interval fuzzy preference relation, and a novel procedure is developed to handle group decision-making problems with interval fuzzy preference relations. A numerical example with respect to the evaluation of e-commerce websites is provided to illustrate the proposed procedure.

Evaluation of e-commerce websites using fuzzy hierarchical TOPSIS based on E-S-QUAL

In the wake of the rapid emergence of e-commerce, its evaluation is of great theoretical and practical importance. Among the various types of e-commerce, business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce has become a key, and especially influential, retailing channel. Its ascendancy raises core issues with respect to how the customer is to be satisfied by, and therefore inclined to trust, e-commerce websites. B2C e-commerce website evaluation, therefore, is an important related issue. First, while a number of studies have studied B2C e-commerce website evaluation using various multiple-criteria-decision-making (MCDM) methods, they have focused only on the perceived service quality of B2C e-commerce websites. In fact, it is generally recognized that service quality is determined by the difference between the expected service level (which expectation is derived from information obtained before the service experience) and the actual, perceived service level; this concept, then, should be also be afforded due consideration in B2C e-commerce website evaluation. Second, among the various MCDM approaches, TOPSIS, which involves the consideration of both the positive-ideal solution (PIS) and the negative-ideal solution (NIS), is especially pertinent to the complex decision-making entailed in the evaluation of B2C e-commerce websites. Third, the human element of subjectivity in the evaluation of B2C e-commerce websites needs to be considered in order to enable modeling of real-life website-evaluation situations. Finally, the hierarchical structure of the evaluation criteria between the main dimensions and their sub-criteria should be considered. To reflect these issues, in this paper, we present a fuzzy hierarchical TOPSIS based on E-SERVQUAL (E-S-QUAL). This approach effectively considers the raised issues and preserves the core concept of E-S-QUAL (the extended version of SERVQUAL) for measurement of electronic service quality in the e-commerce environment. The empirical case study of B2C e-commerce provides the researchers and practitioners to understand in a better way the evaluation process from a practical point of view. In addition, core finding of this study is that the comparison results with other MCDM methods further verify the robustness of the proposed approach. It implies that this method potentially can be applied to performance evaluation of similar service sectors.

A Fuzzy Logic Approach to Assess Web Learner's Joint Skills

Skill assessment is an important but complicated task in the entire web based teaching and learning process. The learner's performance assessment has a strong influence on learners' approaches to learn and their learning outcomes like professional acceptability on desired skills. Most educators focus either on assessing a learner's technical skill set or non- technical skill set, individually, rather than focusing on both the aspects. This paper bridges the gap by applying fuzzy logic approach to analyze a learner's joint skills incorporating both skills-set. An already proven e-commerce website's evaluation technique has been chosen and applied in two situations of learner's skill assessment through case studies namely: technical skills evaluation, and non-technical skills evaluation. Experiments show that the learner's success depends on both sets of skill attributes. This work then proposed a novel method for skill assessment considering two (instead of one) sets of skill attributes invoking parallel or joint application of the technique. This new technique has also been analysed through a case study. Index Terms—E-learning, fuzzy logic, joint-skill, skill assessment, competencies.

Combined Method for E-Commerce Website Evaluation Based on Fuzzy Neural Network

This paper describes method for E-commerce website evaluation. Fuzzy AHP and neural network were applied to solve the problem. The proposed system consists of four components: (1) hierarchical structure development for fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), (2) weights determination, (3) data collection, and (4) decision making.

Proposing a Methodology to Evaluate Usability of E-Commerce Websites: QUEM Model

In this work we propose a methodology named QUEM (Quantitative Usability Evaluation Model) for quantitative usability evaluation of e-commerce websites. Many e-commerce websites lack user friendliness. The main factor that prevents these firms to conduct usability testing is the high costs and the need for usability experts. In this work, ISO/IEC 9126-1:2001 quality model was selected as a basis for defining usability characteristics of our model. Based on these standard usability characteristics a set of usability factors is proposed specifically for evaluation of e-commerce websites. The usability factors of QUEM model have been extracted from a wide range of usability guidelines and checklists. Since all of the usability factors do not have the same significance in the overall usability assessment of the web sites, the proposed factors have been weighted by adopting AHP (Analytical Hierarchical Processing) approach. In order to demonstrate the efficiency of QUEM model, usability of two e-commerce systems has been assessed by adopting this model. QUEM model enables the e-commerce firms to measure the usability of their sites in a minimum cost and span of time.

A New Vision for Evaluating the Quality of E-Commerce Websites

Quality has been established as a key factor in ensuring the success of E-commerce in attracting and retaining customers. To help in this, numerous software metrics and website quality models have been developed, with a correspondingly large literature. We provide a critical review of this literature and the state-of-the-art. Most of the wide ranges of E-commerce website evaluation models give emphasis on the web applications of the system, using techniques like feature inspection and collecting data about end-usersâ?? opinion by questionnaires. However, this is in conflict with two fundamental pragmatic aspects of current websites. Web technologies evolve extremely fast, enabling sophisticated tools to be deployed and complex interactions to take place. Secondly, the life cycle of a website is also extremely fast: maintenance of a website is performed at a rate that is higher than that of other software products because of market pressure and lack of distribution barriers.

Development and Testing of an E-Commerce Web Site Evaluation Model

The scope of this research is to develop and test a model for evaluating B2C e-commerce Web sites. Consequently, this study seeks to investigate the relationship between the Web site interface of B2C e-commerce and virtual customer behavior, concentrating on purchasing attitude and intention. The objective of this article is, therefore, to research which features of a virtual store effectively influence the user purchasing process via the Internet. In order to achieve this aim, the technology acceptance model was adapted for pertinent theoretical references about consumer behavior on the Web. The model developed was then tested and validated through a structural equation modeling approach. An empirical analysis of the CD e-retailing industry in Brazil was then conducted. The study concludes that, for the electronic commerce of CDs, ease of use, trust, pleasure, and attractiveness as perceived by visitors to CD e-retailing Web sites are key issues for understanding customer attitude and purchasing intention.