Website Functionality Research Articles

Identification of parameters and verification of an urban traffic flow model. A case study in Wrocław

A macroscopic model of road traffic flow in an entire city is constructed, using the example of Wrocław. The model is of deterministic-random type. The start and finish points of each vehicle journey are random elements of the model, while the street graph, routes of travel and traffic parameters are obtained in a deterministic manner. Vehicle speed is dependent on traffic density, and the time needed to cross an intersection depends on the number of waiting vehicles. The route of travel between given start and finish points is determined using Dijkstra’s algorithm, minimising the journey time. The street graph of Wrocław was constructed using data from the Open Street Map website. Identification of parameters and verification of the model were performed using hourly data on traffic volumes at the city’s major intersections in the years 2015–16, obtained from the Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Identification was made of the total number of vehicles travelling in the city at each time of day, a quantity that is difficult to determine by other methods. An accuracy of around 15% was obtained for times between 6.00 and 22.00, while for night-time the verification error exceeded 30%. The model may be used to analyse the impact of planned modifications to the transport system on traffic parameters in the city. It may also serve as a constituent of a larger model for investigating the effect of road transport on atmospheric pollution or for identifying areas at risk of noise pollution.

Research on Planning Management of the Leisure and Tourismoriented Suburban Villages Based on System Theory

Because planning management of the leisure and tourism-oriented suburban villages lags behind, a series of problems occur: sustainable development of rural tourism is limited, and the content of planning management is unclear, and implement does not reach the designed position. In order to solve these problems, through research and analysis, we master the status quo of planning management of leisure and tourism-oriented suburban villages in China, and determine the content of planning management. The author analyze the interactive relationship between system theory and leisure and tourism-oriented suburban rural planning management and construct a planning management system based on the perspective of systems theory. The informatization design of system was achieved by information technology. The results show that the informatization system based on the perspective of system theory not only provides a solution for the planning management of the leisure and tourism-oriented suburban villages, but also lays a foundation for software development and website function design.

Usability measurement of telecommunications testing website PT. Telkom Indonesia using user centered design

The telecommunication testing website developed and manage by PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia which aims to enable admin and customer to do the online test for their product. Online test save time and cost of testing. Some website functions found out did not operate effectively and efficiently. Usability Testing using User Centered Design (UCD) method is a research instruments in the form of draft interview, task scenario, and questionnaire. Variables used are Completion rate and Error to assess Website effectiveness, Task Time variable to assess website efficiency, and Satisfaction score variables by subjective questionnaire. Result of WEBUSE questionnaire, usability of website is 0.5825 categorized as moderate usability level (0.4 <x <= 0.6). The lowest usability is the User Interface Design category (0.55). The result conclude that the website need to be evaluate and improved. The time completion rate is 850 seconds and the error rate is high for task certificate download and complete the QA document. The highest task time is complete the registration form.

Measurement of Usability for Multimedia Interactive Learning Based on Website in Mathematics for SMK

Web usability, if evaluation done correctly, can significantly improve the quality of the website. Website containing multimedia for education shoud apply user interfaces that are both easy to learn and easy to use. Multimedia has big role in changing the mindset of a person in learning. Using multimedia, learners get easy to obtain information, adjust information and empower information. Therefore, multimedia is utilized by teachers in developing learning techniques to improve student learning outcomes. For students with self-directed learning, multimedia provides the ease and completeness of the courses in such a way that students can complete the learning independently both at school and at home without the guidance of teachers. The learning independence takes place in how students choose, absorb information, and follow the evaluation quickly and efficiently. The 2013 Curriculum 2013 for Vocational High School (SMK) requires teachers to create engaging teaching and learning activities that students enjoy in the classroom (also called invitation learning environment). The creation of learning activity environment is still problem for most teachers. Various researches reveal that teaching and learning activities will be more effective and easy when assisted by visual tools. Using multimedia, learning material can be presented more attractively that help students understand the material easily. The opposite is found in the learning activity environment who only rely on ordinary lectures. Usability is a quality level of multimedia with easy to learn, easy to use and encourages users to use it. The website Multimedia Interactive Learning for Mathematics SMK Class X is targeted object. Usability website in Multimedia Interactive Learning for Mathematics SMK Class X is important indicators to measure effectiveness, efficiency, and student satisfaction to access the functionality of website. This usability measurement should be done carefully before the design is implemented thoroughly. The only way to get test with high quality results is to start testing at the beginning of the design process and continuously testing each of the next steps. This research performs usability testing on of website by using WAMMI criterion (Website Analysis and Measurement Inventory) and will be focused on how convenience using the website application. Components of Attractiveness, Controllability, Efficiency, Helpfulness, and Learnability are applied. The website in Multimedia Interactive Learning for Mathematics SMK Class X can be in accordance with the purpose to be accepted by student to improve student learning outcomes. The results show that WAMMI method show the usability value of Multimedia Mathematics SMK Class X is about from 70% to 90%.

<b>Ergonomic adjustments on a website from the usability of functions: Can deficits impair functionalities?

Current study assesses whether deficits and usability of ergonomics impair the functionality of a university website. The concepts of functionality, usability and ergonomics were foregrounded by contextualizing them within a university profile. Later, a satisfaction survey was proposed to users to measure the satisfaction in the use of the website and to map the problems in usability. In addition, an ergonomic inspection was performed on the site by applying Bastien and Scapin´s ergonomic criteria. After analyzing results by descriptive statistics and content analysis, the ergonomic and usability problems were detected, or rather, feedback deficits, minimum action (navigation), flexibility and experience impaired the excellence of website´s functionality, causing dissatisfaction or abandonment of the website by the users. After the analysis of the results, ergonomic adjustments were suggested for the website. They may be a help in new website projects or adjust products in which usability has not been incorporated to the development process.

Online search – Online purchase in franchising: An empirical analysis of franchisor website functionality

The aim of this paper is to characterize franchisors’ e-commerce strategies by studying their website functionality. Franchisors can use their website to facilitate consumer search. They can also provide content and tools to promote online purchasing (e.g., promotion codes, online payment, delivery options). Why are some franchisor websites more “search oriented”? What are the factors that influence the provision of informational tools and/or transactional tools? This empirical study is based on a detailed observation of 130 e-commerce websites of franchisors operating their chains in the French market.

Analyzing customer satisfaction: users perspective towards online shopping

PurposeThis study aims to identify and analyse the key determinants influencing customer satisfaction towards online shopping in India.Design/methodology/approachThe literature concerning major attributes of website functionality, perceived usability, perceived usefulness and customer satisfaction in online retailing were reviewed. Data were collected from 365 respondents active in online shopping for examining the constructs. The model was empirically tested using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings of the study reveal that perceived usefulness and website functionality have a positive impact on customer satisfaction, whereas perceived usability had a significant but negative impact on customer satisfaction.Practical implicationsThis research will help online retailers to attract and motivate new customers for online shopping and existing customers to extend it in their daily purchase. Online retailers can improve post purchase satisfaction and eventually increase online customers.Originality/valueThis is one of the preliminary study dealing with customer satisfaction towards online retailing in India. The scale has been extended to include items like satisfaction with cash on delivery mode of payment not included in previous scales. The scale of perceived usefulness has also been deepened by adding time performance, product performance and promotional performance.

Influence of Genetic Counseling Graduate Program Websites on Student Application Decisions.

This study investigated how genetic counseling educational program websites affect application decisions via an online survey sent to current students and recent graduates. Program leadership: directors, assistant directors, associate directors, were also surveyed to determine where their opinions coincided or differed from those reported by students and recent graduates. Chi square analysis and t-tests were used to determine significance of results. A two-sample t-test was used to compare factors students identified as important on a 5-point Likert scale with those identified by directors. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes students consider important for program websites: easy navigation, website content, and website impression. Directors were interested in how prospective students use their program website and what information they found most useful. Students indicated there were specific programs they chose not to apply to due to the difficulty of using the website for that program. Directors significantly underestimated how important information about application requirements was to students in making application decisions. The information reported herein will help individual genetic counseling graduate programs improve website functionality and retain interested applicants.

Using best-worst scaling to reveal perceived relative importance of website attributes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review and extend previous work involving branding and website performance and aesthetics by applying a best-worst scaling (BWS) approach. Respondents were tasked with choosing the best and worst from 16-brand attribute statements representing website communications and aesthetics, a more effective understanding of consumer segmentation is revealed between the offline facility to the online retail experience.Design/methodology/approachA research design utilising BWS was deployed to provide an alternate perspective of consumer choice in an omni-channel retail environment.FindingsFindings indicate a bifurcated audience with one-half reliant on communication and the other half on aesthetics is most important in the online environment when generating a positive relationship towards the retail brand.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was conducted within a single retail format category (sportswear and apparel) so future studies need to estimate cross-category implications. The authors also suggest online experimental designs for consumers to compare traditional retail brand images. Finally as this study utilised Australian responses only the authors suggest cross-cultural comparisons to better understand the universal nature of website functionality and its link with traditional retail formats.Practical implicationsRetail executives will find the results from this study useful in two ways. To ensure consistency of brand image across channels managers must communicate efficiently and effectively. Brand managers must mediate between customer segments with some preferring clear concise website communications and others well established aesthetics.Originality/valueThis study adopts a BWS approach to better understand consumer choices in an online/offline branding environment.

The influence of website functionality, drivers and perceived risk on customer satisfaction in online shopping: an emerging economy case

The study analyzed website functionality, perceived risk and drivers of online shopping to evaluate their impact on customer satisfaction in India. The study empirically validates ease of ordering, Cash-on-delivery mode of payment, website functionality and different facets of perceived risk with Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) (Venkatesh et al. in MIS Q 36(1):157–178, 2012). Findings of the study revealed that perceived risk had a negative relation with customer satisfaction where as the website functionality and drivers were positively associated with customer satisfaction. The research will help online retailers to recognize the important success factors that instill confidence among the consumers in developing economies. The study will also help online retailers to focus in the right direction to eliminate threats and convert non shoppers to online shoppers. The study throws light on a new aspect to research by validating the role of cash-on-delivery (COD) mode of payment as a construct and ease of ordering as new dimension to UTAUT2.

Customers’ perceived website service quality and its effects on e-loyalty

PurposeThis study aims to examine determinants of perceived website quality and associations among consequences of perceived website quality. Adopting the framework of loyalty development, causal links are investigated among the website quality, customers’ perceived service quality, their satisfaction, return intention and loyalty in the context of the lodging industry.Design/methodology/approachAn online field survey is conducted with internet bookers. A confirmatory factor analysis and a parameter estimate analysis using structural equation modeling are adopted to analyze the data.FindingsThe progression of the phases of loyalty proceeds in a linear fashion on a lodging website. Mediation effects of customer satisfaction and return intention are detected. Moderation effects of gender were also detected in the relationships among website service quality and consequences of website service quality.Research limitations/implicationsCaution is advised in generalizing findings of this study due to convenience sampling, although findings of the study do confirm results of previously conducted studies.Practical implicationsThis study provides practical tips for website development for hospitality management to understand the e-loyalty formation process so that appropriate marketing strategies can be established to accommodate the type and degree of individual customer’s loyalty as well as gender-specific expectations from prospective customers.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that customer loyalty formation in both physical and online environments has identical processes in the context of the lodging industry. The male group, compared to the female group, appears to be more sensitive in perceiving the effects of functionality of a lodging website, tends to develop customer satisfaction when perceiving website service quality and inclines to develop customer loyalty when having return intention.

A Qualitative Evaluation of an Online Expert-Facilitated Course on Tobacco Dependence Treatment.

Qualitative evaluations of courses prove difficult due to low response rates. Online courses may permit the analysis of qualitative feedback provided by health care providers (HCPs) during and after the course is completed. This study describes the use of qualitative methods for an online continuing medical education (CME) course through the analysis of HCP feedback for the purpose of quality improvement. We used formative and summative feedback from HCPs about their self-reported experiences of completing an online expert-facilitated course on tobacco dependence treatment (the Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counselling and Health [TEACH] Project). Phenomenological, inductive, and deductive approaches were applied to develop themes. QSR NVivo 11 was used to analyze the themes derived from free-text comments and responses to open-ended questions. A total of 277 out of 287 participants (96.5%) completed the course evaluations and provided 690 comments focused on how to improve the program. Five themes emerged from the formative evaluations: overall quality, content, delivery method, support, and time. The majority of comments (22.6%) in the formative evaluation expressed satisfaction with overall course quality. Suggestions for improvement were mostly for course content and delivery method (20.4% and 17.8%, respectively). Five themes emerged from the summative evaluation: feedback related to learning objectives, interprofessional collaboration, future topics of relevance, overall modifications, and overall satisfaction. Comments on course content, website function, timing, and support were the identified areas for improvement. This study provides a model to evaluate the effectiveness of online educational interventions. Significantly, this constructive approach to evaluation allows CME providers to take rapid corrective action.

P3.06-009 Multiple Oral Presentations at Major International Conferences from a Single Clinical Trial Are Common: Topic: Others

Traditionally, study results have been presented as abstracts at major scientific meetings at the conclusion of the analysis. Recently, presentations of studies in progress and updates to previously presented data have been allowed at major meetings. The frequency and implications of a single study being presented multiple times, particularly in high profile oral presentations, have not been fully evaluated. To identify studies presented multiple times, abstracts from an approximately one year period from international conferences for three major societies devoted largely or in part to lung cancer research were assessed (ASCO 2015, World Lung 2015, ESMO 2015 and ASCO 2016). Abstracts were selected in a two-step process. The first step was for subject matter based on keywords: NSCLC, SCLC or immunotherapy. Searches differed slightly based on individual website functionality, with ASCO searched by track, World Lung by session and ESMO by individual abstract. In a second step, abstracts for which clinical outcome data was presented from a trial with an identifiable NCT number were selected. Immunotherapy abstracts that did not include the treatment of NSCLC or SCLC were excluded in the second step. 851 abstracts were identified that were related to NSCLC, SCLC or immunotherapy. Of these, 357 referred to a clinical trial. 110 of 357 (30%) described clinical trials that were presented multiple times (mean 2.75, range 2-7), and in 44 (12%), this occurred at the same conference. 113 of 357 abstracts (31%) were oral presentations. 75 (66%) of the oral presentations presented data from clinical trials that were presented multiple times, including 35 (31%) which were presented as oral presentations at least twice. Of the 16 unique clinical trials leading to multiple oral presentations, a variety of issues led to the duplicate presentations, including different cohorts of the same trial, biomarker analysis, analysis by one study variable, or simply updated data. In total, only 6 of 16 of these studies presented additional patients in a subsequent oral presentation, two presenting unique cohorts, and the other four presenting updated data that included additional patients, in one case, fewer than ten patients. There is a pattern of multiple presentations of clinical trials, particularly in oral presentations, at major meetings. Although a second oral presentation on the same concept may sound confirmatory to a conference participant, in most cases, data presented in subsequent oral presentations related entirely to patients whose data was presented in the previous oral presentation.

Performance Impacts of Web-Enabled Retail Services: An Empirical Study

ABSTRACTPrior studies suggest that the growth in online retail is attributed to the effective implementation of media-rich and interactive services and functionalities that help overcome the para-social distance between customers and online retail stores. However, few studies have offered empirical evidence that demonstrates the specific impacts these interactive services and functionalities have on the financial performance of online retailers. Using data on the operations and financial performance of the top 500 online retailers in the U.S., this study investigates the impact that website features and functionalities have on sales performance and other intermediate performance measures. Our findings suggest that website features and functionalities have a significant direct impact on sales as well as an indirect impact through intermediate performance measures. Furthermore, our model identifies the specific performance measures that each website feature targets to improve.

Building long lasting customer loyalty in e-commerce – literature review

It is commonly known that customer loyalty is the most desirable asset in company activity. It provides steady income and feeling of safety on the marketplace. Building long lasting relationship is hard to achieve, especially when it comes to companies selling their product on the websites. The present article is aimed to give an outlook on this problem and indicate some directives from literature review. The survey indicates the important role of website quality and functionality at every stage of purchase process. Additionally, quality of customer service as a human factor, play an important role in creating customer loyalty. Moreover, there is a recognition of some limitations such as cultural factor or maturity of electronic commerce.

SCUBA divers above the waterline: Using participatory mapping of coral reef conditions to inform reef management

Coral reefs provide important ecological services such as biodiversity, climate regulation, and cultural benefits through recreation and tourism. However, many of the world's reefs are declining, with Caribbean reefs suffering a significant decline in living corals over the past half century. This situation emphasizes the need to assess and monitor reef conditions using a variety of methods. In this study, a new method for assessing reef conditions to inform management using participatory mapping by coral reef “experts” in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is described. Occupational SCUBA divers were recruited (n=87) to map coral reef conditions, uses, and threats (stressors) using an internet-based mapping website. The data reveal an uneven geographic distribution of reef conditions in the USVI with the most frequently mapped perceived healthy reef characteristics being: large amount of physical reef structure (n=872 markers); endangered or threatened species present (n=721); and large amount of live coral cover (n=615). The greatest perceived threats were: invasive species (n=606); water pollution (n=234); and unsustainable fishing (n=200). Areas of important reef characteristics, perceived threats to reefs, and perceived recovery potential were plotted to identify areas requiring critical management attention. The authors found that perceptions of healthy reef conditions outnumbered perceptions of reef threats for nine of the ten most familiar coral reefs; the most frequent activity type within the coral reefs was tourism diving; and for the most familiar coral reefs, the divers perceived a high recovery potential. Given the novelty of participatory mapping methods to assess coral reefs, the strengths and weaknesses of the method is evaluated. The authors further propose a management typology for categorizing reef areas to inform their future management. In the absence of primary data, or, as a supplement to underwater surveys and remotely-sensed data on reef condition, participatory mapping can provide a cost-effective means for assessing coral reef conditions while identifying place-specific reef locations requiring management attention.

Unmasking the Mystique

This classroom-based action research study investigated the creative implementation of fluency instruction for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners through the use of a virtual character-playing simulation called Place Out of Time (POOT). The researchers sought to identify what supported and impeded student participation in this game-based learning environment. Participants included 35 ninth grade students at a highly ranked university preparatory school in Eastern Europe. This study employed narrative inquiry, drawing from game discourse (e.g., participant observations), surrounding discourse (e.g., classroom observation) and meta discourse, (e.g., interviews, focus groups, and post-activity reflection papers). Thematic analysis revealed the students' desires for an increase in academic rigor related to POOT instruction. Four sub-themes pertaining to academic rigor emerged: content legitimacy, accountability, website functionality, and dynamic interactions. Subsequently, the authors advise classroom teachers to consider several crucial factors when instituting creative fluency instruction with high-achieving EFL students: exercise precaution when labeling learning environments as “games;” apportion feedback that is frequent, contextualized, and consequential; and oversee and redirect non-participation.

Academic library website functions in the context of users’ information needs

The digital revolution has had a particular impact on the functioning of libraries: it has changed both the means of communicating with the users, and the nature of the service itself. In the case of academic libraries, an online presence is crucial due to the increased rate of Internet usage among their stakeholders, academics and students alike. From their perspective, library websites serve as digital gates to library services and resources. However, an academic library website may fulfil a wide array of functions and their importance can be variously prioritized. The purpose of our research was to find out which functions of academic library websites are viewed as the most important by a selected group of users: the students. To answer this question, we identified the main functions of academic library websites on the basis of desk research and designed a survey conducted among students of the University of Warsaw (Poland) and Vilnius University (Lithuania) ( n=680). The picture of users’ information needs with regard to content of the academic library website revealed by our research allows us to draw conclusions about the functions of the academic library website distinctive from those already mentioned in the subject literature. From the perspective of a user-centric approach we distinguished five functions of the academic library website: (1) supporting the usage of the collection (online and traditional); (2) promotion of culture; (3) gateway for locating information on the Web; (4) education; (5) creation of library’s online image.

A Transparência como Espetáculo: uma análise dos portais de transparência de estados brasileiros

O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a funcionalidade dos portais de transparência dos estados como fonte de acesso à informação e espaços de fortalecimento da participação e do controle social. Para isso, apresenta uma análise detalhada dos sites de transparência de cinco estados, um por região, adotando duplo procedimento: aplicação de um instrumento de avaliação de portais (Sales, 2012) e realização de uma busca ativa pelos repasses aos estados de um fundo de origem federal. Os resultados apontam as lacunas específicas de cada portal, destacando a dificuldade de acesso à informação e a baixa oferta de funções interativas, essenciais para o exercício do controle e da participação social. Conclui-se que os portais de transparência dos estados continuam sendo espaços que se limitam ao cumprimento da legislação, sem o desenvolvimento de funcionalidades que poderiam fomentar a cultura da política participativa, ainda restrita, em sua dimensão eletrônica, a um processo de espetacularização.

Ready for e-electioneering? Empirical evidence from Pakistani political parties’ websites

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of political party websites for e-electioneering and their impact on the outcome of the elections. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data for the study were collected from the websites of 11 major political parties of Pakistan using modified version of the coding scheme used by Gibson, Rommele and Ward for the evaluation of functionality and delivery of websites. Data were analysed using web content analysis method to achieve the objectives of this study. The study also ranked the party websites based on points scored for functionalities and delivery. Findings – The study found that although Pakistani political parties have started using their websites for communication with their voters during the general elections but they have not utilized the full potential of the website functionalities for e-electioneering. Research limitations/implications – The study focused on content analysis of political party websites of Pakistan only. However, comparisons were made to other studies where possible to contextualize the results of this study in international perspective. It is suggested to replicate this study after ten years to study the changing behaviour of political parties. Practical implications – Political parties might like to improve their websites in the light of findings of this study to spread their message more effectively to larger voter base. Social implications – Findings of the study will help in improving the readiness of political parties for e-electioneering and improved websites will help voters in making an informed decision during election. It will overall improve the electoral process in the country where democratic system is not very strong. Originality/value – With the advent of internet, political parties are using their websites during elections for various purposes. This study, first ever in Pakistan on the topic, provides empirical evidence on the use of political party websites during May 2013 general election in Pakistan and presents its impact on the outcome of the election. The study will be valuable for political science researchers especially those focusing on Asia and Pakistan.